Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Gerald Ford called April of 1975 the "cruelest month." Having inherited a Presidency and the closing act of an unpopular war, Gerald Ford convened his National Security Council in April 1975 to discuss the final evacuation of Saigon. The North Vietnamese … Continue reading Transcripts on the evacuation of Saigon
Tag: Pieces of History
‘Waist’ not, want not
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. "They say that in the Army, the chow is mighty fine, A chicken jumped off the table and started marking time. Oh Lord, I wanna go, Oh Lord I wanna go Oh Lord I wanna go home." There's talk in … Continue reading ‘Waist’ not, want not
Sex…and the Civil Rights Bill
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Forty-seven years ago this past Saturday, Martin Luther King, Jr., touched a nation with his inspiring words. Just six months later in February of 1964, one small but powerful word was added to the House version of the divisive Civil Rights Act. Representative Howard Smith of Virginia … Continue reading Sex…and the Civil Rights Bill
Facial Hair Friday: In honor of MLK
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, August 28, 1963. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at center. (542015 / 306-SSM-4C(51)15)This Saturday marks the anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I have a dream" speech. I was looking through ARC at the pictures of how many people participated, when I … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: In honor of MLK
Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Rebecca, it may be time to quit your day job. You have wowed another one of our guest judges, Kathleen Williams, Executive Director of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. The actual caption for this fund-raising fanatic? "The 'Human … Continue reading Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest
Happy Birthday, National Park Service!
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. On this day in 1916, the National Park Service was formed within the Department of Interior.
Tornado saves capital, scares British
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. One hundred and ninety-six years ago today, the British sacked the District of Columbia. They were, in turn, sacked by a tornado. In 1814, the British wanted revenge. U.S. troops had burned the legislative building, government structures, and private warehouses … Continue reading Tornado saves capital, scares British
Ellis Island on the West Coast
For the thousands of immigrants from Europe, the entrance to America was through Ellis Island. As they sailed by New York City, they could see the Statue of Liberty standing in the harbor like a watchful guardian. For immigrants from China and the Pacific Rim, another type of guardian awaited them in San Francisco Bay. They would … Continue reading Ellis Island on the West Coast
Facial Hair Friday: Utopia above the Lower 48
These might look like two gentlemen out for a stroll in the early twentieth century, but the well-bearded gentlemen on the right is William Duncan, founder of Metlakahtla, a Utopian community. The man on the left with the mustache is Sir Henry S. Wellcome, who founded the pharmaceutical company Burroughs Wellcome & Company, which later became … Continue reading Facial Hair Friday: Utopia above the Lower 48
Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Eve Warner takes the cake as the caption contest conquistador this week. Those of us in the Washington, DC, area who have experienced a spate of power outages over the month can certainly sympathize with the defrosting deluge that occurs … Continue reading Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest