The American President: Happenstance

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
  • Nearly one in six American presidents has died in office. The vice presidents who succeeded them were often chosen because they provided some electoral advantage (John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, Chester Arthur, Harry Truman). What happens when such a man takes office - frequently facing widespread conviction that he is unworthy of the powers he inherits?
    “The American President” is a series that aired on PBS in 2000 profiling 41 U.S. chief executives, using exclusive interviews with Presidents Clinton, Bush, Ford, and Carter. Well known figures lend their voice to presidents of the past who lived before sound recordings, including: Colin Powell, Bob Dole, Walter Cronkite, Ben Bradlee, John Glenn, James Carville, Andrew Young, and the Rev. Billy Graham. Narrated by Hugh Sidey.
    Subscribe for access to interviews, series, films, and educational materials that address issues of social justice, history, politics, the arts, and culture by spotlighting relatable human stories of purpose and meaning. Learn about our work and how to support our mission here: www.lifestorie.... For extended versions of these interviews and more, visit: / @lifestoriesinterviewa...
    Follow us on Instagram: / lifestoriesinterviews
    Chapter Markers:
    John Tyler - Establishing the Precedent 1841-1845 (0:56)
    Millard Fillmore - Called by a Bereavement 1850-1853 (9:38)
    Andrew Johnson - Elect of an Assassin 1865-1869 (16:44)
    Chester A. Arthur - Gentleman Boss 1881-1885 (28:40)
    Harry S. Truman - American Optimist 1945-1953 (38:08)
    © Kunhardt Film Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
    #TheAmericanPresident #kunhardtfilmfoundation

КОМЕНТАРІ • 132

  • @jimmyguitar2933
    @jimmyguitar2933 6 місяців тому +27

    In ten years we'll look back on every documentary like this with nostalgia. "Remember when we had a stable republic?"

    • @RockyRepublican
      @RockyRepublican 4 місяці тому +2

      I’d like to refute that claim.
      1. The American Civil War being 1861-1865 was one of the greatest crisis to the American public’s stability and was only secured by Wartime measures passed by Lincoln.
      2. The Great Depression being 1930-1941 was also a grand stability crisis to the U.S public’s safety and security that almost threatened a collapse of the U.S. political scene and it had only been solved when World War Two industrialized America and brought new jobs.
      3. We are currently in an unstable state with many riots in both the left and the right and it could lead to even more of a violent uprising with the 2024 election.
      We are in an unstable nation as with the whole world turning now in that direction but together we can all prevent wars and crisis.

    • @fshoaps
      @fshoaps 3 місяці тому +2

      The Republic was not 'stable' during the 1800s, bruh.

    • @MikeJonesU2gh
      @MikeJonesU2gh 3 місяці тому +2

      lol he says stable government? Yes slavery, women not voting, no regulations on child labor or building restrictions. Stable?

    • @MikeJonesU2gh
      @MikeJonesU2gh 3 місяці тому +1

      @@RockyRepublican❤

    • @RockyRepublican
      @RockyRepublican 3 місяці тому

      @@fshoapsThat’s what I’m sayyyyiiiinnn!!

  • @chrisgrech7992
    @chrisgrech7992 11 місяців тому +14

    No man ever entered the Presidency so profoundly and widely distrusted as Chester Alan Arthur, and no one ever retired ... more generally respected, alike by political friend and foe." The New York World summed up Arthur's presidency at his death in 1886: "No duty was neglected in his administration, and no adventurous project alarmed the nation." Mark Twain wrote of him, "It would be hard indeed to better President Arthur's administration."

  • @khalidalali186
    @khalidalali186 Рік тому +24

    Truman was sure someone special.

  • @ronaldzent6321
    @ronaldzent6321 11 місяців тому +18

    Think we could use a Harry Truman now, a real straight down to earth man. Who didn't seem to care about the trappings and title of the office itself. Think he tried his best, even if people didn't always agree with him

    • @grioulaloula8594
      @grioulaloula8594 9 місяців тому

      Truman was a great! He was an Everyman President.

