The Constitution of the United States of America was signed
by 39 delegates present at the conclusion of the Constitutional
Convention in Philadelphia. Supporters of the document waged
a hard-won battle to win ratification by the necessary nine out
of 13 U.S. states.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt (above) signed into law the Social Security Act on August 14, 1935. Press photographers snapped
pictures as FDR, flanked by ranking members of Congress, signed
into law the historic act, which guaranteed an income for the unemployed and retirees. FDR commended Congress for what he considered to be a “patriotic” act.
According to History. com, on this day in history, July 30,
1956, the 84th Congress passed a joint resolution declaring
"IN GOD WE TRUST" to be the national motto of the United
States.
The same source noted. passing in both the House and the
Senate unanimously and without debate, the resolution
replaced "E pluribus Unum," which had existed before as
a de facto official motto.
President Coolidge stands with four Osage Indians at a White House ceremony.
On this day in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge signed into
law the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted citizenship
to all Native Americans born in the United States, many
of whom had served in the armed forces during World
War I.
While the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States
Constitution defines a citizen as any persons born in
the United States and subject to its laws and jurisdiction,
the amendment had previously been interpreted by the
courts not to apply to Native peoples.
Calvin Coolidge (July 4, 1872 – January 5, 1933)
Gen. Douglas MacArthur delivered his farewell address to
Congress on this day in history, April 19, 1951, uttering
the famous line, "Old soldiers never die; they just fade
away."
Eight days before the speech, MacArthur had been relieved
of his duties as general of the U.S. Army by President Harry
S. Truman — putting an end to his 52 year storied military
career.
MacArthur’s speech is available on the Library of
Congress website.
Douglas MacArthur (26 January 1880 – 5 April 1964)
President Harry S. Truman and General Douglas MacArthur
at President Truman’s arrival at the Wake Island Conference (1950).
