1783

Today in History 12/04 (George Washington)

Engraving depicting George Washington bidding farewell to his officers at Fraunces Tavern in 1783 (© Archive Photos/Getty Images)(1783) George Washington says a tearful farewell to officers
United States Gen. George Washington gathers his men at a tavern in New York City to announce he’s retiring and plans to return to Mount Vernon. Washington is “suffused in tears” as he hugs each officer goodbye. His retirement won’t last long. In a few years, he’ll be elected as the first president of the US.
George Washington was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America and served as the nation’s first President. He commanded Patriot forces in the new nation’s vital American Revolutionary War and led them to victory over the British. Washington also presided at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which established the new federal government. For his manifold leadership he has been called the “Father of His Country”.
Lived: Feb 22, 1732 – Dec 14, 1799 (age 67)
Height: 6′ 2″
Spouse: Martha Washington (m. 1759 – 1799)
Structures: Mount Vernon
Children: Martha Parke Custis (Daughter) · Frances Custis (Daughter) · Daniel Parke Custis, Jr. (Son) · Daniel Parke Custis Jr (Son)
Buried: Mount Vernon
Highlights
  • 1759: Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis on January 6, 1759, the wealthy widow of Daniel Parke Custis.

  • 1774: In July 1774, George Mason arrived at Mount Vernon with a list of resolutions which he and Washington worked overnight to refine.

  • 1787: He appeared at the convention as a delegate from Virginia, and he was unanimously elected its president in 1787.

  • 1789: Washington was inaugurated on April 30, 1789 at age 57, taking the first presidential oath of office at Federal Hall in New York City.

  • 1779: He died peacefully with Martha calmly composed at the foot of his bed around 10 p.m. on Saturday, December 14, 1799 at age 67.

George Washington presiding the Philadelphia Convention
Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States by Howard Chandler Christy, 1940. Washington, presiding officer, stands at right.
wiki/George_Washington
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(1783) George Washington says a tearful farewell to officers.
Also on this day,

1945 | US joins UN as senate approves US participation in the UN
The Senate votes 65-7 to allow the United States to participate in the newly formed United Nations. The international organization, to be headquartered in New York City, aims to foster cooperation among nations, settle disputes peacefully to prevent wars, and establish wartime rules of conduct.
1956 | Supergroup jams as the ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ records in Memphis
Rockabilly hit-maker Carl Perkins is recording at the Sun Record Studios when he’s joined by up-and-comer pianist Jerry Lee Lewis. Later, stars Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash drop by, and the four musicians begin an impromptu jam session. The first recordings of the session won’t be released for another 25 years.
1991 | American hostage Terry Anderson is freed
Islamic militants free Anderson after nearly seven years of captivity in dismal conditions in Beirut. He is the last and longest-held Western hostage in Lebanon. After his release, Anderson will meet his child, born after his abduction, and win a multimillion-dollar settlement against Iran.

Today in History 12/04/17

World flags at the United Nations headquarters in New York (© Education Images/UIG via Getty Images)(1945) Senate approves US participation in the United Nations
The Senate votes 65-7 to allow the United States to participate in the newly formed United Nations. The international organization, to be headquartered in New York City, aims to foster cooperation among nations, settle disputes peacefully to prevent wars, and establish wartime rules of conduct.
The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization tasked to promote international cooperation and to create and maintain international order. A replacement for the ineffective League of Nations, the organization was established on 24 October 1945 after World War II in order to prevent another such conflict. At its founding, the UN had 51 member states; there are now 193. The headquarters of the UN is in Manhattan, New York City, and is subject to extraterritoriality. Further main offices are situated in Geneva, Nairobi, and Vienna. The organization is financed by assessed and voluntary contributions from its member states. Its objectives include maintaining international peace and security, promoting human rights, fostering social and economic development, protecting the environment, and providing humanitarian aid in cases of famine, natural disaster, and armed conflict. The UN is the largest, most familiar, most internationally represented and most powerful intergovernmental organization in the world.
Website: www.un.org
Founded: Oct 24, 1945 · Lake Success, NY
Headquarters: New York, NY
Founders: United States · Argentina · Norway · Dominican Republic · Haiti · Guatemala · El Salvador · Denmark
Subsidiaries: World Health Organization · Food and Agriculture Organization · International Monetary Fund · UNICEF · International Telecommunication Union · World Intellectual Property Organization · United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees · World Food Programme · International Maritime Organization · United Nations Environment Programme

