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Politics and Government

:30 Second Democracy.

Provides a comparative history of political television advertising in the United States, Britain and Canada. 51 min. Video/C 4938

[Agnew, Sprio T.] William F. Buckley Jr. Talks to Spiro T. Agnew

William F. Buckley talks with Spiro T. Agnew, then Vice President of the United States under Nixon. Appeared in 1971 on television program Firing Line. 1971. Video/C 2304 NRLF #: B 3 969 105

American Blackout

Chronicles the recurring patterns of disenfranchisement witnessed from 2000 to 2004 while following the story of Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who not only took an active role in investigating these election debacles but also found herself in the middle of one after publicly questioning the Bush Administration about the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Some call Cynthia McKinney a civil rights leader among the ranks of Shirley Chisholm and Malcolm X. Others call her a conspiracy theorist and a 'looney.' Film examines the contemporary tactics used to control our democratic process and silence political dissent. Directed by Ian Inaba. c2006. 86 min. DVD 6290

An Act of Congress.

A documentary recording how a law is made in Congress. Shows the drama and dynamics involved in translating the issues and the conflicting desires of people into the law of the land--the legislative process. 59 min. Video/C 535

Alive! In the Streets: DNC 2000

Thousands of activists take to the streets of LA to protest and disrupt business as usual at the 2000 Democratic National Convention, where powerful multinational corporations have spent millions of dollars to buy access to lawmakers and party honchos. Includes interviews with protestors and interactions with LAPD. Directed by Randy Shadowalker. 2000. 30 min. Video/C MM1136

All the President's Men.

A dramatic reconstruction of the true story of the discovery of the White House link with the Watergate affair by two young reporters form the Washington Post. 127 min. Video/C 999:451

American President

2000. 60 min. each installment

Part l: Matter of Destiny: Family Ties The last thing that the Founding Fathers envisioned was a hereditary chief executive. Yet, power inevitably passes from generation to generation and several families have returned to the White house. Focusing on John Q. Adams, Benjamin Harrison, Franklin Roosevelt and John Kennedy, part 1 reveals both the blessings and the curses of inherited power. Video/C 7161

Part 2: Matter of Destiny: Happenstance. Nearly one in five American presidents has died in office. The vice presidents who succeeded them were often chosen for the ticket less because they were equal to the task than because they provided some electoral advantage. Focusing on John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Jackson, Chester Arthur and Harry Truman, part 2 looks at what happens when such a man takes office -- frequently facing widespread conviction that he is unworthy. Video/C 7161

Part 3: Politics and the Presidency: an Independent Cast of Mind Is an independent mind the best approach to the presidency? The four men profiled in this segment took little account of political affiliation, becoming presidents, in essence without being politicians. Taken together, they present a cautionary tale: all had difficult presidencies, and neither of the two who sought a second term was re-elected. This segment profiles the careers of J. Adams, Taylor, Hayes, and Carter. Video/C 7162

Part 4: Politics and the Presidency: The Professional Politician In our nation's early years, taking part in political affairs was considered a duty and an honor, but not a way of life. It was not long, however, before the professional politicians, and the parties they represented, began to find their way to the White House. While the skills necessary for political success can be helpful to a president, they do not guarantee success. This segment profiles the careers of Van Buren, Buchanan, Lincoln and Lyndon Johnson. Video/C 7162

Part 5: Executive Vision: The American Americans have come to expect that their presidents will bring to the office a particularly strong sense of national mission. The four presidents chronicled here may have understood the character of America in different ways, but in all cases a belief that there was a distinctly American way of doing things guided their decisions. This segment profiles the careers of Jefferson, Coolidge, Hoover and Reagan. Video/C 7163

Part 6: Executive Vision: The World Stage The president has no greater responsibility than representing the nation on the world stage. These four men engaged in this task at critical times in American national history and their achievements on the world stage stand as their most durable legacy. This segment profiles the careers of Monroe, McKinley, Wilson and Bush. Video/C 7163

Part 7: The Candidate: The Heroic Posture From the beginning, the presidential office has beckoned to national heroes renowned for their selfless service to their country. This affinity is especially strong for men of military fame, for the president is formally the commander-in-chief as well as symbolically the steward of the national interest. This segment profiles the careers of Washington, W. H. Harrison, Grant, and Eisenhower. Video/C 7164

Part 8: The Candidate: Compromise Choices With the rise of political parties came the dawn of political compromise: nominees were selected because they were less offensive to some voters than those who might have been the best candidates. Two of the men profiled in this segment found the presidency beyond their abilities, while two proved themselves worthy of having been called to the highest office in the land. This segment profiles the careers of Pierce, Garfield, Harding and Ford. Video/C 7164

Part 9: An Office and its Powers: Expanding Power Though the powers of the presidency have expanded with the growth of the nation, the process has been anything but smooth. These four presidencies are benchmarks in the development of executive power. Three stretched the office to its limits; the fourth over-stepped those limits and brought on a new era of presidential weakness. This segment profiles the careers of Jackson, Cleveland, T. Roosevelt and Nixon. Video/C 7165

Part 10: An Office and its Powers:The Balance of Power The American presidency was conceived as one part of a larger system of institutions, and its effectiveness rests in part upon a good measure of cooperation among the branches. This episode examines presidential leadership in eras of an increasingly divided government. The presidents presented here suggest four different conceptions of governance within a constitutionally structured balancing act. This segment profiles the careers of Madison, Polk,Taft and Clinton. Video/C 7165

The American Ruling Class: A Dramatic-documentary-musical

A dramatic, musical, documentary satire on class in America that attempts to answer the question 'Who rules America?' Is there an American ruling class, and if so, how do you join? Two hapless Yale grads embark on a star-studded journey of meetings with America's establishment to unearth some uncomfortable answers and find out the truth about what the future really holds for them. Featuring: Robert B. Altman, James A. Baker III, Bill Bradley, Harold Brown, Hodding Carter III, William T. Coleman, Jr., Walter Cronkite, Barbara Ehrenreich, Vartan Gregorian, Doug Henwood, Mike Medavoy, Joseph S. Nye, Jr., John Perkins, (a.k.a., the economic hit-man), Pete Seeger, Lawrence H. Summers, Arthur O. Sulzberger, Jr., William Howard Taft IV, the late Kurt Vonnegut and Howard Zinn. Caton Burwell, Paul Cantagallo, Jessica Silver-Greenberg, Hollis Witherspoon. Directed by John Kirby. 2005. 90 min. DVD 9240

Description from Bullfrog Films catalog

America's War on Poverty.

Vol 1: In This Affluent Society. In the early 1960s, hundreds of Kentucky coal miners are displaced by machines and strike out at their former employers. Millions of others displaced by machines across Appalachia and the rural South head north to begin a new life in Chicago, where they face overcrowded tenements and schools, and the familiar inequities of segregation. This program recounts these stories of desperation and hope and explores the origins of the federal government's war on poverty and how attitudes toward race and faith in the accessibility of the American dream shape the battle plans for the nation's greatest effort to reduce poverty. 57 min. Video/C 3926

Vol 2: Given a Chance. Early 1965 is a critical period for President Johnson's war on poverty. The Office of Economic Opportunity's goal to have the poor themselves design and run anti-poverty programs attracts strong opposition from local and state governments. Head Start is created to provide poor children with adequate nutrition, health care and the educational advantages that other American children enjoy. This program focuses on the Head Start program in Mississippi. 57 min. Video/C 3927

Vol 3: City of Promise. The context for the war on poverty shifts after 1965. Urban rebellions provoke a sense of urgency for some, while others now see the war against poverty as hopeless. Increasingly, the media and the public equate poverty with inner-city black communities. This program looks at the anger and despair of the poor and the powerless, and the anger and frustration of the middle class at having to pay for "others' mistakes." It also examines attempts made in Newark, New Jersey, to reclaim the inner city through public/private partnerships. 57 min. Video/C 3928

Vol 4: In Service to America. By 1967, poverty warriors increase the sophistication of their tactics at the same time that a number of outspoken opponents rise to national prominence. This program highlights the beginning of Legal Services and VISTA, two programs that combined individual action with the idea of volunteerism. Lawyers team up with migrant farm workers in California to fight for better education, health care and working conditions, and VISTA volunteers and local residents organize against strip mining in Appalachia. Both stories raise significant questions about activities the government funds in the name of fighting poverty. 57 min. Video/C 3929

Vol 5: My Brother's Keeper. The Nixon Administration and the National Welfare Rights Organization (NWRO) bring the nation to the brink of overhauling the federal social security system and replacing welfare with a guaranteed income for all citizens. When it appears the guaranteed income will be quite low, the NWRO joins an alliance of conservatives and liberals to defeat the proposed legislation. 57 min. Video/C 3930

Ammo for the Info-warrior.

Media Education Foundation catalog description

Countdown: Ralph Nader remix: A Beastie Boys remix of Green Party Presidential candidate Ralph Nader's blistering critique of the news media and the current state of American politics.

Crack the CIA: Tracks the covert history of CIA drug smuggling shedding light on the darkest secret of the Agency's operational directorate.

War conspiracy: an interview with UCB English professor Peter Dale Scott, author of The War Conspiracy which concerned an investigation of the CIA, oil companies and their manipulation of U.S. foreign policy during the Vietnam War. Professor Scott also comments on the War on Terrorism.

When the smoke clearz: A scathing indictment of the current state of the Hip Hop multi-billion dollar industry by slam poet Taalam Acey.

Most dangerous game: Traces the history of top-secret CIA mind control operation MK-ULTRA from the covert importation of Nazi scientists at the end of WWII, to the illegal brainwashing experiments conducted on patients of psychiatric researcher, Dr. Ewen Cameron.

Diamond life: Examines the brutal atrocities committed by the Sierra Leone rebel forces (Revolutonary United Front) and the international diamond cartels, who have been willing to pay any price to maintain the artificial value of their gems.

Anarchism in America

Examines the development of anarchism in the United States, showing how anarchist thought from Russia and Europe fused with American nineteenth-century traditions of individualism. Includes archival footage of events in anarchist history and significant personalities including Sacco and Vanzetti, Emma Goldman, Kenneth Rexroth, Ursula LeGuin and Murray Bookchin. 1981. 75 min. DVD 6882

The Anarchist Guest: Emma Goldman

Depicts the life and philosopies of Emma Goldman, an anarchist nicknamed "Red Emma" for her radical political views. Follows her tumultuous life from Russia to the United States and her eventual deportation from the U.S. because of her politics. Traces Goldman's journey to the Canadian home where she found exile in her later years. Emma Goldman Papers, UC Berkeley, 2000. 42 min. Video/C 7932

Anytown USA.

A funny and eye-opening look into a hard-fought mayoral race between a legally blind, blunt-speaking, conservative Republican incumbent, a retired Democrat brought back into the fray and a legally blind write-in candidate, in the small town of Bogota, New Jersey. Directed by Kristian Fraga ; produced by Juan Dominguez, John L. Sikes, Michael Bridenstine. 2005. 93 min. DVD 5874

Arguing the World.

