With the War in Europe over and the War in the Pacific a little less than two months away, Gen. Eisenhower was called to Capitol Hill to address a joint session of Congress on this day, June 18, 1945.

Gen. Eisenhower: "My imagination cannot picture a more dramatic moment than this in the life of any American. I stand before the elected Federal lawmakers of our great Republic, the very core of our political life and a symbol of those things we call the American heritage. To preserve that heritage, three million American citizens, at your behest, have faced resolutely every terror the ruthless Nazi could devise. I come before you as the representative of those three million people-their commander-because to them you wish this morning to pay the tribute of a grateful America for military victory. In humble realization that they, who earned your commendation, should properly be here to receive it, I am nevertheless proud and honored to be your agent in conveying it to them".

One devastating part of the War was over, but another was yet to finish. Even though there was an overwhelming sense of relief, there was still a ways to go, and the introduction of a new and more terrifying weapon waiting in the wings. But that was almost two months and many more battles away.

Here is General Eisenhower's complete address as it was broadcast live over CBS Radio on June 18, 1945.

On this March 22nd in 1941 we were already 567 days into the War in Europe. It had not officially involved us on a shooting basis and so it wasn't yet considered officially World War 2. But it was getting close.

On this particular day in 1941, the otherwise quiet town of Plymouth England was scene of the second straight night of German bombing, where damage was said to be slight, but loss of life was said to be high. The reason - much of the building in the city went back to the 1600's, long before the days of incendiary bombs and blockbusters. Military targets didn't sustain the damage the civilian targets did. And because of that, the British people felt Britain wasn't responding in kind, saying RAF raids on German cities were devoid of civilian targets and so the morale in Germany wasn't suffering as the result.

But even with criticism of the RAF, they still managed to stage successful raids on the Occupied French coast against several German submarine bases.

In other news - rumors were rife in the British press that the U.S. Navy was going to get involved in the convoy of War supplies across the Atlantic. If the rumors were true, it would be only a matter of time before Naval action would take place, and another step towards all-out war was inching closer. Also inching closer were rumors Yugoslavia would be joining the Axis. It was said to be only a matter of days.

In Berlin - it as learned that Conscientious Objectors were being dealt with harshly by the Nazi government. One church group in particular, a German arm of Jehovah's Witnesses, had five of its members stand trial on charges of sabotaging air raid protection, interfering with the War and belonging to an Anti-Military organization. One of it's members had already received a Death sentence while the others were awaiting prison sentences and other fates as-yet unknown.

On Capitol Hill - Congress passed a Military Appropriations Bill to the tune of $4Billion in less than four hours after its introduction. And a $15Billion Defense spending package was scheduled for approval in two weeks.

And that's what this day sounded like, via the NBC News Of The World for March 22, 1941.

How this day in 1987 was going to end up was anybody's guess, but in the morning, when this newscast went on the air, everything was up for grabs.

First off - President Reagan was getting ready to give his first press conference since November of '86. And since that one was such a nightmare, he was going into serious overtime rehearsing his appearance before the Fourth Estate, making sure no gaffes would come back to haunt him.

And for good reason; the Iran-Contra scandal was burned into everyone's consciousness and it showed no signs of letting up. Even vice-President Bush was fending off inquiries over a $1,000 contribution made by financier/pop-maven Adnan Khashoggi, who claimed the elder Bush was twisting arms like pretzels in search of cash for the Contras.

However, that didn't stop Congress from approving yet another $40 million outlay for the Contras, seeing as Reagan was holding the Veto card over everyone's head if they dared say no.

And to make sure things were going smoothly, the CIA was found to be supplying the Contras with maps and blueprints of all the dams, power systems and ports in helped put together in Nicaragua, just to be safe.

In other news, newly disgraced former White House aide Michael Deaver was trying desperately to stay out of jail, even though all signs were pointing to it. Seems his influence peddling was getting the best of him no matter what he was trying. The House passed the 65 mph speed limit with 55 mph advocates painting dire pictures of highway littered with bodies as the result.