UN Member Countries World
Map of the current UN member states by their dates of admission. B 1945 (original members) T 1946–1959 G 1960–1989 O 1990–present Y non-member observer states

wiki/United_Nations
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Today in History 11/25 (Iran-Contra Affair)

President Ronald Reagan addressing the nation from The White House Oval Office in 1986 (© Diana Walker/Liaison Agency/Getty Images)(1986) Reagan confirms secret arms sale proceeds funded Contras
The US president reveals that up to $30 million from an Iran weapons deal went to rebel forces in Nicaragua, despite Congress’ ban on military aid to the group. President Reagan says he holds two men responsible — John Poindexter and Oliver North — and appoints a commission to investigate further.
The Iran–Contra affair, also referred to as Irangate, Contragate or the Iran–Contra scandal, was a political scandal in the United States that occurred during the second term of the Reagan Administration. Senior administration officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to Iran, which was the subject of an arms embargo. They hoped to fund the Contras in Nicaragua while at the same time negotiating the release of several U.S. hostages. Under the Boland Amendment, further funding of the Contras by the government had been prohibited by Congress.
Start date: Aug 20, 1985
End date: Mar 04, 1987

President Ronald Reagan with Caspar Weinberger, George Shultz, Ed Meese, and Don Regan discussing the President's remarks on the Iran-Contra affair, Oval Office
President Ronald Reagan with Caspar Weinberger, George Shultz, Ed Meese, and Don Regan discussing the President’s remarks on the Iran-Contra affair, Oval Office
wiki/Iran–Contra_affair
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(1986) Reagan confirms secret arms sale proceeds funded Contras.
Also on this day,

1783 | Last Redcoats leave NY as the British troops depart New York
Three months after the Revolutionary War ended, the last contingent of British troops sail away from New York to the jeers and cheers of local residents. General George Washington leads a triumphant march as he retakes the city that the British had occupied since 1776.
1947 | Studio executives agree to blacklist the ‘Hollywood 10’
Hollywood executives fire 10 writers and directors a day after they were held in contempt for refusing to testify before Congress about their alleged involvement with the Communist Party. The ‘Hollywood 10 are just the first of many in the film industry who will be blacklisted through the rest of the 1940s and ’50s.
1963 | John F. Kennedy is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
President Kennedy is laid to rest three days after his assassination in Dallas. Thousands line the streets of Washington, DC, to watch Kennedy’s casket pass by on a horse-drawn caisson. During the solemn procession, Kennedy’s 3-year-old son John Jr. steps forward and salutes his father a final time.

Today in History 11/25/17

John F. Kennedy, Jr., salutes his father's casket during the funeral procession of President John F. Kennedy in Washington, DC, in 1963 (© Universal History Archive/Getty Images)(1963) John F. Kennedy is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
President Kennedy is laid to rest three days after his assassination in Dallas. Thousands line the streets of Washington, DC, to watch Kennedy's casket pass by on a horse-drawn caisson. During the solemn procession, Kennedy's 3-year-old son John Jr. steps forward and salutes his father a final time.

The state funeral of John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States, took place in Washington, D.C., during the three days that followed his assassination on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas.

The body of President Kennedy was brought back to Washington soon after his death and was placed in the East Room of the White House for 24 hours. On the Sunday after the assassination, his flag-draped coffin was carried on a horse-drawn caisson to the U.S. Capitol to lie in state. Throughout the day and night, hundreds of thousands lined up to view the guarded casket.

Representatives from over 90 countries attended the state funeral on Monday, November 25. After the Requiem Mass at St. Matthew's Cathedral, the late president was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.


JFK's family leaves Capitol after his funeral, 1963
Robert Kennedy and Patricia Kennedy Lawford following Jacqueline Kennedy as she leaves the United States Capitol with John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Caroline Kennedy, after viewing John F. Kennedy lying in state.

wiki/State_funeral_of_John_F._Kennedy
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