American Masters

History Series / 11 Seasons

American Masters, committed to producing comprehensive film biographies about the broad cast of characters who comprise our cultural history.

1h 51m / TV-14

Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely

2m 20s

Follow the 50-year career of preeminent First Amendment lawyer Floyd Abrams. See how his landmark cases—from the Pentagon Papers to Citizens United to Clearview AI—helped define free speech as it is known today. Join Dan Abrams, Ari Melber, Nina Totenberg and more as they explore how Abrams' career has shaped major changes in law, public discourse and civic action since the 1960s.

The case that protected corporate spending in elections

2m 26s

During the 2008 presidential elections, Citizens United, a conservative non-profit organization, wanted to air a film criticizing then-democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Although Abrams disagreed with the politics of the film, he argued that Citizens United were within their rights to air the film, declaring that the First Amendment protects independent spending by corporations in elections.

When The New York Times published the Pentagon Papers

2m 22s

The New York Times sought the legal counsel of First Amendment lawyer Floyd Abrams after publishing the Pentagon Papers. The media organization was accused of being disloyal to the country, but Abrams successfully argued that The Times were within their First Amendment rights. The case later became known as a landmark case for protecting press freedom.

The history of the First Amendment

2m 48s

Did you know that the Supreme Court didn't begin interpreting the First Amendment as law until 1919? "We were making up, in a sense, First Amendment law as we went along," said lawyer Floyd Abrams. Free speech as we know it today was established through national security cases and gains made during the civil rights movement.

Dan Abrams on defending his father's work on Citizens United

3m 40s

In this outtake from "Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely," ABC News Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent Dan Abrams discusses how he admires his father for working on cases he may not necessarily agree with, including Citizens United.

The moment Jerry Brown found politics

1m 15s

While studying for the bar exam at the Governor's Mansion, Jerry Brown overheard his father talking politics. "There was a vitality and intensity, maybe like watching an exciting movie," recalls Brown. "But it wasn't a movie; it was a reality that was imaginable for me to be a part of."

Jerry Brown's second shot at governor

2m 12s

28 years after his first term, Jerry Brown runs for governor a second time and becomes the oldest sitting governor in California's history. "One of the things that made him so effective in his second tour as governor was that he remained what he'd always been, the un-politician's politician," said journalist and author Todd Purdum.

Jerry Brown: The Disrupter

2m 8s

Experience the political and personal journey of Jerry Brown, the longest serving governor in California history. First elected at 36 years old and again at 72, explore Brown’s 50-year career tackling climate change and inequality.

Thought Leaders: A series on innovative American thinkers

38s

Political discourse in the United States is shaped by audacious ideas of what a society should be. But who are the influencers and disruptors of American political thought that have paved the way for the systems that we currently have—and those still to come? Examine the lives of Floyd Abrams, Jerry Brown, Max Roach, William F. Buckley Jr., Cesar Chavez and Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

Big Freedia on Little Richard, music and the queer community

13m 48s

In this extended outtake from "Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock 'n' Roll" conducted by director James House, New Orleans bounce artist and performer Big Freedia reflects on the similarities between herself and Little Richard, and the impact he had on music on the queer community.

The king and queen of rock 'n' roll—and Sunset Boulevard

1m 33s

By 1985, Little Richard had abandoned rock 'n' roll, the music genre that he helped pioneer in the 1950s, and was living in a hotel in Los Angeles. "He would embrace people and they would ask him to sign autographs ... He would just wanna ride," said Ron Jones, his bandmate and friend.

Little Richard preaches the gospel

2m

Little Richard had a fervid relationship with religion, and even quit rock and roll music for religion once in 1957, only to return years later. He was regularly preaching in 1984, claiming that his days "should be spent now, at the age of 52, spreading the gospel."

The origins of "Tutti Frutti"

1m 41s

Little Richard first originated the famous "awop-bop-a-loo-mop alop-bam-boom" refrain in his hit song "Tutti Frutti" early in his career while performing at the Dew Drop Inn in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll

28s

Experience the meteoric rise and enduring legacy of Little Richard. This portrait of the “King and Queen of Rock and Roll” explores his far-reaching influence as well as his advocacy for the rights of Black artists in the music industry.

Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV

2m 31s

See the world through the eyes of Nam June Paik, the father of video art and coiner of the term “electronic superhighway.” Born in Japan-occupied Korea, Paik went on to become a pillar of the American avant-garde and transformed modern image-making with his sculptures, films and performances. Experience his creative evolution, as Academy Award nominee Steven Yeun reads from Paik's own writings.

Nam June Paik's communication problem

45s

In this excerpt narrated by Steven Yeun, Nam June Paik describes how everyday is a communication problem for him as a Korean immigrant living in the United States. "My problem is how to communicate better."

Preparing for a final opera performance

3m 5s

In this outtake from "J'Nai Bridges Unamplified," J'Nai prepares for her final appearance in "Written in Stone" at the Kennedy Center. The following day would be another momentous day for her, her world premiere in Adolphus Hailstork's "A Knee on the Neck." "It's been such a journey and as much as it is kind of sad to finish, I feel like a different person in a way."

The nomadic life of an opera singer

2m 38s

J'Nai Bridges meets with the Young Artists of Washington National Opera to talk about the pros, the cons and some of the loneliness surrounding life as an opera singer. "Opera singers are truly nomads," said J'Nai.

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