Original subtitles

Announcer: THREE, TWO, ONE...

[EXPLOSION]

Narrator: THIS IS THE STORY OF AMERICA,

SEEN IN COLOR FOR THE FIRST TIME.

[CROWD CHEERING]

THE 1950s.

THE AMERICAN DREAM COMES TRUE.

Alan Freed: WELCOME TO OUR ROCK 'N' ROLL JUBILEE OF STARS!

[FANS SCREAMING AND CHEERING]

Narrator: THE COUNTRY BASKS IN AN ECONOMIC BOOM...

AND STANDS AT THE PINNACLE OF WORLD POWER.

YET IT'S ALSO A TIME OF FEAR...

OF THE THREAT OF WAR...

AND ENEMIES, ABROAD AND AT HOME.

Joe McCarthy: EVEN IF THERE WERE ONLY ONE COMMUNIST

IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT,

THAT WOULD STILL BE ONE COMMUNIST TOO MANY.

Narrator: A NEW BATTLEGROUND EMERGES...

[BEEPING]

AND A CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IS BORN.

Mamie Till: FOR HIM TO HAVE DIED A HERO

WOULD MEAN MORE TO ME THAN FOR HIM JUST TO HAVE DIED.

Narrator: THE IMPACT WILL BE FELT FOR DECADES TO COME.

*

[GIRLS SCREAMING]

*

John F. Kennedy: I WANT US TO RECAPTURE THAT.

*

*

Narrator: JANUARY 4, 1950.

[APPLAUSE]

A YEAR INTO HIS SECOND TERM,

PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN DELIVERS HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.

[APPLAUSE]

Harry Truman: THE HUMAN RACE HAS REACHED A TURNING POINT.

MAN HAS OPENED THE SECRETS OF NATURE AND MASTERED NEW POWERS.

IF HE USES THEM WISELY,

HE CAN REACH NEW HEIGHTS OF CIVILIZATION.

IF HE USES THEM FOOLISHLY, THEY MAY DESTROY HIM.

Narrator: TRUMAN IS TROUBLED BY A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION

THAT TOOK PLACE FOUR MONTHS EARLIER

SOME 6,000 MILES AWAY.

THE SOVIET UNION TESTED ITS FIRST ATOMIC BOMB,

SHOCKING THE UNITED STATES.

AMERICANS BELIEVED THEY WERE THE WORLD'S ONLY NUCLEAR POWER.

NOW THE COUNTRY CONFRONTS A STUNNING NEW THREAT.

Truman: OTHER NATIONS LOOK TO US

FOR OUR WISE EXERCISE OF OUR ECONOMIC AND MILITARY STRENGTH.

WE WILL NOT FAIL THEM.

Narrator: THE U.S. GOVERNMENT

SUSPECTS THAT THE RUSSIANS USED SPIES

TO STEAL AMERICA'S NUCLEAR SECRETS.

JULY 17, 1950.

NEW YORK CITY.

32-YEAR-OLD COMMUNIST

AND FORMER U.S. ARMY ENGINEER JULIUS ROSENBERG

IS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY THE FBI.

A MONTH LATER, HIS WIFE ETHEL IS ARRESTED, TOO.

THEY'RE ACCUSED OF RUNNING A NETWORK OF SOVIET SPIES

AT THE TOP-SECRET FACILITIES THAT BUILT THE ATOM BOMB.

FOUND GUILTY OF BETRAYING THEIR COUNTRY,

THEY ARE SENTENCED TO DEATH.

SOME INSIST THAT THE ROSENBERGS ARE INNOCENT.

[SHOUTING]

[WHISTLE BLOWING]

BUT MOST AMERICANS BELIEVE

THAT THE THREAT OF COMMUNISM IS NOT ONLY REAL,

BUT RISING.

ON JUNE 25, 1950,

COMMUNIST NORTH KOREA, SUPPORTED BY THE SOVIETS AND CHINA,

INVADES U.S.-BACKED SOUTH KOREA.

[ARTILLERY FIRE]

[EXPLOSIONS]

TRUMAN SENDS AMERICAN FORCES TO DEFEND SOUTH KOREA,

DETERMINED NOT TO LOSE ANY MORE TERRITORY TO THE COMMUNISTS.

*

GENERAL DOUGLAS MacARTHUR,

A HERO OF THE PACIFIC DURING WORLD WAR II,

IS PUT IN CHARGE OF 141,000 ALLIED TROOPS IN KOREA.

*

[WHISTLING]

[EXPLOSIONS]

IN MID-SEPTEMBER, MacARTHUR DELIVERS A STUNNING VICTORY

AT THE BATTLE OF INCHON,

PUSHING THE NORTH KOREANS OUT OF THE SOUTH.

[GUNFIRE]

TO MANY, MacARTHUR LOOKS LIKE A MAN

WHO CAN WIN THE WAR ON COMMUNISM,

AND POSSIBLY EVEN BECOME THE NEXT PRESIDENT.

OCTOBER 15th.

TRUMAN FLIES TO WAKE ISLAND IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN

TO MEET WITH HIS IMPERIOUS GENERAL.

*

TRUMAN IS EAGER TO ALIGN HIMSELF WITH MacARTHUR'S WAR-HERO IMAGE.

Reporter: PLANS FOR THE FUTURE KOREAN CAMPAIGNS

WERE DISCUSSED IN A SIMPLE RADIO SHACK,

AND FAR-REACHING DECISIONS WERE OBTAINED.

Narrator: BUT THEIR SMILES SOON GIVE WAY TO A BITTER DISPUTE...

THAT WILL BRING ONE OF THEM DOWN.

[ARTILLERY FIRE]

TWO WEEKS LATER,

COMMUNIST CHINA ENTERS THE WAR

AND PUSHES THE U.S. FORCES INTO RETREAT.

[EXPLOSIONS AND GUNFIRE]

TO RETALIATE, MacARTHUR DEMANDS AUTHORITY FROM TRUMAN

TO BOMB CHINA.

FEARING ALL-OUT NUCLEAR WAR WITH THE SOVIETS,

TRUMAN REFUSES.

