[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:02.54,0:00:05.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the summer of 1932, at the height of
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.38,0:00:07.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Great Depression, an impoverished
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.97,0:00:10.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,army of 45,000 World War One veterans
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.72,0:00:15.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,marched on Washington, DC.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.76,0:00:17.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They believed that if they came to
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.73,0:00:19.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Congress, that Congress would finally
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.68,0:00:22.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,authorize immediate payment of bonds
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.87,0:00:25.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they had been promised for the
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.46,0:00:27.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,losses that they suffered during World
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.58,0:00:30.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,War One. But Congress refused to pay the
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.92,0:00:33.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bonus, and the army brutally drove the
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.52,0:00:37.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,veterans away. "It's war.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.39,0:00:39.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The greatest concentration of fighting
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.51,0:00:43.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,troops in Washington since 1865." This is
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.45,0:00:46.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the saga of the Bonus Army in a March
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.11,0:00:48.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that changed the nation.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.96,0:00:53.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Singing "Remembery my forgotten man. You
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.75,0:00:58.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,put a rock right in his hand....")
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.82,0:01:10.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Major funding for this program was
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.20,0:01:12.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,provided by the Disabled American
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.56,0:01:14.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Veterans' National Service Foundation.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.73,0:01:16.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Since World War One, DAV has helped
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.80,0:01:18.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,veterans recover from the wounds and
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.62,0:01:22.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,scars of war. DAV - building better lives
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.30,0:01:24.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for America's disabled veterans and
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.42,0:01:27.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their families. Additional production
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.41,0:01:29.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,support provided by
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.18,0:01:31.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tawani Foundation - promoting the ideal of
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.57,0:01:33.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the citizen soldier at the Pritzker
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.78,0:01:37.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Military Library, Chicago Illinois; and by
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.70,0:01:40.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Humanities Council of Washington, DC.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.61,0:01:43.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Music]
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.42,0:01:46.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,America was not prepared when it entered
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.87,0:01:50.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,World War One in 1917. Fighting the
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.36,0:01:52.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Germans required young American men by
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.71,0:01:55.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the millions, and the only way to get
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.11,0:01:58.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,them was through conscription. The
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.54,0:02:00.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,American Army, for the first time in its
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.41,0:02:02.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,history, will be composed of a majority
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.63,0:02:05.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of conscripted troops. And when the draft
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.08,0:02:07.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is explained to the American people, it's
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.21,0:02:10.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called Selective Service. Some men were
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.61,0:02:13.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,selected to fight, others to work in
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.29,0:02:17.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,needed defense industries, or as farmers.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.65,0:02:20.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the different conception of military
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.67,0:02:22.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,service as work, as opposed to just
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.63,0:02:25.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,simply civic duty. The first American
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.61,0:02:29.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,troops arrived in France in June of 1917.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.84,0:02:34.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In just 18 months, nearly 100,000 lost
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.31,0:02:38.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their lives. 200,000 more were wounded or
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.85,0:02:45.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gassed. Also over there were hundreds of
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.28,0:02:47.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thousands of African-American soldiers.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.13,0:02:52.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Barred from combat with American units,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.31,0:02:54.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,many fought courageously under the
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.99,0:02:57.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,French flag. For the first time, many of
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.81,0:02:59.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these people experienced what it was
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.56,0:03:00.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like to be treated
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.97,0:03:04.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as fully human beings by white people.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.86,0:03:07.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When the armistice was signed on
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.12,0:03:10.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,November 11, 1918, most of the Americans
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.79,0:03:14.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that had served would never be the same.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.40,0:03:20.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As the first waves of troops returned
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.36,0:03:22.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from Europe, the nation turned out to
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.86,0:03:26.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,honor them with parades. The veterans
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.78,0:03:28.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,quickly realized the high price they had
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.69,0:03:32.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,paid. Let's say a guy didn't go to war -
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.04,0:03:34.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stayed home working at an arms factory.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.87,0:03:37.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He would probably get maybe 10 times as
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.21,0:03:39.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,much as a soldier would. A soldier in
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.33,0:03:41.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,combat was getting about a buck, buck and
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.11,0:03:43.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a quarter a day. Soon after the war,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.92,0:03:45.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,veterans began to argue that soldiers
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.62,0:03:48.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,should be compensated for the wages they
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.80,0:03:51.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lost while serving their country. They
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.45,0:03:53.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,very carefully used the terms "adjusted
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.33,0:03:56.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,compensation" to be clear that what they
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.86,0:03:59.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are asking for is not a bonus; they are
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.66,0:04:02.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,asking for back wages that are due to
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.23,0:04:04.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,them. It was the detractors who called
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.99,0:04:06.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it a bonus.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.31,0:04:09.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Finally, in 1924, Congress granted World
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.40,0:04:12.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,War One veterans adjusted universal