Traces the lives of four of the 20th century's leading thinkers, Daniel Bell, Nathan Glazer, Irving Howe and Irving Kristol. They have been disagreeing with a vengeance since they studied together at New York City College in the 1930s. This film traces their early idealistic days, their controversial role in the McCarthy era, their battle with the New Left in the sixties, and their vastly differing political views today. A film by Joseph Dorman. 1997. 84 min. Video/C 5541

Balance of Power.(Way We Live: Introduction to Sociology; 15)

Too often government only hears from insiders with access to money and education, which is why grass roots movements in the form of local and statewide initiatives often represent the best way for the average person to make his or her voice heard. This episode looks at the sociology of politics as illustrated in the California ballot initiatives Proposition 68, to expand legalized gambling [on Indian lands], and Proposition 71, for the support of stem cell research. 2005. 27 min. DVD 4810

[Baldwin, Roger Nash] Traveling Hopefully

Presents an intimate portrait of Roger Baldwin, the ninety-seven-year-old founder of the American Civil Liberties Union. Praises Baldwin's contributions to that organization and to the preservation of American democratic justice. Includes interviews and archival and newsreel footage. 1981. 28 min. Video/C 350

[Black, Hugo] Justice Black and the Bill of Rights.

Eric Sevareid and Martin Agronsky discuss with Justice Hugo Black possible conflict between constitutional law and morality, freedom of speech, and police powers versus the right of the accused. 32 min. Video/C 398

The Bob Hope: Laughing with the Presidents

Bob Hope's 284th and last television special for NBC takes a nostalgic and humorous look at the comedian's personal relationships with the nation's last eleven presidents, including historical footage with every president from FDR to President Clinton. Includes special appearances by President George and Barbara Bush, President Bill and Hillary Clinton, President Gerald and Betty Ford. Also joining Bob are Naomi Judd, Don Johnson and Tom Selleck. Originally broadcast on television by NBC in 1996. 50 min. Video/C 9385

Description of series from the Encyclopedia of Television

[Bush, George W.] Bush's Brain: Who's Really Running the country?

Karl Rove, the man known as "Bush's Brain", is the most powerful political figure America has ever heard of, the brain behind the curtain of today's presidential politics. He is President George W. Bush's closest advisor, who almost single-handedly shaped the policies of our nation. The relationship between Karl Rove and President George W. Bush is one of the most unique political marriages in history. Feared and admired, Rove has raised a new and disturbing question for Americans: Who really runs the country? Produced and directed by Joseph Mealey and Michael Shoob. 2003. 80 min. DVD 7396

[Bush, George] George W. Bush: A Midterm Analysis, 4/21/03

Panel: Michael Nacht, Eleanor Clift, Nelson Polsby ; panel moderator: Gerald Lubernow ; introduction: Michael Lesser. Presidential scholars and White House reporters provide an inside assessment of the 43rd president's handling of the war on terrorism, the war in Iraq, homeland security, corporate ethics and the economy, as President Bush prepares to run for reelection. A Berkeley Webcast event ; co-sponsored by the Institute of Governmental Studies and University Extension, University of California, Berkeley. 2003. 69 min. Video/C 9585

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[Bush, George W.] Bush Science

A panel of scientists discusses the politization of science during the Bush administration and looks as such issues as the supression or distortion of scientific findings and the supression by the American government of politically inconvenient science and scientists. They also ask if objectivity in scientific research is possible when most scientific research is funded by government programs. Recorded by Educational Technology Services, University of California, Berkeley on October 12, 2004. 100 min. Video/C MM369

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[Bush, George W.] Does America Need a New President?: the Kristol-Danner Debate

A debate between William Kristol (editor of The Weekly Standard) and Mark Danner (Professor, UCB Graduate School of Journalism) concerning President Bush's leadership and foreign policies and the coming 2004 election. Recorded by Educational Technology Services, University of California, Berkeley on October 4, 2004. 95 min. Video/C MM368

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[Bush, George W.] Bush Family Fortunes: The Best Democracy Money Can Buy

This documentary follows the trail of the Bush family, from the Saudi connection to the Bush team's spiking the FBI investigation of the bin Laden family and post-war Iraq. Takes a hard look at the role of business in the American justice system and alleges that many companies' motives are not only impure, but a detriment to society as a whole. Among the companies profiled are DBT, which contributed largely to the infamous Florida felon's list that kept thousands of African-American voters away from the polls in the hotly contested state of Florida during the 2000 election. Based on the book: The best democracy money can buy / by Greg Palast. Adapted from the 2004 BBC television production: Bush family fortunes / produced by Marion Jones ; directed by Steven Grandison. 2004. 62 min. DVD 3010

[Bush, George W.] Journeys with George

A video diary by Alexandra Pelosi, an NBC television producer, who traveled with George W. Bush on his first presidential campaign trail for 18 months. Presents an up-close and candid look at campaigning for the 2000 election with a behind-the-scenes perspective of how campaign traditions prevail amidst a media savvy culture. 2002. 76 min. DVD 2349

[Bush, George W.] Texas Trail: First-hand in Bush Land

Changing America, a monthly television news magazine, goes on the road to Texas to hear Texans tell the story of George W. Bush, his background, his political career, and most importantly how his policies as governor have affected the working families of Texas. They speak out on key issues such as education, healthcare, immigrant rights, labor rights, prisons, pollution and poverty. 2000. 28 min. Video/C 7592

[Carter, Jimmy] Carter's New World.

President Carter hoped to eliminate nuclear weapons, develop an arms control agreement, and improve relations with the Soviet Union. This program analyzes domestic and international events that contributed to the failure of Carter's vision. 60 min. Video/C 1289

[Carter, Jimmy] Jimmy Carter.

(We the people; the President and the Constitution.) President Carter discusses the presidency from the perspective of a Washington outsider who sought to make human rights a centerpiece of his administration. Carter reflects upon the nature of presidential leadership, illustrated by the Camp David accords, the Iran hostage crisis, the Panama Canal Treaty, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the energy crisis. 60 min. Video/C 2473

Cartoongate!

Contents: Hell-bent for election / director, Chuck Jones (1944, 13 min.) --Eisenhower spots / Walt Disney Company (1952/56, 3 min.) -- No substitute / Russell Calabrese, Doug Compton, Greg Ford (1966, 3 min.) -- Political cartoon / Joe Adamson, James Morrow, David Stone (1974, 22 min.) -- Popeye for president / director, Seymour Kneitel ; animators, Tom Johnson, Frank Endres (1956, 6 min.) -- Jimmy who? (1975, 3 min.) -- Reaganoochio / director/animator, Ken Kimmelman (1984, 5 min.)-- Now is the time for all good men (1960, 1 min.) -- Political basketball / director, Greg Ford ; animation, Nancy Beiman, Doug Compton, Mike Wisniewski (1992, 1 min.)

The cartoon Hell-Bent for Election depicts F.D. Roosevelt as a streamlined diesel in a race against a rival train. Eisenhower Spots are cartoons celebrating Ike's popularity. No Substitute shows a cartoon Nixon listening to the song used in his failed 1960 campaign against Kennedy. A Political Cartoon is a mixed live-action/animation film in which two guys decide to run a cartoon character for president. Popeye for President shows the celebrated strong man on the campaign trail. Jimmy Who? features "Jimmy Carter" caricatures. In Reaganoochio Reagan is physiognomically trapped by his own words in this ironic treatment. Now Is The Time For All Good Men, is an animated public service announcement from 1960. Political Basketball is a cartoon short on politics in the U.S. 55 min. Video/C 999:1834

Chicago 1968 (American Experience)

Explores the atmosphere surrounding the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Insight into factors contributing to events is provided through interviews with writers, politicians, anti-war activists and historians. 57 min. Video/C 4851

Chicago Convention Challenge

Using newreel footage taken in the midst of demonstrations against the Vietnam War during the 1968 Democratic National Convention, this film conveys the immediacy of anti-war organizing in meeting rooms, at rallies and in the streets. It is a valuable historical portrait of events that culminated in police riots against the protesters. 18 min. Video/C 5575

[Cheney, Richard] Cheney's Law

For three decades, Vice President Dick Cheney has waged a secretive and often bitter battle to expand the power of the presidency. Now in a direct confrontation with Congress, as the administration asserts executive privilege to head off investigations into domestic wiretapping and the firing of U.S. attorneys, Frontline meticulously traces the behind-closed-doors battle within the administration over the power of the presidency and the rule of law. Written, produced and directed: Michael Kirk. c2007. 60 min. DVD 9085

[Chisholm, Shirley] Chisholm '72: Unbought & Unbossed

Brooklyn Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm campaigned to become the Democratic Party's presidential nominee in 1972. From the announcement of her candidacy in January to the Democratic National Convention in Miami that July, Chisholm's fight for inclusion encompassed all Americans "who agree that the institutions of this country belong to all of the people who inhabit it." Shunned by the political establishment, Chisholm asks people of color, feminists and young voters for their support to "reshape our society and take control of our destiny ..." To the surprise of many, voters responded. Directed and produced by Shola Lynch. 2004. 77 min. DVD 3669

[Clinton, Bill]

See Also Misc. Speeches, Conferences, and Addresses

[Clinton, Bill] Rhetorical Highlights from the Impeachment of Bill Clinton

Examines the legislative impeachment of Bill Clinton through step-by-step documentary film of the impeachment process including questioning of witnesses, testimony by Representatives of the House and Senate and lawyers as the impeachment process is debated in the House, the Senate trial, and the final vote tally. Testimony by: Bill Clinton, Ken Starr, Barney Frank, Henry Hyde, John Lewis, Bob Barr, Charles Schumer, Richard Gephardt -- House vote on articles of impeachment -- White house response to house vote (Albert Gore) -- Official proceedings begin in the Senate -- Testimony by: Ed Bryant, Asa Hutchinson, Bob Barr, Defense Attorney Charles Ruff -- Clinton delivers State of the Union address -- Testimony by: David Kendall, Dale Bumpers, Asa Hutchinson, Henry Hyde -- Final vote. 2000. 105 min. DVD 4940

[Clinton, Bill] Road to the Presidency: Inside the Clinton Campaign

Three groundbreaking documentaries on Bill Clinton's road to the presidency presenting an unprecedented view of the 1992 Presidential election. Go inside the 'War Room' and get a startling up-close view of Bill Clinton's path through the primaries, the Democratic convention, and the televised debates with President George Bush. Goes beyond simple campaign reporting and gives a compelling view that is funny and poignant as well as instructive. c2004. 164 min. DVD 3004

[Clinton, Bill] Clinton Administration

The first segment examines the consistency and success of President Bill Clinton's human rights policies with particular reference to China and Haiti through interviews with former president Jimmy Carter and representatives from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The second segment examines advocacy for the release of the native American activist and prisoner, Leonard Peltier. Segment from the television program Rights & wrongs broadcast May 12, 1993. 27 min. Video/C 6691

[Clinton, Bill] The Clinton Chronicles.

"For the first time on video, a documentary that puts together the whole story!--The names and faces of the key players who Clinton used to build his Circle of Power as well as those who got in his way and lost their jobs, reputations, virtue and lives! From Whitewater to ADFA ... From millions in drug smuggling in Mena, Arkansas, to money laundering with the BCCI ... From Gennifer Flowers to Paula Jones ... From Vince Foster's "suicide" to the gangland slaying of private investigator Jerry Parks." [from container]. Citizens for Honest Government, 996. 104 min. Video/C 5273

[Clinton, Bill] The War Room.

