On June 5, 2004, President Ronald Reagan died from Alzheimer’s disease. Reagan began his career as an actor before transitioning into politics in 1966, when he became the governor of California. He first ran for president in 1976 but lost the major party ticket bid. Reagan ran again in 1980 and was elected as the 40th president of the United States. His presidency is marked by the rise of conservatism in the U.S., ushering in a new era for the American Republican Party. Some of the most notable achievements of Reagan’s presidency include his negotiations with the Soviet Union, which contributed to the end of the Cold War, and his economic policy known as “Reaganomics.” In 1994, after his time in office, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, which ultimately led to his death in 2004. The Quincy Herald-Whig, published on June 6, 2004, reflected on Reagan’s life, describing him as a “cheerful crusader” committed to ending the Cold War. The publication included quotes from many of his loved ones and supporters, mourning the president’s passing. A 92-mile commemorative trail was created in his hometown, ending at the college Reagan attended, symbolizing the path he took in his early years. A common theme in the stories shared about him was his exceptional skill as a communicator.
Graceland Farms is where rock icon Elvis Presley spent his final days. The home, located in Memphis, Tennessee, was purchased by Elvis in 1957 for $102,500. When Elvis passed in 1977, the house was included in his estate, but it was draining money quickly, costing over half a million dollars in taxes and maintenance each year. To combat this, they decided to open the house to public tours on June 7, 1982. The Gazette in Cedar Rapids reported that when Priscilla Presley first opened up the home, they charged merely $5 a head to tour. Over the years, the Presley family did various renovations as they gained popularity. According to the Tullahoma News, published in 1982, each tour was two hours long and took guests through 7 of the 18 rooms in the home. Thousands of fans of Presley visit the home each year to get a glimpse into the rock star’s life and pay their respects at his grave.
On June 3, 1965, Gemini 4 launched for a four-day mission in space. Astronaut Ed White was aboard and made history during this journey. On the third orbit, White floated freely in space for about 20 minutes, becoming the first U.S. astronaut to walk in space. The Democrat Message, published in Mt. Sterling, Illinois, on June 9, 1965, reported that the launch, flight, spacewalk, and return to Earth were all executed perfectly. This achievement was a moment of great pride for the United States and even more so for Ed White. In fact, the Borger News Herald shared that his wife planned a special celebration for his birthday, surprising him with color films of the historic flight.
From May 26th to June 4th, 1940, a massive extraction of Allied troops took place on the beaches of France. The operation, nicknamed the miracle of Dunkirk for its nearly impossible achievements, came after British and allied troops found themselves trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk. Between relentless blitzkriegs and a nearing German front, the troops only had one way to get to safety, via boat on the English Channel. Each day, thousands of troops were moved boat by boat to safety, as the Axis forces moved closer. They were met with opposition, The Gazette publishing on May 30th, 1940, that multiple transport ships leaving Dunkirk had been sunk by German planes. However, by June 4th, they had managed to evacuate nearly all troops from the area. In the Brimfield News, published on June 8th, 1944, they refer to the Dunkirk evacuation as “one of the greatest feats in military history”, and many historians would agree.
From May 31 to June 12, 1864, Union and Confederate forces clashed in the Second Battle of Cold Harbor. The deadliest day of this fight was on June 3rd. As the Union moved in, they had the resources they needed to defeat the Confederacy, but were largely disadvantaged by having to take the offensive position. The Union had twice as many troops as the Confederacy did at this battle, but on June 3rd alone, when they made their first attack with a full army, they lost around 4,000 soldiers. Over a week after this main push, the Union decided to retreat after suffering significant losses, and the Confederacy was deemed the winner. They lost twice as many troops as the Confederacy did during this conflict, and this lowered morale for the Union. The Daily Chattanooga Rebel published on June 28th, 1864, that they believed Grant was in an interesting position after this battle. They argued that he was at a turning point and needed to either show the full power of the union and win the next battle or pass the torch to new leadership. Thankfully, Grant was able to overcome this blunder and led his forces to victory over the Confederacy in the Civil War.
Join me again next week to discover more of history’s hidden gems and timeless tales.
Explore the “Read All About It” archives to read stories that spotlight our partners and their communities, announcements from our team, updates on current projects, and so much more. Discover articles about engagement, outreach, primary sources, community, digitization, education, and other topics of interest. Delve into the happenings in this week in history and take a deep dive into the events and people who helped shape our communities, our nation, and the world.
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