1 00:00:26,559 --> 00:00:30,589 country 2 00:00:28,530 --> 00:00:30,589 Oh 3 00:00:32,500 --> 00:00:35,500 self-evident 4 00:00:38,909 --> 00:00:45,000 Mr Gold 5 00:00:41,679 --> 00:00:45,000 down this wall 6 00:00:57,820 --> 00:01:02,869 he don't hit the we see on a terrible on 7 00:01:01,429 --> 00:01:06,109 the night of July the twentieth nineteen 8 00:01:02,869 --> 00:01:08,149 sixty-nine to American astronauts were 9 00:01:06,109 --> 00:01:20,000 attempting to do something no human 10 00:01:08,150 --> 00:01:22,520 being had ever done before Neil 11 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:24,290 Armstrong from Ohio and Buzz Aldrin from 12 00:01:22,519 --> 00:01:25,849 New Jersey where the two men sent to 13 00:01:24,290 --> 00:01:28,540 complete a promise made by President 14 00:01:25,849 --> 00:01:32,118 Kennedy at the beginning of the decade 15 00:01:28,540 --> 00:01:34,969 during our descent everything looked 16 00:01:32,118 --> 00:01:36,978 good approaching the point coming around 17 00:01:34,969 --> 00:01:41,929 the moon except our communications a 18 00:01:36,978 --> 00:01:44,118 little scratchy there's an anxious 19 00:01:41,930 --> 00:01:46,880 moment Donna go for landing retro oh I 20 00:01:44,118 --> 00:01:49,939 don't go right so the trawl now calm no 21 00:01:46,879 --> 00:01:52,009 jinsuk oh god no surgeon go Capcom we're 22 00:01:49,939 --> 00:01:54,200 go for landing altitude 4,200 thing year 23 00:01:52,009 --> 00:01:58,069 ago for landing over I was in the 24 00:01:54,200 --> 00:02:00,409 control center of houston hundred feet 25 00:01:58,069 --> 00:02:02,329 or and a half down five and a half pound 26 00:02:00,409 --> 00:02:05,420 you know there was some doubt about this 27 00:02:02,329 --> 00:02:07,069 clear up to the last just where they 28 00:02:05,420 --> 00:02:07,920 were coming in within the fuel or not 29 00:02:07,069 --> 00:02:10,439 we're gonna be 30 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:12,810 he knew there was a surface it was going 31 00:02:10,439 --> 00:02:20,250 to be reasonably good for them to land 32 00:02:12,810 --> 00:02:25,890 on and Gordy babe here hinkle air 33 00:02:20,250 --> 00:02:28,709 planted it's a g-wiz and a few it's a 34 00:02:25,889 --> 00:02:31,859 let's say yeah we're down and then I can 35 00:02:28,709 --> 00:02:33,719 remember just looking this way and 36 00:02:31,860 --> 00:02:36,170 leaning over and Pat Neal on the back 37 00:02:33,719 --> 00:02:40,289 and just kind of saying well we made it 38 00:02:36,169 --> 00:02:42,419 we copy you down eagle a journey of a 39 00:02:40,289 --> 00:02:44,489 quarter million miles it took three 40 00:02:42,419 --> 00:02:48,199 hundred thousand American workers to 41 00:02:44,489 --> 00:02:52,259 make it happen step off the LEM mountain 42 00:02:48,199 --> 00:02:58,449 at 10 simple and 43 00:02:52,259 --> 00:03:01,840 I am pleased 600 million people were 44 00:02:58,449 --> 00:03:05,798 watching one-fifth of the entire world's 45 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:10,060 population seeing things that no one had 46 00:03:05,799 --> 00:03:13,120 seen before stark Beauty so pure and 47 00:03:10,060 --> 00:03:16,628 it's so perfect magnificent desolation 48 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:19,509 on the Sea of Tranquility Armstrong and 49 00:03:16,628 --> 00:03:22,739 older left a plaque that red we came in 50 00:03:19,509 --> 00:03:22,739 peace for all mankind 51 00:03:39,968 --> 00:03:45,858 on earth in the summer of nineteen 52 00:03:42,979 --> 00:03:52,280 sixty-nine peace and tranquility were 53 00:03:45,859 --> 00:03:54,799 merely concepts at the end of the 60s 54 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:57,259 America was still haunted by memories of 55 00:03:54,799 --> 00:03:59,420 the young president whose election had 56 00:03:57,259 --> 00:04:01,188 ushered in the decade and whose 57 00:03:59,419 --> 00:04:04,009 assassination had shattered