And Bristol-Myers was optimistic that it may have developed an AIDS vaccine and wanted Capitol Hill permission to start testing it on humans.

And that's what March 19th sounded like in 1987, as presented by The CBS World News Roundup.

This February 24th in 1941 was marked by continued German bomber raids over London and various other cities in Britain overnight with casualties reported as "light". Britain responded with RAF raids over the German occupied port cities of Calais and Boulogne in France.

Meanwhile - Britain labeled as untrue reports of diplomatic proposals to Japan about the Far East. Both London and Tokyo denied any sort of overtures, although it was reported Britain did issue a warning if Japan made any moves on Indochina or the Dutch East Indies there would be trouble.

News from Bulgaria reported German troops were on the border, poised to move in, but nothing had been confirmed - only the waiting game. Turkey pledged alliance with Great Britain over the looming Bulgarian crisis.

London labeled as unconfirmed reports of increased U.S./UK collaboration in the war effort and Russia adamant about maintaining neutrality in light of the Bulgarian situation, despite the fact that German troops were massed on the Russian Border and Russian troops were massed back. Some neutrality, that.

Reports from Berlin announced Hitler was getting ready for an address to the German people. This on the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the founding of the National Socialist Party (established Feb. 24, 1920).

And on Capitol Hill - The Dies Committee (precursor to HUAC) reported claims that Russia had been secretly acting as an agent for the German government, with apparent evidence of a dramatic spike in goods shipped to Russia that just so happened to be on the German short-of-supply list. The State Department immediately called for an investigation over the allegations that America had been increasing its shipment of Cotton and Oil Drilling Parts to Russia in recent weeks.

There was also news of a Senate inquiry over Union strikes in the Defense industry and debate was about to begin on the latest Lease-Lend Bill.

For a war, it was a rather calm day, considering.

All reported on the morning roundup of news from NBC broadcast on February 24, 1941.

Fifty years ago today, just about every kid in every school around the country was herded into an auditorium, or had a TV or radio carted into their classroom and sat, glued to the spectacle going on in front of them for the better part of that day. Nothing else went on, it wasn't business as usual. We were busy witnessing something.

I'd like to say it seemed like yesterday but no, it really does seem like fifty years ago. John Glenn and his apt named space capsule Friendship 7 were doing something we only imagined before this day and it was borne out of that curiosity that was so prevalent in the Post-World War 2 era and The New Frontier of the Kennedy Years. Part of it was a result of the Cold War and our desire to be Number One in All Things Adventuresome. But most of it really was doing something that just hadn't been done before. Those of us who had our heads buried in the latest Science Fiction book or TV show or magazine article just thought it was the next logical step in Art versus Reality.

We were primed for this for a while. Ever since Alan Shepherd the year before, we knew it was only a matter of time. But there was also that thing in the back of our heads that asked "what if it goes wrong? What it if explodes? What if he's stuck up there?". We didn't really know what to expect.

But enough time has passed and enough discoveries have been made so we can now look at this particular day, unfolding long before most readers were born and shrug "not that big a deal". Hindsight is a lot more confident than the reality of the moment. And at that moment in 1962 the uncertainty prompted an otherwise staid announcer to yell "Go Baby, Go!", triggering an excited squeal from my elementary school auditorium and an admonishment from the school Principal that the TV would be turned off if we didn't calm down.

And that's how history presented itself on this day in 1962. The uncertainty of the future and the excitement of the possibilities. Even a Fifth Grader knew that.

Here is an excerpt of that day recapped via an NBC Radio Special report for February 20, 1962.

As Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov was laid to rest, the Politburo was quick to name Old Guard Hardliner Konstantin Chernenko as Andropov's successor as Party Chairman. Chernenko was quick to toss in his two cents by pledging increased military spending and taking a generally dim view of the West. Back to the Cold War, for now anyway.