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.15,0:04:16.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,compensation. A law had granted them the
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.59,0:04:19.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bones equivalent to a dollar to a dollar
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.70,0:04:21.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a quarter a day for every day they
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.42,0:04:23.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,served, which in many cases would be six,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.68,0:04:26.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,eight hundred, or a thousand dollars. But
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.61,0:04:29.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was a catch. They don't get a nickel
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.21,0:04:32.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the money until 1945. Unless they die.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.95,0:04:35.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's why they called it the "tombstone
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.06,0:04:38.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bonus." In 1928, Herbert Clark Hoover, a
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.29,0:04:39.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,self-made millionaire, was elected
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.96,0:04:44.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,president. In his inaugural address,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.02,0:04:45.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hoover proclaimed that the future of the
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.98,0:04:47.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,country was bright with hope.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.51,0:04:53.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just seven months later, the stock market
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.31,0:04:55.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,collapsed, and the country descended into
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.96,0:04:57.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Great Depression.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.13,0:05:01.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Music]
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.86,0:05:04.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In America in 1932, hunger and
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.75,0:05:08.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,desperation stalked the land. 25% of
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.79,0:05:11.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,workers were unemployed, and many were
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.35,0:05:15.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,veterans. One of them was Walter W. Waters,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.58,0:05:19.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,down on his luck in Portland, Oregon. He
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.30,0:05:21.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had been a sergeant in the war, and
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.66,0:05:23.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's an indication that you were a
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.63,0:05:25.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pretty good soldier. And there were a lot
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.59,0:05:27.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of veterans sitting around trying to
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.61,0:05:30.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,find what to do next. Then came a ray of
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.59,0:05:31.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hope.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.18,0:05:34.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A bill calling for an immediate cash
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.93,0:05:36.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,payment of the veterans' bonus was
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.61,0:05:39.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,introduced in Congress. Waters became
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.95,0:05:42.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,obsessed with it. "During this time, I was
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.56,0:05:44.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,anxiously watching reports in the
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.27,0:05:46.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,newspapers of the progress of bonus
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.81,0:05:50.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,legislation. And I noticed that the highly
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.01,0:05:52.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,organized lobbies in Washington were
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.35,0:05:56.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,producing results, regardless of the
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.02,0:05:59.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,justice or injustice of the demand." At a
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.73,0:06:01.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,meeting of jobless veterans, Waters stood
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.76,0:06:05.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up and urged them to march on Washington.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.82,0:06:08.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when that happened, it kind of
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.09,0:06:10.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,clicked for these guys. Eventually, there
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.93,0:06:12.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were about 300 of them. And they go down
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.100,0:06:16.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the railroad yard to hop freight, and
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.43,0:06:19.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they go all the way across the country to
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.70,0:06:22.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Washington. (Song "Once I built a
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.28,0:06:28.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,railroad...) They called themselves the
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.36,0:06:32.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Bonus Expeditionary Force, or BEF - a
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.63,0:06:35.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,play on the American Expeditionary Force,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.85,0:06:38.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the collective name for the troops sent
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.09,0:06:42.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to France. But soon they were simply
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.34,0:06:46.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,known as the Bonus Army. They carried
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.03,0:06:48.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,knapsacks or duffle bags or bed rolls
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.87,0:06:52.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with tin cups dangling. They had $30 among
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.84,0:06:57.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,them. Meanwhile, word of the BEF was
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.48,0:07:01.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,spreading. Even as Waters and his men
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.06,0:07:03.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were heading towards the Capitol, 25 vets
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.86,0:07:05.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from Tennessee were circling the White
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.74,0:07:08.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,House in a truck bearing the sign, "We
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.24,0:07:12.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,want our bonus." And they start from
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.32,0:07:14.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,everywhere. They start from Los Angeles,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.63,0:07:16.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they start from Las Vegas, they start
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.92,0:07:19.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from Mississippi and Texas. They come from
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.38,0:07:23.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,everywhere. Antonio Oliver, a veteran
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.00,0:07:26.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gassed in the Argonne forest in France,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.50,0:07:29.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,drove from Pennsylvania with his twin sons,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.20,0:07:32.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nick and Joe. "My dad got word to march on
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.50,0:07:35.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Washington and thumped a tub for the
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.42,0:07:38.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bonus that they promised the veterans in
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.00,0:07:41.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,1924. I think it was approaching dawn
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.53,0:07:44.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when he got there, and my father woke us
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.34,0:07:48.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up and says, 'There's the Capitol building.'
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.12,0:07:52.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I never forgot that." While streams of bonus
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.99,0:07:56.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,marchers headed for the Capitol, Pelham
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.18,0:07:59.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Glassford, the new DC police chief,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.63,0:08:02.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,prepared for their invasion. "I had been
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.16,0:08:04.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,aware from the first that the BEF was
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.48,0:08:08.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,symbolic of the vast army of unemployed.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.01,0:08:10.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Anything unfortunate that happened might
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.51,0:08:12.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,easily precipitate widespread social
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.87,0:08:14.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,disorder."
