Advanced Search
1968: Year in Pictures
Documentary focusing on people and events that shaped the pivotal year of 1968. Narrated by John Cameron Swayze. This portion focuses on the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia; student demonstrations & riots in the United States, Mexico, and France; Gold Crisis; civil war in Nigeria; riots in Panama and a coup in Peru. Also the Pope visits Bogot , Jackie O and Aristotle Onassis get hitched, and Apollo 7 orbits the earth. Just another violent year.
I See Chicago: The Space Age
On Preview Cassette # 218329 A news production about Chicago's contribution to the United States space program. Opens with an EST shot of the Dearborn Observatory at Northwestern University; cut to high angle MS of a scientist (Dr. Aaron Heinrich) and a student standing at a machine (computer?); low angle INT shot of the observatory's dome and telescope; CU's of Dr. Aaron Heinrich (sp) and student; MS of another student turning on a television (followed by great CU of the screen), diss to LS's of a rocket taking off from a launchpad. LS of the dome oscillating; MS of the telescope; CU of dials and gears on a control panel. Excellent ECU's of a TV relaying images of the cosmos. Cut back to the rocket, now a distant dot in the stratosphere. Newsreel of JOHN GLENN and his excursion aboard the Friendship 7: CU's and MS's of Glenn (in space suit) squeezing into the tiny capsule; CU's and MS's of ground control talking on radios, preparing for liftoff; LS's of the liftoff. MS's of a contracting truck driver (INT cab) driving on Chicago's Kennedy Expressway (which probably hadn't yet been named as such since JFK was still alive). Excellent montage of men and women at work in a television assembly plant. MS of 2 men lifting a TV in ashowrrom, placing it on a raised tier; a woman and salesman enter frame, walk to the TV. CU's of the sale. MS of a man in a lab coat putting restraints around a small rocket silo. Tight LS inside an engineering room, numerous men working at desks, their backs to the camera. MS's of a man testing a manufactured unit at a desk. Panning CU of a mainframe computer, a reel-to-reel deck gathering information for processing. MS's and CU's of assemblers. MS of a man retesting circuitry (an unholy mess of electrical wires). MS of man assembling completed circuits. MS's and LS's of people standing in line for public assistance (unemployment lines); CU of an old fashioned card catalogue filing system. MS's and CU's of a young engineering graduate of Northwestern University talking to the camera about his career options (though he wants to stay in Illinois he knows he'll only find a job on the West or East Coasts). Accompanying him is his wife and their adorable four kids (the oldest, a boy, sleeps soundly on the kitchen table). EST and INT shots of University of Illinois's Stage Field (?), or what remains of it. CU of a plaque inside a hall: ON DECEMBER 2, 1942, MAN ACHIEVED HERE THE FIRST SELF-SUSTAINING CHAIN REACTION AND THEREBY INITIATED THE CONTROLLED RELEASE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY.
CONGRESS: WE THE PEOPLE
WETA "CONGRESS: WE THE PEOPLE" IN 11.46.39-WETA credit/funding credits/title sequence 11.47.22-B/W film clip of TRUMAN saying that fighting with Congress is a part of being president. Clip of EISENHOWER saying that he has to fight Congress for help to pass anything. Clip of JOHN F. KENNEDY, says that Congress looks more powerful now that he's president than it did when he was in Congress. Clip of LBJ talking about trying to get Congress to get its butt in gear. Shot of NIXON, says he's very active in meeting with Congress because he doesn't have a majority [unless you count the racist Democrats firmly in the Nixon camp, in which case Nixon's majority was huge]. 11.48.17-Host Ed Newman in Senate "President's Room". Shots of the ornate finishing of the room, Newman says the room is not often used in official business. Discusses relations of the Executive and Legislative branches. 11.49.56-Clip of CBS News footage of JFK describing the problems of a President getting a program through Congress. Shots of senior members of Congress. V.O.-Congressmen can stay in office over the terms of several Presidents and build up longstanding strength. Political scientist discusses the Presidential/Congressional relationship. Clip of TRUMAN discussing Congress, says that the President has to be the lobbyist for "all 150 million people" for the Government to work. Stills of TRUMAN, shot of meeting of Congressional committee chairmen. V.O.