AS IT HAPPENED

           
       

FDR First Inaugural Address 1933 Franklin Delano Roosevelt becomes president amidst the Great Depression on 4 March 1933.	First Fireside Chat 1933 The first of many Fireside Chat broadcasts by Franklin D Roosevelt during the Great Depression. It was broadcast on 12 March 1933.	Hindenburg Disaster 1937 On 6 May 1937, the Hindenburg, a German airship, crashed on approach to Lakehurst, New Jersey. This is the famous radio broadcast by Herbert Morrison, a reporter from WLS in Chicago, who continued broadcasting as the disaster unfolded.	Invasion of Austria 1938 This report details the German invasion of Austria in March 1938.
Chamberlain Returns From Munich 1938 A live BBC broadcast of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain upon his return from meeting with Adolf Hitler on 30 September 1938.	FDR Opens the Fair 1939 Roosevelt at the opening of the New York World's Fair on 30 April 1939.	Hitler Invades Poland 1939 German leader Adolf Hitler announces the German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939.	Germany Invades Poland 1939 This BBC report details the German invasion of Poland the day before, 1 September 1939.
UK Declares War on Germany 1939 Prime Minister Winston Churchill announces the declaration of war with Germany after failed diplomatic negotiations.	Appeasement Marches On 1939 This episode of NBC's Story Behind the Headlines discusses British recognition of the Franco government in the Spanish Civil War, claiming it is another example of appeasing aggressive forces, like Chamberlain's appeasement of Hitler at Munich.	Evacuation of London Children 1939 On 1 September 1939, two days before the declaration of war against Germany, British leaders began the evacuation of children from London and other urban areas. The children were cared for in various houses and estates in the countryside.	London Blitz 1940 A first hand report by famed journalist Edward R Murrow describing a live bombing raid during the Blitz. This is followed by an editorial report on the same subject.
Chamberlain Resignation 1940 Edward R Murrow announces the resignation of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and a profile of incoming PM Winston Churchill. on 10 May 1940.	French Surrender 1940 This broadcast announces and describes the surrender of France to Nazi Germany on 21 June 1940.	Germany Overruns the Low Countries 1940 HB Kaltenborn reports on the German invasion of the three neutral "low countries" on 10 May 1940 to enable an invasion of France.	FDR Asks for Declaration of War 1941 A radio recording of Roosevelts speech to a joint session of Congress requesting a declaration of war against Japan on the day following the attack on Pearl Harbor and other Pacific islands.
Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor 1941 A series of radio broadcasts announcing the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.	D Day Report 1 1944 An early report detailing the events of the Normandy invasion on 6 June 1944.	Hiroshima 1945 An early report announcing the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. The report includes remarks by President Harry S Truman.	Hitler Is Dead 1945 An early MBS report on the death of Adolf Hitler on 30 April 1945.
Japanese Surrender 1945 This NBC broadcast by Richard Harkness on 16 August 1945 hints at the imminent surrender of Japan, although he appears to doubt whether capitulation is certain.	VE Day Special Broadcast 1945 A series of NBC reports covering the surrender of Germany on 8 April 1945.	Churchill and the Iron Curtain 1946 This address by Winston Churchill on 5 March 1946. Called "The Sinews of Peace" speech included the first use of the term Iron Curtain.	MacArthur Farewell Speech 1951 General Douglas MacArthur addressed Congress on 19 April 1951 to announce his retirement from the Army. This speech featured the famous quote: "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away."
Ike Accepts '56 Nomination 1956 President Dwight D Eisenhower's acceptance speech at the 1956 Republican National Convention.	Berlin Wall Rises 1961 A short radio news report broadcast on the day east and west Berlin were divided by the Wall. It would remain for 28 years.	End of the Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 NBC announces the removal of Soviet missiles from Cuba on 28 October 1962.	John Glenn Special 1962 This is an NBC News report covering the Friendship 7 flight of John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, on 20 Feb 1962.
Voice of America Coverage of the JFK Assassination 1963 This is a recording of the Voice of America broadcast covering the assassination of President John F Kennedy on 22 November 1963. It is interesting to note that at the time, there were conflicting reports as to the details and some information reported was found to be inaccurate.	Four Days That Shocked The World 1963 This is an LP album produced in late 1963 that contains actual recordings of the events before, during and after the assassination of John F Kennedy.