Directed by D.A. Pennebaker, 1993. Documentary about the Clinton presidential campaign, from the New Hampshire primary to the victory party 10 months later. At the center are the two men most responsible for Clinton's victory--James Carville, the campaign manager, and George Stephanopoulos, the communications director. This is a compelling portrait of these two men as they successfully masterminded strategies for such events as the Democratic National Convention, the debates with Bush and Perot and the election itself. 96 min. DVD 1430; also VHS Video/C 4030

[Clinton, Hillary Rodham] Conversation with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

An interview with Hillary Rodham Clinton who talks about her experiences in the White House and about her family. She also describes some of her early experiences and expounds upon her love of politics and political issues. Segment from the television program Road to the White House, aired 01/17/1997. 39 min. Video/C 6939

Coming Apart: Nothing to Fear. (Century: Events that Shaped the World; 9.)

In the early 1930's mass unemployment, widespread hunger, and a mood of fearful pessimism and simmering unrest were Herbert Hoover's legacy to American's new chief executive. This program spotlights the early days of Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency, where he scrambled to transform the New Deal from a campaign slogan to nothing short of a social revolution--while staving off attacks by those who viewed him as a dictator and his reforms as a threatening turn to the left. 43 min. Video/C 6350

Coming Apart: Picture This. (Century: Events that Shaped the World; 10.)

In the late 1940's, while the Soviet Union and the U.S. eyed each other over the Iron Curtain, conservative Americans at all levels of society worried about communist infiltration--especially in the movie industry, since that medium plays a huge role in shaping public perceptions and attitudes. This program reveals a time of McCarthyism and career-ending blacklists, a time when freedom of speech itself became a casualty in the desperate fight to protect democracy from "The red menace." 43 min. Video/C 6351

The Congress.

A Ken Burns film. Blending contemporary cinematography, rare photographs and newsreels, live footage and interviews, this films presents a chronicle of the first 200 years of Congress, the government body that has voted our nations' laws into being. 90 min. Video/C 1479

Congress, We the People (each tape 29 min.)

Who Serves in Congress? Video/C 591

Congressional Elections. Video/C 592

"And if elected ..." Video/C 593

Congress in Committee. Video/C 594

Congress, Committees and Consensus. Video/C 595

Who Runs Congress? Video/C 596

Varieties of Leadership. Video/C 587

Rules and Norms. Video/C 598

The Congressional Establishment. Video/C 599

A Day in the House. Video/C 600

Yeas and Nays. Video/C 601

A Congress of Communities. Video /C 602

Congressional Home styles. Video/C 603

Lobbying Congress. Video/C 604

Influence and Interests. Video/C 605

Congress and the President. Video/C 606

The Power to Impeach. Video/C 607

Congress and the Bureaucracy. Video/C 608

Congress and the Court. Video/C 609

Congress and the Media. Video/C 610

Ethics and Money. Video/C 611

The Power of the Purse. Video/C 612

The Constitution: That Delicate Balance.

Produced by Columbia University Seminars on Media and Society, in association with WNET/New York and WTTW/Chicago, 1984, 60 min. each

This series available for online viewing (Requires initial registration at site) [Requires Windows Media player]

1. Executive Privilege and the Delegation of Powers. Can the President's conversations with advisors remain secret when Congress demands to know what was said? Philip W. Buchen, former counsel to President Ford, the Hon. Archibald Cox, Congresswoman Barbara Mikulski, former president Gerald Ford and Ben Wattenberg of the American Enterprise Institute discuss a hypothetical case centering on congressional attempts to review records of conversations between the President and his Secretary of Energy. Video/C 6986

2. War Powers and Covert Action. If the President, as Commander in Chief, decides to declare war, can Congress restrain him? Debating the issue are Gerald Ford, former CIA Director Bobby Inman, former Sec. of State, Edmund Muskie, and others. Video/C 6986

3. Nomination, Election and Succession of the President. Explores the role of political parties in nominating a president, the flexibility of the electoral college when no candidate is clearly electable, and the governmental mechanisms set into motion when a president becomes disabled. Edmund Muskie, former presidential press secretary Jody Powell, party officials and others discuss these issues. Video/C 6987

4. Criminal Justice and a Defendant's Right to a Fair Trial. Focuses on legal ethics and the Exclusionary Rule. A panel of prosecutors, law enforcement officials, mayors and journalists weigh the right of the accused to a fair trial against a society trying to control crime yet preserve individual freedoms. Includes commentary by Bronx district attorney Mario Merola, New York mayor Edward Koch, CBS News anchor Dan Rather and others. Video/C 6987

5. Crime and Insanity. Is a psychiatric evaluation precise enough to be allowed as testimony in a court of law? U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Irving Kaufman, Hastings Center President Willard Gaylin, and others discuss the use of psychiatry in law. Video/C 6988

6. Crime and Punishments. Cruel and unusual punishment from overcrowding in prisons to the death penalty is debated by U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Arthur Alarcon, Federal Bureau of Prisons director, Norman Carlson, government leaders, civil libertarians, and journalists. Video/C 6988

7. Campaign Spending. Do limits on campaign spending infringe on 1st Amendment rights? This film examines the role of money in political campaigns and recent Supreme Court rulings in this area. Political consultant David Garth, Washington Post columnist David Broder, Bill Moyers and others explore such issues as limits to contributions, financial demands of political campaigns, political action committees, and public financing. Video/C 6989

8. National Security and Freedom of the Press. What right does the public have to know about national security issues? The nation's leading judges, lawyers, journalists, law enforcement officials, former Cabinet members and senators discuss constitutional issues concerning national security and freedom of the press. Video/C 6989

9. School Prayer, Gun Control, and the Right to Assemble. Examines a series of events which embroiled a small town in First and Second Amendment controversies, through commentary by Griffin Bell, former Sec. of Education Shirley Hufstedler, civil liberties counsel Jeanne Baker, and journalists, congressmen, government officials, and defense lawyers. Video/C 6990

10. Right to Live, Right to Die. Gloria Steinem, Joseph Califano, Rep. Henry Hyde, Phil Donahue, and others discuss the right to make intensely individual decisions about dying, abortion, personal freedom, and privacy. Video/C 6990

11. Immigration Reform. A discussion concerning the large number of immigrants coming into the United States each year and the impact they are having in all sections of society. Examines criteria for admitting foreigners into the United States, legal aliens' rights to social services, employer's responsibilities in hiring undocumented persons, and the rights of illegal aliens. These issues are debated by U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Arlin Adams, Notre Dame President Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, and immigration officials and journalists. Video/C 6991

12. Affirmative Action and Reverse Discrimination. Are quotas based on sex or race unconstitutional? Ellen Goodman, former EEOC chair Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington Post columnist William Raspberry, United Federation of Teachers president Albert Shanker and others debate a hypothetical case regarding the application of affirmative action to a university faculty tenure decision. Video/C 6991

13. Federalism. Examines areas of federal-state dispute and the role of the court as referee. Senators Orrin Hatch and Daniel Moynihan and Columbia University professor Diane Ravitch among others discuss such questions as whether the Federal Government can offer special incentives to local school boards to foster the national good and if so, will the standards it imposes lead to a meritocracy? Focuses specifically on access to public school buildings by the handicapped and federal control of curricula. Video/C 6992

[The Constitution:] That Delicate Balance II

(Columbia University Seminars on Media and Society). Fred Friendly hosts this series on the Bill of Rights and its effect on the United States. 1992. 58 min. each, except as noted.

1. The relevance of the Bill of Rights to the 20th century dispute over abortion. 89 min. Video/C 2936

2. The debate over the interpretations of the right to free speech, including offensive speech, and protections of symbolic speech. Video/C 2937

3. Using a hypothetical high-profile rape case, this program explores questions on press access to information, gag rules, rape shield law and other constitutional issues that put the right of free press in conflict with the right to a fair trial by an impartial jury. Video/C 2938

4. Explores the problems of racial imbalances in public institutions, the constitutionality of all black-male public schools, and other issues form the current political debate. Video/C 2939

5. Explores the use of children's testimony, information from cell-mate informers, the impact of victim's testimony, the value and potential abuse of habeas proceedings, and the myriad of constitutional issues that can arise from a murder trial. Video/C 2940

Constructing Public Opinion: How Politicians and the Media Misrepresent the Public

The media regularly use public opinion polls in their reporting of important news stories. But how exactly do they report them and to what end? In this interview, Professor Justin Lewis demonstrates the way in which polling data are themselves used by media to not just reflect what Americans think but instead to construct public opinion itself. Addressing issues such as the role the media play in "manufacturing consent" for political elites, what polls really tell us about public opinion, and what Americans actually think about politics, the program provides a new way to think about the relationship between politics, mediaand the public. 2001. 31 min. Video/C 8761

Description from Media Education Foundation catalog

A Conversation on the Constitution: Judicial Independence /

U.S. Supreme Court Justices Stephen G. Breyer, Anthony Kennedy, and Sandra Day O'Connor fielded questions in Washington Tuesday, May 16, 2006 from 50 high school students from the Philadelphia and Los Angeles areas. The students and justices discussed the significance of the judiciary and the ways that independence is protected by the Constitution. Panel: Stephen G. Breyer, Anthony Kennedy, Sandra Day O'Connor. 2006. 33 min. DVD 6191

Counting on Democracy

Investigates the disenfranchisement of voters in the 2000 Presidential election and claims that Florida governor Jeb Bush's office tried to bury evidence of the exclusion of tens of thousands of legal voters from the voter rolls. A film by Danny Schechter 2002. 57 min. Video/C 1644

Description from Bullfrog Films catalog

Cover-up: Behind the Iran Contra Affair.

Reveals the arms for hostages deal and also the activities of a shadow government made up of US military personnel, C.I.A. agents, arms dealers, drug smugglers, and assassins, which operates with the sanction of the elected government. 76 min. Video/C 1644

Crashing the Parties: Third Party Politics in America.

Examines the history and current state of third party politics in the United States, as seen through the prism of the 2000 presidential election. A vital and timely case study that considers whether a two-party or a multi-party system is best for America. Features interviews with 2000 third party presidential candidates, journalists and others. Written and produced by Darren Garnick. 2002. 56 min. Video/C MM619

Damned in the U.S.A. and Obscenity, Hate Speech and the First Amendment.

Damned in the U.S.A features Jesse Helms, Christie Hefner, Donald Wildmon, Luther Campbell, Al D'Amato, Andres Serrano. Debate panel: John Frohnmayer, David Llewellyn, Bruce Herschensohn, Carol Sobel. covers the most significant battles over freedom of expression and censorship in the arts over the last five years. From the Mapplethorpe controversy to the debate over the lyrics of 2 Live Crew, from government sponsorship of artists to morally motivated boycotts, this film addresses both sides of the censorship debate in all its complexity. Film is followed by a debate which broadens the discussion of the First Amendment as it provides a sober, balanced look at the limits placed on freedom of speech. 126 min. total running time. Video/C 4199

Dear Jesse.