ON MARCH 20, 1951,

GENERAL MacARTHUR MAKES HIS DISAGREEMENT WITH TRUMAN PUBLIC

IN A LETTER TO SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

JOSEPH MARTIN.

MacARTHUR IS NOW PUBLICLY CHALLENGING THE PRESIDENT,

HIS COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

*

AT STAKE:

THE PRINCIPLE OF CIVILIAN CONTROL OF THE MILITARY

ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION.

THEIR CONFLICT COMES TO A HEAD ON APRIL 11, 1951.

THE PRESIDENT ADDRESSES THE NATION.

Truman: I BELIEVE THAT WE MUST TRY TO LIMIT THE WAR TO KOREA

TO PREVENT A THIRD WORLD WAR.

A NUMBER OF EVENTS HAVE MADE IT EVIDENT

THAT GENERAL MacARTHUR DID NOT AGREE WITH THAT POLICY.

I HAVE THEREFORE CONSIDERED IT ESSENTIAL

TO RELIEVE GENERAL MacARTHUR.

Narrator: TRUMAN FIRES MacARTHUR.

HE'S GAMBLING THAT MacARTHUR'S POPULARITY WILL PASS.

*

SIX DAYS AFTER HIS DISMISSAL, MacARTHUR RETURNS TO THE STATES.

*

HE ADDRESSES CONGRESS AS AN AMERICAN HERO.

General MacArthur: WELL, I STILL REMEMBER THE REFRAIN

OF ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BARRACK BALLADS OF THAT DAY,

WHICH PROCLAIMED MOST PROUDLY...

THAT OLD SOLDIERS NEVER DIE;

THEY JUST FADE AWAY.

Narrator: BUT MacARTHUR HAS NO INTENTION OF FADING AWAY.

ON APRIL 20, 1951,

NEW YORKERS TURN OUT FOR A PARADE IN HIS HONOR.

[CHEERING]

7.5 MILLION PEOPLE PACK THE STREETS.

*

TRUMAN, SEEN HERE TAKING HIS DAILY WALK AROUND WASHINGTON,

IS AN EMBATTLED PRESIDENT.

THE WAR IN KOREA IS UNPOPULAR,

AND ISSUES ON THE HOMEFRONT

ALL LEAD TO A PLUMMET IN HIS APPROVAL RATING, TO 22%,

THE LOWEST NUMBER SINCE RECORDS BEGAN.

*

BUT TRUMAN AND HIS DEMOCRATIC PARTY

HAVE AN ACE UP THEIR SLEEVES.

SIX YEARS AFTER THE END OF WORLD WAR II,

AMERICA IS WEALTHIER THAN EVER.

TWO-THIRDS OF AMERICANS NOW LIVE IN URBAN AREAS,

ATTRACTED BY BOOMING JOB MARKETS.

BUT CITY LIVING SPACE IS AT A PREMIUM.

MARRIAGE RATES AMONG THE RETURNING WAR VETERANS

ARE SOARING.

NEARLY 4 MILLION BABY BOOMERS ARE BEING BORN EACH YEAR.

THESE NEW YOUNG FAMILIES

SOON START TO LOOK FOR SPACE OUTSIDE THE CITY.

[EXPLOSION]

A FAMILY NAMED THE LEVITTS SEES A MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY.

DURING WORLD WAR II,

WILLIAM LEVITT SERVED AS A LIEUTENANT IN THE SEABEES,

THE CONSTRUCTION ARM OF THE NAVY.

HE RETURNS TO THE FAMILY BUILDING BUSINESS WITH A PLAN:

USE THE MILITARY METHOD

TO MASS-PRODUCE HOMES ON OLD FARMLAND.

THAT WAY, HE CAN CREATE NEW COMMUNITIES OVERNIGHT.

William Levitt: WE HAVE TO BUILD HOUSES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN,

WE HAVE TO BUILD A WATER SYSTEM AND A SEWER SYSTEM.

WE HAVE TO SET UP A POLICE DEPARTMENT,

PUT IN ROADS, ERECT STREET LIGHTS

SO THAT PEOPLE COULD FEEL SECURE.

Narrator: FARMHOUSES ARE BURNT DOWN AND BULLDOZED

TO MAKE WAY FOR THOUSANDS OF NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES

BUILT IN ORDERLY LOTS.

WILLIAM'S BROTHER ALFRED IS THE DESIGNER.

HIS METHOD IS TO BREAK DOWN THE BUILDING OF EACH HOME

INTO 27 UNIFORM STAGES.

STOP-MOTION FOOTAGE

SHOWS AN ENTIRE HOUSE BEING PUT UP IN A SINGLE DAY.

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ARE EACH TRAINED TO DO JUST ONE STAGE.

*

Reporter: THESE ARE THE 36 MEN WHO BUILT THIS HOUSE.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER 40 HOUSES.

Narrator: WILLIAM LEVITT CALLS THE DEVELOPMENTS LEVITTOWNS.

THIS IS LEVITTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

*

AROUND THE COUNTRY,

THE LEVITTS BUILD NEARLY 38,000 HOUSES BY 1958.

THE MASS-PRODUCED DWELLINGS SELL FOR JUST UNDER $10,000 EACH.

YOUNG FAMILIES FLOCK TO BUY A PIECE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.

IT'S THE GOOD LIFE,

IN THE SUBURBS.

*

BUT THE SHADOWS OF COMMUNISM AND THE ATOMIC BOMB

ARE NEVER FAR AWAY.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA.

MARCH 1953.

*

NEWSPAPER REPORTER LOUIS HARRIS FROM AUGUSTA, GEORGIA,

IS ASSIGNED TO COVER A UNIQUE EVENT

STAGED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

HARRIS BRINGS HIS OWN HOME MOVIE CAMERA.

Reporter: AT LAS VEGAS,

NEWSMEN AND PHOTOGRAPHERS ARRIVE FROM ALL OVER THE NATION

TO COVER AN EVENT THAT HAS A DIRECT BEARING

ON THE WELFARE OF EVERY AMERICAN FAMILY.