-TRUMAN complained bitterly about the "Do-Nothing Congress". Shots of various Congressmen on the campaign trail in home states and districts. Shots of a Party Convention, Rep. BARBARA JORDAN (D-TX) on podium, a military color guard, delegates, etc. V.O.-since Congressmen make up a tiny part of party delegations at nominating Conventions, Presidents don't have any debt to Congress for getting into office. However, the President may have much or almost no effect on a Congressman's chances for election. 11.52.26-Shot of Rep. Jim Coyne (R-PA) campaigning for re-election in a shopping mall. V.O.-Coyne ran into trouble in his district when REAGANOMICS proved unpopular. Shot of Coyne, says that the Deficit, inflation, and interest rates are making it hard for Republicans to ask for two more years. Shot of a campaign town meeting where voters tear Coyne a new one over the Reaganomics budget cuts. Coyne tries to argue that it's the fault of bloated Big Government and not budget slashing, but the people aren't buying it. Shot of Coyne in hoity-toity campaign dinner trying to distance himself from Reaganomics by saying he doesn't believe in deficits. Shot of Coyne in another local meeting. A voter says that Coyne is going to lose the election if he votes for any more budget cuts.
Manned Flight Awareness / 1969: Year of Fulfillment
FO/FI CU NASA seal. MSs Apollo 8 commander, former astronaut & USAF Colonel FRANK BORMAN wearing blue suit & black tie, standing beside battered space capsule, speaking to the audience: "Hello, I'm Frank Borman. Before we see the regular feature for today's program, I'd like to spend a few minutes & thank all of you on behalf of Jim Lovell, Bill Anders, and myself for the remarkable piece of machinery that you provided us in which we flew around the moon last December." Frank Borman briefly praises the NASA program, says he looks forward to the impending lunar landing of Apollo 11. "And now, let's take a look into the current activities of the Apollo program." Zooming (out) TLS crescent moon in night sky to pedestrians, billboards, signs, lights of Times Square, New York City; panning MS pedestrians walking along sidewalk, Christmas trees bedecked in lights in BG; MSs newspaper stand, people buying newspapers; TLS scrolling news ticker on building relating news of Apollo 8 lunar mission. Nice zero-g MS Apollo 8 astronauts working in space capsule. Aerial shot of lunar surface, horizon. View of earth from space, zoom in to tighter shot. Funky funhouse mirror effect (distortion) MS "astronaut" in sleek silver spacesuit walking to space capsule; rear view MS "astronaut" walking into large open hatch; panning rear view MS technicians attending to consoles in red-lit control room. Interesting MSs object flying down otherwise dim tube, hurtling toward hatch. Great sideview MS rocket afterburners kicking in. Zooming (in) MS scientist working on rocket model in cordoned-off room. CU scientist wearing protective glasses, watching extreme heat test experiment. TLS scientists removing silver cover from platform. MS test dummy buckled in capsule crashing to ground in safety test / experiment. Rear view MS two white men wearing heat shield helmets; cool MS extreme heat experiment, covering melting away; CU man welding, wearing welder's mask. MS three white men working on space capsule. MS industrial printing press printing newspapers, edition of New York World-Telegram hurtling toward camera w/ headline, "Reds Win Space Race With Man-Made Moon." MS printing press moving folded newspapers, edition of New York Mirror hurtling toward camera w/ headline, "Baby Moon Launched By Reds," followed by New York Times w/ headline regarding Sputnik launch. LS U.S. Capitol Building (Capitol Dome), overhanging tree limb in FG. TLS Eisenhower press conference, reporters standing as President DWIGHT EISENHOWER (Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ike) enters, takes to podium. Panning high angle LS Joint Session of Congress. TLS NASA suits (middle management) wearing white hard hats, looking over shoulder of working engineer. Semi-silhouette LS rocket on launch pad, dawn. Rear view TLS NASA mission control room. TLS rocket in hangar. MS red warning light on pole swirling, dawn. LS/TLSs rockets blasting off from hangar & launch pad. MS U.S. President JOHN F. KENNEDY (John Fitzgerald Kennedy, JFK) speaking to Joint Session of Congress, Vice-President LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON (LBJ) looking on, 1961. (No audio of speech)