Gay North Carolina filmmaker Tim Kirkman's open letter to his senator, Jesse Helms whom he criticizes for his anti-homosexual policies. Also includes footage of an interview with Matthew Shepard, a gay man who was murdered, a victim of a hate crime. Writer/director, Tim Kirkman. Originally produced in 1998. 83 min. Video/C 7185

Democratic Promise: Saul Alinsky and His Legacy

Legendary organizer Saul Alinsky led the movement to empower disenfranchised communities through collective action. His life influenced the struggles for civil rights, the farm workers movement and redefined the very nature of political protest. This film examines Alinsky's life and influence through work being done by two contemporary people's organizations. 1999. 57 min. Video/C 6466

Doing Justice: The Life & Trials of Arthur Kinoy.

A biography of the civil rights lawyer, Arthur Kinoy, from his attempt to stay the executions of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, through the civil rights movement, to the unanimous Supreme Court decision on wiretapping. 1993. 51 min. Video/C 4130

Description from California Newsreel catalog

Edward R. Murrow Collection: The McCarthy Years.

Narrated by Walter Cronkite, this documentary turns back the clock to the 1950s, a time when the country lurched into a murky period of blacklists and witch-hunts for alleged communists, all led by a young Senator named Joseph McCarthy. Murrow made a controversial series of broadcasts that challenge McCarthy's abuses of power, which -- as this program investigates -- signaled the emergence of television news as a highly influential force in American life. DVD 4009; also VHS Video/C 3167

Transcript of Murrow's "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy." [See it Now CBS-TV, March 9, 1954)]

Transcript of McCarthy's rebuttal to Murrow [See it Now (CBS-TV, April 6, 1954)]

Short audio clip of Murrow on McCarthy (from Radio Days web site)

See It Now website (Museum of Broadcast Communications)

Edward R. Murrow information (Museum of Broadcast Communications)

This is Edward R. Murrow

This Reporter

[Eisenhower, Dwight D.] Ike(Presidents Collection. The Republicans.).

Presents a fresh reassessment of Dwight D. Eisenhower's legacy and tells the personal story of the man who played a key role in world events through two of the most critical decades in this century. Incorporates recently declassified information, extensive archival footage of World War II and the 1950s, still photographs, excerpts from his correspondence and diaries, interviews with historians and members of the Eisenhower family. 2000. 144 min. DVD 968

[Eisenhower, Dwight D.] The Eisenhower Presidency, [with] Stephen Ambrose(Conversations; 71).

A conversation with Stephen Ambrose, Professor of History at the University of New Orleans, on the Eisenhower presidency, Eisenhower's skills in crisis management and management of large bureaucracies, his sense for the media, and his foreign policy. Recorded in 1987 at the University of California, Berkeley. 30 min. Video/C 1458

[CNN] Election 2000.

Relive the contested presidential Election of 2000 - from the drama of Election Night to the Florida recounts, from the intense war of words between the candidates' camps to the momentous legal actions in the U.S. and Florida Supreme Courts. 2001. 65 mins. DVD 2350

Election 2000: The Florida Squeeze.

The sensational 2000 presidential election that made "butterfly ballot" and "chad" household words, caused an uproar over the malfunctioning mechanics and the validity of America's electoral process. What is being done to see that major voting irregularities cease to occur again? David Gergen, adviser to four former presidents; David Leahy, supervisor of elections for Miami-Dade County; and Mark Seibel, managing editor of The Miami Herald, suggest ways to reform America's voting system. c2003. 30 min. DVD 2016

Erik Barnouw Looks at Television and Election: Is U.S. Democracy Going Down the Tube?

Paper Tiger TV. Erik Barnouw presents his views of the American election process which requires political candidates to become indebted to special interest groups in order to amass the huge sums of money required to "sell" themselves through mass media to the American voters. Barnouw makes proposals for changing this current "anti-democratic" process. Video/C 2582

Feed.

A highly realistic look at political campaigning from an angle that makes many of the facts funny, while underscoring the seeming fawning reliance of American politics on television coverage. Highlights what politicians do while waiting to speak rather than the content of their speeches. 1992. 75 min. VIDEO/C MM197

Fender Philosophers

In an era when entire political platforms are boiled down into 30-second sound bites, bumper stickers offer a unique forum for Americans to express their most fervent opinions with unrivaled speed, wit, and audacity. This lively and often humorous documentary explores the power and diversity of bumper stickers, perhaps our most populist and ubiquitous form of public expression -- a veritable town hall meeting on wheels, with everyone having an equal opportunity to sound off. The video introduces a wide variety of people who create, produce, sell, and display bumper sitckers -- liberals and conservatives; environmentalists and ranchers; hippies, surfers, cynics, and conspiracy theorists; as well as entrepreneurs and impassioned activists across the entire political and social spectrum. The film shows that bumper stickers are not only a medium for the expression of opinions. They also serve as important selling devices for candidates and products, tools for advocating radical social change, insider codes for minority groups and organizations, and a key barometer of public opinion. This fascinating video will stimulate discussion in a wide variety of courses in popular culture, sociology, social psychology, American studies, and communication. Produced by Lisa Leeman. c1997. 27 min. Video/C MM550

The First Amendment Project

All three films were originally released in 2004. A compilation of three short films about the current state of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly in the United States. Fox vs. Franken: When comedian Al Franken used Fox News' phrase "Fair and balanced" in his satiric book, the network sued. Fox lost in court and Franken earned national notoriety with a bestseller. Poetic license: Explores the implications of state-sponsored art through the story of New Jersey Poet Laureate Amiri Baraka and the outrage that erupted after a perfomance of his controversial poem, "Somebody blew up America," which is about the September 11 terrorist attacks. Some assembly required: Documents protestors at the 2004 Republican National Convention and examines the public's right to protest versus the need for public security. 2005. 72 min. DVD 4023

Fog of War

The story of America as seen through the eyes of the former Secretary of Defense, under President Kennedy and President Johnson, Robert S. McNamara. McNamara was one of the most controversial and influential political figures of the 20th century. Now, he offers a candid and intimate journey through some of the most seminal events in contemporary American history. He offers new and often surprising insights into the 1945 bombing of Tokyo, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the effects of the Vietnam War. A film by Errol Morris. 2003. 107 min. DVD 2687

Fog of War (Conversation with Robert McNamara and Errol Morris)

Motion picture producer and director Errol Morris and former Sec. of Defense Robert S. McNamara discuss issues revealed in the film Fog of war which presents a look at McNamara's political career and views during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. Recorded by Educational Technology Services, University of California, Berkeley on November 4, 2004. 72 min. Video/C MM79

View it with RealPlayer

For Which It Stands

Examines a variety of citizens' perspectives on the Americans flag, symbol of the American people, and the ways people have desecrated the flag. Includes interviews with politicians, representatives of the First Amendment Project, and the Citizens Flag Alliance. They discuss the First Amendment to the Constitution about prohibition of flag desecration. c2000. 24 min. Video/C MM707

[Ford, Gerald R.] Gerald R. Ford. (We the People; the President and the Constitution.)

President Ford discusses the War Powers Resolution and other Congressional limitations on presidential power, the personal qualities required of a President, limitations on presidential terms of office, the threat of assassination, and the difficulties that confront the legislative branch. Includes his views on decision-making in the context of the pardon of Richard Nixon, the seizure of Mayaguez, the summit meeting at Vladivostok, and other events in the Ford presidency. 60 min. Video/C 2472

Free Speech for Sale: A Bill Moyer's Special.

This program examines the effect money has on free speech and political debate. In our society large corporations are increasingly able to drown out opposition by buying large amounts of air time, while their opponents are silenced by their lack of money. From North Carolina's hog industry to the defeat of the McCain Tobacco Bill to the passage of the Telecom Act of 1995, this program investigates the consequences for our democracy as media outlets are increasingly coming under control of only a few corporations. 1999. 57 min. Video/C 6369

From the Floor of the Convention

Presents a grassroots view of the presidential nominating convention by following three first-time delegates during the 1984 Democratic Convention in San Francisco. 1984. 28 min. Video/C MM702

[Gardner, John] John Gardner: Uncommon American

Chronicles the career of John Gardner, an "establishment" man who took on the establishment to build a better America. Called the "ultimate builder of ideas, people and causes," Gardner founded Common Cause and played an instrumental role in a vast array of enterprises: campaign finance reform, education reform, civil rights enforcement, Medicare, public television, volunteer action and community renewal. The film also tells the story of the unique relationship between President Lyndon Johnson, practical politician and Gardner, idea man, after his appointment in 1965 as Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. 2000. 56 min. Video/C 8845

Guns & Mothers

This documentary explores the contentious debate over gun control, as seen through the eyes of two mothers on opposite sides of the issue. Frances Davis from Brooklyn, a member of the Million Moms, lost all three of her sons to gun violence and is a fierce advocate of gun control. Maria Heil, rural Pennsylvanian mother of four, serves as spokeswoman for the Second Amendment Sisters, a group formed in response to the Million Mom March in 2000. Includes footage from the 2000 Presidential debate concerning the debate over gun control. 2003. 53 min. Video/C MM320

Description from First Run/Icarus catalog

Hacking Democracy

Electronic voting machines count about 87% of the votes cast in America today. But are they reliable? Are they safe from tampering? From a current congressional hearing to persistent media reports that suggest misuse of data and even outright fraud, concerns over the integrity of electronic voting are growing by the day. And if the voting process is not secure, neither is America's democracy. This timely, cautionary documentary exposes gaping holes in the security of America's electronic voting system. Written and directed by Simon Ardizzone. 2006. 82 min. DVD 8055

Hijacking Catastrophe: 9/11, Fear & the Selling of American Empire

Interviews with Karen Kwiatowski, Scott Ritter, Daniel Ellsberg, Jody Williams, Norman Mailer, Noam Chomsky, Medea Benjamin, Mark Crispin Miller, William Hartung, Vandana Shiva, Kevin Danaher, Chalmers Johnson, Benjamin Barber, Stan Goff, and others. Summary: Examines how a radical fringe of the Republican Party has used the trauma of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to advance a pre-existing agenda to radically transform American foreign policy while rolling back civil liberties and social programs at home. Explains how the Bush administration has sold this radical plan for aggressive American military intervention by deliberately manipulating intelligence, political imagery and the fears of Americans after 9/11. Includes interviews with leading political observers of our time, commenting on the influence of the events of 9/11 and the war in Iraq. 2004. 64 min. Video/C MM251

Description from Media Education Foundation catalog

[Hiss, Alger] The Trials of Alger Hiss

Documentary and factual review of the Whittaker Chambers-Alger Hiss controversy. Consists of archival film and interviews. 165 min Video/C 766

Hollywood D. C: A Tale of Two Cities

A compelling documentary exploring the sometimes cozy, often contentious relationship between the U.S. federal government and the Hollywood entertainment industry. Through exclusive interviews, archival footage and clips from feature films, tells the history of both Hollywood and Washington and their shared conviction that the right combination of words and images could win over hearts and minds. 2000. 97 min. Video/C 8505

Hot Spots: Multimedia Analyses of Political Ads.