Narrator: THEY ARE TAKEN 75 MILES INTO THE DESERT

WHERE AN ATOMIC BOMB IS TO BE DETONATED

FOR THE FIRST TIME ON LIVE TV.

THE TEST WILL RECORD THE EFFECTS OF AN A-BOMB

ON THE AVERAGE AMERICAN HOME.

50 CARS AND TWO WOODEN FRAME HOUSES

ARE PLACED WITHIN THE BLAST ZONE.

*

Reporter: WITHIN THE HOUSE,

SCENES TYPICAL OF THE AMERICAN FAMILY AT HOME.

FIRST FLOOR LIVING ROOM, FIRST FLOOR DINING ROOM.

CHILDREN AT PLAY, UNAWARE OF APPROACHING DISASTER.

Narrator: MARCH 17th.

8 MILLION VIEWERS TUNE IN TO THE UNPRECEDENTED BROADCAST.

Announcer: 3...2...1...ZERO.

[EXPLOSION]

Narrator: AND WITNESS THE TERRIFYING POWER

OF AN ATOMIC BOMB.

[EXPLOSION]

HARRIS CAPTURES THIS RARE AMATEUR FOOTAGE

OF THE DEVASTATING BLAST.

[EXPLOSION]

Reporter: HOUSE NUMBER ONE--

FIRST FLOOR DISINTEGRATED,

SECOND FLOOR COLLAPSED.

IN HOUSE NUMBER TWO,

A CRACKED BEAM ABOVE THE BASEMENT BOX-TYPE SHELTER.

BUT WITHIN, THIS FAMILY, WHICH WAS PREPARED,

WAS NEITHER MOVED NOR HARMED.

Narrator: AMERICANS EVERYWHERE

WANT TO KNOW HOW TO SURVIVE THIS KIND OF TERRIFYING ATTACK.

DRILLS IN SCHOOLS BECOME ROUTINE.

[SIREN]

PUBLIC SHELTERS ARE IDENTIFIED IN EVERY CITY.

[SIREN]

* DUM DUM...

Narrator: AND BERT THE TURTLE PREPARES EVERYONE

TO "DUCK AND COVER."

* THERE WAS A TURTLE BY THE NAME OF BERT *

* AND BERT THE TURTLE WAS VERY ALERT *

* WHEN DANGER THREATENED HIM HE NEVER GOT HURT *

* HE KNEW JUST WHAT TO DO

* HE'D DUCK AND COVER...

Narrator: CALMING THE NATION'S FEARS

IS A NEW AND VERY POPULAR LEADER.

JANUARY 20, 1953.

THE VICTORIOUS WORLD WAR II GENERAL DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

IS INAUGURATED AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

Dwight Eisenhower: I, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER,

DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR...

Fred Vinson: THAT YOU WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE OFFICE...

Narrator: HE PROMISES TO END THE WAR IN KOREA.

Eisenhower: THIS CONFLICT STRIKES DIRECTLY

AT THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS AND AT THE LIVES OF OUR SONS.

WE WISH OUR FRIENDS THE WORLD OVER TO KNOW THIS ABOVE ALL:

WE FACE THE THREAT,

NOT WITH DREAD AND CONFUSION,

BUT WITH CONFIDENCE AND CONVICTION.

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

Narrator: SEVEN MONTHS LATER,

WITH SOVIET LEADER JOSEF STALIN DEAD

AND ENEMY FORCES IN KOREA EXHAUSTED,

EISENHOWER FORCES AN ARMISTICE AND BRINGS THE TROOPS HOME.

*

[APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]

AMERICANS ARE HAPPY TO HAVE THEIR SOLDIERS BACK.

*

[CHEERING]

*

THOUGH EISENHOWER HAS HELD OFF

THE THREAT OF COMMUNISM OVERSEAS,

FEAR OF THE REDS INSIDE AMERICA IS GROWING STEADILY WORSE.

Joseph McCarthy: ONE COMMUNIST AT ONE UNIVERSITY

IS ONE COMMUNIST TOO MANY.

[CHEERING]

Narrator: SINCE 1950,

WISCONSIN SENATOR JOSEPH McCARTHY

HAS BEEN ACCUSING THE GOVERNMENT AND LEADING UNIVERSITIES

OF HARBORING COMMUNISTS.

McCarthy: ONE COMMUNIST AMONG THE AMERICAN ADVISORS AT YALTA

WAS ONE COMMUNIST TOO MANY.

[CHEERING]

Narrator: AT THE 1952 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION,

HE INFLAMES FEARS THAT DOMESTIC COMMUNISTS

ARE SECRETLY PLOTTING TO BETRAY AMERICA.

[CHEERING]

McCarthy: EVEN IF THERE'S ONLY ONE COMMUNIST

IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT,

THAT WOULD STILL BE ONE COMMUNIST TOO MANY.

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

Narrator: McCARTHY IS AMBITIOUS AND RUTHLESS.

HIS SENSATIONAL BUT OFTEN BASELESS CHARGES

WIN HIM ATTENTION AND POWER.

IN JANUARY 1953,

AS REPUBLICANS TAKE CONTROL OF THE SENATE,

HE BECOMES CHAIRMAN OF A COMMITTEE

THAT CAN COMPEL PEOPLE TO TESTIFY.

[BANGING]

McCARTHY RUNS HIS INVESTIGATIONS IN PARALLEL

WITH THE HOUSE UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE,

WHICH HAS BEEN HUNTING FOR COMMUNISTS SINCE THE 1930s.

Man: HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY?

Man: I AM FRAMING MY ANSWER

IN THE ONLY WAY IN WHICH ANY AMERICAN...

Narrator: ITS MOST CELEBRATED TARGETS

ARE A GROUP OF ACTORS, WRITERS, AND DIRECTORS

CALLED "THE HOLLYWOOD TEN."

Man: YOU REFUSE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. IS THAT CORRECT?

Narrator: STARS COME EAST TO STAND UP TO THE COMMITTEE,

INCLUDING ACTORS HUMPHREY BOGART AND LAUREN BACALL.

