A View of the Election of 1960 From Abroad

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. While the Foreign Service reporting found in Department of State files is mostly about the countries in which the U.S. has overseas representation or about U.S. relations with those countries, the files include a … Continue reading A View of the Election of 1960 From Abroad

Intraoffice Humor at the National Security Council, September 1973

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. September 1973 was a busy time at the National Security Council.  Henry Kissinger, the National Security Adviser was in the midst of his confirmation hearings as Secretary of State; the Watergate controversy was heightening, … Continue reading Intraoffice Humor at the National Security Council, September 1973

When did the President’s Home become the “White House”?

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. During the nineteenth century, the residence of the President of the United States was routinely referred to as the "Executive Mansion."  President Theodore Roosevelt changed that in 1901.  On October 17 of that year, … Continue reading When did the President’s Home become the “White House”?

Receiving Notification of President Kennedy’s Shooting: November 1963

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. On November 22, 1963, Secretary of State Dean Rusk was aboard a U.S. Air Force plane over the Pacific Ocean.  He was leading a delegation of Cabinet officials to Japan to meet with their … Continue reading Receiving Notification of President Kennedy’s Shooting: November 1963

Thomas Jefferson and the Case of the Missing Letters

Today’s post is written by Jackie Kilby, Archives Technician at the National Archives at College Park, MD. After a meeting with President George Washington in Mount Vernon on October 1, 1792, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson rode off to Alexandria. It was only later that day did he realize he “unfortunately dropped… some papers… [on] … Continue reading Thomas Jefferson and the Case of the Missing Letters

The President Says Thank You, 1948: The Marshall Plan

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. On June 5, 1947, Secretary of State George C. Marshall addressed the graduating class at Harvard University. In his speech, Marshall noted that World War II had caused "the dislocation of the entire fabric … Continue reading The President Says Thank You, 1948: The Marshall Plan

Detour Ahead: The Paving of the White House Driveway

Today’s post is written by Cody White, Archivist at the National Archives in Denver. The scourge of road trip vacations. The bane of work commutes. Chances are every person who drives has a recent complaint or two about road construction hindering their plans and it’s possible that 79 years ago President Franklin Roosevelt too had … Continue reading Detour Ahead: The Paving of the White House Driveway

“In the Interest of the Efficiency of the Foreign Service”: Changes in U.S. Diplomatic Representation Abroad After the Election of 1944

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. An earlier post discussed President Franklin D. Roosevelt's decision to request the formal resignation of all chiefs of U.S. diplomatic missions overseas (ambassadors and ministers), both career and non-career, after the election of 1940 … Continue reading “In the Interest of the Efficiency of the Foreign Service”: Changes in U.S. Diplomatic Representation Abroad After the Election of 1944

“In the Interest of the Efficiency of the Foreign Service”: Changes in US Diplomatic Representation Abroad after the Election of 1940

Today’s post was written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. In an unusual move, given that the incumbent President remained in office, after winning the election of 1940, Franklin D. Roosevelt requested the formal resignation of all chiefs of U.S. diplomatic missions overseas (ambassadors … Continue reading “In the Interest of the Efficiency of the Foreign Service”: Changes in US Diplomatic Representation Abroad after the Election of 1940

“Heart Attack Strikes Ike,” President Eisenhower’s 1955 Medical Emergency in Colorado

Today’s post is written by Cody White, Archivist at the National Archives in Denver. Today the University of Colorado Anschultz Medical Campus provides state of the art medical care while teaching the next generation of medical professionals. Taking over the former Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Aurora, Colorado upon its closure in the 1990s, the school … Continue reading “Heart Attack Strikes Ike,” President Eisenhower’s 1955 Medical Emergency in Colorado