    • @dcasper8514
      @dcasper8514 9 місяців тому

      YES !!! Harry Truman as a insecure man ?? Balderdash...

    • @johnnotrealname8168
      @johnnotrealname8168 7 місяців тому +1

      I would dispute parts of this, he was very sure of himself as President, rightfully so. However he was very all over the place, he vetoed the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 but used it numerous times (Ironically Democrats use it often.), whilst one must commend his Executive Order desegregating the Armed Forces he did not enforce it well, he bungled Korea by not pressing his advantage and winning and of course he used two nukes!!! Nonetheless his actions in beginning the Cold War were indeed commendable.

    • @jimmyguitar2933
      @jimmyguitar2933 6 місяців тому

      That time is long past. Now that everything is a media circus, all we're getting from now on is clowns.

    • @dcasper8514
      @dcasper8514 6 місяців тому

      Harry Truman knew that North Korea had China backing them.

  • @Eazy-ERyder
    @Eazy-ERyder 11 місяців тому +21

    Don Imus as Andrew Johnson...how appropriate

    • @JH-lu9lx
      @JH-lu9lx 10 місяців тому +2

      I was thinking the same thing.

    • @waldolydecker8118
      @waldolydecker8118 6 місяців тому

      lol, how true....drunkard, stupid, and a racist....totally spot on

    • @FLAGSHIP-j3t
      @FLAGSHIP-j3t 10 днів тому

      YOU DAMN RIGHT IMUS SHOUTED OVER THE RADIO "KNAPPY HEADED HOES" IN REFERENCE TO BLACK WNBA STARS

  • @ronaldzent6321
    @ronaldzent6321 11 місяців тому +12

    Excellent history lesson on the presidency, nothing like this in any textbook.

    • @jonathankeim8239
      @jonathankeim8239 8 місяців тому

      Yes it is , the series originally aired on pbs in 2000 and then was released on dvd by Warner brothers which I own

    • @johnnotrealname8168
      @johnnotrealname8168 7 місяців тому

      There is a book actually.

    • @lynnfisher3037
      @lynnfisher3037 4 місяці тому

      That's just a supposedly small but in reality HUGE piece of the puzzle of the destruction of America from within. Who's behind it? The answers are right in front of us now. I
      It's called Progressivism. Wake up...the lights are back on in Boston's Old North Church.

  • @katrinag2623
    @katrinag2623 Рік тому +17

    This series is so well-done and enlightening - Thank you for your work on these documentaries.

    • @lifestoriesinterviews
      @lifestoriesinterviews  Рік тому +1

      Thank you! Be sure to visit our website www.lifestories.org for more great content and subscribe to our UA-cam channel!

  • @williamgregory1848
    @williamgregory1848 3 місяці тому +2

    39:24
    “It’s awful hard to live up to those [religious beliefs] but if a man comes as near it as he possibly can, he usually makes a good citizen.”
    So true 😢😢😢

  • @dln7527
    @dln7527 11 місяців тому +15

    I'm always fascinated by the Presidency of Chester A. Arthur. I don't think he gets enough credit for the good that he did while in office.

    • @presidentialchronicles1099
      @presidentialchronicles1099 10 місяців тому

      You might want to check out the Presidential Chronicles series of UA-cam videos on Arthur. Lots of good stuff on his life and his presidency. ua-cam.com/play/PLWgnnGCEZVAQ-G7XHfhpRD2JMvt0ibj1P.html

    • @rickr3522
      @rickr3522 9 місяців тому +4

      And much to the surprise of his backers and the political establishment! Garfields death really impacted him.

    • @angelabolton4478
      @angelabolton4478 9 місяців тому +2

      Yes, particularly given his status as Roscoe Conkling's lap dog beforehand. A 180 that benefitted the country.

  • @michaelwilliams7907
    @michaelwilliams7907 11 місяців тому +8

    After a president has had his term he ought to get out and give the other fellow a chance. Rest In Peace mr Truman. If that is not how the American Way should be I don’t know what is ??? Humility in the White House.

    • @johnnotrealname8168
      @johnnotrealname8168 7 місяців тому

      Uhhh...he was very unpopular. He could have gone on as by now he had precedent.