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.43,0:08:18.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Kellen Glassford was a decorated
Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.76,0:08:20.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,brigadier general during World War One
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.84,0:08:24.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who commanded the loyalty of his men in
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.30,0:08:28.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a very personal way. Glassford was really
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.12,0:08:30.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pleased in many ways that the veterans
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.75,0:08:33.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were coming to Washington. But he knew
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.93,0:08:35.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the politicians were not
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.82,0:08:38.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sympathetic. Officials were also
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.90,0:08:40.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,concerned that a large number of African-
Dialogue: 0,0:08:40.71,0:08:43.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,American veterans were mixed in with the
Dialogue: 0,0:08:43.32,0:08:46.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,marchers. And the irony is that, going
Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.85,0:08:49.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,back to the Great War, the African-
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.07,0:08:51.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,American troops were segregated from the
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.75,0:08:55.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,white troops. Also preparing for the
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.04,0:08:57.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Bonus Army was a prominent World War One
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.86,0:09:02.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,veteran: General Douglas A. MacArthur. The
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.00,0:09:04.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,United States Army, through its Military
Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.99,0:09:08.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Intelligence Division, remained greatly
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.76,0:09:10.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,concerned about the possibility of
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.78,0:09:12.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,revolution.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.44,0:09:18.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Army developed a plan to defend the
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.34,0:09:20.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,United States Capitol in the case of
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.60,0:09:23.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,civil insurrection, and they were talking
Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.94,0:09:31.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about using tanks, machine guns, gas. By
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.31,0:09:33.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the time the Bonus Marchers arrived in
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.99,0:09:38.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Washington, the Army was more than ready
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.20,0:09:44.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to deal with them. At the end of May, 1932,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.69,0:09:47.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nearly 10,000 Bonus Marchers occupied
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.62,0:09:50.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the nation's capital, and tens of
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.35,0:09:53.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thousands more were on their way. Police
Dialogue: 0,0:09:53.57,0:09:56.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,chief Glassford realized he was on his
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.17,0:09:59.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,own. "They followed their leaders in the
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.80,0:10:01.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,childlike faith that their government
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.98,0:10:03.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would help them, just as they had
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.67,0:10:06.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,responded during the war. Hence, I felt
Dialogue: 0,0:10:06.49,0:10:08.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these veterans could not be treated like
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.53,0:10:14.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bums." On June 4,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.67,0:10:17.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thousands of Washingtonians lined the
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.54,0:10:19.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,streets to see what the Washington Post
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.89,0:10:22.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,called the "strangest military parade the
Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.35,0:10:26.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Capitol had ever witnessed." The BEF was
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.28,0:10:30.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,marching in full force. Within days,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.03,0:10:32.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Walter Waters had a full-fledged
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.46,0:10:34.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lobbying operation underway. "The
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.85,0:10:36.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,veterans, frankly, made a nuisance of
Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.85,0:10:39.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,themselves. (A) couple of veterans were
Dialogue: 0,0:10:39.57,0:10:41.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,always sitting in each representative's
Dialogue: 0,0:10:41.75,0:10:44.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,waiting rooms. The representatives were
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.60,0:10:48.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,solicited outside the building as well."
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.26,0:10:51.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The strategy quickly paid off. After just
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.98,0:10:54.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,two weeks, the House of Representatives
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.49,0:10:58.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,passed the bonus bill. The BEF had won a
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.07,0:11:01.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,battle, but a greater one awaited them in
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.23,0:11:05.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Senate.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.35,0:11:08.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In a remote neighborhood of Washington
Dialogue: 0,0:11:08.63,0:11:11.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,known as Anacostia, an enormous tent and
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.62,0:11:15.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,shack city rose from the mudflats.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:15.48,0:11:18.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here, the threadbare heroes of World War
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.37,0:11:22.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One formed their last great encampment.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.86,0:11:26.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"We just drove in, and we were ankle deep
Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.10,0:11:29.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in mud. I never saw so much mud in my
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.41,0:11:32.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,life." American flags could be seen flying
Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.81,0:11:37.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from every possible vantage point. A city
Dialogue: 0,0:11:37.25,0:11:39.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was laid out in Anacostia. The streets
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.37,0:11:42.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were named by states. There was a library
Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.14,0:11:44.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the center of it run by the Salvation
Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.54,0:11:47.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Army. There was music day and night. There
Dialogue: 0,0:11:47.44,0:11:49.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was gospel music, and there was blues
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.59,0:11:51.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,music, and there was country music and
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.50,0:11:56.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,popular music. There were people who
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.91,0:11:59.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,built beautiful little replicas of
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.80,0:12:02.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,suburban homes. There were guys who were
Dialogue: 0,0:12:02.64,0:12:05.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,buried alive for money. "I will remember
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.62,0:12:09.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the veteran laying in a casket, saying,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.26,0:12:11.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,'Hey, they treat us like we were dead
Dialogue: 0,0:12:11.44,0:12:14.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people.'" A popular form of entertainment
Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.80,0:12:18.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the camp was boxing. "I was the best boxer."
Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.70,0:12:22.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(other) "I was." "We'd box and pass a hat.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:22.52,0:12:24.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My dad would get a little irate if we
Dialogue: 0,0:12:24.49,0:12:27.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,didn't really punch each other out. Then he'd
Dialogue: 0,0:12:27.50,0:12:29.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,throw up both of our arms. It was always
Dialogue: 0,0:12:29.95,0:12:32.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,draw, always a draw, always a draw."
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.86,0:12:35.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People across the country sympathized
Dialogue: 0,0:12:35.23,0:12:37.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the Bonus Marchers' plight, but to
Dialogue: 0,0:12:37.39,0:12:39.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,official Washington, they were just a
Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.50,0:12:41.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sign of trouble on the horizon.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:44.23,0:12:47.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the stories that went largely
Dialogue: 0,0:12:47.08,0:12:49.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,unreported was that the color line
Dialogue: 0,0:12:49.14,0:12:50.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,seemed to have vanished in the Bonus
Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.66,0:12:54.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Army camps. Visitors were astonished to
Dialogue: 0,0:12:54.51,0:12:57.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,see black veterans and white veterans
Dialogue: 0,0:12:57.52,0:13:01.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sharing billets, chores, and rations. The
Dialogue: 0,0:13:01.48,0:13:04.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,military experience has the potential
Dialogue: 0,0:13:04.50,0:13:07.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for transcending things like race. And
Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.12,0:13:11.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for black veterans to be in company with
Dialogue: 0,0:13:11.19,0:13:14.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,white veterans was a revolutionary thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:16.55,0:13:19.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Roy Wilkins, an enterprising young
Dialogue: 0,0:13:19.27,0:13:21.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,reporter working for the NAACP,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:21.62,0:13:25.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,decided to visit and see for himself. "At
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.14,0:13:27.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Anacostia, there was no residential
Dialogue: 0,0:13:27.72,0:13:30.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,segregation. Recruits of any color were
Dialogue: 0,0:13:30.08,0:13:32.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,made welcome." "It was a big event in
Dialogue: 0,0:13:32.52,0:13:37.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the part of the city that I lived in. They
Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.19,0:13:39.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had groups of whites and Negroes that
Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.98,0:13:43.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,formed a unit because they were from the
Dialogue: 0,0:13:43.39,0:13:47.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,same state. That was not so usual for the
Dialogue: 0,0:13:47.18,0:13:50.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,city of Washington." And there were lots
Dialogue: 0,0:13:50.25,0:13:52.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of people, especially people in the
Dialogue: 0,0:13:52.12,0:13:54.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,military, who saw this is a very, very
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.22,0:13:57.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,dangerous thing. "And right there with the
Dialogue: 0,0:13:57.24,0:14:00.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tragedy of it all, men can live, eat, play,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.48,0:14:03.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and work together, be they black or white.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:03.92,0:14:06.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just as the BEF demonstrated."
Dialogue: 0,0:14:09.37,0:14:11.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On June 17,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:11.42,0:14:14.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,1932, thousands of bonus marchers
Dialogue: 0,0:14:14.37,0:14:16.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,assembled on Capitol Hill to maintain a
Dialogue: 0,0:14:16.55,0:14:19.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,vigil on the Senate, scheduled to vote on
Dialogue: 0,0:14:19.27,0:14:22.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the bonus bill passed by the house. The
Dialogue: 0,0:14:22.55,0:14:25.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,shouts and songs of the veterans, "The
Dialogue: 0,0:14:25.12,0:14:27.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yanks are starving! The Yanks are
Dialogue: 0,0:14:27.37,0:14:30.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,starving!" could be heard in the Senate
Dialogue: 0,0:14:30.24,0:14:34.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Chamber as the heated debate went on.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:34.10,0:14:36.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Late in the day, Waters delivered the
Dialogue: 0,0:14:36.95,0:14:40.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,result to his troops. The Senate
Dialogue: 0,0:14:40.11,0:14:43.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,overwhelmingly defeated the bonus bill,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:43.18,0:14:45.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the men were extraordinarily
Dialogue: 0,0:14:45.60,0:14:50.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,disappointed. But fortunately, a newspaper
Dialogue: 0,0:14:50.29,0:14:52.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,reporter suggested to Waters that he
Dialogue: 0,0:14:52.71,0:14:56.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ought to order the men to sing "America."
Dialogue: 0,0:14:56.81,0:15:00.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they did. They all sang "America," and
Dialogue: 0,0:15:00.55,0:15:03.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they dispersed peacefully. But Waters
Dialogue: 0,0:15:03.83,0:15:06.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,urged the marchers to remain in
Dialogue: 0,0:15:06.26,0:15:09.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Washington. "I am not advising anybody to
Dialogue: 0,0:15:09.87,0:15:11.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,go home.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:11.80,0:15:14.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We intend to maintain our army in
Dialogue: 0,0:15:14.55,0:15:18.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Washington regardless of who goes home."