Meanwhile, the Middle East was topic A of discussion with President Reagan hosting Jordan's King Hussein at the White House this day, and Egypt's Hosni Mubarak at the White House the following day over the subject of Lebanon.

In Sarajevo, the Winter Olympics were racing onward, with U.S. Women's Skiers winning Gold and Silver at the Giant Slalom event - with Debbie Armstrong winning Gold and Kristin Cooper winning Silver.

Supreme Court Justice Warren Berger had a few choice words for the Legal profession at the annual meet in Las Vegas. Berger told the rapt audience point-blank that there was too much waste in the area of frivolous lawsuits and it was no wonder lawyers were, as a breed, pretty much hated throughout the country.

Suspected Chinese spies were arraigned in New York Court this day. Angola Rebels were busy shooting down MIG's. Terrorists were busy bombing the border of Kashmir and India and it was discovered that in 1983, more money was spent by Washington Lobbyists than was paid in salaries to Congress.

And if that wasn't enough, it was announced later in the day that Texaco had filed for a merger with Getty Oil.

And on and on it went, as reported this February 13th in 1984 by The CBS World News Roundup and the 9:00 am (PST) hourly news.

Another day our news was absorbed with war - Cold and Korean.

February 2nd 1951 and reports came in of marginal advances towards Seoul on the 9th day of a UN offensive in Korea. Reports also came in of an alarming increase of Frostbite cases among the troops, with an estimated 10-20% of those cases requiring amputations of one sort or another. The question of morale was on the minds of many, including those responding to rumors from "high placed officials" that a line of defense would be established at the 38th Parallel in Korea. The rumors were flatly denied, saying it would be detrimental to the morale of the troops if such a strategy was considered. Ironically, it was - but at the time, no one would admit it.

General Eisenhower was scheduled to make an Address To The Nation at 10:45 pm (EST) on the need for an increase in military strength around the world, including Europe. It was hinted Gen. Eisenhower would ask to establish a military draft of 18 year olds to shore up the sagging troop numbers.

On Capitol Hill a call for relaxation of the Wage Freeze was being considered, as well as legal action against key participants in the Railroad strike, saying the strike was doing harm to the war effort as much needed winter supplies were being delayed in shipping as the result (i.e. the frostbite report).

And the fourth Atomic Test took place in Yucca Flats Nevada, with reports of sizable earth tremors being felt in Las Vegas and the explosion being clearly visible In Los Angeles, some 300 miles away.

Coinciding with news of the Nevada Tests it was also revealed that radioactive particles were turning up in snowfall around Canada and other parts of the Eastern U.S. - although the AEC were quick to assuage fears by claiming the amounts were only trace and posed no harm to living things. No mention of plants or ground water, but people and animals were in no direct fear of becoming radioactive.

And all of this talk of The Bomb, the War and The Soviet Union had Americans clamoring for institutions of religion. A dramatic uptick in Church attendance and construction of new churches, of religious studies at colleges and Universities led many to believe this was all the result of the overwhelming fear that had gripped the world in 1951. That somehow the world had just become too dangerous a place to live without some higher authority being consulted. Clearly, we were losing control.

And that's the way it looked on this February 2nd, 1951 as reported by Don Hollenbeck, substituting for Edward R. Murrow on Edward R. Murrow And The News over CBS Radio.

January 20th in 1980 came on a Sunday and most of the news this day had to do with events of the past week, with one notable exception.

News from the White House made it clear that Jimmy Carter would indeed impose a boycott on the Moscow Summer Olympics if the Soviet Union didn't withdraw from Afghanistan within the month. A scramble was on to suggest alternative sites, including a suggestion the Olympics have a permanent site in Athens. Aside from tacit support from the UK and a few other allies, the majority opinion was dead-against a move on such short notice.