ONE OF THE FIRST TO SPEAK IS RONALD REAGAN.

Ronald Reagan: I DO NOT BELIEVE

THAT THE COMMUNISTS HAVE EVER AT ANY TIME

BEEN ABLE TO USE THE MOTION PICTURE SCREEN

AS A SOUNDING BOARD FOR HIS PHILOSOPHY OR IDEOLOGY.

Man: ...WITH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC,

AND THEY WILL KNOW WHERE I STAND,

AS THEY DO FROM WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN.

Narrator: BUT THE STAIN OF ACCUSATION

ENDS COUNTLESS HOLLYWOOD CAREERS.

*

IN EARLY 1954, WITH HIS POWER AT ITS PEAK,

SENATOR McCARTHY TAKES A GAMBLE.

ARMED WITH THE FLIMSIEST OF EVIDENCE,

HE TAKES ON A RESPECTED INSTITUTION:

THE U.S. ARMY.

HE CLAIMS IT IS INFILTRATED BY COMMUNISTS

AND THAT SENIOR OFFICERS ARE TURNING A BLIND EYE.

McCarthy: IF A STUPID, ARROGANT, OR WITLESS MAN

IN A POSITION OF POWER

APPEARS BEFORE OUR COMMITTEE

AND IS FOUND AIDING THE COMMUNIST PARTY,

HE WILL BE EXPOSED.

THE FACT THAT HE MIGHT BE A GENERAL

PLACES HIM IN NO SPECIAL CLASS, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

*

Narrator: THE EXPLOSIVE CHARGES

TRIGGER PUBLIC HEARINGS IN THE SENATE.

LIVE TV COVERAGE PROVIDES MILLIONS OF AMERICANS

WITH THEIR FIRST SUSTAINED LOOK AT THE CRUSADING SENATOR

AND HIS BARE-KNUCKLE METHODS.

McCarthy: THIS COMMITTEE'S ACTIVITIES MAY WELL DETERMINE

WHETHER THIS NATION WILL LIVE OR DIE.

Man: I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR

THAT THE UNITED STATES ARMY DOES NOT CODDLE COMMUNISTS.

THIS COMMITTEE KNOWS THAT.

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW THAT.

Narrator: FOR OVER A MONTH,

McCARTHY AND HIS TEAM EXCHANGE FIRE WITH THE ARMY'S COUNSEL.

McCarthy: YOU SHOULDN'T DO THAT, MR. SYMINGTON.

THAT'S JUST DISHONEST.

THAT'S THE SAME THING

THAT THE COMMUNIST PARTY HAS BEEN DOING FOR TOO LONG.

Symington: MR. CHAIRMAN,

APPARENTLY EVERY TIME ANYBODY SAYS ANYTHING

AGAINST ANYBODY WORKING FOR SENATOR McCARTHY,

HE IS SMEARING THEM AND ACCUSING THEM OF BEING COMMUNISTS.

McCarthy: HE RUNS AWAY. HE WON'T ANSWER THE QUESTION.

Narrator: JUNE 9, 1954.

A LAWYER FOR THE ARMY, JOSEPH WELCH,

DEMANDS THAT McCARTHY'S STAFF

RELEASE ITS SECRET LIST OF ALLEGED ARMY SUBVERSIVES.

McCarthy: ...THE COMMUNIST PARTY HAS BEEN DOING

FOR TOO LONG.

Narrator: McCARTHY RESPONDS BY DREDGING UP A PAST LINK

BETWEEN A YOUNG LAWYER IN WELCH'S FIRM

AND THE COMMUNIST PARTY.

McCarthy: I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE ANY CONCEPTION

OF THE DANGER OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY.

Narrator: AFTER YEARS OF BULLYING HIS VICTIMS,

McCARTHY IS SMUG AND CONFIDENT.

BUT WELCH COUNTER-ATTACKS.

Joseph Welch: UNTIL THIS MOMENT, SENATOR,

I THINK I NEVER REALLY GAUGED YOUR CRUELTY

OR YOUR RECKLESSNESS.

IF IT WERE IN MY POWER TO FORGIVE YOU

FOR YOUR RECKLESS CRUELTY,

I WOULD DO SO.

I LIKE TO THINK I'M A GENTLE MAN,

BUT YOUR...

FORGIVENESS

WILL HAVE TO COME

FROM SOMEONE OTHER THAN ME.

McCarthy: MR. CHAIRMAN...

Narrator: MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WATCH.

McCarthy: HE WAS JUST BAITING...

Welch: SENATOR, MAY WE NOT DROP THIS?

LET US NOT ASSASSINATE THIS LAD FURTHER, SENATOR.

YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH.

HAVE YOU NO SENSE OF DECENCY, SIR?

AT LONG LAST, HAVE YOU LEFT NO SENSE OF DECENCY?

Narrator: McCARTHY'S GAMBLE--

TAKING ON THE ARMY--

BACKFIRES.

McCarthy: MR. WELCH HERE HAS, UM...

Narrator: HIS CHARGES DON'T STICK.

MANY IN HIS OWN PARTY TURN AGAINST HIM.

SIX MONTHS LATER, THE SENATE OFFICIALLY CENSURES HIM.

HIS REIGN OF TERROR IS OVER,

AND HIS REPUTATION IN TATTERS.

HE FALLS INTO THE GRIP OF ALCOHOLISM,

WHICH, IN 1957, KILLS HIM AT THE AGE OF 48.

McCARTHY, IN MANY WAYS,

WAS DESTROYED BY THE POWER OF TELEVISION--

A POWER THAT IN THE 1950s WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO GROW.

*

BY 1954,

OVER HALF OF AMERICAN HOMES CONTAIN A TELEVISION SET...

*

* OH, I'M AS HAPPY AS I CAN BE

*

Narrator: CREATING AN ENORMOUS NEW AUDIENCE FOR ADVERTISING.

*

Announcer: TWO, ONE,

AND WE'RE ON THE AIR.

