The History Place - Sounds of History

The Presidents

Franklin D. Roosevelt Harry Truman Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson
Richard Nixon Gerald R. Ford Jimmy Carter Ronald Reagan George Bush
  Bill Clinton George W. Bush Barack Obama  

Interesting, Dramatic and History-Changing Moments

Franklin D. Roosevelt Amid worsening economic conditions resulting from the Great Depression, newly elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt confronts fear in the Nation. March 4, 1933. (:38)
Franklin D. Roosevelt Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, President Roosevelt appears before Congress seeking a declaration of war. December 8, 1941. (1:24)
Harry Truman During a radio speech from the White House, President Harry Truman comments on the dropping of the first Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. August 9, 1945. (2:21)
Harry Truman President Truman comments on the Communist invasion of South Korea. 1950. (:07)
Harry Truman President Truman announces the dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur. 1951. (:15)
Dwight D. Eisenhower Following a New York ticker-tape parade in his honor, General Dwight D. Eisenhower pokes fun at his own humble beginnings. (:09)
Dwight D. Eisenhower Campaigning for the presidency in 1952, Eisenhower makes a key promise. (:39)
Dwight D. Eisenhower During his Farewell Speech, President Eisenhower warns Americans of the growing military-industrial complex. January 17, 1961. (1:48)
John F. Kennedy While campaigning for the presidency, Senator John F. Kennedy speaks to a group of Protestant ministers in Houston, Texas, to quell the continuing controversy over his suitability for the presidency because of his religion. September 12, 1960. (2:18)
John F. Kennedy One of the best remembered presidential lines, from the Inaugural Speech of President John F. Kennedy. January 20, 1961. (1:08)
John F. Kennedy During a visit to Rice University in Houston, Texas, President Kennedy reaffirms America's commitment to landing a man on the moon before the end of the 1960s. September 12, 1962. (:29)
John F. Kennedy Remarks by President Kennedy on how we all came from the sea made during the America's Cup (sailing race) dinner. September 14, 1962. (:47)
John F. Kennedy Following the discovery of Russian nuclear missiles in Cuba - a recording of President Kennedy discussing military options with his brother Robert and top aides during a meeting in the White House. October 18, 1962. (2:14)
John F. Kennedy President Kennedy informs Americans about the Cuban Missile Crisis and warns the Russians. October 22, 1962. (:53)
John F. Kennedy Speaking at the Berlin Wall, President Kennedy tells the people of West Berlin, "Ich bin ein Berliner" (I am a Berliner). June 26, 1963. (:24)
Lyndon B. Johnson Following the assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as the thirty-sixth president by a U.S. District Court Judge, while on board Air Force One. November 22, 1963. (:32)
Lyndon B. Johnson Upon exiting Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland some three hours later, President Johnson makes a brief statement at the airport. November 22, 1963. (:40)
Lyndon B. Johnson President Johnson announces he will not seek re-election as a result of the worsening military situation in Vietnam. March 31, 1968. (:56)
Richard Nixon After losing the California governor's election, a bitter Richard Nixon chats with reporters in Los Angeles. November 7, 1962. (1:26)
Richard Nixon A secret recording of President Nixon in the White House telling top aide H.R. Haldeman to obstruct the FBI investigation into the Watergate break-in. June 23, 1972. (:05) "...call the FBI and say that we wish, for the country, don't go any further into this case, period..."
Richard Nixon President Nixon pledges White House cooperation with the ongoing Watergate investigation. April 17, 1973. (:22)
Richard Nixon President Nixon comments on U.S. military withdrawal from Vietnam. 1973. (:26)
Richard Nixon After returning from the hospital to the White House, President Nixon greets his staff and denies resignation rumors. July 20, 1973. (:25)
Richard Nixon President Nixon insults reporters during a White House press conference on Watergate. October 23, 1973. (:20)
Richard Nixon President Nixon meets with news editors and denies any wrongdoing in Watergate. November 17, 1973. (:32)
Richard Nixon Faced with the prospect of being impeached by the House of Representatives as a result of the Watergate scandal, President Nixon announces his resignation. August 8, 1974. (:32)
Richard Nixon Following his resignation, Richard Nixon bids farewell to his White House staff. August 9, 1974. (1:19)
Gerald R. Ford President Gerald R. Ford speaks to the Nation upon taking office shortly after Richard Nixon had resigned in disgrace. August 9, 1974. (:54)
Gerald R. Ford President Ford grants Richard Nixon a full pardon. September 8, 1974. (:53)
