Ford Presidential Library Director Elaine Didier describes an artifact in the collection of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library: the staircase by which U.S. citizens and individuals loyal to the U.S. climbed to helicopters to escape Saigon during the last days of the city's fall to anti-U.S. forces. She also describes the process by which the library acquired the staircase.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to "Elaine Didier."
John F. Kennedy Library Director Tom Putnam discusses JFK's draft of a speech delivered at the dedication of the Robert Frost Library. Putnam points out alterations Kennedy made from Arthur M. Schlesinger's original draft and plays a brief excerpt from the speech.
To view this clip, scroll to "Tom Putnam," and select "Play."
Smithsonian National Museum of American History curators share secrets of how they develop the individual stories presented in exhibitions such as "America on the Move." They then help students who are creating their own family stories by analyzing objects, documents, and other resources. This presentation continues from the presentation "America on the Move, Part One: Migrations, Immigrations, and How We Got Here."
To view this electronic field trip, select "America on the Move, Part Two: Creating Stories" under the heading "Electronic Field Trips."
Cultural resources manager of the Anacostia Museum Portia James displays and discusses a tourist's map from post-World War I or -World War II which specified hotels, restaurants, and other businesses where African Americans could receive service free of discrimination and segregation.
To view this clip, select "Scholars," followed by "Portia James." Next, select one of the two Windows Media options.
For much of the 20th century, African Americans in the South were barred from the voting booth, sent to the back of the bus, and walled off from many of the rights they deserved as American citizens. Until well into the 1960s, segregation was legal. The system was called Jim Crow. In this radio documentary, Americans—black and white—remember life in the Jim Crow times. The documentary is divided into three downloadable sections.
To listen to this documentary, select "Part One," "Part Two," or "Part Three" under "Listen."
Historians Monica Smith and Will Eastman outline the invention and development of the electric guitar in the 20th century.
This Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition podcast outlines the life and impact of Puerto Rican baseball player Roberto Clemente (19341972), who, later in life, played professional baseball in the U.S. and became a hero and spokesman for Puerto Rico, as well as a civil rights activist.
Former Congresswoman Lindy Boggs and her daughter, noted journalist Cokie Roberts, join archivist Allen Weinstein for a conversation about their mother/daughter relationship in an influential political family. Mrs. Boggs served nine terms in the House of Representatives—the first woman elected to the House from that state. She was the first woman to chair a national political convention and the first woman to serve as Ambassador to the Vatican. Mrs. Boggs is the author of Washington Through a Purple Veil.
Cokie Roberts is a political commentator for ABC News covering Congress, politics, and public policy. She has won countless journalistic awards and has been inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame. Her books include We Are Our Mothers' Daughters and Founding Mothers.
To listen to this interview, scroll to "Lindy Boggs and Cokie Roberts," and select "Watch the Video."
Professor Lauren Coodley reviews the life of writer and activist Upton Sinclair. She focuses on the details of his life not commonly included in his popular image as a "muckraker."
Professor Salvatore Nick reviews the life of C.L. Franklin (1915-1984), African-American Baptist preacher and civil rights activist. Nick looks particularly at the greater social context within which Franklin spoke and worked—that is, the daily experiences of the African American communities to which he spoke and which he spoke for.