*

Woman: I DREAMED I WENT RIDING IN MY VERY FAVORITE CONVERTIBLE

WITH MY VERY FAVORITE BOYFRIEND.

Narrator: CHEVY'S BEL AIR CONVERTIBLE

IS RELEASED IN 1953.

WITH ITS ICONIC CURVED WINDSHIELD

AND CHROME INTERIORS,

IT SOON BECOMES A BEST-SELLER.

AMERICANS ARE SIMPLY CAR-CRAZY.

THESE FUTURA CARS ARE ON DISPLAY IN NEW YORK IN 1956.

AMERICANS NOW OWN

OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF THE WORLD'S AUTOMOBILES.

THEY HELP TRANSFORM THE NATION.

THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE

IS ONE OF AMERICA'S FIRST FOUR-LANE HIGHWAYS.

ALL 118 MILES OF IT ARE BUILT IN JUST 23 MONTHS,

OPENING IN 1952.

Announcer: THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE

CAN FACE ANY NEW TRIALS BY TRAFFIC,

WITH CONFIDENCE THAT IT HAS PAVED THE WAY

TO A NEW AGE IN ROAD BUILDING.

Narrator: THE ROAD IS DESIGNED WITH AS FEW CURVES AS POSSIBLE

AND LANES TWO FEET WIDER THAN USUAL

TO ALLOW SPEEDS OF UP TO 75 MILES PER HOUR.

*

THIS HIGH-SPEED ROAD

CHANGES THE FACE OF AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION.

Announcer: THE PRESSING NEED TODAY

IS TO EXTEND THE TURNPIKE FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY

THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

IN A NATIONAL NETWORK OF SUPER-HIGHWAYS,

BUILT FOR SPEED AND COMFORT.

Narrator: PRESIDENT EISENHOWER

CHAMPIONS PLANS TO SPEND $27 BILLION

ON 40,000 MILES OF NEW INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS...

THAT WILL TAKE 35 YEARS TO COMPLETE.

THE NETWORK CONTINUES TO EXPAND TODAY.

THIS VAST NEW ROAD NETWORK

ENABLES PEOPLE TO DRIVE FURTHER AND FASTER THAN EVER BEFORE.

BUT THESE ROADS MAY ALSO BE GOOD FOR MILITARY USE.

MANY OVERPASSES ARE 17 FEET HIGH,

WHICH ALLOWS CLEARANCE FOR NUCLEAR MISSILE TRANSPORTERS.

EISENHOWER IS PREPARING AMERICA FOR A FOREIGN ATTACK.

BUT DANGER ALSO LOOMS FROM A BITTER BATTLE HERE AT HOME...

OVER CIVIL RIGHTS.

IN 1954, IN THE SOUTH,

RACIAL SEGREGATION IS STILL MANDATED BY LAW.

BLACKS MUST USE SEPARATE FACILITIES,

WHICH WHITES SAY ARE STILL EQUAL.

BUT AFRICAN AMERICANS, IN FACT,

ARE TREATED AS SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS.

*

IN KANSAS, THE FAMILIES OF 20 BLACK SCHOOLCHILDREN

ARE FIGHTING A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT

AGAINST THE TOPEKA BOARD OF EDUCATION'S SEGREGATED SCHOOLS.

THEY TAKE THEIR BATTLE TO THE SUPREME COURT.

PROMINENT BLACK ATTORNEY THURGOOD MARSHALL

SPEAKS FOR THE FAMILIES.

Thurgood Marshall: WE BELIEVE THAT THE PROPER PLACE

FOR THE ISSUE OF SEGREGATION AND ANYTHING CONNECTED WITH IT

IS IN A COURT.

Narrator: ON MAY 17, 1954,

THEY WIN THE CASE.

THE SUPREME COURT OUTLAWS SEGREGATION IN SCHOOLS.

THE LEGAL UNDERPINNINGS OF RACISM ARE SWEPT AWAY.

BUT THIS VICTORY FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

INFURIATES A GROUP DETERMINED TO UPHOLD WHITE SUPREMACY:

THE KU KLUX KLAN.

Man: I FOR ONE

UNDER GOD WILL DIE BEFORE I'LL YIELD ONE INCH

TO THAT KIND OF A MOVEMENT.

Narrator: OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS,

MORE THAN 15 AFRICAN-AMERICAN HOMES

WILL BE BOMBED IN RACIST ATTACKS.

AND IN 1955,

AN UGLY RACIAL INCIDENT IN THE SOUTH

SHOCKS THE NATION.

14-YEAR-OLD EMMETT TILL FROM CHICAGO

IS VISITING RELATIVES IN MONEY, MISSISSIPPI.

ON AUGUST 24th, A 21-YEAR-OLD WHITE WOMAN, CAROLYN BRYANT,

ACCUSES EMMETT OF WHISTLING AT HER.

IT MIGHT NOT HAVE MEANT MUCH IN CHICAGO,

BUT IN MISSISSIPPI, THERE IS RAGE.

*

TWO WHITE MEN KIDNAP EMMETT.

THEY TAKE HIM TO A RIVERBANK,

WHERE HE IS BEATEN, SHOT, AND KILLED.

*

SEPTEMBER 3, 1955.

CHICAGO.

EMMETT'S MOTHER MAMIE HOLDS HIS FUNERAL.

*

Mamie Till: IF THE DEATH OF MY SON

CAN MEAN SOMETHING

TO THE OTHER UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD,

THEN FOR HIM TO HAVE DIED A HERO

WOULD MEAN MORE TO ME THAN FOR HIM JUST TO HAVE DIED.

Narrator: IT TAKES THREE DAYS FOR ALL WHO HAVE COME

TO MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE CHURCH.

MAMIE TILL INSISTS THAT EMMETT'S COFFIN REMAIN OPEN.

SHE WANTS THE WORLD TO SEE JUST WHAT WAS DONE TO HER SON.

[SOBBING]

ONE IN EVERY FIVE MOURNERS, MAMIE IS TOLD,

NEEDS HELP TO LEAVE THE BUILDING.

THE SHOCKING SCENES ARE SHOWN ON NATIONAL TELEVISION.