Dialogue: 0,0:15:18.38,0:15:20.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,President Hoover and other people kept
Dialogue: 0,0:15:20.40,0:15:22.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,saying, "Why can't we drive them home?"
Dialogue: 0,0:15:22.72,0:15:25.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A lot of these people didn't have a home.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:25.43,0:15:28.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was pretty clear to everybody that they
Dialogue: 0,0:15:28.14,0:15:30.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could not remain. But no one knew how to
Dialogue: 0,0:15:30.87,0:15:32.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,get rid of them, and no one wanted
Dialogue: 0,0:15:32.72,0:15:35.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,violence. On July 16, the last day
Dialogue: 0,0:15:35.71,0:15:37.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Congress was in session,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:37.77,0:15:41.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Washington was on edge. Thousands of
Dialogue: 0,0:15:41.10,0:15:45.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,angry veterans surrounded the Capitol.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:45.26,0:15:47.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Near midnight, the 72nd Congress
Dialogue: 0,0:15:47.45,0:15:49.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,adjourned.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:49.57,0:15:52.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Congressmen left through back doors and
Dialogue: 0,0:15:52.06,0:15:54.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,underground tunnels to avoid
Dialogue: 0,0:15:54.14,0:15:57.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,confrontations. The situation had come to
Dialogue: 0,0:15:57.07,0:16:00.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a head. The president ordered the
Dialogue: 0,0:16:00.43,0:16:02.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,evacuation of the veterans from downtown
Dialogue: 0,0:16:02.95,0:16:09.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Washington. By police count, there were
Dialogue: 0,0:16:09.32,0:16:12.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,still 11,698 marchers and their
Dialogue: 0,0:16:12.71,0:16:15.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,families in Washington. Midway between
Dialogue: 0,0:16:15.68,0:16:18.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the White House and the Capitol stood a
Dialogue: 0,0:16:18.13,0:16:20.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,row of half demolished buildings where
Dialogue: 0,0:16:20.38,0:16:23.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hundreds of marchers were living. On the
Dialogue: 0,0:16:23.08,0:16:25.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,morning of July 28, the wheels were in
Dialogue: 0,0:16:25.94,0:16:28.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,motion to evict them.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:28.30,0:16:32.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Waters urged his men to cooperate. Then
Dialogue: 0,0:16:32.46,0:16:34.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,someone began to throw bricks at the
Dialogue: 0,0:16:34.51,0:16:37.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,police. Glassford and several police
Dialogue: 0,0:16:37.08,0:16:39.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,officers run to the area. Two cops
Dialogue: 0,0:16:39.64,0:16:44.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are are grabbed. One cop pulls out a gun,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:44.63,0:16:49.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he fires. Another cop turns, and he
Dialogue: 0,0:16:49.05,0:16:53.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fires a shot. One veteran was dead, and
Dialogue: 0,0:16:53.56,0:16:56.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,another lay dying.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:56.76,0:16:59.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now there's been bloodshed, and now you
Dialogue: 0,0:16:59.37,0:17:02.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bring in the troops. When MacArthur moved
Dialogue: 0,0:17:02.64,0:17:06.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,his troops to the affected area, he knew
Dialogue: 0,0:17:06.05,0:17:09.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,exactly what he was going to do. And he
Dialogue: 0,0:17:09.07,0:17:11.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,adorned himself in his dress uniform,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:11.86,0:17:14.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,along with his major aide, Dwight D.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:14.58,0:17:18.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Eisenhower. The force stepped off at 4:30
Dialogue: 0,0:17:18.63,0:17:20.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,p.m.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:20.50,0:17:23.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,More than 200 cavalry men spread out
Dialogue: 0,0:17:23.01,0:17:25.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,across Constitution and Pennsylvania
Dialogue: 0,0:17:25.23,0:17:27.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Avenues.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:27.52,0:17:30.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Behind them came 400 infantrymen,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:30.96,0:17:32.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,followed up by tanks and armored
Dialogue: 0,0:17:32.95,0:17:35.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,vehicles. "I was about seven years old
Dialogue: 0,0:17:35.91,0:17:37.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the time,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:37.80,0:17:40.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the troops were out in Pennsylvania
Dialogue: 0,0:17:40.02,0:17:43.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Avenue. I was scared. And my dad kept
Dialogue: 0,0:17:43.89,0:17:45.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,saying, "Nothing's going to happen."
Dialogue: 0,0:17:45.53,0:17:49.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The cavalrymen, one of whom is Major
Dialogue: 0,0:17:49.27,0:17:51.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Patton, have got their sabers out.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:51.83,0:17:54.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The soldiers don gas masks, and without
Dialogue: 0,0:17:54.59,0:17:57.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,warning, began hurling gas grenades at
Dialogue: 0,0:17:57.68,0:18:01.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the veterans. The troops advanced, some
Dialogue: 0,0:18:01.17,0:18:04.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,jabbing with bayonets. "Tear gas was
Dialogue: 0,0:18:04.81,0:18:07.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just burning my face. I was trailing
Dialogue: 0,0:18:07.55,0:18:09.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,behind my dad, and he kept hollering,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:09.56,0:18:12.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,'Come on, boy! Come on boy!'"
