American Experience | PBS

At the end of World War II, the Allied victors tried Nazi war criminals for crimes against humanity, setting historic precedents for international law. Professor Martha Minow of Harvard Law School describes the successful prosecution led by U.S. chief prosecutor Robert Jackson and talks about the legacy of Nuremberg today. http://www.pbs.org/amex/nuremberg Voices: Robert Jackson, chief prosecutor at Nuremberg and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Martha Minow, Jeremiah Smith Jr. Professor of Law at Harvard University Benjamen Walker, podcast narration Director of New Media: Maria Daniels

The letters of John and Abigail Adams provide us with an intimate account of the early days of the Republic. From the Continental Congresses, the American Revolution and on through John Adams' defeat to Thomas Jefferson in the contentious election of 1800 -- the letters of John and Abigail Adams are more than just history. They tell the story of a great American political and romantic partnership. http://www.pbs.org/amex/adams Voices: David McCullough, historian Joseph Ellis, historian Simon Russell Beale, voice of John Adams Linda Emond, voice of Abigail Adams Benjamen Walker, narration Produced by: Benjamen Walker Director of New Media: Maria Daniels American Experience is produced by WGBH Boston. Major funding for American Experience is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Major corporate funding is provided by Liberty Mutual. Additional funding is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by public television viewers.

In July 1940 Eleanor Roosevelt addresses the Democratic convention about the controversy surrounding her husband's choice of vice president for his fourth term. She successfully quells dissent and unites the party, displaying the character that has made her one of the world's most admired women. http://www.pbs.org/amex/eleanor Voices: Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady Trude Lash, friend of Eleanor Roosevelt Mary Bain, National Youth Administration Alfre Woodard, narration Benjamen Walker, podcast narration Produced by: Benjamen Walker Director of New Media: Maria Daniels American Experience is produced by WGBH Boston. Major funding for American Experience is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Major corporate funding is provided by Liberty Mutual. Additional funding is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by public television viewers.

In October 1986 Reagan met Gorbachev for a summit at Reykjavik, Iceland. Reagan and Gorbachev were unwilling to come to terms on Reagan's proposed "Star Wars" space based weapons program, but the summit was still a historical breakthrough. http://www.pbs.org/amex/reagan Voices: Lyn Nofziger, press secratary George Shultz, secretary of state Richard Perle, assistant secretary of defense Don Regan, chief of staff Sergei Tarasenko, soviet foreign ministry Lou Cannon, journalist Andrew Russell, narration Produced by: Benjamen Walker Director of New Media: Maria Daniels American Experience is produced by WGBH Boston. Major funding for American Experience is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Major corporate funding is provided by Liberty Mutual. Additional funding is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by public television viewers.

In 1966 when Ronald Reagan ran for governor of California, his opponent derided his lack of experience and Hollywood background, but Reagan proved he was not a man to be underestimated and his over whelming victory was only the beginning. Voices: Lyn Nofziger, press secratary Lou Cannon, journalist Stu Spencer, political advisor Ronald Reagan, president Andrew Russell, narration Produced by: Benjamen Walker Director of New Media: Maria Daniels American Experience is produced by WGBH Boston. Major funding for American Experience is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Major corporate funding is provided by Liberty Mutual. Additional funding is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by public television viewers.

Mark Samels, executive producer of American Experience, discusses the making of the latest installment in the Presidents series, "John and Abigail Adams," with filmmaker Elizabeth Deane, and brings "LBJ" filmmaker David Grubin into a behind the scenes discussion about how they approach biographies of presidents. http://www.pbs.org/amex/adams http://www.pbs.org/amex/presidents Produced by: Benjamen Walker Director of New Media: Maria Daniels American Experience is produced by WGBH Boston. Major funding for American Experience is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Major corporate funding is provided by Liberty Mutual. Additional funding is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by public television viewers.

On April 19, 1775, the opening shots of the American Revolution were fired at the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Each spring, the historic event is reenacted on the Green in Lexington, Massachusetts. http://www.pbs.org/amex/patriotsday Andrew Russell, narration Director of New Media: Maria Daniels

When authors and documentary filmmakers work together, is it collaboration or contention? David Margolick is the author of the book "Beyond Glory: Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling and a World on the Brink." Barak Goodman's film "The Fight" covers the same story, about the historic boxing matches between African American Joe Louis and German Max Schmeling on the eve of World War II. In this podcast, the two discuss the process of working together. http://www.pbs.org/amex/fight Produced by: Benjamen Walker Director of New Media: Maria Daniels American Experience is produced by WGBH Boston. Major funding for American Experience is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Major corporate funding is provided by Liberty Mutual. Additional funding is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by public television viewers.