Political advertising studies illustrating how music, text, metaphor, genre, image, color, delivery, tempo, and location all combine to "orchestrate" political meaning in campaign advertisements and electioneering. Contents: 1. Paradigms of politics -- 2. How music and image deliver argument -- 3. Orchestrating politics -- 4. Communicating feeling -- 5. The politics of feeling. 1997. 63 min. Video/C 7235

[Hoover, J. Edgar] G-men: The Rise of J. Edgar Hoover

(American Experience; 407). Film focuses on J. Edgar Hoover and his Government Men (G-Men) and the war they waged against the leading criminals of the 1930's. 58 min. DVD 7303 [preservation copy]; vhs Video/C 2846

How a Bill Becomes a Law

One-on-one interviews with prominent legislators, lobbyists, and special interest group representatives carefully explain how a bill is conceived, moved through or killed in committee, amended, prepared for a vote, and sent for the President's or Governor's signature. 1993. 28 min. Video/C 6475

Ken Burns: The Historical Narrative on Television. 85 min. Video/C 4658

In Search of the Constitution.

Contents: In the beginning -- Mr. Justice Blackmun -- Mortimer Adler, teaching the Constitution -- Mr. Justice Brennan -- Ronald Dworkin, the changing story -- God and the Constitution, conversation with Martin Marty, conversation with Leonard Levy -- Strictly speaking, Attorney General Meese segment, Judge Bork segment -- Ms. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor -- For the people -- 1987 v. the Constitution -- Mr. Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. Video/C 1046

Informing America: the Census Bureau at Work.

Describes the types of statistics the Census Bureau gathers about the population, the economy, education, family life, housing, crime, etc., and shows how these statistics are made available and are used. 16 min. Video/C 4539

Inside the CIA: On Company Business.

A three part series using interviews and newsreel footage to outline the history of the CIA, and the various political incidents in which the CIA has been involved. 58 min. each installment

Part 1: What part did the CIA play in the Cold War? How instrumental were they in the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the overthrow of Allende in Chile? This first segment starts at the end of WWII when the company was formed and presents various political incidents that the CIA has played a major role in throughout the last forty years. 1990. Video/C 9333

Part 2: Assassination as a tool of America's foreign policy has always been kept under wraps -- until key ex-agents began to tell their shocking stories. Presented here are some of the plots by the CIA to murder the leaders of various governments round the world, including Fidel Castro. Video/C 9334

Part 3: The CIA has two goals: gathering information and influencing the balance of world power. When a world leader's policies did not match those of the CIA, the "Company" used subversion to topple or destabilize the government. This could mean restoring the Shah of Iran to power, overthrowing Chile's Marxist government and continuously destabilizing Latin American politics. Video/C 9335

[Jefferson, Thomas] Thomas Jefferson.

A film by Ken Burns. Examines the life of Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence.

Part I: Life/Liberty; Our Sacred Honor. In this segment a young Jefferson is transformed by the fire of the Enlightenment into his country's most articulate voice for human liberty. Torn between family life at Monticello and his passion for politics, Jefferson suffers heartrending personal loss, even as he gives voice to a new democratic government. He then journeys to Paris as U.S. Minister to France for George Washington and supports the rising French Revolution. 90 min. Video/C 5395

Part II: Liberty, The Age of Experiments; The Pursuit of Happiness. The second part of a two-part documentary which examines the life of Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence. In this segment a mature Jefferson returning from France, strives to preserve the fragile American government and helps create the first political party through his bitter struggles with the Federalists. As President he doubles the size of the country with the Louisiana Purchase but faces scandal and controversy, finally retiring to his beloved Monticello. After having advanced religious, political and intellectual freedom in the new United States, his last years are spent founding the University of Virginia and re-establishing his friendship with John Adams. 90 min. Video/C 5396

[Jefferson, Thomas] Jefferson's Blood

Examines Thomas Jefferson's life in the context of his times and looks at the contradictions in Jefferson's character, weighing the decisions he made in his private life with his public pronouncements on slavery and race-mixing. Follows the descendants of Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings as they research their family history and sort out their place along America's blurred color line. Originally broadcast as an episode of the television program Frontline. 2000. 60 min. Video/C 8717

[Johnson, Lyndon B.] LBJ (American Experience; 444).

Contents: v. 1. Beautiful Texas. My fellow Americans -- v. 2. We shall overcome. The last believer. 239 min. DVD 971; also VHS Video/C 2344

ABC-CLIO Video Rating Guide for Libraries

[Johnson, Lyndon B.] LBJ

A bitter satire by the Cuban filmmaker Santiago Alvarez of President Lyndon Baines Johnson presented through a montage of film clips and photographs and a cartoon of Johnson. The film is divided into three sections which correspond to Johnson's initials. L is for Martin Luther King, B is for Bobby Kennedy and J is for John F. Kennedy. Alvarez implicates Johnson in all three assassinations, portraying his presidency as the culmination of a history of socio-political corruption. 1968. 18 min. Video/C 8865

[Johnson, Lyndon B.] The LBJ Tapes

A unique view into the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson through recently released Oval Office tapes. Covers involvement in Vietnam, events surrounding the 1964 murder of three civil rights workers in Mississippi and off-the-record conversations with FBI Director J. Originally broadcast on the television program Nightline on October 16, 1996. 23 min. Video/C 5953

[Kennedy, John F.] Being with John F. Kennedy.

Inside portrait of John F. Kennedy. 100 min. Video/C 587

[Kennedy, John F.] Image of an Assassination: A New Look at the Zapruder Film.

A state-of-the-art digital replication of the home movies shot by manufacturer Abraham Zapruder of the assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963, which has become one of the most important documents of the 20th century. This documentary chronicles the events leading up to the filming and the painstaking process of digitally duplicating the motion picture sequence undertaken by Zapruder, his business associates, photography experts and employees of the National Archives. The final results are an enhanced film in various sequences...including a version that is 64% wider than has been seen before. 1998. 45 min. Video/C 5504

Lardner, George, Jr. "Zapruder film set for August video release." (Abraham Zapruder accidently chronicled the assassination of John F. Kennedy) Washington Post v121 (Fri, June 26, 1998):B1, col 1, 42 col in.

Margolick, David. "Owning history: does film of Kennedy assassination belong to all or to one?" (column) New York Times v138 (Fri, Nov 25, 1988):B9(N), B20(L), col 1, 18 col in.

Simon, Art. "Image of an Assassination." (review) Cineaste v24, n1 (Winter, 1998):83 (2 pages).

"The Zapruder Film." (home video of the assassination of President Kennedy taken by Abraham Zapruder in Dallas, Texas becomes government property)(Editorial) New York Times v147 (Tue, June 23, 1998):A20(N), A18(L), col 1, 7 col in.

[Kennedy, John F.]JFK Films

Presents the film legacy of John F. Kennedy's presidential reign through television coverage and newsreels aired between 1960 and 1963. Covers his press conferences, the space race, the announcement of the Peace Corps and other international and domestic issues of his presidency. Universal newsreels: Kennedy elected (11/10/60, 6 min.) -- Strategy talks: Kennedy confers with his Congress (12/22/60, 1 min.) -- Inauguration: Kennedy sworn in (1/23/61, 6 min.) -- Peace Corps: Kennedy outlines general program (3/13/61, 3 min.) -- Anglo-U.S. amity (4/6/61, 6 min.) -- Cosmos pioneer: Soviets orbit man in space (4/13/61, 1 min.) -- As the world watched: Spaceman hailed after U.S. triumph (5/8/61, 2 min.) -- India [visit by the first lady] (3/22/62, 2 min.) -- Kennedy on Telstar: Europe sees news conference (7/23/62, 1 min.) -- Income tax cut: Kennedy hopes to spur economy (8/13/62, 2 min.) -- Kennedy tour [of America]: Kennedy calls for U.S. lead in space (9/13/62, 4 min.) -- Kennedy tour [of America]: Kennedy inspects missile bases (12/10/62, 2 min.) -- Space tour: Kennedy inspects missile center/ Reds free professor (11/18/63, 3 min.) -- JFK Presidential press conferences: 24 highlight outakes from the first televised presidential press conferences (25 min.) -- An Answer: President addresses the men of the Second Fleet and Second Marine Division (1962, col., 30 min.) DVD 5959

[Kennedy, John F.]The JFK Tapes: [Eavesdropping on the Cuban Missile Crisis].

The John F. Kennedy Library recently released tapes of dicussions held on October 22, 1962, debating the actions that the U.S. should take to counter the Soviet missiles based in Cuba. The Senators advocated air strikes but others thought that the preparation time needed would jeopardize U.S. security. As it turned out, the U.S. underestimated the size of the Soviet presence in Cuba. The discussions concluded just 45 minutes before President Kennedy went on national television to announce the blockade of Cuba. Moderator and interviewer, Cokie Roberts; interview with Robert S. McNamara alternates with excerpts of taped discussions between John F. Kennedy, Robert McNamara and Dean Rusk and the National Security Council and Senators Richard Russell and J.W. Fulbright. Broadcast as a Nightline program December 24, 1994. 33 min. Video/C 6261

[Kennedy, John F.] Kennedy v. Wallace: A Crisis Up Close.

(American Experience) A film originally made in 1963 of President John F. Kennedy and the governor of Alabama, George Wallace, during the confrontation over desegregation of Alabama schools. Re-edited to include thoughts of U.S. Attorney General, Nicholas Katzenbach. 60 min. Video/C 2876

[Kennedy, John F.] The Kennedys.

Through extensive interviews, still photographs and archival footage, film explores the building of the Kennedy legend, and the shaping of the Kennedy fortune and political dynasty by the family's patriarch, Joseph P. Kennedy. Part 1 traces the lives of Joe and Rose and their nine children, focusing particularly on Joseph Jr., John, Robert, and Edward. Part 2 focuses on the presidency of John and the political careers of Robert and Edward. The American experience. 231 min. DVD 970; also VHS Video/C 2844

[Kennedy, John F.]Reasonable Doubt: The Single-bullet Theory and the Assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Examines the Warren commission's controversial single-bullet theory in an attempt to answer the question: was Lee Harvey Oswald John F. Kennedy's sole assassin, or were there conspirators? 51 min. Video/C 1754

[Kennedy, Robert] RFK

This probing and perceptive biography reassesses the remarkable and tragic life of the third Kennedy son, Robert Francis Kennedy. A man who would almost certainly have been president if his violent assassination hadn't intervened. Features extensive interviews with family members, friends, journalists, Washington insiders, and civil rights activists. Profiles the pivotal roles RFK played in the many major events of the 1960's - the Cuban Missile Crisis, the civil rights movement, and the war in Vietnam. Written and directed by David Grubin. 2004. 120 min. DVD 8789

[Kennedy, Robert] RFK Assassination Investigation.

A re-investigation of bullet holes in the pantry area in conjunction with the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Video/C 1192

[Kennedy, Robert] Senator Kennedy Assassination June 5, 1968.