Dialogue: 0,0:18:12.43,0:18:15.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Marchers were choking from the gas, just
Dialogue: 0,0:18:15.52,0:18:17.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like the battlefields in France. "And so
Dialogue: 0,0:18:17.69,0:18:19.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're being forced out of their shacks
Dialogue: 0,0:18:19.76,0:18:22.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by smoke bombs and tear gas hurled by
Dialogue: 0,0:18:22.61,0:18:25.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the troops who have been called out by
Dialogue: 0,0:18:25.33,0:18:27.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the President of the United States."
Dialogue: 0,0:18:27.25,0:18:30.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Chief Glassford stood by helplessly.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:30.76,0:18:32.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"The veterans did not believe the
Dialogue: 0,0:18:32.86,0:18:34.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,country for which they had fought
Dialogue: 0,0:18:34.75,0:18:36.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would ignore the plight into which
Dialogue: 0,0:18:36.67,0:18:38.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the depression had placed them. Many
Dialogue: 0,0:18:38.46,0:18:40.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,did not believe that United States troops
Dialogue: 0,0:18:40.83,0:18:44.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would take the field against them." By early
Dialogue: 0,0:18:44.01,0:18:46.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,evening, most of the marchers had been
Dialogue: 0,0:18:46.43,0:18:49.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,driven across a drawbridge that led to
Dialogue: 0,0:18:49.03,0:18:52.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their main camp. The President does not want
Dialogue: 0,0:18:52.100,0:18:56.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,MacArthur to cross the bridge, and
Dialogue: 0,0:18:56.53,0:19:00.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,MacArthur disregards the order. Eisenhower
Dialogue: 0,0:19:00.33,0:19:02.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,later says that he saw this happen.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:02.95,0:19:05.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,MacArthur says, "I cannot bother with
Dialogue: 0,0:19:05.08,0:19:08.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pieces of paper during a military operation."
Dialogue: 0,0:19:08.08,0:19:11.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so he crosses the bridge. All through the
Dialogue: 0,0:19:11.72,0:19:14.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,camp were scenes of panic.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:14.49,0:19:16.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"My dad says, 'Let's get the hell out of
Dialogue: 0,0:19:16.07,0:19:19.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,here. The soldiers are gonna kill us.'"
Dialogue: 0,0:19:19.51,0:19:22.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Then troops began to set fire to their
Dialogue: 0,0:19:22.16,0:19:24.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wooden shacks.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:24.61,0:19:27.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One reporter wrote, "The blaze was so big,
Dialogue: 0,0:19:27.40,0:19:31.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it lit the whole sky - a nightmare come to
Dialogue: 0,0:19:31.33,0:19:35.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,life." The President looked out a window
Dialogue: 0,0:19:35.24,0:19:36.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the White House in the direction of
Dialogue: 0,0:19:36.63,0:19:41.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the fire, then retired for the night.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:41.01,0:19:43.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"And the roaring flames sound the death
Dialogue: 0,0:19:43.95,0:19:46.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,knell to the fantastic Bonus Army, that
Dialogue: 0,0:19:46.92,0:19:50.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ends so disastrously in the shadow of the
Dialogue: 0,0:19:50.83,0:19:55.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Capitol of the United States of America."
Dialogue: 0,0:19:58.76,0:20:02.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The morning after the Bonus Route, public
Dialogue: 0,0:20:02.11,0:20:04.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sentiment took a dramatic turn against
Dialogue: 0,0:20:04.13,0:20:07.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Herbert Hoover. He argued that this was a
Dialogue: 0,0:20:07.88,0:20:10.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,communist revolution, and there wasn't
Dialogue: 0,0:20:10.67,0:20:14.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one bit of evidence to prove it.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:14.30,0:20:17.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If the expulsion needed a human face, it
Dialogue: 0,0:20:17.18,0:20:20.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,came in the person of Joe Angelo, whose
Dialogue: 0,0:20:20.15,0:20:23.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,story was published across the nation.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:23.53,0:20:25.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Joe Angelo gets the Distinguished
Dialogue: 0,0:20:25.26,0:20:27.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Service Cross for saving Patton's life
Dialogue: 0,0:20:27.28,0:20:29.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the battlefield. The next morning,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:29.70,0:20:32.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Angelo comes to the burned-out field to
Dialogue: 0,0:20:32.96,0:20:35.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,see Patton. Patton says, "Take this man
Dialogue: 0,0:20:35.95,0:20:39.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,away. I don't want to see this man."