Gerald R. Ford Amid continuing news reports about the successful invasion of South Vietnam by the North Vietnamese Army - during a speech at Tulane University, President Ford tells the student audience there will be no further U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. September 8, 1974. (:52)
Jimmy Carter President Jimmy Carter cites America's "crisis of confidence" amid a worsening energy (oil) situation in the post-Watergate, post-Vietnam era. July 15, 1979. (:28)
Ronald Reagan During inaugural festivities, President Ronald Reagan announces an end to the hostage crisis in Iran in which 52 Americans were held captive for 444 days. January 20, 1981. (:27)
Ronald Reagan During a speech to the British Parliament in London, President Reagan predicts the eventual downfall of Communism, saying it will be left on the "ash heap of history." June 8, 1982. (:41)
Ronald Reagan President Reagan jokes about bombing Soviet Russia during a voice test over a live microphone while preparing for a radio address. August 11, 1984. (:09)
Ronald Reagan Speaking at the Berlin Wall, President Reagan tells the leader of Soviet Russia "tear down this wall." June 12, 1987. (2:03)
George Bush President George Bush announces war against Iraq (Operation Desert Storm) has begun with air attacks against Saddam Hussein's forces. January 16, 1991. (:31)
Bill Clinton President Bill Clinton denies allegations concerning former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. January 26, 1998. (:25)
Bill Clinton During his testimony to Independent Counsel Ken Starr's Grand Jury, President Clinton is asked about a statement made by his lawyer on his behalf during a January deposition that there "is no sex of any kind" between the President and Monica Lewinsky. August 17, 1998. (1:03)
Bill Clinton President Clinton admits "I misled people" during a speech to the Nation a few hours after completing his testimony to Independent Counsel Ken Starr's Grand Jury. August 17, 1998. (:44)
Bill Clinton President Clinton talks about forgiveness during ceremonies in a Massachusetts church commemorating the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington. August 28, 1998. (1:33)
Bill Clinton Following a vote by the House Judiciary Committee to recommend impeachment, President Clinton, during a visit to Israel, responds to an Israeli reporter asking him if he intends to resign "as did President Nixon." December 13, 1998. (:25)
Bill Clinton President Clinton announces an air attack against Iraq - a military action that came in the midst of House impeachment proceedings thereby generating much controversy over its timing. December 16, 1998. (:38)
Bill Clinton President Clinton responds to questions from reporters as to whether he ordered the attack against Iraq in order to delay the scheduled impeachment vote in the full House of Representatives. December 17, 1998. (:20)
Bill Clinton Flanked by Democratic supporters and his wife Hillary, President Clinton appears before reporters on the South Lawn of White House about two hours after his impeachment by the House of Representatives. December 19, 1998. (:40)
George W. Bush Upon visiting New York City three days after the September 11th terrorist attack, President George W. Bush speaks through a hand-held megaphone to rescue workers at the site of the collapsed World Trade Center buildings. September 14, 2001. (1:57)
George W. Bush Six days after visiting New York, President Bush appears before a Joint Session of Congress to outline America's reaction to the attack. September 20, 2001. (:50)
George W. Bush President Bush announces the beginning of the invasion of Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom). March 19, 2003. (2:04)
George W. Bush After landing as a passenger in a Navy fighter jet aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier off the coast of San Diego, California, President Bush announces that major combat operations in Iraq have ended, within sight of a large banner saying "Mission Accomplished." May 1, 2003. (2:20)
George W. Bush Amid unceasing attacks against American soldiers and others by insurgents in Iraq, President Bush announces an increase of American troops as part of a new strategy that becomes known as "The Surge." January 10, 2007. (2:21)
Barack Obama While campaigning for the presidency in Philadelphia, Senator Barack Obama addresses the issue of race - amid a media firestorm concerning prior remarks made by his former minister. March 18, 2008. (1:13)
Barack Obama During his first Inaugural Speech, President Barack Obama acknowledges the tough challenges facing America. January 21, 2009. (1:22)
Barack Obama President Barack Obama stuns the world by appearing on national TV on a quiet Sunday evening to announce the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. May 1, 2011. (2:30)

See also:
The History Place - Great Speeches Collection
The History Place - 46 Presidential Portraits
The History Place - Presidential Impeachment Proceedings

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