LAWMAKERS
IN 00.59.40 00.59.40-WETA credit/sponsor credits 01.00.02-PAUL DUKE-on program: reports on power of HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE CHAIR. COKIE ROBERTS-report on a REPUBLICAN leader. LINDA WERTHEIMER-Report on HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS committee. 01.00.30-Title Sequence 01.01.57-DUKE-intro reports on Congressmen who wield great power outside the public eye. First is report on CHAIR OF HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE, RICHARD BOLLING (D-MO). Shot of BOLLING seated in office, says that he's stepped on some toes in his career. Shots of BOLLING shaking hands with other Congressmen. Shot of BOLLING, discussing SAM RAYBURN'S style of compromise, says RAYBURN always silently disapproved of BOLLING'S tendency to make enemies in Congress. Still of BOLLING receiving MILITARY DECORATION in uniform. DUKE v.o.-narrates BOLLING'S postwar entry into politics. Still from 1948 of young BOLLING with HARRY TRUMAN in black tie. Stills of BOLLING with TRUMAN, SAM RAYBURN. BOLLING v.o.-discusses RAYBURN'S great stature, knowledge of votes. Stills of BOLLING in committee meetings, DUKE v.o.-BOLLING learned many lessons from RAYBURN, became a shrewd congressman in his own right. Shot of Rep. TONY BIELENSON (D-CA), says BOLLING'S the best he's served with. Shot of Rep. SIVLIO CONTE (R-MA), says BOLLING is really knowledgeable. Shot of Rep. DAVID OBEY (D-WI), says BOLLING is the best legislator never to become speaker. 01.03.48-BOLLING in office, says he would like to be speaker, but he didn't feel like paying the price of compromise. Shot of BOLLING acting as speaker during House proceeding. Shot of BOLLING in office, says he doesn't want to have to put up with incompetent politicians to advance to speaker. Stills of BOLLING with JFK, TIP O'NEILL, LBJ and MARTIN LUTHER KING. Shot of BOLLING chairing meeting of RULES COMMITTEE. BOLLING speaks against REAGAN'S efforts to take power from Congress. 01.05.55-Shot of Rep. MORRIS UDALL (D-AZ), says that BOLLING is a rare Congressman who is happy to be a Congressman and not trying to advance to another office. Shot of BOLLING in debate, angrily challenges others to vote his way on some issue. Members applaud when he's done. Shot of BOLLING on a FISHING BOAT on a lake, talking about FISHING being relaxing for him. Shots of BOLLING fishing. BOLLING talks about using different rigs, shot of large fish on line, in hand in boat. DUKE v.o.-BOLLING wants to retire to write books about politics. BOLLING v.o.-says he's mellowed out over time. 01.08.55-WERTHEIMER-intro next profile, on JAMIE WHITTEN (D-MS), chair of APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. Shots of WHITTEN campaigning in a GUN SHOP, tells owner he supports gun rights, but he's sick of the NRA getting on his case all the time. Shots of WHITTEN meeting citizens on streets in Mississippi, walking halls of Capitol. WERTHEIMER v.o.-disc. of WHITTEN'S rise to power. Shot of TOM FOLEY in office, discusses his personal rule to never disagree with WHITTEN unless absolutely necessary. Stills of WHITTEN from past years. FOLEY v.o.--calls WHITTEN "a permanent secretary of agriculture". Shots of an Agricultural lobbyist, says that WHITTEN is always incredibly knowledgeable about any agricultural bill that comes along.
The Warren Commission Report
At the White House in Washington, President Johnson receives the Warren Commission's Report on the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice, Earl Warren, personally delivers the document to the Chief Executive in the presence of the seven other members of the Commission. A dramatic incident, recalling the tragedy in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963 and the subsequent appalling slaying of the assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, by Jack Ruby, a Dallas night club owner. History vividly recalled by the Newsreel Cameras as the public storms the book stores of the nation to purchase bound volumes of the Warren Report, published by the United States Government Printing Office.