Dialogue: 0,0:20:40.62,0:20:41.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Music]
Dialogue: 0,0:20:41.86,0:20:44.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Walter waters quickly faded into
Dialogue: 0,0:20:44.16,0:20:47.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,obscurity. "The BEF was broken up. The men
Dialogue: 0,0:20:47.02,0:20:48.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,returned to some city or other, there to
Dialogue: 0,0:20:48.93,0:20:51.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,roam the streets hopelessly, seeking work
Dialogue: 0,0:20:51.82,0:20:54.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or to shuffle in breadlines.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:54.44,0:20:57.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There they remain, crying examples not of
Dialogue: 0,0:20:57.70,0:20:59.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the need for the bonus, but of the need
Dialogue: 0,0:20:59.17,0:21:03.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for a new American system." So just a few
Dialogue: 0,0:21:03.14,0:21:06.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,months after the Bonus Marchers are
Dialogue: 0,0:21:06.57,0:21:09.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,driven out of Washington, you have a song
Dialogue: 0,0:21:09.19,0:21:12.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is called "Brother Can You Spare a
Dialogue: 0,0:21:12.08,0:21:15.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dime." This song was directly inspired by
Dialogue: 0,0:21:15.25,0:21:19.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the bonus marchers. (song: They used to
Dialogue: 0,0:21:19.53,0:21:22.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tell me I was building a dream with peace
Dialogue: 0,0:21:22.92,0:21:27.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and glory ahead. Why should I be standing
Dialogue: 0,0:21:27.81,0:21:35.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in line...") And it just captured the
Dialogue: 0,0:21:35.19,0:21:38.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,desperation that was the story of the
Dialogue: 0,0:21:38.11,0:21:40.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Bonus March. (song: Say, buddy, can you
Dialogue: 0,0:21:40.95,0:21:45.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,spare a dime?) On November 8, 1932,
Dialogue: 0,0:21:45.96,0:21:50.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Americans, desperate for change, elected
Dialogue: 0,0:21:50.14,0:21:54.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Franklin Delano Roosevelt president.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:54.02,0:21:56.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first thing that Roosevelt does, he
Dialogue: 0,0:21:56.68,0:21:58.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,produces something called the Economy
Dialogue: 0,0:21:58.87,0:22:01.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Act. The big victims are veterans.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:01.76,0:22:05.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Disabled veterans. Still, the veterans
Dialogue: 0,0:22:05.10,0:22:08.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,kept returning to Washington each year.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:08.59,0:22:11.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,FDR knows that he cannot use force
Dialogue: 0,0:22:11.56,0:22:13.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,against the veterans. He also knows he
Dialogue: 0,0:22:13.86,0:22:16.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,doesn't want them in Washington, DC. Many
Dialogue: 0,0:22:16.31,0:22:18.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the men were sent to work in
Dialogue: 0,0:22:18.42,0:22:20.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,rehabilitation camps in the Florida Keys.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:20.02,0:22:24.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On September 2, 1935, the most powerful
Dialogue: 0,0:22:24.34,0:22:26.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hurricane ever to hit the Western
Dialogue: 0,0:22:26.59,0:22:29.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hemisphere hits in the Upper Keys where
Dialogue: 0,0:22:29.60,0:22:33.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these guys are located. Several hundred
Dialogue: 0,0:22:33.17,0:22:36.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of them are killed. The government
Dialogue: 0,0:22:36.05,0:22:39.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,attempted to suppress the news. But one
Dialogue: 0,0:22:39.45,0:22:42.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the first rescue boats to get in carried
Dialogue: 0,0:22:42.18,0:22:44.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the renowned writer Ernest Hemingway.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:44.92,0:22:48.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In an angry piece, he wrote, "The veterans
Dialogue: 0,0:22:48.55,0:22:52.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in those camps were practically murdered."
Dialogue: 0,0:22:52.38,0:22:54.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When the public finally learned the
Dialogue: 0,0:22:54.81,0:22:57.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,truth, opposition to paying the bonus
Dialogue: 0,0:22:57.18,0:22:59.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,began to vanish.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:01.63,0:23:05.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In 1936, war clouds were gathering again
Dialogue: 0,0:23:05.69,0:23:08.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in Europe. Once again, the bonus bill is
Dialogue: 0,0:23:08.57,0:23:10.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,brought up. It is vetoed again by
Dialogue: 0,0:23:10.83,0:23:12.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,President Roosevelt, but this time
Dialogue: 0,0:23:12.88,0:23:14.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's enough power in the House and
Dialogue: 0,0:23:14.46,0:23:17.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Senate to override the veto. "The bonus
Dialogue: 0,0:23:17.29,0:23:19.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bill becomes law, and veterans' tab on
Dialogue: 0,0:23:19.79,0:23:25.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,World War One is paid in full." Some four
Dialogue: 0,0:23:25.51,0:23:30.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,million veterans were overjoyed. So the
Dialogue: 0,0:23:30.52,0:23:32.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,story comes to an end. These guys get
Dialogue: 0,0:23:32.93,0:23:37.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their money. Their lives change. "My dad
