FOX NEWS

William McKinley (January 29, 1843 – September 14, 1901)

On this day in history, April 20, 1898, President William McKinley
asked Congress to declare war on Spain.

The declaration requested by the 25th U.S. president was in
response to an ongoing conflict between Spain and Cuba, the
latter located less 100 miles off the coast of Florida, as that
island country struggled for independence from Spain.

The U.S. Office of the Historian said on April 20, Congress
passed a joint resolution that acknowledged Cuban
independence.

Congress also authorized McKinley to use whatever military
measures he deemed necessary to guarantee Cuba’s
independence, the U.S. Office of the Historian noted.

  
Douglas MacArthur (26 January 1880 – 5 April 1964)

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 storied military career. 

President Harry S Truman (left) relieved General
Douglas MacArthur (right) as commander of
United Nations forces in Korea on April 11, 1951.
 

 
President Woodrow Wilson addresses congress to declare
war on Germany.

The United States plunged ferociously into World War I following
a vote in the House of Representatives on this day in history,
April 6, 1917.

President Woodrow Wilson requested a declaration of war against Germany before a joint session of Congress on April 2, as the
United States faced both the threat of unrestricted submarine
warfare from Germany and the potential of its alliance with
Mexico to seize vast swaths of the American West.

The Senate voted in favor of the war declaration two days later.