The World Mourns John Fitzgerald Kennedy
The final act in the tragedy of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35th President of The United States is one of the most memorable in history. Kings, Queens, Presidents, Premiers, Princes and Princesses, Emperors and Dictators - they come from the far corners of the earth to pay tribute to the man who had served the world while he served the nation. From the moment his casket is borne from the White House to lie in state at the Capitol it is a drama filled with high emotion. All through the night people file past the bier. Some standing in a 10-mile long line for as long as 12 hours. To pray. To mourn. To weep. Then the cortege winds from the Capitol to Saint Matthew's Cathedral for a Pontifical Funeral Mass while Mrs. Kennedy walks for six long blocks behind the caisson drawn by six white horses. After the religious rites the cortege proceeds to the cemetery of Heroes --- Arlington --- where the martyred President will rest. At the end of the solemn, heart-rending graveside honors, Mrs. Kennedy lights a flame that will burn forever in his memory. Rest In Peace. Washington DC
The Warren Commission Report
Exterior and long shot of the White House on a nice summer day. US Chief Justice, Earl Warren carrying the Warren Report. Earl Warren and President Johnson. First page of the report - Report On One President's Commission On The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
The Warren Commission Report
White House release portrait photo of the late President, John F. Kennedy.
The Warren Commission Report
November 22, 1963 President Kennedy and Mrs Kennedy in that motorcade in Texas the day he was assassinated. President Kennedy's motorcade driving slowly down the street's of Texas. MCUS - The President and Mrs. Kennedy waving to the people. MS - People falling on their bellies on the sidewalks. A father grabs hold of his baby. Exterior shot - Park Land Memorial Hospital. People in shock putting their hands up to their faces and crying in total disbelief. News Headlines - "President Dead" Shot by Assassin.
The Warren Commission Report
Lee Harvey Oswald walking with a police officer. Lee Harvey Oswald being led through people at the police station. Lunges forward and Oswald makes a face and his hands go up to his stomach and chest. Police officers wrestling Jack Ruby who shot Oswald to the ground.
The Warren Commission Report
Stacks of books - The Warren Report. Arlington cemetery. A fenced in area where President Kennedy is laid to rest, many bouquets of flowers. The President's grave with the eternal flame burning.
The World Mourns John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Capitol Building - Laying in State: TLS funeral cortege slowly walling down Pennsylvania Avenue, A horse-drawn caisson transports the President's flag draped casket, a rider-less horse being up the rear. MS President's flag draped casket moving on caisson. MS Jackie Kennedy, her children and brother-in-law Robert Kennedy stepping out from limousine, they are met by President Lynden B. Johnson and his wife Lady Bird Johnson. Low angle GV looking up at domed ceiling of the Capitol rotunda. MCU Closed casket of President John F Kennedy draped with an American Flag. MS President Johnson placing a wreath on the casket, he bows his head in prayer. MS mourning dignitaries in attendance. MS Jackie and Caroline Kennedy walking up and kneeling at the casket to offer a prayer. TLS extremely long line of people queued up outside the Capitol, waiting to pay their respects. MS young men climbing Capitol steps. Interior GV/MSs people visiting the President's casket lying in state. Exterior LS pan thousands of people lined up outside the Capitol as dusk falls.
Focus on the 60s (1960-64)
United Nations Building, bay in FG, skyscrapers in BG. President John F. Kennedy speaking to UN General Assembly about world nuclear threat (excerpt of "nuclear sword of Damacles" speech). President Kennedy speaking at American University commencement ceremony, 1963: "I now declare that the U.S. does not propose to conduct nuclear tests in the atmosphere so long as other states do not do so. This generation of Americans has already had enough of war & hate & oppression." Nuclear Test Ban treaty being signed in Moscow & Washington, 1963: Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko signing document; Premier Nikita Khrushchev applauding with Chinese diplomats; President Kennedy: "If this treaty fails it will not be our doing. And even if it fails we shall not forget that we have made this clear & honorable national commitment to the cause of man's survival. For under this treaty we can & must still keep our vigilant defense of freedom."