Dialogue: 0,0:23:37.18,0:23:40.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,came in the house with seven $100 bills,
Dialogue: 0,0:23:40.90,0:23:43.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I thought, 'Oh, is that what the
Dialogue: 0,0:23:43.48,0:23:46.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bonus is?' you know. We didn't know what a
Dialogue: 0,0:23:46.76,0:23:50.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bonus was. You know it's money. After all
Dialogue: 0,0:23:50.28,0:23:54.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that time." On December 7, 1941, Pearl
Dialogue: 0,0:23:54.38,0:23:57.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Harbor was attacked, and a new generation
Dialogue: 0,0:23:57.43,0:23:59.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was called to serve. During the Second
Dialogue: 0,0:23:59.80,0:24:01.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,World War,
Dialogue: 0,0:24:01.13,0:24:04.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Roosevelt admits World War one veterans'
Dialogue: 0,0:24:04.28,0:24:07.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,arguments. He will say that soldiers now
Dialogue: 0,0:24:07.19,0:24:09.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,serving in our army will have to be
Dialogue: 0,0:24:09.19,0:24:11.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,compensated for the opportunities
Dialogue: 0,0:24:11.26,0:24:14.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they've missed. What emerged was the
Dialogue: 0,0:24:14.45,0:24:16.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,landmark piece of legislation known as
Dialogue: 0,0:24:16.78,0:24:19.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the GI Bill of Rights, signed into law in
Dialogue: 0,0:24:19.76,0:24:22.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,June of 1944. It put millions of people
Dialogue: 0,0:24:22.84,0:24:25.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into housing, put millions of people in
Dialogue: 0,0:24:25.50,0:24:27.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,college, put millions of people into
Dialogue: 0,0:24:27.70,0:24:33.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,small businesses, and it changed America.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:33.25,0:24:36.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The legacy of the Bonus Army can be seen
Dialogue: 0,0:24:36.99,0:24:39.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in all the marches on Washington that
Dialogue: 0,0:24:39.11,0:24:42.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have followed. And American soldiers
Dialogue: 0,0:24:42.37,0:24:45.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,returning from war today expect the
Dialogue: 0,0:24:45.09,0:24:48.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,government to keep its promises. The
Dialogue: 0,0:24:48.39,0:24:51.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Bonus March was a very visible lesson to
Dialogue: 0,0:24:51.02,0:24:54.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,political leaders that they did need to
Dialogue: 0,0:24:54.18,0:24:56.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,do something to respond to the
Dialogue: 0,0:24:56.75,0:25:00.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,individual needs of Americans.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:00.53,0:25:02.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It tells us about the determination of
Dialogue: 0,0:25:02.76,0:25:06.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people, to make sure that veterans are
Dialogue: 0,0:25:06.65,0:25:09.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,recognized for the service that they
Dialogue: 0,0:25:09.22,0:25:12.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,render to the nation. "In my later years,
Dialogue: 0,0:25:12.31,0:25:15.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I understood what it meant. It meant
Dialogue: 0,0:25:15.68,0:25:19.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,freedom to demonstrate, and it showed
Dialogue: 0,0:25:19.84,0:25:23.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,America was a free, working democracy."
Dialogue: 0,0:25:23.70,0:25:27.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[Music]
Dialogue: 0,0:25:27.74,0:25:29.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The March of the Bonus Army is available
Dialogue: 0,0:25:29.64,0:25:32.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on video cassette or DVD. The companion
Dialogue: 0,0:25:32.34,0:25:35.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,book to the program is also available. To
Dialogue: 0,0:25:35.34,0:25:39.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,order, call PBS Home Video at 1-800 play
Dialogue: 0,0:25:39.07,0:25:49.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,PBS. (song: Once I built a railroad, made
Dialogue: 0,0:25:49.28,0:25:57.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it run. I made it race against time. Once I built
Dialogue: 0,0:25:57.81,0:26:04.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a tower, now it's done. Brother, can you
Dialogue: 0,0:26:04.56,0:26:11.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,spare a dime?) Major funding for this
Dialogue: 0,0:26:11.34,0:26:15.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,program was provided by the Disabled
Dialogue: 0,0:26:15.44,0:26:18.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,American Veterans National Service
Dialogue: 0,0:26:18.28,0:26:20.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Foundation. Since World War One, DAV
Dialogue: 0,0:26:20.51,0:26:22.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has helped veterans recover from the
Dialogue: 0,0:26:22.77,0:26:24.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wounds and scars of war. DAV - building
Dialogue: 0,0:26:24.94,0:26:26.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,better lives for America's disabled
Dialogue: 0,0:26:26.59,0:26:28.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,veterans and their families. Additional
Dialogue: 0,0:26:28.72,0:26:30.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,production support provided by Tawani
Dialogue: 0,0:26:30.64,0:26:33.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Foundation - promoting the ideal of the
Dialogue: 0,0:26:33.00,0:26:35.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,citizen soldier at the Pritzker Military
Dialogue: 0,0:26:35.28,0:26:38.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Library, Chicago, Illinois, and by the
Dialogue: 0,0:26:38.82,0:26:44.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Humanities Council of Washington, DC.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:44.76,0:26:53.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are PBS.