All language subtitles for America.in.Color.S01E04.The.1950s.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H264-SiGMA

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.

*