A survey of highlights from two decades of American history (1933-1953) covering the events of World War Two and the careers of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and Douglas MacArthur. The following historic speeches and actualities are included: Roosevelt, in Washington D.C., 1933, takes the oath of office; an excerpt from the speech later that day "...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself". Excerpt from First Fireside Chat on the Banking Crisis; Washington, D.C., March 12, 1933, "My friends, I want to talk to you...about banking..."; Cab Calloway at the Cotton Club in Harlem sings "Minnie the Moocher". (with some voice over); Excerpt from Roosevelt's Fireside Chat on the Plan for the Reorganization of the Judiciary, Washington D.C., March 9, 1937. "If the appointment of such Justices can be called 'packing the cout' then I say...". An excerpt from the Radio Address at the Annual Gathering of the White House Correspondents' Association, Washington D.C., February 12, 1943, "President Lincoln said in 1862, 'Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history..."; A montage including Benito Mussolini addressing a crowd (in Italian); Adlof Hitler (in German); Neville Chamberlain declaring war on Germany, 1939; Hitler at Sportspalast with crowd shouting "Sieg Heil"; and excerpt of a speech by Winston Churchill, "this was their finest hour". Roosevelt speaking on the adoption of Selective Service, September 1940, the first peacetime military draft in U.S. history, "The pressing problems that confront us are military and naval problems", and on the Draft Lottery, October 29, 1940, "The Secretary of War will now draw the first number..."; December 7, 1941: radio announcements of Pearl Harbor attack. An excerpt from Roosevelt's "day of infamy" speech to both Houses of Congress, December 8, 1941; and his speech of December 9, 1941, "We expect to eliminate the danger from Japan but it would serve us ill..."; A World WAr II montage with: a BBC radio annoucement."The German Italian counter attack in North Africa is making progress..."; Lord Haw-Haw criticizing Roosevelt for failing to honour his promises to Britain and for having Jewish backers planning to convert the British Empire into the 49th state; an excercpt from Roosevelt's Radio Address at the Annual Gathering of the White House Correspondents' Association, Washington D.C., February 12, 1943, "We say, all the United Nations say, that the only terms on which we shall deal with any Axis govemment unconditional surrender."; an excerpt from Churchill's wolrd broadcast on Four Years' Plan, March 21, 1943, "...I can imagine that some time next year - but it may well be the year after - we might beat Hitler, by which I mean beat him and his powers of evil into death, dust and ashes."; and war correspondent, George Hicks, June 6, 1942, reporting on Operation Overlord from the deck of a ship describing planes going overhead and the sound of gunfire is heard in the background. January 20, 1945. Truman being sworn in as Vice-President by Roosevelt. Roosevelt telling an anecdote about falling asleep during graduation exercises, sitting next to the superintendent of the Naval Academy. "The only time that I completely disgraced myself at graduation exercises..." and an excerpt from Radio Address on D-Day, Washington D.C., June 6, 1944, "With Thy blessing we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy..."; April 16, 1945, Truman's first appearance before Congress as President, mmisses his cue. He speaks briefly of the late Roosevelt. World War II montage with: General MacArthur, September 2, 1945, on the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay is heard accepting the Japanese surrender; the Nuremberg Trials, "You must plead guilty or not guilty...Rudolph Hess?..."Nein"; and the pronoucement of sentence of Hermann Wilhelm Goering. ~Truman speaking: "1946 is our year of decision, Price and rent controls will have to be maintained for many months to come..."; and "It is necessary only to glance at a map to realize that the survival and integrity of the great nations are of grave importance in a much wider situation. We must take immediate resolute action." Churchill at Fulton, Missouri and an excerpt form "Iron Curtain" speech. Excerpts from speeches by Truman including: the speech, June 1948, Philadelphia, at the Democratic Party convention, "(crowd cheers) I am sorry that the microphones are in your way..."; the campaign speech. "I call it the notorious do-nothing eightieth Republican Congress."; his election victory speech, November 1948, (in a funny accent) "...well, the President is a million votes ahead in the popular vote...(laughing and cheering crowd).; and his response to Korea, June 1950. "We face a serious situation...". General MacArthur says the Lord's Prayer before his last campaign in Korea. Fragments from U.S. Army radio in Korea, an example of wartime humour. General MacArthur speaking on Korea. "Vital decisions have yet to be made. Decisions far beyond the scope of the authority vested in me as the military commander...". Truman's response to MacArthur. "The cause of world peace is much more important than any individual". MacArthur's speech, delivered before a joint session of the two houses of Congress at the House of Representatives (after his dismissal), April 19, 1951, "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away...". Excerpt from Truman's speeches including an excerpt from a Radio and Television Address to the American people on the need for the govenment to seize the steel mills. Broadcast from the White House, April 8, 1952; a sentimental anecdote of how he met his wife; the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner speech, Washington D.C., March 29, 1952, announcing that he will not be seeking re-election; and "We are standing at the threshold of a new day in human history. A day when men's lives will be changed beyond anything we can imagine..." <60mn>
