Gr. 5-12; Social Studies; 17 episodes of various lengths
This series details the history of the 17 US Presidents who served America
during the turbulent 20th Century. Each president made a difference in the times
in which he served. Each has a unique story to tell, and each has a museum where
that story is told. Programs from the 20th Century Presidents series are filmed
at different presidential libraries and museums around the country, where
American youngsters tell the exciting stories of the presidents. The programs
also contain video/film footage of actual events during the presidency.
101. Theodore Roosevelt-26th President; With the assassination of President
McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, 42, at the time became the youngest president in
American history. Program covers his early life, Rough Rider & president and a
full term of the Bull Moose Party.
102. William Howard Taft-27th President; Distinguished jurist, effective
administrator, but poor politician, he spent four uncomfortable years in the
White House. Program covers a reluctant politician, the Presidency, to the
Supreme Court.
103. Woodrow Wilson-28th President; Like Roosevelt before him, Wilson regarded
himself a personal representative of the people, who proclaimed America's
entrance into World War I a crusade to make the world "safe for democracy."
Program includes his early career, Princeton, the progressive president, the war
and Versailles.
104. Warren G. Harding-29th President; Warren Harding declared, "America's
present need is not heroics, but healing..." His detractors called Harding's
speeches "an army of pompous phrases moving across the landscape in search of an
idea."
105. Calvin Cooledge-30th President; At 2:30 a.m. August 3, 1923, while visiting
in Vermont, Coolidge received word that he was president. By the light of a
kerosene lamp, his father administered the oath of office.
106. Herbert Hoover-31st President; Son of a blacksmith, Hoover brought to the
presidency an unparalleled reputation for public service as an engineer,
administrator and humanitarian.
107. Franklin D. Roosevelt-32nd President; Assuming the presidency at the depth
of the
Great Depression, FDR helped the American people regain faith in themselves and
brought hope to them when he asserted, "The only thing we have to fear is fear
itself."
108. Harry S. Truman-33rd President; During his few weeks as Vice President,
Harry scarcely saw President Roosevelt, but suddenly he was faced with a host of
wartime problems when on April 12, 1945, he became President. He told reporters,
"I felt like the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me."
109. Dwight D. Eisenhower-34th President; Bringing to the presidency his
prestige as commanding general of the victorious forces in Europe during World
War II, Dwight D. Eisenhower obtained the truce in Korea and worked incessantly
during his two terms to ease the tensions of the Cold War.
110. John F. Kennedy-35th President; On November 22, 1963 - when he was hardly
past his first days in office - JFK was killed by an assassin as his motorcade
wound through Dallas. JFK was the youngest man elected to the presidency.
111. Lyndon B. Johnson-36th President; "A Great Society" for the American people
was Lyndon's vision. In his first years in office he obtained passage of one of
the most extensive legislative programs in the nation's history - and carried on
the rapidly growing struggle to restrain Communist encroachment in Vietnam.
112. Richard M. Nixon-37th President; Reconciliation was the first goal set by
Nixon. He succeeded in ending American fighting in Vietnam and improving
relations with China. But the Watergate scandal ultimately led to his
resignation.
113. Gerald R. Ford-38th President; When Ford took the oath of office, he
declared, "I assume the presidency under extraordinary circumstances..." He had
been the vice president chosen under the terms of the 25th Amendment and was
succeeding the first president ever to resign.
114. Jimmy Carter-39th President; Jimmy Carter aspired to make government
"competent and compassionate," responsive to the American people and their
expectations. His achievement were notable, but in an era of rising energy
costs, mounting inflation, and continuing tensions, it was impossible for his
administration to meet these high expectations.
115. Ronald Reagan-40th President; At the end of his two terms, Reagan viewed
with satisfaction the achievements of his innovative program known as the Reagan
revolution, which aimed to reinvigorate the American people and reduce their
reliance upon government.
116. George Bush-41st President; George Bush brought to the White House a
dedication to traditional American values and a determination to make us a
"kinder and gentler nation." He pledged to use American strength as "a force for
good" but lost his bid for reelection.
117. William J. Clinton-42nd President; During the administration of Clinton,
The US enjoyed more peace and economic well-being than at any time in its
history. He was the first Democratic president since FDR to win a second term in
office.