California State Archives. RFK assassination investigation papers composite of motion picture films. Video/C 1191

[Kerry, John]Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry

Takes an inside look at Senator John Kerry's tour of duty in Vietnam, his contributions to the peace movement that followed, and how these experiences came to shape his future political career. Loosely based on the book Tour of Duty by Douglas Brinkley. 2004. 88 min. DVD 3076

Key Constitutional Concepts

These three 20- minute videos examine key constitutional concepts. The first explains why the nation's framers created the Constitution. The second describes the protection of individual rights by highlighting the Supreme Court case of Gideon v. Wainwright, affirming the right to an attorney. The last explores the separation of powers by examining the Supreme Court case of Youngstown v. Sawyer, a challenge to President Truman's decision to take over steel mills during the Korean War. Part 1. Creating a constitution -- Part 2. One man changes the Constitution, Gideon v. Wainwright -- Part 3. Checks and balances, Youngstown v. Sawyer. 2006. 60 min. DVD 6190

The King of Steeltown: Hardball Politics in the Heartland

Takes an in-depth look at the 1999 Democratic mayoral primary in East Chicago, Indiana, a city struggling with the decline of the steel industry. The film focuses on the election campaign of Robert Pastrick, mayor for three decades described as the last of America's political bosses, and challenger Stephen Stiglich. The film examines a political culture that is vanishing ... elections that center around old time politicians who have dominated their political campaigns for years who are polished in the strategies of hardball politics. Produced and directed by Chris Sautter. 2001. 75 min.Video/C 9654

[Kissinger, Henry] The Trials of Henry Kissinger

Did Henry Kissinger sabatoge the 1968 Vietnam peace talks for his own personal gain? Did he orchestrate the secret bombing of Cambodia or quietly approve of Indonesia's genocidal assault on East Timor in 1975? Did he authorize covert operations to overthrow a Chilean President? This explores how a young boy who fled Nazi Germany grew up to become one of the most powerful and controversial figures in United States history. 2003. 80 min. DVD 1849

[Kissinger, Henry] Kissinger in Retrospect.

Reporters Martin Agronsky and Stanley Karnow trace the life and career of Henry Kissinger, presenting a critical examination of Kissinger's role in US Foreign policy during the Nixon and Ford Administrations. 90 min. Video/C 215

Legacy: Murder and Media, Politics and Prisons.

From murders to manhunts to a win-at-all costs political campaign, this riveting expose presents the disturbing story behind the passage of California's stringent "three strikes" law. Through candid interviews and news footage, Mike Reynolds and Marc Klaas--both fathers of murdered children--and other key players including judges, legal analysts, and state officials illuminate both sides of this heated issue, revealing how criminal justice policy is debated and promoted in today's media-saturated political climate--particulary in a state where more money is spent on prisons than on education. 1999. 60 min. Video/C 6370

[Libby, Irv "Scooter" Lewis] Federal Grand Jury Indictment

Filmed Following the indictment on 5 counts of obstruction of justice, perjury and providing false information by the vice president's chief of staff, Irv Lewis "Scooter" Libby, in an investigation into White House leaks of confidential information involving a CIA operative, President Bush spoke briefly to reporters about the indictments. October 28, 2005. 1 min. DVD 4850

[Lincoln, Abraham] Lincoln.

Based on the book of the same title by Philip B. Kunhardt. Captures the drama of Lincoln in his own words. Drawn from letters, speeches and diaries, Lincoln's words are brought to life by the voice of actor, Jason Robards. Uses historic black and white photographs to portray Lincoln and the period of the Civil War in American history. Contents: pt. 1. The making of a president: 1860-1862 -- pt. 2. The pivotal year: 1863 -- pt. 3. "I want to finish this job": 1864 -- pt. 4. "Now he belongs to the ages": 1865. 4 cassettes, 56 min. each. Video/C 2807 Pt. 1-4

The Living Room Campaign

Traces the impact of political commercials on American national elections since the Eisenhower campaign first used the practice, to the first political debates on TV, to more modern media situations and figures. Shows ads from 1952-1988 and explores the many different kinds of political ads including attack ads, feel good ads, false inferences, symbolism, public persuasion, opinion and reaction. Includes the controversial series of "Willie Horton ads" that were critical in George H. W. Bush's 1988 victory and the complete "Daisy" spot that aired only once but lead to Johnson's defeat of Goldwater in 1964. Also features interviews with prominent media experts, journalists, advertising executives, political consultants and pollsters. 1992. 35 min. Video/C MM1005

[Long, Huey] Huey Long.

Uses footage from old films to portray events in the life of the Louisiana politician Huey Long and discusses the opinions of several people concerning the impact of his career. 88 min. Video/C 2147

Mandate the President and the People

Part 1. The founding fathers through President Jackson -- Part 2. President Lincoln and the Civil War -- Part 3. President Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal. Editor, Alina Taalman ; music, Thomas Rutishauser ; photography, Wayne De La Roche, David Gladstone. This documentary, narrated by veteran CBS News correspondent Lesley Stahl, examines the long and complex relationship between the presidency and public opinion. Leading historians, political scientists, and public figures offer insight into presidents and the presidency from George Washington through FDR. 2005. 33 min. DVD 6192 DVD 6192

Mass Appeal.(Way We Live: Introduction to Sociology; 21)

Social movements are not a new phenomenon. Fundamental to all social movements, past and present, is the idea of collective identity. But other factors that are at play often determine whether a social movement will be a success or failure." Looks at the women's movement, civil rights and the gay rights movements as examples of American social change through united social action and also at the recent ANSWER Coalition (Act Now To Stop War and End Racism). 2005. 27 min. DVD 4816

[McNamara, Robert S.] Fog of War

The story of America as seen through the eyes of the former Secretary of Defense, under President Kennedy and President Johnson, Robert S. McNamara. McNamara was one of the most controversial and influential political figures of the 20th century. Now, he offers a candid and intimate journey through some of the most seminal events in contemporary American history. He offers new and often surprising insights into the 1945 bombing of Tokyo, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the effects of the Vietnam War. 2003. 107 min. DVD 2687

[McCarthy, Eugene]I'm Sorry I Was Right: Eugene McCarthy

A documentary portrait of the politician and poet, Eugene McCarthy. With rare archival footage, lively interviews, and good humor, McCarthy tells about his work as a politician, the lessons of the Vietnam War and the dangers of corporate control of the public mind. A writer of 21 books, he also recites a choice selection of his poetry and a Yeats poem. 2001. 29 min. Video/C 9788

McCarthy, Joseph and McCarthyism SEE 1950's Videography

[McGovern, George S.]One Bright Shining Moment: The Forgotten Summer of George McGovern DVD 5490

Modern Presidential Campaigns.

v. 1. The modern era begins [1920-1944] (51 min.) -- v. 2. From train to television [1948-1960] (80 min.) -- v. 3. Turbulence, populism and power politics [1964-1976] (82 min.) -- v. 4. Images & sound bites [1980-1988] (81 min.). 294 min. Video/C 2284

[Nader, Ralph] An Unreasonable Man

The life and times of Ralph Nader, political analyst and presidential candidate. Includes footage and interviews with those who knew and worked with him, including an interview with the man himself. Special features (Disc 1, 31 min.): 7 deleted scenes ("The congress project", "No nukes", "Airbags", "Big boys/Flint", "Bell's Palsy/Shafeek", "Proposition 103", "Meeting with The Congressional Black Caucus"); theatrical trailer (2 min.). Special features (Disc 2, 77 min.): 7 featurettes ("Profile of a charismatic leader"; "What kind of president would Ralph Nader be?"; "Debating the role of third parties in the U.S.", "What happened to the Democratic Party?", "Why is the Right better organized than the Left?", "Ralph Nader on the Iraq war", "A debate on corporate power in America"). Written & directed by Henriette Mantel, Steve Skrovan. 2006. DVD 8172

The New Left

The New Left sprang from an affluent America torn byracial conflict and dissent over the Vietnam War. This program assesses the course of New Left politics up to 1967 by combining newsreel footage with interviews of leaders across the movement's range, including Tom Hayden, Carl Oglesby, Stokely Carmichael and Fannie Lou Hamer. From Students for a Democratic Society to the Black Panthers; from Martin Luther King, Jr. to Malcolm X, this look at a social and political groundswell provides fascinating insights into the era. Originally aired on the CBS Television Network on September 12, 1967. 55 min. Video/C 8904

[Nixon, Richard M.] David Frost / Richard Nixon: Watergate

Excerpts from the Frost/Nixon interviews which are now recognised as one of the great media events of the Twentieth Century. First broadcast in May 1977, they drew the biggest ever worldwide audience for a news interview. Forty-five million people watched in America alone. During twenty eight and three quarter gruelling hours, Frost questioned Nixon on everything from Vietnam to China, from abuse of power to the Final Days. But the most tense and gripping sessions were on Watergate. Two whole days were devoted to the subject. 97 min. DVD 8266

Allen, Craig. "The Nixon Interviews with David Frost." Journalism History 20.n1 (Spring 1994): 44(1).

Kutler, Stanley I. "Talking with David Frost: The Nixon Interviews." Journal of American History 81.n3 (Dec 1994): 1418(2).

Reston, James. The conviction of Richard Nixon : the untold story of the Frost/Nixon interviews / New York : Harmony Books, c2007. (MAIN: E856 .R47 2007)

[Nixon, Richard M.] Four More Years.

Affords unusual coverage of the Thirtieth Republican National Convention which re-nominated Richard Nixon for President. Includes a wheelchair parade of disabled veterans protesting the war in Vietnam, shots of grotesque costumes worn by the protestors and views of some of the delegates on these subjects. Dist.: Electronic Arts Intermix. 1972. 60 min. Video/C MM1171

[Nixon, Richard M.] The Impeachment Hearings.

Documents the Nixon impeachment hearings through archival footage and present-day interviews. 64 min. Video/C 915

[Nixon, Richard M.] Millhouse: A White Comedy.

One of the most controversial political satires ever made, this film is a compilation of newsreel and TV footage with interviews with various political commentators presenting a comic yet terrifying portrait of Richard M. Nixon. It's all here-- including scenes of Nixon advocating the death penalty for drug peddlers, suggestions of using nuclear weapons on Indochina, and the president watching go-go dancers in the White House. Filmmaker Emile de Antonio has said, "I made this film to reveal the terrible comic theater that is American politics." 1971. 93 min. Video/C 6982

[Nixon, Richard M.] Nixon.

(American Experience) Covers the span of Richard M. Nixon's political life from his early political career to his resignation from the presidency. 174 min. DVD 967; also VHS Video/C 1809:1-3

[Nixon, Richard M.] Nixon.

Directed by Oliver Stone, 1995; starring Anthony Hopkins, Joan Allen, Powers Boothe, Ed Harris, James Woods. Drama about the fall of President Richard Nixon portrayed as a complex man whose chance at greatness was ultimately destroyed by his passion for power-- when his involvement in conspiracy jeopardizes the nation's security and the presidency of the United States. 191 min. DVD 775; VHS 999:1440

[Nixon, Richard M.] Nixon: Checkers to Watergate.

A compilation of archival still and motion picture photography showing speeches, interviews, and press conferences by Richard Nixon, as candidate, Congressman, Vice-President, and President. Concentrates on well-known sequences such as the McCarthy hearings, the Nixon-Kennedy debates, the Checkers speech, and clips concerning Vietnam and Watergate. 20 min. Video/C 811

Listen to online recording of the Checkers speech

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[Nixon, Richard M.] Richard M. Nixon

(We the People; The President and the Constitution). President Nixon discusses the presidency from the perspective of his long career in public service. Includes his views of the practical handicaps of divided government, secret diplomacy and covert operations, presidential campaigning, and relations with the media. 60 min. Video/C 2471

[Nixon, Richard M.] Secret Honor: A Political Myth.