  • @jimtrack3786
    @jimtrack3786 5 місяців тому +2

    God Graced our American States with Harry Truman.

  • @katiedarlin
    @katiedarlin 11 місяців тому +59

    President fillmore? Alex Baldwin?

    • @usernamempk
      @usernamempk 11 місяців тому +11

      Alec, not Alex.

    • @jamellfoster6029
      @jamellfoster6029 9 місяців тому +6

      Lol. Fillmore could easily pass for Trump's grandpa. It's possible as John Tyler has a living (elderly) grandchild and Trump is almost 80.

    • @RevLeigh55
      @RevLeigh55 9 місяців тому +3

      Tim Russert was listed as the voice of Fillmore, not Alec Baldwin.

    • @mykelscott4148
      @mykelscott4148 7 місяців тому +2

      I’m glad I’m not the only one who asked the question.

    • @janohare916
      @janohare916 7 місяців тому +3

      There is a physical resemblance between Fillmore and Baldwin.

  • @jec1ny
    @jec1ny 11 місяців тому +12

    Tyler is a fascinating character. He was the only president whose death in 1862 received no official acknowledgment in Washington. There was no formal tribute, state funeral, or proclamation of mourning. When Tyler expired, he was a newly elected member of the Confederate Congress. As of this post, he also has the rather unusual distinction of having a living grandson. It appears that both Tyler and his youngest son both were dirty old men who married younger women late in life and were busy begatting deep into their old age.

    • @dcasper8514
      @dcasper8514 10 місяців тому +1

      Just doing what comes naturally.

    • @roscomeon3965
      @roscomeon3965 9 місяців тому

      Obviously both had big hard 🍆🍆🍆🍆

    • @johnnotrealname8168
      @johnnotrealname8168 7 місяців тому

      Dirty old men? What the @#£% are you on about? It was fairly common at the time, it was not and would not be today illegal and of course who the @#£% cares? They both consented.

    • @millstodd8874
      @millstodd8874 2 місяці тому

      Tyler was born when Washington was president, had 15 children, & still has one living grandson. That's almost the entire life span of our country.

  • @joanmurphy2166
    @joanmurphy2166 11 місяців тому +5

    Thank you. I'm learning so much.

    • @lifestoriesinterviews
      @lifestoriesinterviews  2 місяці тому

      Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this series, we recommend our four-part documentary series on Lincoln, available on the ‘Lincoln’ playlist on our channel. Remember to subscribe to our channel and enable notifications to stay updated with our latest releases!

  • @KevinArchitect
    @KevinArchitect 11 місяців тому +4

    Good soundtrack to these documentaries.

  • @shahrulamar5358
    @shahrulamar5358 11 місяців тому +7

    Until few years ago 2 of President Tyler grandsons were still alive !!! 😮😮

  • @andiestewart7423
    @andiestewart7423 Місяць тому

    How could it all go so wrong . Look where we are now 😢

  • @matthewmorrison9344
    @matthewmorrison9344 11 місяців тому +9

    James Garfield would have survived his doctor was an idiot and Chester A Arthur stay drunk during his illness

  • @mattmorris2141
    @mattmorris2141 5 місяців тому +1

    I had only ever heard Andrew Johnson was a villain, and I'm from TN. I appreciated this objective historical look at the man. Like many, many in his generation, he couldn't see the African as an equal, but that didn't mean he had no redeeming qualities.

    • @lynnfisher3037
      @lynnfisher3037 4 місяці тому

      In villainly you must be thinking of the other Johnson.

    • @MrEzman99
      @MrEzman99 2 місяці тому

      Andrew Johnson is the worst President we ever had.

  • @dougmarkham5113
    @dougmarkham5113 2 місяці тому

    Johnson was 5’10. Hardly short in 1865. His home is open for tours in Greenville, TN. Neat place. Also town where John Hunt Morgan met his end.

  • @Slaye509
    @Slaye509 2 місяці тому

    The irony of Don Imus narrating for Andrew Johnson.