AND NINE DAYS LATER,

EMMETT'S BEATEN FACE IS SHOWN IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESS,

IN JET MAGAZINE

AND THE CHICAGO DEFENDER NEWSPAPER.

THE IMAGE HORRIFIES AMERICA.

[SOBBING]

SEPTEMBER 19th, SUMNER, MISSISSIPPI.

THE TWO MEN ACCUSED OF MURDERING EMMETT

ARE CAROLYN BRYANT'S HUSBAND ROY

AND HIS FRIEND, J.W. MILAM.

THE TRIAL IS COVERED ON NATIONAL TELEVISION.

[BELL TOLLS]

FOR THE FIRST TIME,

MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WILL SEE SOUTHERN JUSTICE FOR THEMSELVES.

THE TRIAL LASTS FOR ONLY FIVE DAYS.

THE ALL-WHITE JURY DELIBERATES FOR 67 MINUTES...

AND FINDS THE MEN NOT GUILTY.

[CHEERING]

FOUR MONTHS LATER,

IN A "LOOK" MAGAZINE INTERVIEW FOR WHICH THEY ARE PAID $4,000,

BRYANT AND MILAM BOTH ADMIT TO THE MURDER.

BUT THE DOUBLE JEOPARDY RULE

MEANS THEY CANNOT BE TRIED AGAIN.

THEY ARE NEVER PUNISHED FOR THEIR CRIME.

100 DAYS AFTER EMMETT TILL'S MURDER,

42-YEAR-OLD ROSA PARKS IS RIDING IN THE BLACK SECTION OF A BUS

IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA,

WHEN A WHITE MAN BOARDS.

ALL THE WHITE SEATS ARE TAKEN.

Rosa Parks: THE DRIVER DEMANDED THAT I GIVE THE SEAT UP

FOR A WHITE MAN.

I DIDN'T FEEL THAT I WAS BEING TREATED AS A HUMAN BEING.

I REFUSED TO GIVE UP THIS SEAT.

I SAID NO, AND I WOULDN'T GIVE IT UP.

Narrator: PARKS SAYS LATER,

"I THOUGHT OF EMMETT TILL. I JUST COULDN'T MOVE."

SHE IS ARRESTED,

FOUND GUILTY OF VIOLATING SEGREGATION LAWS,

AND FINED $10.

HER DEFIANT ACTION

INSPIRES BLACK PEOPLE TO PROTEST SEGREGATION ON THE BUSES

BY REFUSING TO RIDE THEM.

MANY BLACKS IN MONTGOMERY WALK MILES TO WORK EACH DAY.

IMAGES OF EMPTY BUSES AND PEACEFUL PROTESTORS

ON NATIONAL TV

RECRUIT MANY TO THE CAUSE OF EQUAL RIGHTS.

THE BUS BOYCOTT CONTINUES FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

THE MONTGOMERY BUS LINES FACE BANKRUPTCY.

THE LEADERS OF THE PROTEST ALSO TAKE THEIR BATTLE TO THE COURTS.

ON NOVEMBER 13, 1956,

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RULES

THAT SEGREGATION ON ALABAMA BUSES

IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

BUT FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT,

THE STRUGGLE IS FAR FROM OVER.

*

BY 1955, AMERICANS ARE EXPERIENCING A GOLDEN DECADE.

AMERICA IS THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

*

EMPLOYMENT IS HIGH,

WAGES ARE RISING.

FAMILIES LIKE THE NYES FROM COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA,

HAVE CASH TO SPLASH ON AIR TRAVEL AND VACATIONS.

THEIR CHILDREN, DOUGLAS AND NELLE,

REAP THE BENEFITS.

THEY'RE PART OF A NEW GENERATION FLOODING THE MARKET--

TEENAGERS.

TEEN GIRLS SPEND $8.2 MILLION A YEAR ON LIPSTICK.

SO WHILE THEIR PARENTS WORRY ABOUT THE A-BOMB,

MOST TEENAGERS JUST WANT TO HAVE A BLAST.

DANCING BECOMES SO POPULAR

THAT MOST LOCAL URBAN TELEVISION STATIONS

HAVE A WEEKLY TEEN DANCE SHOW,

LIKE THIS ONE IN IOWA.

*

LOCAL TEENS GET THE CHANCE TO TRY OUT THE LATEST DANCE MOVES

AND BE ON TELEVISION.

*

Announcer: AND HERE HE IS IN PERSON,

ALAN FREED!

[APPLAUSE]

Alan Freed: HELLO, EVERYBODY, HOW Y'ALL?

WELCOME TO OUR JUBILEE OF STARS!

*

Narrator: CLEVELAND RADIO DJ ALAN FREED

ROCKETS TO FAME AND MOVIE STARDOM

BY PLAYING RHYTHM AND BLUES--

TRADITIONALLY AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC.

*

FREED POPULARIZES A NAME FOR THIS NEW SOUND--

ROCK 'N' ROLL.

*

Freed: NOW, NAIL DOWN THE ROOF, GANG,

BECAUSE HERE'S A NEW ACT THAT COULD BLOW IT RIGHT OFF!

Narrator: FREED BRINGS ROCK 'N' ROLL

TO A YOUNG WHITE AUDIENCE.

*

BUT TO MAKE THE BIG BUCKS,

MUSIC PRODUCERS WANT A WHITE FACE

TO FRONT THE NEW AFRICAN AMERICAN SOUND.

IN 1954, PRODUCER SAM PHILLIPS

INTRODUCES A 19-YEAR-OLD SINGER FROM TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI.

HIS NAME IS ELVIS PRESLEY.

BY 1956,

HIS "HEARTBREAK HOTEL" SELLS A MILLION RECORDS

AND STAYS AT NUMBER ONE FOR SEVEN WEEKS.

THE POWER OF ROCK 'N' ROLL BECOMES UNSTOPPABLE.

ED SULLIVAN HOSTS THE MOST POPULAR SHOW ON TELEVISION.

HIS MUSICAL TASTE--

MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

Announcer: GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

YOUR MERCURY DEALER...

