Eisenhower on the Salk Polio Vaccine
Two years after American medical researcher Jonas Salk reported that he had successfully tested a vaccine against poliomyelitis, polio vaccinations were still not widely available in the United States. To assuage the public's concerns, President Eisenhower holds a press conference on May 4, 1955, and explains the need for further testing.
Related Speeches & Audio (10)
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Eisenhower on the Salk Polio Vaccine
Eisenhower on the Salk Polio VaccineAudio Clip (2:43)
Audio Clip (2:43)
Two years after American medical researcher Jonas Salk reported that he had successfully tested a vaccine against poliomyelitis, polio vaccinations were still not widely available in the United States. To assuage the public's concerns, President Eisenhower holds a press conference on May 4, 1955, and explains the need for further testing.
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First Speech Broadcast by Satellite
First Speech Broadcast by SatelliteAudio Clip (1:49)
Audio Clip (1:49)
On August 12, 1960, NASA launched the world's first satellite into orbit. A message previously recorded by President Eisenhower was bounced off the Echo 1 and picked up by radio operators across the nation.
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First Artificial Heart Recipient
First Artificial Heart RecipientAudio Clip (0:29)
Audio Clip (0:29)
In 1982, Seattle dentist Barney Clark became the first human to receive a permanent artificial heart, a device known as the Jarvik 7. In an interview shortly after the implantation of the pump, Clark expresses his desire to help advance science. He survived for 112 days on the mechanical organ.
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Dionne Quintuplets Born in Canada
Dionne Quintuplets Born in CanadaAudio Clip (1:49)
Audio Clip (1:49)
Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe, the obstetrician who delivered the world's first surviving quintuplets, discusses their outlook. The five sisters were born on May 28, 1934, in remote northern Ontario.
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First Successful Heart Transplant
First Successful Heart TransplantAudio Clip (3:03)
Audio Clip (3:03)
Dr. Christiaan Barnard describes his approach to performing the first successful heart transplant. On December 3, 1967, 53-year-old Lewis Washkansky received the first transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital in South Africa.
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Eisenhower on the Suez Canal Crisis
Eisenhower on the Suez Canal CrisisAudio Clip (4:05)
Audio Clip (4:05)
In October 1956, Britain and France entered into a coalition with Israel, and the three nations launched a military attack against Egyptian forces in the Suez Canal. On October 31, in a speech to the nation, President Eisenhower expresses the United States' opposition to the military action.
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Eisenhower Welcomes Khrushchev to the U.S.
Eisenhower Welcomes Khrushchev to the U.S.Audio Clip (1:38)
Audio Clip (1:38)
On September 15, 1959, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, promising an open heart and good intentions, began an unprecedented tour of the United States. President Eisenhower expresses his hopes upon Khrushchev's arrival for improved relations between the two superpowers.
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Eisenhower on the Second Berlin Crisis
Eisenhower on the Second Berlin CrisisAudio Clip (1:11)
Audio Clip (1:11)
In November 1958, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev demanded that Western forces pull out of West Berlin in six months. On March 16, 1959, in a radio and television report to the American people, President Eisenhower speaks of the escalating Cold War tensions over Berlin, stressing that the United States will not give in to pressure from the USSR.
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Eisenhower Proclaims Alaska the 49th State
Eisenhower Proclaims Alaska the 49th StateAudio Clip (1:03)
Audio Clip (1:03)
On January 3, 1959, President Eisenhower presides over the ceremony welcoming the territory of Alaska into the Union as the 49th and largest state.
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Eisenhower Proclaims Hawaii the 50th state
Eisenhower Proclaims Hawaii the 50th stateAudio Clip (0:25)
Audio Clip (0:25)
Eight months after Alaska became a U.S. state, President Eisenhower signs the official proclamation on August 21, 1959, admitting Hawaii into the Union as the 50th state and delivers a welcoming speech.
Related Videos (7)
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Ask Steve: The Pill
Ask Steve: The PillVideo Clip (1:14)
Video Clip (1:14)
In this video clip from Ask Steve, the birth control pill and the effect it had on the population was discussed. It sparked a sexual revolution, with a decline in the baby boom and recreational sex.
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Gene Therapy
Gene TherapyVideo Clip (3:03)
Video Clip (3:03)
Modern Marvels explores Gene therapy and the insertion of genes into an individual's cells and tissues to treat a disease, and hereditary diseases in which a defective mutant allele is replaced with a functional one. Courtesy of The History Channel.
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Eisenhower Defeats Stevenson
Eisenhower Defeats StevensonVideo Clip (1:51)
Video Clip (1:51)
Eisenhower defeats Adlai Stevenson to become the 33rd President.
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Republicans Nominate Eisenhower
Republicans Nominate EisenhowerVideo Clip (2:18)
Video Clip (2:18)
Watch as General Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes the Republican nominee for President, in this History Channel video. He adds Richard Nixon as his running mate in this presidential race. Nixon was the youngest VP candidate in history.
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Timothy Leary Advocates LSD
Timothy Leary Advocates LSDVideo Clip (5:14)
Video Clip (5:14)
This History Rocks video covers Timothy Leary's LSD research. It became known as the Harvard Psilocybin Project and explored the effects, good and bad, of psychedelics. It became a driving force in the 60s counterculture.
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Stuttering Damage Helps Thousands
Stuttering Damage Helps ThousandsVideo Clip (1:49)
Video Clip (1:49)
There's now a device that can help people who stutter--or are shy--instantly become better, more confident public speakers. Who invented this gadget and how did he do it? Find out. From Modern Marvels.
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America's Book of Secrets Sneak Preview
America's Book of Secrets Sneak PreviewVideo Clip (1:58)
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This new series from H2 takes you behind the scenes of some of America's most mysterious groups, institutions and landmarks.
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