  • @mateuszmattias
    @mateuszmattias Місяць тому

    Seeing Harry Truman walking in Washington DC is fascinating. Sure he had security with him (especially after the failed attempt on his life in 1950), but still, imagine a US president going for a casual walk in the capital on a daily basis today.

  • @bluevol1976
    @bluevol1976 6 місяців тому +1

    Loved this! Well done. I agree with Harry. Naps are always a good idea.

  • @marknadratowski5728
    @marknadratowski5728 6 місяців тому

    Tyler has one of the best portraits. That's all I can say about him.

  • @haroldfadorka3816
    @haroldfadorka3816 11 місяців тому +2

    I found out how one feels when a sibling doesn't have a good opinion of another sibling.
    To be treated as untrustworthy and imply one can't be trusted because of being assumed a liar, thief and one to be watched closely or pay the consequences.
    The only choice is to forgive and hope things improve or remove yourself from the life of the wrong sibling.
    I chose to forgive and hope things improve and I finally got fed up and told the nasty sibling off and discontinued all communication.

    • @Cathleen7259
      @Cathleen7259 11 місяців тому

      Yes I agree whole heartedly and I cut them out of my life and they hired people who previously had been my friends and they have their narrative and my family has always believed that they were the ones who were telling them the truth about me and they were propegating their own misgivings of what they themselves were doing wrong and other people who they were involved with who lived in our neighborhood were doing drugs I have not ever dealt drugs or sold drugs and I have never been in the house or anything like that except when I went in and the place reeked of drugs that they smoked in their bedroom clothes closet and shut the bedroom doors on their little kids and left them out there for me and my little son to play with them and watch tv
      And I tried to help them to get off drugs but they turned on me once they heard about Tracy they hooked into him because they liked gay men and they had been doing prostitution out in Fountain Hills Az they told everybody that they were going to play bingo and they came home with allot of money 💰 a couple of times a week at night they had an apartment in Fountain Hills and they went back there because it was Matt Mc Kiernans house and he met her first as a prostitute and then they went to get married in Arizona and she wanted me to go play bingo when I was dating Barry and I told her that’s it your out of your mind and I said you think your meeting great men turning yourself into a piece of white trash. She was scared of me telling Daddy about her and I did not rat on people I kill rats 🐀 and most people do not respect people that go around telling about other people it’s a good way to kill yourself because they are syndicated and have always been there and why would I do that when you are around these satanic ritualistic people who are just trying to live their lives and they pretend they are your friends and they come like a bunch of thieves to steal kill and destroy everything that you have. Why wouldn’t they just leave you alone and just appreciate what you did for them when she was begging for Xanax I helped her get in with Dr Pepper and it was him who told her that she does not have panic anxiety disorder and that she was seeking drugs because she used to do drugs and she didn’t even understand what she was doing. And then she cried and was like I am going to kill myself. I said “If you think like that you seriously need the hospital “and she put herself into Camelback Hospital and she was lockdown and I went to take her clothes because her Mother Helen was there taking care of her kids and she asked me to try to help her to try to get her to get off of the pot and pain medication from addiction to the dentist because that’s what happened to her she had done so many other things that her teeth were black and it was expensive and painful and she got worse and Jeffrey became the caregiver for Eddie and Kerry and Eddie she cut his bedroom door upstairs in half and had Matty hang it back on so he stayed in his playroom in his own bedroom by himself and he was in there hours alone and that was enough for me I did not go back again and my husband then was warned about her by a close contact and I found out afterwards that my adoptive sister Megan was paying Pat Mc Kiernan to hurt my daughter Irelan and ruin me and my daughter and my husband David and I did not do anything wrong to either one of them or anyone else that I loved and knew or people I did not like I left them alone and moved on from them. And they all follow me because they make money 💰 for the things they love off hurting me and my family. And it has nothing to do with me being a good person or a Royal Family 😂they have been doing this to me since I had my son Jason and they tried to shoot and kill my son in my arms so look you have no idea how dangerous it is to even now go over a neighbor house with them to sit down to a cup of tea or coffee. They pretend to love you and they are thinking about how they are going to kill your children and climb on the top of their heads to get what they want out of the government and she was IRS and knew the ropes and the system and she was apart of the government and she invited them to start to work with Megan who is in the most trouble her and McKiernan hung themselves up on their own ropes and they have their nooses getting tighter all of the time because no one else is and certainly not me cares what happens it has been out of my hands since she stole David’s house and she doesn’t know what she is doing! 53:06

  • @billwheeler3687
    @billwheeler3687 8 місяців тому +2

    What? No segment on Coolidge? As the video ended, I thought I might have slept through it, which might seem appropriate. But you just left him out (and many would see that as appropriate, too).

