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Chapter 1 | Clinton, Part 2

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Watch a preview of Part two of Clinton. (10m 21s)

Death and the Civil War - Preview

Airs Monday, May 26, 2014 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Check your local listings. (30s)

Why we made Death & the Civil War

Executive Producer Mark Samels describes why no other TV series would tackle this subject. (2m 59s)

Death and the Civil War Extended Promo

The 2-minute extended promo for Death and the Civil War, premiering on PBS Sept 18, 8/7c (2m 15s)

Ric Burns on making Death & the Civil War

Producer Ric Burns discusses the intricacies of making Death and the Civil War. (2m 59s)

Wild West Preview

In January 2012, American Experience presents the Wild West Collection. (31s)

This Season on American Experience

Our 2012 season is announced with a special video from Executive Producer Mark Samels. (5m 50s)

Truman's First Lady: Bess

The spotlight did not appeal to first lady Bess Truman. (1m 10s)

Truman on the Enemy: Sizing up Stalin

Truman's first impression of Joseph Stalin was favorable. (1m 49s)

Truman on the Enemy: Communism

After WWII, Truman watched most of Eastern Europe fall to the Communist "Iron Curtain." (2m 9s)

Truman on Military Service: Mr. U.S.A.

Truman stepped on the world stage with two of the century's greatest figures. (1m 32s)

Truman on Military Service: Captain Harry

Truman's leadership during WWII made his men look at him in a new light. (2m 50s)

Truman on Ending a War: Atomic Bombs

Truman understood the repercussions of dropping an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. (2m 48s)

Truman on Crises: Crisis in Korea

Truman interpreted a North Korean attack as direct aggression from the Soviet Union. (2m 45s)

Truman, FDR and Age: A Careful Choice for Vice President

The focus was on the Vice Presidency during the 1944 Democratic National Convention. (1m 17s)

Truman and Unity: A Compromise Candidate

The 1944 Democratic Convention focused on who would be nominated for the Vice Presidency. (2m 7s)

Truman and Abusing Power: Drafting Striking Workers

When railroad workers went on strike, Truman threatened to draft them into the army. (2m 20s)

Tandem Parachute Jump: with the U.S. Army Golden Knights

George H.W. Bush completes a ceremonial jump in his 83rd year. (2m 19s)

Reagan's First Lady: Nancy

Nancy Reagan made things difficult at times with her stubbornness. (1m 35s)

Reagan's Age

As the 1984 election approached, many voters voiced their concerned with Reagan's age. (2m 5s)

Reagan on Unity: Restoring Trust

Americans doubted that a former Hollywood "B" actor could manage the country. (2m 6s)

Reagan on the Enemy: The Soviet Threat

The delegations of Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan met in Geneva in 1985. (2m 21s)

Reagan on Policing the World: Aiding Freedom Fighters

In 1981, Reagan aided the Polish workers movement. (2m 39s)

Reagan on Ending Wars: Ending the Cold War

President Reagan needed to make concessions in order to reduce the nuclear threat. (2m 38s)

Reagan and Lying: Arms for Hostages

In November 1986 Reagan admitted that arms had been shipped to Iran. (2m 1s)

Reagan and Crisis: Assassination Attempt

On March 30th, 1981, President Reagan was shot. (2m 50s)

Nixon on Ending a War: Carpet Bombing

Nixon decided to use force to end the Vietnam War with "the Christmas Bombing." (2m 49s)

Nixon and Crisis: Nixon's Gamble

In 1972, Nixon took a risk and responded to North Vietnamese aggression by bombing Hanoi. (2m 46s)

Nixon and Age: The Kennedy Style

The Nixon-Kennedy debates would forever change the way Americans chose their Presidents. (2m 43s)

Nixon and Abusing Power: The "Saturday Night Massacre"

Nixon fired special Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox in "The Saturday Night Massacre." (2m 41s)

Nixon and Abusing Power: Nixon's Enemies List

President Nixon kept an "enemies list" of those who criticized him. (2m 14s)

LBJ's First Lady: Lady Bird

Lady Bird became the "perfect political wife" for LBJ. (55s)

LBJ on the Economy: War on Poverty

President Johnson took on the economy by waging a "war on poverty." (1m 56s)

LBJ on Policing the World: Combatting Communism

In 1964, American bombers in Vietnam demonstrated that LBJ was a committed anti-Communist. (2m 31s)

LBJ on Crises: Johnson's War

Protests against the Vietnam War turned personal. (2m 37s)

LBJ and Age: A Young Leader

In 1954, Lyndon Johnson became the youngest Majority Leader ever, at 46 years old. (1m 27s)

HW Bush on Policing the World: War in the Persian Gulf

HW Bush initiated a war in Iraq instead of imposing economic sanctions. (2m 21s)

HW Bush on Policing the World: Opposing Iraqi Aggression

In August 1990, H.W. Bush took a stand against Iraqi aggression against Kuwait. (4m 46s)

HW Bush and Military Service: Combat Pilot

George H.W. Bush was changed forever by his time as a combat pilot in World War II. (1m 32s)

HW Bush and Age: Grandpa Bush

In 1992, President HW Bush seemed increasingly out of touch. (1m 52s)

Going Negative? Bush Insiders and the 1988 Campaign

A discussion of Bush's strategy against Michael Dukakis in the 1988 presidential election. (13m 13s)

FDR's First Lady: Eleanor

Eleanor Roosevelt traveled more than 40,000 miles during FDR's first year as president. (1m 32s)

FDR on the Enemy: Imperial Japan

On Dec 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. President Roosevelt was deeply shaken. (2m 49s)

FDR on the Enemy: Fear Itself

FDR's inaugural address filled the American people with confidence in their new leader. (1m 38s)

FDR on Policing the World: Hitler's Threat

In 1938, Roosevelt broadcast a personal appeal to Hitler. (1m 53s)

FDR on Lying: Hiding a Disability

The majority of the country did not know President Roosevelt was handicapped. (2m 22s)

FDR on Lying: Creating a Reason to Go to War

"I am perfectly willing to... tell untruths if it will help win the war," FDR said. (2m 9s)

FDR on Crises: Depression Relief

FDR used the power of the federal government to help suffering caused by the Depression. (2m 51s)

FDR and Lying: Lend-Lease

Roosevelt's Lend-lease plan "was patent nonsense," according to historian Robert Dallek. (2m 6s)

FDR and Abusing Power: Reshaping the Supreme Court

FDR's attempt to reshape the Supreme Court drew criticism from both sides of the aisle. (2m 21s)