In the post-World War II era, Earl Tupper and Brownie Wise made Tupperware into one of the most successful consumer products of the century. The two giant personalities were both fond of distilling their wisdom into tiny aphorisms, or Tupperisms. Listen in on some Fifties-style positive thinking. http://www.pbs.org/amex/tupperware Will LeBow, voice of Earl Tupper Karen MacDonald, voice of Brownie Wise Andrew Russell, narration Produced by: Benjamen Walker Director of New Media: Maria Daniels American Experience is produced by WGBH Boston. Major funding for American Experience is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Major corporate funding is provided by Liberty Mutual. Additional funding is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by public television viewers.

Experts explain what happened during the disastrous influenza outbreak of 1918 -- casket shortages, bodies left in gutters or disposed of by truck -- and a public health official compares it to the threat of an avian flu outbreak today. http://www.pbs.org/amex/influenza Voices: Carla Morrissey, relative of an influenza nurse Dr. Anita Barry, Boston public health authority Dr. Alfred Crosby, author Dr. Shirley Fannin, epidemiologist William Sardo, eyewitness Daniel Tonkel, eyewitness Andrew Russell, narration Produced by: Benjamen Walker Director of New Media: Maria Daniels American Experience is produced by WGBH Boston. Major funding for American Experience is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Major corporate funding is provided by Liberty Mutual. Additional funding is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by public television viewers.

The day after "Las Vegas: An Unconventional History's" PBS premiere, Mark Samels, executive producer of American Experience, discusses the making of the program with filmmaker Stephen Ives, and brings "Chicago: City of the Century" filmmaker Austin Hoyt into a behind-the-scenes discussion about how they approach city biographies. http://www.pbs.org/amex/lasvegas http://www.pbs.org/amex/chicago Produced by: Benjamen Walker Director of New Media: Maria Daniels American Experience is produced by WGBH Boston. Major funding for American Experience is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Major corporate funding is provided by Liberty Mutual. Additional funding is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by public television viewers.

In the 1960s, Las Vegas was a segregated city. Jim Crow laws made it impossible for African American audiences to attend the concerts of star African American performers like Sammy Davis, Jr. Civil rights activists successfully challenged the establishment -- and the color line turned green: the color of money. This podcast is an excerpt from a radio version of the Las Vegas documentary produced in conjunction with American Radio Works. This podcast is excerpted from a radio version of American Experience's documentary, "Las Vegas: An Unconventional History." The radio version was produced in conjunction with American Radio Works. Produced by: Benjamen Walker Director of New Media: Maria Daniels American Experience is produced by WGBH Boston. Major funding for American Experience is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Major corporate funding is provided by Liberty Mutual. Additional funding is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by public television viewers.

Las Vegas has been called many things, including "Atomic City, USA." In the 1950s the American public witnessed above-ground nuclear bomb blasts just 65 miles from Las Vegas during the Cold War. Learn how Vegas turned atomic testing into a tourist attraction, and how the government downplayed the possible dangers of the tests. This podcast is excerpted from a radio version of American Experience's documentary, "Las Vegas: An Unconventional History." The radio version was produced in conjunction with American Radio Works. Produced by: Benjamen Walker Director of New Media: Maria Daniels American Experience is produced by WGBH Boston. Major funding for American Experience is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Major corporate funding is provided by Liberty Mutual. Additional funding is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by public television viewers.

In early 1945 Japan will not surrender, even though it has all but lost the war. Under the leadership of General Curtis LeMay, the 21st Bomber Command, a fleet of B-29s, firebombs Tokyo, a deadly prelude to the bombs that will soon fall on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Voices: Toshi Hasegawa, historian Conrad Crane, historian Harry George, B-29 Co-pilot Donald Miller, historian Richard Frank, historian Andrew Russell, narration Produced by: Benjamen Walker Director of New Media: Maria Daniels American Experience is produced by WGBH Boston. Major funding for American Experience is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Major corporate funding is provided by Liberty Mutual. Additional funding is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by public television viewers.

The crew of Apollo 8 attempted the most daring, dangerous mission in the history of exploration: a journey from the earth to the moon. If they succeeded, they would realize a dream that had captured people's imaginations since time began. If they failed, the United States would be forced to cede technological dominance to the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War. Voices: Andrew Chaikin, writer Bill Anders, astronaut Frank Borman, astronaut Jim Lovell, astronaut Walter Cronkite, journalist Andrew Russell, narration Produced by: Benjamen Walker Director of New Media: Maria Daniels American Experience is produced by WGBH Boston. Major funding for American Experience is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Major corporate funding is provided by Liberty Mutual. Additional funding is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by public television viewers.