    • @johnnotrealname8168
      @johnnotrealname8168 7 місяців тому +1

      Actually yeah that is a gross mis-step but I suspect they put him in a different category like one-term or caretaker as it were.

  • @DukeOfData
    @DukeOfData 9 місяців тому +2

    Why did the skip over Teddy Roosevelt or Calvin Coolidge? TDR was a very significant president.

    • @CJ87317
      @CJ87317 7 місяців тому

      Probably because the producers felt that the ones they skipped over here were better covered in episodes with other themes.

  • @Eazy-ERyder
    @Eazy-ERyder 11 місяців тому +8

    So they didn't even bother to cover the GREATEST vice president ascendant of them all, Theodore Roosevelt? What kinda crap is that??

    • @optimisticneighsayer5823
      @optimisticneighsayer5823 11 місяців тому +5

      They do that in Episode 9. The historians thought it was more appropriate to cover him in the context of his efforts to expand the power and influence of the presidency than the mere fact he ascended.

  • @tamilhoward9708
    @tamilhoward9708 11 місяців тому +6

    Of course Don Imus voiced the Andrew Johnson part.

  • @jakethewatersnake
    @jakethewatersnake 8 місяців тому +1

    Don Imus as Andrew Johnson

  • @speakonthis
    @speakonthis 10 місяців тому +1

    So you just gloss over Ford? He was just as “accidental” as Truman was.

  • @fredrikcarlstedt393
    @fredrikcarlstedt393 23 дні тому

    Truman, the American Cincinnatus .

  • @JWROWE3
    @JWROWE3 10 місяців тому

    Very well done program. Interesting selections of "voices" as well. My only gripe is Teddy Roosevelt getting the "blink and you'll miss it" treatment. I'd have trimmed some of the time from Andrew Johnson and Chester Arthur to use for TR.

    • @rickr3522
      @rickr3522 9 місяців тому +1

      Well, he does get a significant amount of attention, so maybe that was the point.

    • @johnnotrealname8168
      @johnnotrealname8168 7 місяців тому

      Ehh, he is overrated anyway.

  • @b.p.m.5136
    @b.p.m.5136 11 місяців тому +4

    Baldwin brothers

    • @alr9967
      @alr9967 11 місяців тому +3

      I came here to make a Baldwin comment. The lead in photo looks like Alec

    • @b.p.m.5136
      @b.p.m.5136 11 місяців тому +1

      @@alr9967 he resided in the BALDWIN AREAS ,NY

  • @ethanhart129
    @ethanhart129 4 дні тому

    Damn this is so 90s

  • @ericbaker9688
    @ericbaker9688 6 місяців тому

    I was always drawn to him because we share the same birthday. But he was a creep especially to his” slaves” …..

  • @MattWatts-kv8rh
    @MattWatts-kv8rh Місяць тому

    I understand.

  • @robfigulski1139
    @robfigulski1139 9 місяців тому

    Weird you would skip over TR and Coolidge like that... odd

  • @gavinsmith7908
    @gavinsmith7908 7 місяців тому

    Truman saying, “When you’ve had your turn you outta get out and give someone else a chance”, is very interesting considering FDR took that “chance” for 4 elections

  • @markfomenko8873
    @markfomenko8873 7 місяців тому

    The music rendered it unlistenable, particularly the high pitched and loud bit. You should have gotten independent feedback before completing it.

  • @michaelplunkett8059
    @michaelplunkett8059 11 місяців тому

    How did you skip Johnson?

  • @jeaniechampagne8831
    @jeaniechampagne8831 4 місяці тому

    The trumpet and flute are very annoying.