Senator Hollings Office
Horse trophy with rose wreath around neck, "Hollings 84" painted on body; various trophies and John F. Kennedy head bust on mantle. U.S. Senator Ernest F. Hollings' (D-SC) office, desk with paperwork.
Inauguration Gala 1961
MISSING AS OF 10/24/16 Inauguration Gala 1961 John F. Kennedy (AUDIO ON SEPARATE TRACK)
Inauguration Gala 1961
MISSING AS OF 10/24/16 Inauguration Gala 1961 John F. Kennedy (OPTICAL TRACK ONLY)
NPACT coverage of Church Committee Hearings - Assassinations
Host Paul Duke discusses the CIA's involvement in deposing the Socialist Party government in Chile. Duke mentions one of the victims of the effort to remove President Salvador Allende was Rene Schneider, Army Chief of Staff in Chile, who was a strong supporter of a constitutional government, and stood in the way of a military coup. He was killed in a kidnapping attempt in 1970, which raised questions about America’s role in Chile.
NPACT coverage of Church Committee Hearings - Assassinations
Scrolling text from U.S. Senate report detailing the CIA's operations against Chilean General Rene Schneider. Attempts at kidnapping him were carried out after U.S. President Richard Nixon called for the end of Chilean President Salvador Allende's government.
NPACT coverage of Church Committee Hearings - Assassinations
U.S. Senator Frank Church (D - Idaho) says, “In the Schneider case, we included it as we did the Diem case. Not because it was ever intended by any American official that either Diem or Schneider should be assassinated, but because they knew-- the officials that is-- that there would be a high risk of an assassination occurring. You mention Schneider. The problem with Schneider was that he was a constitutionalist. He must have been trained at West Point. He didn’t think that it was the right of the Chilean army to depose a government that had been elected by the Chilean people. And since he was Chief of Staff of the Chilean army, he had to be removed. He was an obstruction to an attempt ordered by President Nixon to overthrow the Allende regime or to prevent Mr. Allende from becoming President. It was known from the beginning-- this being the objective-- that Schneider had to be removed. An abduction was planned. You don’t plan a forcible abduction without understanding that one of the reactions to a kidnapping is to resist. And in the resistance, there is perilous danger that an assassination will occur and that of course happened.”
NPACT coverage of Church Committee Hearings - Assassinations
U.S. Senator Charles Mathias (R - Maryland) says, “I think if there’s any apology to be made for this report, it’s the fact that the committee has devoted so much time and so much effort on such a limited part of the whole problem. It isn’t just assassinations. It’s the whole area of activity of government covered by a cloak of excessive secrecy, in many fields. Some of them we are aware of, some of them we only suspect, some of them we still may be in ignorance of. And this is, I think, the one weakness of this report that it covers only a part of the area of government which I think has a corrosive effect on the constitutional process. And I hope the committee will have the fortitude and will have the time to finish the job that we’ve begun with this report.”
NPACT coverage of Church Committee Hearings - Assassinations
Program moderator Paul Duke introduces Simmons Fentress of Time Magazine. Fentress discusses how the U.S. Presidents will emerge from the Senate report and hearings, says the committee gave them the benefit of the doubt regarding their knowledge of political assassinations. Fentress brings up Cold War factors and “dealing with dead people." Fentress says he cannot conceive a situation in which U.S. Presidents were not aware, that they were motivated to take part in political assassination plots due to imperialism, rather than the Cold War.
NPACT coverage of Church Committee Hearings - Assassinations
Program moderator Paul Duke discusses the cautious and tentative tone of the report on political assassinations. Duke mentions Senators Walter Mondale and Barry Goldwater, speculates Senate Committee head Frank Church may have agreed to change the language of his report due to his own political ambitions. Simmons Fentress of Time Magazine weighs in on the tentative language of the report, says it avoids placing the majority of blame solely on Democrats or Republicans.
NPACT coverage of Church Committee Hearings - Assassinations
Moderator Paul Duke asks Simmons Fentress of Time Magazine if, after reading the report, he believes the CIA had a special unit for dealing with political assassination plots. Fentress says the report discusses a special executive action unit within the CIA.