Narrator: BUT ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1956,

HE PUTS ROCK 'N' ROLL'S BIGGEST NEW FACE

IN FRONT OF AMERICA.

Announcer: AMERICA'S NUMBER-ONE TV VARIETY SHOW,

STARRING THE NATIONALLY SYNDICATED COLUMNIST

OF THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS,

ED SULLIVAN!

[CHEERING]

Announcer: ELVIS PRESLEY SIMPLY CANNOT BE DENIED.

[CHEERING]

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME

THIS FOOTAGE HAS EVER BEEN SEEN IN COLOR.

[GRUNTS]

[LAUGHTER]

Elvis Presley: THANK YOU, MR. LAUGHTON...

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

WOW. UH, THIS IS PROBABLY THE GREATEST HONOR

THAT I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE.

UH, THERE'S NOT MUCH I CAN SAY

EXCEPT IT REALLY MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD.

[SCREAMING]

Narrator: THIS IS THE MOST WATCHED SHOW OF THE DECADE,

BRINGING IN 60 MILLION VIEWERS.

THE POPULARITY OF ELVIS AND ROCK 'N' ROLL EXPLODES.

[CHEERING]

THE NEW TEENAGE MUSIC UPSETS MANY AMERICAN PARENTS.

BUT SOME TEENAGERS ARE REBELLING IN A MORE IDEALISTIC WAY,

DARING TO CONFRONT BIGOTRY AND VIOLENCE.

IT'S 1957--

THREE YEARS SINCE THE SUPREME COURT ORDERED

THAT BLACK AND WHITE STUDENTS SHOULD BE TAUGHT TOGETHER.

BUT IN THE SOUTH,

THE VAST MAJORITY OF SCHOOLS ARE STILL SEGREGATED.

IN THE SUMMER OF 1957,

THE NAACP SELECTS NINE BLACK STUDENTS

TO ENROLL AT THE ALL-WHITE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

IN LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.

ON SEPTEMBER 4th,

THE START OF THE SCHOOL SEMESTER,

SEGREGATIONIST GOVERNOR ORVAL FAUBUS

STATIONS THE ARKANSAS NATIONAL GUARD

OUTSIDE THE HIGH SCHOOL

TO STOP THE NINE STUDENTS FROM ENTERING.

THE GUARDSMEN ARE JOINED BY AN ANGRY MOB

OF WHITE PARENTS AND STUDENTS.

[CROWD YELLING]

EIGHT BLACK STUDENTS APPROACH THE SCHOOL TOGETHER.

THE GUARDSMEN PUSH THEM BACK.

THE NINTH STUDENT, ELIZABETH ECKFORD,

UNAWARE OF THE OTHERS' PLANS,

ARRIVES LATER AND ALONE.

SHE IS FOLLOWED BY AN ANGRY CROWD.

AS SHE RETREATS, WILL COUNTS,

A PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT NEWSPAPER,

TAKES THESE ICONIC PHOTOGRAPHS.

*

SIX DAYS LATER,

GOVERNOR FAUBUS REITERATES HIS REFUSAL TO INTEGRATE THE SCHOOL.

Orval Faubus: IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

MOVES INTO ARKANSAS BY FORCE OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER,

THEN WE WILL HAVE LOST

OUR LAST RIGHT OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNANCE.

Narrator: ANGRY PROTESTS CONTINUE

OUTSIDE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL.

Faubus: IF BLOOD HAS BEEN SHED,

MY CONSCIENCE WILL BE CLEAR,

BUT I WILL WEEP FOR MY PEOPLE.

Narrator: FOR THREE WEEKS, THE NINE STUDENTS STAY AT HOME.

GOING TO SCHOOL IS TOO DANGEROUS.

THE SCENES OF RACIST ABUSE CONTINUE

AND ARE SEEN AROUND THE WORLD.

BY SEPTEMBER 24th,

PRESIDENT EISENHOWER HAS SEEN ENOUGH.

Eisenhower: MOB RULE CANNOT BE ALLOWED

TO OVERRIDE THE DECISIONS OF OUR COURTS.

Narrator: EISENHOWER FEDERALIZES THE ARKANSAS NATIONAL GUARD,

TAKING CONTROL AWAY FROM THE GOVERNOR.

AND THAT EVENING,

THE PRESIDENT SENDS 1,200 PARATROOPERS

FROM THE ARMY'S 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION

TO LITTLE ROCK.

AT 7:00 THE NEXT MORNING, THE NINE STUDENTS

ARE TRANSPORTED TO CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

IN AN ARMY VEHICLE.

*

*

THE MOB IS HELD BACK,

AND BLACK AND WHITE LITTLE ROCK STUDENTS

GO TO SCHOOL TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME,

ESCORTED BY U.S. SOLDIERS.

FOR THEIR SAFETY,

THE NINE STUDENTS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY TROOPS EVERY DAY

FOR THE REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

IT IS A HUGE VICTORY FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

BUT IT IS SHORT-LIVED.

A YEAR LATER, GOVERNOR FAUBUS, WITH THE VOTERS' SUPPORT,

CLOSES ALL PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN LITTLE ROCK.

*

Student: I WOULDN'T MIND GOING TO SCHOOL WITH THEM,

BUT IF YOU GO TO SCHOOL WITH THEM,

THEN THEY'RE GOING TO START COMING TO OUR DANCES

AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND I WOULDN'T WANT THAT.

Reporter: I SEE. HOW DO YOU FEEL?

Student: I DEFINITELY DO NOT WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL

IN INTEGRATED CLASSES.

Reporter: YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO AN INTEGRATED SCHOOL?

Student: NO, SIR, I DO NOT.

AND I'D MUCH RATHER SCHOOL BE CLOSED

AND FORGET MY EDUCATION FOR TWO OR THREE MONTHS.

Narrator: THOUGH IT TAKES UNTIL 1959,

THE HIGH SCHOOLS DO REOPEN,

FOR BLACK AND WHITE STUDENTS TOGETHER.

