The NAACP and Its Architects

American Experience

History Series / 15 Seasons

American Experience, TV's most-watched history series, brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today.

Watch Latest: S37 E1

1h 52m / TV-14

FDR and Abusing Power: Reshaping the Supreme Court

2m 21s

President Roosevelt's attempt to reshape the Supreme Court landed short and drew criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. "It was a recognition on his part that he had lost some measure of power," says David Ginsburg, member of FDR's administration.

Truman on Military Service: Captain Harry

2m 50s

Captain Harry Truman's leadership during his first clash with the Germans made his men look at him in an entirely new light. "After a while they began to realize that this fellow with the eyeglasses and the bank clerk look about him was in fact a man of real determination," says David McCullough.

FDR's First Lady: Eleanor

1m 32s

Eleanor Roosevelt traveled more than 40,000 miles during FDR's first year as president. "Never before had a first lady taken to the road," says biographer Doris Kearns Goodwin. "She became his legs," says journalist Chalmers Roberts.

Nixon and Abusing Power: Nixon's Enemies List

2m 14s

President Nixon kept an "enemies list" of those who criticized him. He had these enemies targeted for tax audits or trailed by private detectives, and hired the "plumbers" to stop leaks.

FDR on Policing the World: Hitler's Threat

1m 53s

In 1938, Roosevelt faced growing aggression from Hitler, and broadcast a personal appeal to the German leader, asking him to halt further assaults. In reply, Hitler ridiculed the president with withering sarcasm.

Carter on the Enemy: Inflation

1m 22s

Jimmy Carter attempted to stop runaway inflation with a White House press conference in 1978. "Carter implored labor and business leaders to keep wages and prices down, and pressured Congress to cut back spending."

HW Bush and Military Service: Combat Pilot

1m 32s

George H.W. Bush was changed forever by his time as a combat pilot in World War II. "He had been taught not to show his emotions," says biographer Timothy Naftali, "so the public saw a slightly awkward man, who didn't seem quite ready to share his true self with them."

LBJ on Crises: Johnson's War

2m 37s

Protests against the Vietnam War turned personal, with students blaming LBJ for the way the war was going. "He was frustrated because he couldn't end it and because he thought he couldn't win it," says John Connally.

Carter on Lying: Campaigning on Honesty

51s

Jimmy Carter campaigned on a platform on honesty at a time when the nation sorely needed it. "The country had been through a horrible time, and Jimmy Carter represented honesty and decency," said journalist John Farrell.

Carter and Ending War: the Camp David Accords

2m 18s

President Carter's attempt at resolving the dispute between Israel and Egypt almost ended in failure. Egyptian President Sadat threatened to leave the talks at Camp David, but Carter used a personal approach to keep the talks going between Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Begin. The Camp David Accords would become Carter's greatest foreign policy achievement.

Truman, FDR and Age: A Careful Choice for Vice President

1m 17s

The focus was on the Vice Presidency during the 1944 Democratic National Convention. "It was in the minds of many delegates that whoever was nominated for Vice President could very well become President within the next four years," said Senator Harry Byrd.

Truman and Abusing Power: Drafting Striking Workers

2m 20s

When a new wave of striking unions shut down industries, Truman threatened to draft strikers into the army. "It was as high-handed, as unconstitutional, a measure as imaginable," says biographer David McCullough. "But he meant it."

Carter and Military Service: Nuclear Submarine Officer

1m 38s

Jimmy Carter learned punctuality, discipline, and order from his time in the Navy. Six years of hard work earned him the position of Senior Officer of the U.S.S. Seawolf.

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