A dramatization of the life of Richard M. Nixon in the final hours before his resignation from the US. presidency. The plot theorizes that Nixon did not resign because of the Watergate cover-up but was motivated instead by his secret decision to thwart the plans of a cabal of businessmen to continue their control of the White House. 90 min. Video/C 999:201

Aufderheide, Patricia. "Secret Honor: Interviews with Donald Freed and Robert Altman." Cineaste, vol. 14 no. 2. 1985. pp: 13-14.

[Nixon, Richard M.] 784 days That Changed America.

Edited clips of key testimony from the 1973 Senate hearings of the Watergate affair, for which Richard M. Nixon resigned from the presidency. 120 min. Video/C 976

[Nixon, Richard M.] Summer of Judgment.

The Watergate hearings. Commentator Charles McDowell hosts this documentary on the Watergate hearings, focusing on events of the summer of 1974. Includes archival footage and stills, as well as the personal recollections of officials involved in the Watergate Affair. 64 min. Video/C 914

[Nixon, Richard M.] Watergate plus 30

What lessons has America learned from Watergate? Thirty years after the most infamous break-in helped pull down President Richard Nixon, all of the facts are still not in. But as this compelling documentary shows, Watergate remains a nearly unbelievable tale of ordinary men corrupted by power and their desire to retain it. Interviews with investigator Sam Dash, co-conspirator John Dean, and journalist Bob Woodward recreate the history and speculate on the effects. 2003. 120 min. DVD 2136

[Nixon, Richard M.] Watergate.

Vol 1: Break-in. This documentary series on the Watergate Affair begins in 1970 when the expansion of the Vietnam War ignited such massive protests that Nixon began to fear he would lose the next election. His response was to order intelligence agency operations to deliver proof of subversion. A secret police force began to operate out of the White House. This segment ends as five burglars are arrested for breaking into Democratic Party headquarters located in the Watergate building. 46 min. Video/C 3509

Vol 2: Cover-up. After the arrest of the Watergate burglars the series of slip-ups continued and the crime was eventually connected to the White House. Key administration officials in the White House including Hunt, Liddy, Magruder, Mitchell and Kleindienst received the news and began to struggle with the issue. The first files of evidence were burned and the objective was made clear to "contain Watergate". 46 min. Video/C 3510

Vol 3: Scapegoat. As Nixon began his second term in office the Watergate burglars, about to be sentenced, began to demand money to buy their silence. John Dean was targeted to take the fall but refused and agreed to co-operate with the prosecution. Then Alexander Butterfield revealed the tapings in the Oval Office indicating a new body of evidence was available. 46 min. Video/C 3511

Vol 4: Massacre.This episode of the continuing saga of Watergate tells the story of the rise and fall of the special prosecutor, Archibald Cox, and how sober, well-informed senior attorneys at the Justice Department became serously concerned over the impact Watergate would eventually have upon Constitutional government. 46 min. Video/C 3512

Vol 5: Impeachment. As the Watergate Affair continued to unfold the White House appointed a new special prosecutor, Leon Jaworski, thinking he would be less troublesome than Cox, but he extracted from the White House evidence so incriminating that even the most conservative members of Congress abandoned the president. Film concludes with a threat of impeachment and Nixon's resignation. 46 min. Video/C 3513

[North, Oliver] Iran-Contra Hearings.

Joint congressional Hearings on the Iran-Contra Affair, July 9-23, 1987. Contents: [1]. Oliver North testimony, July 9, 1987 -- [2]. Oliver North, July 10, 1987 -- [3]. Oliver North, July 14, 11987 -- [4]. Poindexter, July 16, 11987 -- [5]. Poindexter, July 20, 1987 -- [6]. Poindexter, July 21, 1987 -- [7]. Poindexter, July 23, 1987. Video/C 1205

[North, Oliver] Lt. Colonel Oliver North: His Story.

CNN network highlights of Oliver North's seven days of testimony before the Select Committee on Secret Military Assistance to Iran and the Nicaraguan Opposition. 120 min. Video/C 1034

One Woman, One Vote.

Documents the 70-year struggle for women's suffrage which culminated in the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. It illuminates the alliances, infighting, betrayals and defeats that paved the way for victory in the battle for women's right to vote. Historical footage is enhanced with vocal performances, and interviews with historians provide the viewer with both current and historical perspectives. 109 min. Video/C 3886

One Woman One: A Short History and Guide (via PBS)

[McCarthy, Joseph] An American Ism, Joe McCarthy

Uses archival film segments and interviews with friends, business associates, and politicians to provide a film biography of Joseph McCarthy. Producer and director, Glenn Silber. 1980. 84 min. Video/C 124

Description from First Run/Icarus Films catalog

[McCarthy, Joseph] Ordinary Americans: The Red Scare

Examines the history of official and unofficial attempts to find and punish communists, both in and outside the U.S. government. Hear the personal accounts of key political figures leading the hunt for communists, as well as what it was like for ordinary citizens entangled in the early years of the Cold War. Includes newsreel footage of air raid drills in Times Square and of testimonies given before the House Un-American Activities Committee, the blacklisting of the "Hollywood Ten" and other authors and entertainers. 1999. 35 min. Video/C 6589

[McCarthy, Joseph] Point of Order.

Director, Emile de Antonio. Documents the 1954 Army-McCarthy hearings through excerpts from the television footage shot during the six weeks of hearings. Includes an introduction by Paul Newman, who places the excerpts in historical perspective. 102 min. 1964. DVD 4684; also VHS Video/C 1918

Our Constitution: A Conversation

United States Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Stephen Breyer talk about the Constitution with high school students and discuss why we have and need a Constitution, what federalism is, how implicit and explicit rights are defined, and how separation of powers ensures that no one branch of government obtains too much power. Introduction -- Teaching the Constitution -- Why have a Constitution? -- Helping to solve problems -- The power of precedent -- Moral values/Decision-making -- Separation of powers -- Relevance today -- Federalism -- Individual liberty vs. security -- Most influential cases -- Court decision making -- Conclusion. Created by The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands in partnership with the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. c2005. 30 min. DVD 6189

The Party's Over

This documentary examines how the American political process addresses, and often fails to address, the country's most pressing issues. The film follows Philip Seymour Hoffman as a concerned citizen on an uncensored journey through the 2000 Democratic and Republican Conventions with behind-the-scenes footage of activists, politicians and celebrities, spanning the left and right. 2001. 88 min. DVD 6306

A Perfect Candidate

In 1994 former Marine Oliver North ran for the U.S. Senate in Virginia against Charles Robb. This film documents the race, a sometimes horrifying, often hilarious, journey into the dark heart of American politics. 2004. 105 min. DVD 2626

(See also shortened version, 45 min., of this film under the title: McCarthy: Death of a Witch Hunter Video/C 6579)

Politics as Theatre: Theatre as Politics, 1/6/03

A conversation with David Edgar, internationally renowned British playwright who has worked in every genre including television and Mark Danner, professor of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley. Here they discuss how world issues are covered in the American press and how they can be covered more effectively. 55 min. Video/C 9861

The Politics of Privacy

(Columbia University Seminars on Media & Society; Ethics in America; 11). A panel of prominent journalists and national politicians discuss the ethical responsibilities of journalists in report on the private lives of public figures, particularly politicians. 58 min. Video/C 1663

Politics, Privacy and the Press

(Columbia University Seminars on Media & Society; Ethics in America; 10). Columbia University Seminars on Media & Society. The hypothetical case of a presidential candidate's extramarital relationships provides the basis for a discussion by a panel of prominent journalists and national politicians of the ethical responsibilities of journalists in reporting on the he private lives of political figures. Video/C 1662

The Power Game.

Based on the book the Power Game: How Washington, by Hedrick Smith. Each part 58 min.

1. The Congress. Video/C 1333

2. The Pentagon. Discusses the consequences at the Pentagon of power plays, service rivalry, career moves cover-ups, pork barrel funding, whistle blowers, erroneous military test results, appropriations, etc. Video/C 1334

3. The Unelected. Discusses the power of the press, lobbyists, staffers, shadow government people, and other unelected groups in affecting national policy. Video/C 1335

4. The Power Game. Discusses the limitations of the presidential powers, what power games are between the legislative and executive branches, the images of the president, the power of persuasion, the importance of coalition, the manipulation of public opinion. Video/C 1336

The Power of Nightmares: The Rise of the Politics of Fear

Explores the origins of Islamic fundamentalism in the Middle East, and neoconservatism in America, the parallels between these movements, and their effect on the world today. In part one, the program examines the origins of the neo-conservatives and the radical Islamists in the 1950s. The second part of the series examines how the radical Islamists and neo-conservatives came together to defeat the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. In part three, the program explains how the illusion of terrorism was created and the use of these movements to manipulate public opinion. Pt. 1. Baby it's cold outside -- pt. 2. The phantom victory -- pt. 3. The shadows in the cave. Written and produced by Adam Curtis. 2006? 180 min. DVD 9245

The Presidential Campaign

(Conversations; 40). A conversation on the effects of media coverage on the 1984 presidential campaign between Austin Ranney, senior scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, Washington, D.C. and Nelson Polsby, professor of Political Science, University of California, Berkeley. 30 min. Video/C 1343

Presidents and Politics with Richard Strout. (A Walk Through the 20th Century with Bill Moyers)

Journalist Richard Strout reminisces about his career as a reporter covering Washington and the White House. Beginning with the administration of Warren G. Harding up to the Reagan administration, Strout has seen Washington grow from an unhurried southern town into a bustling international seat of government. 58 min. Video/C 870 (Stored at NRLF #: B 4 175 502)

Primary (1961)

A candid film covering the political campaign efforts during the 1960 Wisconsin Democratic Presidential Primary when Sen. John F. Kennedy upset Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey. Shot entirely in synchronous sound with light-weight portable equipment, the film revolutionized documentary filmmaking with its spontaneous, unobtrusive and highly intimate style. Credits: Conceived and produced by Robert Drew for Time-Life Broadcast; directed by Ricky Leacock, Don Pennebaker, Robert Drew, Al Maysles. 60 min. DVD 2112; also on VHS Video/C 4839

Information about this film from the Internet Movie Database

Protest in LA: Unmasking the 2000 Democratic Convention.

Interviews with some of the thousands of activists who came to the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles to denounce the party for selling our to big money and for abandoning its traditional base of working families, environmentalists and immigrants. Presents an inside view of the emerging movement against corporate domination of the political process. 2000. 28 min. Video/C 7340

Public Diplomacy.

