College of William and Mary
On February 8, 1693, a royal charter officially established the College of William and Mary. Today it’s the second-oldest college in America (behind Harvard).
Presidents
First Official Transcontinental Telephone Call
On January 25, 1915, the first official transcontinental telephone call from New York to San Francisco was made. It was a revolutionary moment in communication, instantly linking callers on either side of the country.
Birth of Richard Nixon
America’s 37th president, Richard Milhous Nixon was born into a poor Quaker family in Yorba Linda, California, on January 9, 1913. Largely remembered for the Watergate scandal and his resignation, he was considered an effective leader by many prior to his fall from grace.
Birth of President Millard Fillmore
America’s 13th president, Millard Fillmore, was born on January 7, 1800, in Moravia, New York. He was the second US vice president to take the nation’s highest office as the result of the president’s death. While he struggled on the domestic front, he helped open relations with Japan.
Death of Calvin Coolidge
On January 5, 1933, America’s 30th President, Calvin Coolidge, died suddenly of a heart attack. He’d led the nation through the notable economic growth of the Roaring Twenties.
Eisenhower’s Atoms for Peace
On December 8, 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered his “Atoms for Peace” speech, introducing his goal of using nuclear power for peace.
Birth of Artist Gilbert Stuart
On December 3, 1755, Gilbert Stuart was born in Saunderstown, Rhode Island Colony. A prolific American artist, he painted more than 1,000 people, including our first six presidents. Several of his portraits have appeared on US stamps – and even the $1 bill!
The Monroe Doctrine
On December 2, 1823, President James Monroe introduced the foreign policy doctrine that bears his name. Known as the Monroe Doctrine, it has served as the cornerstone of America’s foreign policy ever since, invoked by several presidents over the years.
First Air Force One Christened
On November 24, 1954, First Lady Mamie Eisenhower christened the first plane to be designated Air Force One.