AS THE DECADE NEARS ITS END,

AMERICANS FACE A VERY DIFFERENT CHALLENGE:

IN SPACE.

[BEEPING]

OCTOBER 4, 1957.

NEWS BROADCASTS LEAD WITH THE SOUND OF A DISTANT BEEP.

[BEEPING]

A BEACON FROM A BEACH-BALL-SIZED OBJECT

WEIGHING JUST 183 POUNDS

THAT SENDS SHOCKWAVES THROUGH AMERICA.

THE SOVIET UNION

HAS LAUNCHED THE FIRST EVER ARTIFICIAL SATELLITE, SPUTNIK,

INTO SPACE.

[ROARING]

Reporter: SCIENCE HAS BROKEN THE CHAINS

THAT FOR CENTURIES SHACKLED HUMANS TO THE PLANET EARTH.

Narrator: JUST ONE MONTH LATER,

THE SOVIETS LAUNCH A SECOND SATELLITE.

Reporter: THIS IS THE DOG LAIKA.

IT HAD BEEN TRAINED TO LIVE IN A SPECIAL CONTAINER.

Narrator: THIS LATEST RUSSIAN SPACE VEHICLE

IS SOME 50 TIMES BIGGER

THAN THE SATELLITE AMERICA IS DEVELOPING

AND CAPABLE OF CARRYING NOT JUST A DOG,

BUT A NUCLEAR WARHEAD.

Reporter: FROM SPUTNIK 2 160 MILES ABOVE THE EARTH,

LISTEN FOR THE HEARTBEAT OF LAIKA.

[BEEPING]

Narrator: AMERICANS FEEL MORE VULNERABLE THAN EVER.

EVERY CITY AND TOWN

IS WITHIN STRIKING RANGE OF SOVIET MISSILES.

AFTER TEN YEARS OF RIVALRY WITH THE RUSSIANS,

AMERICA IS HUMILIATED,

EXPOSED AS BEING TECHNOLOGICALLY BEHIND.

AMERICA, IT SEEMS, IS LOSING THE COLD WAR.

A MONTH AFTER SPUTNIK 2,

THE U.S. RUSHES TO LAUNCH ITS OWN SATELLITES

ON AN UNPROVEN ROCKET.

THE PRESS CALLS THE ATTEMPT FLOPNIK AND KAPUTNIK.

Reporter: EVEN IF IT DIDN'T GET UP INTO ORBIT,

IT WAS A DARN GOOD PICTURE.

Narrator: IN JANUARY 1958,

AMERICA FINALLY LAUNCHES A SATELLITE INTO SPACE:

EXPLORER I...

SEEN IN COLOR FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THIS IS THE FIRST AMERICAN SPACECRAFT.

THE AMERICAN SPACE AGE HAS ARRIVED,

AND WITH IT, A NEW GOVERNMENT AGENCY:

THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION,

NASA.

IT IS DETERMINED TO CATCH AND SURPASS THE SOVIETS.

[ENGINES ROARING]

FIRST, NASA HAS TO FIND AMERICANS

WITH THE COURAGE AND TALENT TO GO INTO SPACE.

THE NATION'S TEST PILOTS PUSH THE LIMITS

OF TECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN BRAVERY EVERY DAY.

ON AVERAGE, ONE DIES EVERY WEEK.

PROPELLING THESE DAREDEVILS TO TEST THE LIMITS OF SPEED

IS THE X-15,

THE FASTEST PLANE EVER BUILT.

Man on radio: PLAN TO JETTISON.

[HISSING]

Man: OK, HERE WE GO WITH THE COUNTDOWN.

[ROARING]

Narrator: 508 TEST PILOTS ARE SCREENED

FOR NASA'S NEWLY INVENTED JOB OF ASTRONAUT.

*

36 ARE CHOSEN TO COMPETE FOR A HANDFUL OF COVETED SLOTS.

*

THEY FACE MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS,

PHYSICAL TESTS

TO SEE HOW THEY COPE WITH PRESSURE AT 65,000 FEET

AND STRESS UNDER A FORCE OF EIGHT Gs.

Man: OK, HERE WE GO WITH THE COUNTDOWN.

*

Narrator: ON APRIL 9, 1959,

NASA ADMINISTRATOR DR. KEITH GLENNAN

INTRODUCES THE WORLD TO SEVEN MEN.

Keith Glennan: WHICH OF THESE MEN

WILL BE FIRST TO ORBIT THE EARTH,

I CANNOT TELL YOU.

HE WON'T KNOW HIMSELF UNTIL THE DAY OF THE FLIGHT.

Narrator: THEY ARE MALCOLM SCOTT CARPENTER,

LEROY GORDON COOPER,

VIRGIL GRISSOM,

WALTER SCHIRRA,

ALAN SHEPARD,

DONALD "DEKE" SLAYTON,

AND JOHN GLENN.

[CLEARS THROAT]

John Glenn: I'M JOHN GLENN.

I'M THE LONESOME MARINE ON THIS OUTFIT.

AND I'M, UM...37.

Narrator: IN THREE YEARS,

GLENN WILL BECOME THE FIRST AMERICAN TO ORBIT THE EARTH.

*

Glenn: MY FEELINGS ARE

THAT THIS WHOLE PROJECT WITH REGARD TO SPACE,

SORT OF STANDS WITH US NOW,

IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT ONE WAY,

LIKE THE WRIGHT BROTHERS STOOD AT KITTY HAWK

ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO.

Narrator: THEY ARE SEVEN ALL-AMERICAN HEROES,

READY TO COMPETE WITH COMMUNISM ON A NEW BATTLEFRONT.

FOR TEN YEARS, THE NATION HAS BEEN PUSHING THE LIMITS

OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.

PROSPERITY HAS ENABLED PEOPLE TO BUILD,

TRAVEL,

AND DANCE THEIR WAY TO THE FUTURE.

AND THOSE LONG LEFT OUT ARE NOW DEMANDING JUSTICE.

DESPITE FEARFUL CONFLICTS AT HOME AND ABROAD,

MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WILL REMEMBER THE 1950s

AS THE GLORY YEARS.

*