  • @leeatterberry1239
    @leeatterberry1239 Рік тому +3

    👍

  • @iflick7235
    @iflick7235 10 місяців тому +1

    Wow Millard Fillmore looks allot like Alec Baldwin.

  • @DanielMulloy-bg6gw
    @DanielMulloy-bg6gw 11 місяців тому +1

    If I were Tyler I would have fired the entire cabinet at the start!

  • @william2154
    @william2154 10 місяців тому

    Is that Alex Baldwin...?

  • @emilybetz8662
    @emilybetz8662 10 місяців тому

    Are they just focusing on certain president? No mention of Teddy Roosevelt or LBJ...

  • @diegopons4622
    @diegopons4622 9 місяців тому

    Fillmore = Alec Baldwin
    Johnson = Tommy Lee Jones

  • @daveashby9989
    @daveashby9989 Місяць тому

    I have enjoyed for many years the pbs documentaries and series relating to American history and culture. Some of those were produced by pbs . The Liberty series & The Lincoln series specifically. For some reason only parts 1&2 of the Lincoln series are available on this forum at the moment. But i am sure that will change. I also highly recommend the Israel and Palestine series. First class. And of course the beautiful co production of Ken Burns The Civil War. However, this president series is a disgrace. So many distortions and misinformation with regards to truth, LBJ section perfect example. Very disappointing

  • @mitch473
    @mitch473 6 місяців тому

    He kind of looks like Alec Baldwin

  • @user-zc3do8vk4q
    @user-zc3do8vk4q 8 місяців тому +1

    3 worst Reagan,Bush W,Trump

  • @Strong_UP_Calvins_zombie
    @Strong_UP_Calvins_zombie 6 місяців тому

    "Get up champ" Muhahaha haaaaa

  • @FLAGSHIP-j3t
    @FLAGSHIP-j3t 10 днів тому

    DAN ROSTENKOWSKI A MAN WHO'S POLITICAL CAREER CAME CRASHING DOWN DO TO SCANDAL AND ACCUSATIONS OF POLITICAL CORRUPTION AND DID JAIL TIME AS CHESTER ARTHUR A MAN WHO'S POLITICAL CAREER WAS LIFTED OFF BC OF CORRUPTION AND MACHINE POLITICS! WHAT I ASK COULD BE MORE APROPOS? 😂LOL

  • @marknewton6984
    @marknewton6984 11 місяців тому

    Know Nothin Party

  • @walkedawayjoe
    @walkedawayjoe 11 місяців тому +1

    I wonder if kamala Harris has this documentary on repeat ?🤔

  • @capoislamort100
    @capoislamort100 11 місяців тому +1

    Zachary Taylor could barely read or write.

    • @rickr3522
      @rickr3522 9 місяців тому +1

      Yeah, back in those days when the Army said "be all that you can be", "literate" was not part of the package.

  • @malvinderkaur541
    @malvinderkaur541 11 місяців тому +1

    Usa initially was established by entire European lineage of immigrants, starting with Spanish armada of Christopher Columbus, and they brought along what exactly was going on in Europe of that time, the lineage which still is going on... the later immigrants from other Nations always been minority in comparison... especially from Asian regions.. though the rise of black white group was strange and almost fascist, yet from Asian immigrants most of well brought up, educated as well as hard working minds with humble disposition, not given to any of what one saw recently as Nation go up in one of the most strange phases of unrest within the Nation, all over...

    • @johnnotrealname8168
      @johnnotrealname8168 7 місяців тому

      Ahh yes the notable European Immigrants. What do you mean settler colonialism?

  • @BrokenneckYgor
    @BrokenneckYgor 7 місяців тому

    Fillmore was gay

    • @skate103
      @skate103 7 місяців тому

      You're gay😂

    • @millstodd8874
      @millstodd8874 2 місяці тому

      Bucannon was the gay one. He lived with Rufus King almost his entire political career.

  • @roscomeon3965
    @roscomeon3965 9 місяців тому

    A respected lawyer?? Lol.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 nearly every lawyer is a crook