Meanwhile, the UN unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the Soviet incursion. The Soviets in turn went on a Public Relations campaign, beginning with ejecting all foreign press from Afghanistan. This hot on the heels of expulsion of American press from Iran, based on "unkind portrayals" of the new regime. Last dispatches from Tehran did indicate growing dissatisfaction with the Khomeni government and news of rioting breaking out in various towns around Iran.

From Yugoslavia, word that Tito had to have his leg amputated and the operation was moderately successful. Still, it was a waiting game in Belgrade as there were no happy endings in the foreseeable future.

And to end the week, on a sad note. It was learned former Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas had passed away at age 81. A much admired and respected member of the Court, Douglas had been appointed by FDR when Justice Brandeis retired and was the longest serving member of the Supreme Court, from 1939-1975 and was, as Time Magazine said "the most doctrinaire and committed civil libertarian ever to sit on the court".

Some week. And it was reported on CBS Radio's The World This Week for Sunday January 20, 1980.

News on this January 12th in 1980 was just as skewed and drama-plagued as any other January day in 1980.

Starting off with word that UN voting on sanctions against Iran had been postponed from the previous night because of hints from Tehran there might be softening on demands for release of the American hostages.

The Hostage drama entered week #11.

In Iran, word of crackdowns on opposition came from Tabriz, where supporters of opposition leader Ayatollah Shariatmadari were rounded up and summarily executed by militia loyal to Ayatollah Khomeni. The end result were riots throughout Tabriz with businesses and banks looted and torched in protest.

Meanwhile, the Soviet excursion into Afghanistan was weighing on people's minds, with the US grain embargo being given support by everyone except Argentina.

Further fallout from Afghanistan came in guise of Canada, who offered the facilities of the former Montreal Olympics site as alternative to Moscow - although the offer wasn't exactly squared with the Montreal Expos who were using the stadium for baseball during the Summer.

In Africa, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) was readying for it's first legitimate Majority Rule general elections and relations between Salisbury and Mozambique took a rosy turn as the border re-opened and trade resumed between the two countries, who were only weeks before exchanging raids and artillery fire.

On the Domestic front - The Illinois State Legislature approved financial bailout for the bankrupt Chicago School System, the 3rd largest in the U.S.

And election season was heating up with the Iowa Caucuses poised to go on January 20th and word that Ted Kennedy was behind Jimmy Carter a whopping 25 points - but there was still 8 days to go.

And anything could (and would) happen by then.

And that's what that January 12th looked like in 1980, via Neil Strawser and The CBS World News Roundup.

The perfect day to stay in bed, this January 6th in 1983. And if you weren't comfortably snoring or sleeping it off you would probably have been knee deep in these tidbits of anxiety provoking news:

Pres. Reagan hinted there may be some new tax on the course ahead. Ironically, the new gasoline tax went into effect on this day, as did relaxation of regulations on trucking. President Reagan also promised substantial budget cuts while carefully avoiding the hot-button topic of Social Security.

Meanwhile, the nuclear powered Soviet Spy Satellite Cosmos 1402 was rumored to be out of orbit, spinning out of control and falling back to earth almost any day now. Moscow denied the rumors but kept a wary gaze skyward just in case.

Speaking of wary gazes, the Warsaw Pact proposed to NATO an agreement to renounce the use of military force and to outlaw or limit use of a vast array of weaponry including the infamous Neutron Bomb as well as deadly chemicals. NATO may or may not have stifled a chuckle.

Talks aimed at Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon entered Round 4, with the word stalemate stenciled on everyone's minds.

French authorities seized and boarded the ship Greenpeace as it entered Cherbourg harbor.

And a woman in Oregon succumbed to Cyanide poisoning thought to be delivered by an Anacin-3 capsule. In lieu of widespread panic, further tests were ordered to determine if the woman had committed suicide or if the capsules were in fact tampered with.

Collective breaths on this day were held, pending conclusion of all the above.

Just one of those days via Reid Collins and The CBS World News Roundup for January 6, 1983.