American Experience: My Lai

Description

From PBS:

What drove a company of American soldiers—ordinary young men from around the country—to commit the worst atrocity in American military history? Were they "just following orders" as some later declared? Or, did they break under the pressure of a vicious war in which the line between enemy soldier and civilian had been intentionally blurred? American Experience focuses on the 1968 My Lai massacre, its subsequent cover-up, and the heroic efforts of the soldiers who broke ranks to try to halt the atrocities, and then bring them to light.

American Experience: Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple

Description

From PBS:

On November 17, 1978, Congressman Leo Ryan traveled to Guyana to investigate the concerns of constituents. Their alarming stories focused on a compound known as Jonestown, a group called the Peoples Temple and its leader, Jim Jones. Within 2 days, Ryan, Jones and over 900 Jonestown settlers were dead; casualties of a mass murder-suicide. American Experience goes beyond the headlines to provide a revealing portrait of Jones and The Peoples Temple.

American Experience: Test Tube Babies

Description

From PBS:

For centuries, the prospect of conceiving a human being in a laboratory seemed ripped from the pages of science fiction. Then, in 1978, everything changed. This American Experience documentary tells the story of doctors, researchers, and hopeful couples who pushed the limits of science and triggered a technological revolution in human reproduction. In so doing, they landed at the center of a controversy whose reverberations continue to this day.

American Experience: The Living Weapon

Description

From PBS:

Soon after the United States entered World War II, President Roosevelt received information that Germany and Japan were developing biological weapons. In response, the U.S. and its allies rushed to develop their own germ warfare program, enlisting some of America's most promising scientists in the effort. This American Experience program examines the race to develop biological weapons in the 40s and 50s, and the challenges and moral dilemmas the scientists faced.

Remembering Apollo

Description

From the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum website:

"What is the lasting significance of the Moon landings forty years after they occurred? This session offers an historical perspective on the importance of Project Apollo. It explores key elements of the American memory about Apollo, tackles some of the myths that have emerged, and examines how these myths and memories have affected the course of American society. NASM curator Margaret Weitekamp will discuss commemorative medals and describe their place in recalling the missions. Senior curator Roger Launius will discuss the denials of the Moon landings by a small segment of the population and the evolution of these denials since the 1960s. Finally, curator Allan Needell will offer comments on the physical heritage of Apollo."

Apollo Imagery and Its Place in Society

Description

From the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum:

What does the imagery from Apollo tell us? Most people, except for a handful of astronauts, experienced the journey to the Moon through movies and film. Images from the missions have permeated our culture. For example, a rendition of the astronaut saluting the flag was used as a logo for MTV for many years. This session assesses the power of the Apollo imagery in modern society. NASM Senior Curator Roger Launius will discuss the rise of six iconic images and how they have been used over time while Museum Specialist Jennifer Levasseur will explore the fascinating history of the cameras used to capture these images.

Apollo Artifacts

Description

From the National Smithsonian Air and Space Museum website:

"How do museum curators determine which artifacts to select for the Smithsonian collections? What can artifacts tell us about history? Join NASM curators Alan Needell, Margaret Weitekamp, and Cathy Lewis as they discuss the significance of several Apollo artifacts, including the Command Module 'Columbia,' spacesuits, and Gene Kranz's vest. Learn the unique stories of each artifact and what they reveal about the larger historical narrative of Cold War America. NASM educators Tim Grove and Mychalene Giampaoli will provide helpful suggestions for teaching with objects in the classroom."

Presidents, Politics, and Social Content

Description

From the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum website:

"How did the Apollo program intersect with the whirling social and political climate of the 1960s and early 1970s? Three presidential administrations oversaw the Apollo space program, and each reacted in a different way. Senior curator Roger Launius will focus on the myth of presidential leadership during this time period and will provide context to the political challenges NASA faced with the failure of Apollo I. Curators Allan Needell and Margaret Weitekamp will discuss the fascinating intersections of Ralph Abernathy, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Moon landing and will analyze several political cartoons from the period."