February 3, 1927 - U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill into law that created the Federal Radio Commission. This was done "to bring order out of this terrible chaos." The president was speaking, of course, of the nation's then unregulated radio stations.
February 3, 1930 - U.S. President Herbert Hoover appointed Charles Evans Hughes as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
February 4, 1941 - The Salvation Army, the YMCA and YWCA, the National Catholic Community Services, the National Travelers Aid Association and the National Jewish Welfare Board pooled their resources, at the request of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to form a new organization. The United Service Organizations (USO) was created to provide unduplicated recreational services to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who were on leave.
February 6, 1911 - Birthday - Ronald Reagan (40th president [1981-1989] of the United States; governor of California [1967-1975]
February 6, 1987 - President Ronald Reagan turned 76 years old this day, adding another year to the record of being the oldest U.S. President in history. President Dwight D. Eisenhower had been the previous recordholder, by serving the country from the Oval Office at age 70.
February 7, 1936 - A U.S. Vice President's flag was established by executive order.
February 8, 1918 - "The Stars and Stripes", the weekly newspaper of the American Expeditionary Forces, was published for the first time.
February 9, 1773 - William Henry Harrison (9th U.S. President [1841]: the first president to die in office, the shortest term at that [32 days]
February 11, 1943 - General Dwight David Eisenhower was selected to command the allied armies in Europe. The General's efforts in World War II made him so popular that he was elected President of the United States less than a decade later.
February 12, 1924 - Calvin Coolidge, known by many as the 'Silent President', made the first presidential political speech on radio. The speech originated from New York City and was broadcast on five radio stations. Some five million people tuned in to hear the President speak.
February 12, 1809 - Birthday - Abraham Lincoln ('Honest Abe': 16th U.S. President)
February 14, 1849 - The first photograph of a U.S. President was taken by Matthew Brady in New York City. President James Polk was the subject of the famous picture.
February 19, 1945 - During World War II, some 30,000 Marines landed on
Iwo Jima, where they began a month-long battle to seize control of the island from Japanese forces.
February 20, 1792 - President George Washington signed the Postal Service Act. Letters delivered up to 30 miles cost six cents to mail. For letters up to 150 miles, postage was 12-1/2 cents.
February 21, 1855 - The official dedication of the Washington Monument took place in Washington, D.C.
February 22, 1732 - Birthday - George Washington (1st U.S. President
February 23, 1945 - Four days of bitter battle had taken its toll on the 28th Regiment of the Fifth Division of the U.S. Marines. Although losses were heavy, the Marine platoon succeeded in its mission to neutralize the defenses and scale the heavily fortified Mount Surabachi. The volcanic peak, at the southern tip of the Japanese Island of Iwo Jima, was one of the first objectives of the Marines' invasion of this small, strategic island, 750 miles south of Tokyo. Victory was triumphant -- as the famous photograph of these Marines raising the American flag portrayed. Navy Secretary Forrestal was standing on the beachhead below. When he saw Old Glory waving in the breeze, he told Lt. General Holland M. Smith, "The raising of that flag on Surabachi means a
Marine Corps for the next 500 years."
February 24, 1866 - The Capitol in Washington, DC, displayed an American flag made entirely of American bunting -- another first.
February 27, 1908 - Star #46 was added to the U.S. flag -- for Oklahoma, which had entered the union on November 16, 1907.
February 28, 1972 - U.S. President Richard Nixon wrapped up an historic week-long visit to China, convinced the trip helped to create a new "generation of peace."
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