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.

52m 54s

Nixon on Ending a War: Carpet Bombing

2m 49s

Nixon decided to use force to end the Vietnam War, and refused to explain the 12-day "Christmas Bombing" to the American people. "He thought it was diplomatically vital that he make this look as cold an operation as possible," says speechwriter Ray Price.

Reagan on Ending Wars: Ending the Cold War

2m 38s

Reagan "had this overriding conviction that a strong military face presented by the United States for a year or two would bring the hostile system to its knees," said official biographer Edmund Morris. But President Reagan needed to make concessions in order to reduce the nuclear threat.

Carter and Crisis: Rescuing Hostages

2m 9s

Mounting pressure to rescue hostages in Iran led Jimmy Carter to order a rescue operation. "We can no longer depend on diplomacy," said Carter in April. But when the "Desert One" operation failed, Carter took full responsibility.

Bush on Military Service: Bush vs. Reagan

1m 5s

A comparison of George Bush and Ronald Reagan. "In many ways, George Bush was what Reagan pretended to be," says the film's narrator, David Ogden Stiers. It seemed that Bush embodied all the characters Reagan had portrayed in film.

Truman on the Enemy: Sizing up Stalin

1m 49s

Truman's first impression of Joseph Stalin was favorable. "Truman had that very American idea," says historian David McCullough, "that if he could just meet the fellow, shake his hand, look him in the eye, size him up, then they could work together, work things out, and everything would be okay."

FDR and Lying: Lend-Lease

2m 6s

Roosevelt's Lend-lease plan -- which promised the return of American weapons after England used them -- "was patent nonsense," according to historian Robert Dallek. "What were the British going to do, give us the tanks back that were blown up, the planes that were shot down?"

Carter on the Enemy: Revolutionary Iran

1m 57s

Americans were held hostage at the US Embassy in Iran after Carter welcomed the Shah into the United States for medical treatment in 1979. "It was a defining event," says Pollster Pat Caddell. "This is the entire United States government captured, and held illegally under international law and being taunted everyday."

FDR on Lying: Hiding a Disability

2m 22s

The majority of the country did not know President Roosevelt was handicapped. "When he met Orson Welles, he said 'Orson, you and I are the two best actors in America,'" says biographer Hugh Gallagher. "And he was right."

Seabiscuit Preview

30s

Seabiscuit was dung-colored and boxy, with stumpy legs that wouldn't completely straighten, a straggly tail and an ungainly gait, but though he didn't look the part, he was one of the most remarkable thoroughbred racehorses in history.

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