Film examines how the U.S. has practiced public diplomacy in the twentieth century particularly through the U.S. Information Agency. Looks at how foreign public opinion increasingly impacts on a wide spectrum of our foreign agenda and how information and cultural programs have become integrated into the American diplomatic arsenal. Includes a history of the Voice of America, international educational and cultural exchanges (i.e. Fulbright) and the role of new technology in public diplomacy through teleconferencing networks, internet publishing and interactive CD-ROMs. Performer: Joseph Duffey, Donna Oglesby, Deane R. Hinton, John Chancellor, Steven Muller, Stacy Keach, Hans Tuch, Joseph Lieberman, Robert Pirsein, Howard Berman, Frank Mankiewicz, David Gergen, Barry Fulton, Newt Gingrich, Desmond Tutu. Narrator: Robert Chapman. 58 min. Video/C 4416

The Public Mind: Image and Reality in America.

With Bill Moyers. Contents: Pt. 1. Consuming images--Pt. 2. Leading questions--Pt. 3. Illusions of news--Pt. 4. The truth about lies. Each part 60 min. Video/C 1441

Public Trust, Private Interests

(Ethics in America ; 3). Series host, Fred W. Friendly. A panel of former government officials, members of Congress, journalists, and jurists consider the ethical conflicts that confront the individuals elected or appointed to conduct the nation's affairs. 58 min. Video/C 1655

Rated R: Republicans in Hollywood

A slyly provocative and revelatory expose on the myths behind 'liberal Hollywood' and the stigmas attached with being in its conservative contingent. Explores how Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger's successful campaign for governor of California, the rise of evangelical Christianity, and recent debates about patriotism and the War in Iraq are changing the political landscape in Hollywood. Panelists: Drew Carey, Vincent Gallo, Pat Sajak, Ben Stein, Patricia Heaton, John Milius. 2005. 73 min. DVD 4638

[Reagan, Ronald] Reagan.

Presents the story of Ronald Reagan's life with commentary by contemporaries, historians and members of his family (1998).

Pt. 1, Lifeguard Examines Reagan's childhood and youth, his motion picture career, his early marriages and marriage to Nancy Reagan, his entrance into politics and election as governor of California. The film continues with his failed bid for his party's 114 min. DVD 966; also VHS Video/C 5715

Reagan. Pt. 2, An American Crusade. Begins with the buildup of military spending which would eventually triple the national debt. To respond to the "Soviet threat" Reagan initiates the Strategic Defense Initiative while demonstrators clamor for a "nuclear freeze". He faces a personal crisis in the Iran "arms for hostages" deal even as he engineers summit meetings with Gorbachev seeking an end to the nuclear weapons threat. In the decisive year of 1989 after arms agreements are signed the Fall of the Berlin Wall is followed by the rapid fall of other Eastern European communist governments. Five years after leaving office Reagan announces he has Alzheimer's disease and drops from public view. DVD 966; also VHS Video/C 5715

[Reagan, Ronald] Assassination Attempt Against President Reagan: Monday, March 30, 1981 & Wednesday, April 1, 1981, ABC News

This program focuses on the assassination attempt against President Ronald Reagan and the questions of Presidential security, who runs the government when the President is incapacitated, and the issue of how the United States must act with regard to the rest of the world at a time of perceived crisis. 62 min. Video/C 5758

[Reagan, Ronald] President Ronald Reagan's Farewell Address: Wednesday, January 11, 1989, ABC News

President Reagan delivers his farewell address to the nation intercut with scenes of the challenges he faced in his eight years in office and commentary by his contemporaries. 23 min. Video/C 5759

[Reagan, Ronald] Ronald Reagan.

(We the People; The President and the Constitution). President Reagan discusses Congress and the budget process, the role of the executive branch in the management of the economy, presidential relations with the media, the appointment of justices of the US Supreme Court and presidential initiatives in foreign affairs including the intervention in Grenada, the bombing of Libya, and United States' support of the Nicaraguan contras. 60 min. Video/C 2474

Reborn in America (Struggle for Democracy; 2).

American democracy takes him back to the Pilgrim fathers on the mayflower and then forward through the issuing of the Declaration of Independence, the making of the Constitution and the opening of the American West. He looks at the traditional New England own meeting and recent struggles to promote citizen participation. 57 min. Video/C 1887

Reinventing Government-- By the People.

Presents an overview of efforts to streamline and promote efficiency in federal government operations by adopting business principles and practices. 33 min. Video/C 4536

The Role of Congress in Foreign Policy

(Conversations; 25). Representative Howard Wolpe of Michigan examines the relationship between elected officials and their constituents and provides a penetrating analysis of the problems of political education in the US. Also discusses American foreign policy in Africa and the role of Congress in foreign policy in light of his extensive experience with the House Subcommittee on Africa. Taped at the University of California, Berkeley on November 12, 1982. 59 min. Video/C 643

[Roosevelt, Franklin D.] The Democrat and the Dictator.( A Walk Through the 20th Century with Bill Moyers)

Journalist Bill Moyers compares and contrasts the careers of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Adolf Hitler, focusing on the youth, personality, leadership style, and political goals of each. 1984. 3/4' UMATIC Video/C 869 (stored at NRLF #: B 4 175 501)

[Roosevelt, Franklin D.] FDR. (American Experience; 777)

Franklin Delano Roosevelt led America through the two greatest crises of this century, the Great Depression and World War II. Part one is based on Before the trumpet, by Geoffrey C. Ward. It covers Roosevelt's early years and early political successes. Part two is based on Geoffrey C. Ward's A first class temperament. It begins with Roosevelt's bout with polio at age 39 and ends with his election to the presidency. Also details Eleanor's rise in public life. Part three explores FDR's response to the Great Depression. Part four is based on No ordinary time : Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: the home front in WWII, by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It portrays FDR's leadership of the American people in the face of war until his death. 270 min. DVD 969; also VHS Video/C 3885

[Roosevelt, Theodore] Theodore Roosevelt (American Experience)

A deft politician and skillful diplomat, TR's magnetic personality and genius for publicity made him a legend in his own time. Through archival footage and interviews with historians, this is an engaging portrait of the private man and the president who created the modern American presidency. 1984. 58 min. Video/C 8522

[Roosevelt, Theodore]History of U.S. Presidents: Teddy Roosevelt, Political Master

Historial films and newsreels of Teddy Roosevelt, the first president to understand the power of personal myth and visual images. More than just the Rough Rider of presidential myth, Teddy Roosevelt vigorously led Congress and the American public toward progressive reforms and a stong foreign policy. Presents some of the first scenes ever shot of a sitting president, providing a unique insight as to how our political process became what it is today. Japanese and Russian peace delegates leaving New York City, 1905 (3 min.) -- Roosevelt speaking in Panama, November 1906 (3 min.) -- Roosevelt's arrival in Panama, November 1906 (2 min.) -- Roosevelt in Africa 1909 (14 min.) -- Roosevelt speaking at the Battery, 1910 (1 min.) -- Roosevelt's return from Africa, 1910 (29 min.) -- Roosevelt at the dedication of Roosevelt Dam, 1911 (1 min.) -- Roosevelt speaking at Pueblo Colorado, 1912 (2 min.) -- Roosevelt at Fargo, ND, during progressive campaign, 1912 (5 min.) -- Chauncey Depew, Senator Perkins, and Governor Whitman of New York, at GOP Convention, 1916, Chicago, Ill (2 min.) -- Hopi Indians dance for Roosevelt 1913 (4 min.) Roosevelt and Mrs. Roosevelt at the Panama-California Exposition, 1915 (1 min.) -- Roosevelt at the San Diego Exposition, 1915 (1 min.) -- Roosevelt's reception in Albuquerque, NM, 1916 (2 min.) -- Roosevelt at Sagamore Hill 1916 (2 min.) -- Roosevelt in New Mexico, 1916 (1 min.) -- Roosevelt speaking to a group of men from the porch at Sagamore Hill, 1916 (2 min.) -- Roosevelt and Leonard Wood at the New York Flower Show, 1917 (2 min.) -- Roosevelt speaking to a group of suffragettes from the porch at Sagamore Hill, 1917 (1 min.) -- Women suffragettes visit Roosevelt at Sagamore, 1917 (1 min.) -- Roosevelt at Billings, Montana, 1918 (1 min.) -- Roosevelt in Baltimore during Liberty Loan drive, 1918 (1 min.) -- Roosevelt speaking in St. Paul, Minnesota, 1918 (1 min.) -- Story of the Panama Canal (1927, 29 min.) -- Roosevelt Dam (1928, 15 min.) DVD 4836

[Roosevelt, Theodore] TR and His Time. (A Walk through the 20th century with Bill Moyers)

Journalist Bill Moyers and Teddy Roosevelt biographer David McCullough examine the achievements of the ebullient president. Weighs the effect he had on his era and the effect the era had on him. c1997. 240 min. Video/C 830

[Rove, Karl] Bush's Brain: Who's Really Running the country?

Karl Rove, the man known as "Bush's Brain", is the most powerful political figure America has ever heard of, the brain behind the curtain of today's presidential politics. He is President George W. Bush's closest advisor, who almost single-handedly shaped the policies of our nation. The relationship between Karl Rove and President George W. Bush is one of the most unique political marriages in history. Feared and admired, Rove has raised a new and disturbing question for Americans: Who really runs the country? Produced and directed by Joseph Mealey and Michael Shoob. 2003. 80 min. DVD 7396

Secret Intelligence.

This four-part series traces the history of American espionage in the 20th century. 60 min. Video/C 1804

The Secret World of the C.I.A.: The "Testimony" of John Stockwell.

John Stock well tells of his activities and experiences during the twelve years in which he served as a C.I.A. agent and officer. Gives accounts of irrational and ideological policy assessment and planning by the Agency in Washington and of inept and morally repugnant C.I.A. operations in Africa and Vietnam. 40 min. Video/C 1258

See How They Run.

In 1999, celebrity Mayor Willie Brown ruled San Francisco and appeared to be a shoo-in for re-election to a second term. Twelve candidates wanted his job, but the only threat was a write-in candidate - openly gay city supervisor and stand-up comedian Tom Ammiano. What ensued was a David vs. Goliath showdown mired in intense political backstabbing and media fighting that was all captured on film. A sharp-witted, scandalous expose of an only-in-San Francisco grassroots campaign, revealing all the behind-the-scenes mud-slinging, back room brawls and daily dramas that together helped shape this one-of-a-kind race. c2003. 58 min. DVD 2198

Selling Out the First Amendment: The Collision of News, Entertainment and Politics

A discussion between John Carrol, editor and Exec. vice president of the Los Angeles Times and Michael Krasny of the radio station KQED-FM, on First Amendment issues and freedom and speech. Recorded by Educational Technology Services, University of California, Berkeley on February 19, 2004. 75 min. Video/C MM86

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--So Goes the Nation: A True Story of How Elections are Won--and Lost

Examines America's electoral process through the eyes of diverse politicians, activists, and voters in Ohio during the 2004 election between President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry. Captures the behind-the-scenes maneuvering -- from savvy power moves by political strategists to well organized and impassioned grassroots rallies -- to show how the voting public is manipulated by the parties' leaders and their political marketing strategies. Directors, Adam Del Deo, James D. Stern. 2006. 90 min. DVD 7265

Spin.

These excerpts from 500 hours of pirated "satellite TV feeds" taped by Springer during 1992 are a devastating critique of television's profound manipulativeness in the way it packages the news and politics. Includes pre-