it's 58 00:04:01,188 --> 00:04:06,408 optimism Kennedy's inaugural pledge to 59 00:04:04,009 --> 00:04:09,138 pay any price and bear any burden to 60 00:04:06,408 --> 00:04:11,418 defend freedom was being severely tested 61 00:04:09,139 --> 00:04:13,849 in Vietnam President Johnson's further 62 00:04:11,419 --> 00:04:17,959 escalation of the war had cost him the 63 00:04:13,848 --> 00:04:20,149 presidency and in 1968 Richard Nixon was 64 00:04:17,959 --> 00:04:24,288 elected largely on the promise to win 65 00:04:20,149 --> 00:04:25,909 peace with honor to his supporters that 66 00:04:24,288 --> 00:04:28,459 meant an outcome that would further 67 00:04:25,910 --> 00:04:31,639 American interests and ideals in the 68 00:04:28,459 --> 00:04:34,269 world to his critics it meant prolonging 69 00:04:31,639 --> 00:04:34,269 the horror 70 00:04:58,769 --> 00:05:04,629 january twentieth nineteen sixty-nine 71 00:05:01,949 --> 00:05:07,229 inauguration day for the 37th president 72 00:05:04,629 --> 00:05:07,230 of the United States 73 00:05:17,490 --> 00:05:22,910 difficult years America has suffered 74 00:05:19,470 --> 00:05:26,370 from a fever of words we cannot learn 75 00:05:22,910 --> 00:05:29,880 from one another until we stop shouting 76 00:05:26,370 --> 00:05:33,870 at one another until we speak quietly 77 00:05:29,879 --> 00:05:38,519 enough so that our words can be heard as 78 00:05:33,870 --> 00:05:40,288 well as our voices there were virtually 79 00:05:38,519 --> 00:05:42,689 to America's when Richard Nixon took 80 00:05:40,288 --> 00:05:45,029 office and they collided that day in the 81 00:05:42,689 --> 00:05:49,310 first major disruption of an inaugural 82 00:05:45,029 --> 00:05:49,309 ceremony in the history of the Republic 83 00:05:50,370 --> 00:05:56,490 eggs were throwing obscenities were 84 00:05:53,519 --> 00:06:00,870 thrown the placards were out there that 85 00:05:56,490 --> 00:06:03,960 were just awful that we were so torn 86 00:06:00,870 --> 00:06:06,090 apart that we couldn't even inaugurate a 87 00:06:03,959 --> 00:06:09,000 freely elected president with the 88 00:06:06,089 --> 00:06:10,859 dignity the pomp and circumstance it's 89 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:13,228 such an occasion demands it was really a 90 00:06:10,860 --> 00:06:16,379 terrible low point American history what 91 00:06:13,228 --> 00:06:21,000 I seen on newspapers and television it 92 00:06:16,379 --> 00:06:23,250 was hard to believe desecration of a 93 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:26,430 flag that I personally fought for and 94 00:06:23,250 --> 00:06:31,339 put my life on the line along with many 95 00:06:26,430 --> 00:06:36,199 other people and here you are carrying 96 00:06:31,339 --> 00:06:44,879 Kong flags this this really disturbed me 97 00:06:36,199 --> 00:06:49,259 to really bad boiling points he divided 98 00:06:44,879 --> 00:06:52,379 the public and he was in some ways the 99 00:06:49,259 --> 00:06:55,409 worst possible leader that we could have 100 00:06:52,379 --> 00:06:58,259 had in the time of this great divisive 101 00:06:55,410 --> 00:07:01,320 pneus because that was meconium politics 102 00:06:58,259 --> 00:07:06,769 to play to the device earnest to divide 103 00:07:01,319 --> 00:07:06,769 the body politic and to them and we 104 00:07:13,850 --> 00:07:18,600 the we in that equation were the people 105 00:07:16,949 --> 00:07:21,000 the administration referred to as 106 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:23,540 hard-working taxpaying patriotic 107 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:23,540 Americans 108 00:07:32,430 --> 00:07:38,040 their enemies the them were represented 109 00:07:35,879 --> 00:07:41,189 by the vociferous demonstrators who said 110 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:46,310 they were Patriots to move by conscience 111 00:07:41,189 --> 00:07:50,480 to oppose the war in November the 1969 112 00:07:46,310 --> 00:07:50,480 700,000 of them came to Washington 113 00:07:51,509 --> 00:07:56,800 I'm not sure looking back that going to 114 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:58,899 a rally like this was gonna make any 115 00:07:56,800 --> 00:08:01,360 difference but that was a time where 116 00:07:58,899 --> 00:08:04,299 there was no electricity everybody's 117 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:06,850 soul was was involved everybody's heart 118 00:08:04,300 --> 00:08:09,639 was involved we felt that we had some 119 00:08:06,850 --> 00:08:15,340 input in the world and we could change 120 00:08:09,639 --> 00:08:17,110 the world a revolution going on and we 121 00:08:15,339 --> 00:08:21,279 were all a part of it I think the people 122 00:08:17,110 --> 00:08:23,620 were really fed up with that crowd by 123 00:08:21,279 --> 00:08:26,049 the time we went into office I think 124 00:08:23,620 --> 00:08:27,850 that uh during the Nixon administration 125 00:08:26,050 --> 00:08:29,759 Patrick Buchanan was a speech writer for 126 00:08:27,850 --> 00:08:32,229 the President and the Vice President 127 00:08:29,759 --> 00:08:34,509 silent majority was what we call middle 128 00:08:32,229 --> 00:08:36,639 America it looked upon these kids is 129 00:08:34,509 --> 00:08:38,349 very privileged they were going to 130 00:08:36,639 --> 00:08:39,698 college and then they were behaving like 131 00:08:38,349 --> 00:08:42,700 that and the other kids were in Vietnam 132 00:08:39,700 --> 00:08:52,570 doing their duty so as more a sense of 133 00:08:42,700 --> 00:08:54,820 disgust and fed up this and while the 134 00:08:52,570 --> 00:08:57,339 counterculture made him worship its rock 135 00:08:54,820 --> 00:09:00,930 stars vice president Agnew gave middle 136 00:08:57,339 --> 00:09:03,180 America at hero of its own 137 00:09:00,929 --> 00:09:04,769 but AG news role was the pan out of the 138 00:09:03,179 --> 00:09:08,250 Republican Party and the Tribune of the 139 00:09:04,769 --> 00:09:12,088 silent the dragon and he played that 140 00:09:08,250 --> 00:09:16,769 role extremely well the man who had been 141 00:09:12,089 --> 00:09:19,200 a joke in 1968 at the end of 69 was the 142 00:09:16,769 --> 00:09:22,588 third most admired man in America behind 143 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:25,080 the President and Billy Graham a spirit 144 00:09:22,589 --> 00:09:28,950 of national masochism prevails 145 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:31,740 encouraged by an effete core of impudent 146 00:09:28,950 --> 00:09:36,480 snobs who characterized themselves as 147 00:09:31,740 --> 00:09:38,519 intellectuals Agnew speeches delivered 148 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:40,680 to enthusiastic audiences attacked 149 00:09:38,519 --> 00:09:43,049 everything from professors students and 150 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:45,778 reporters to the counter cultures 151 00:09:43,049 --> 00:09:51,750 favorite music and movies by the late 152 00:09:45,778 --> 00:09:54,059 60s everything was politically a popular 153 00:09:51,750 --> 00:09:57,089 recent movie I won't name it here 154 00:09:54,059 --> 00:09:59,489 because I don't want to promote it as as 155 00:09:57,089 --> 00:10:02,010 its heroes two men who are able to live 156 00:09:59,490 --> 00:10:05,519 a carefree life off the proceeds of 157 00:10:02,009 --> 00:10:07,379 illegal sales of drugs no sympathy is 158 00:10:05,519 --> 00:10:09,720 wasted on the wrecked lives of the 159 00:10:07,379 --> 00:10:13,909 people who bought their drugs are 160 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:13,910 financed our heroes easy ride 161 00:10:20,089 --> 00:10:24,449 one of the big movies in this 162 00:10:22,259 --> 00:10:26,310 superheated time became a metaphor for 163 00:10:24,448 --> 00:10:30,568 the widening gap between the straight 164 00:10:26,309 --> 00:10:33,479 and the hip gold and the young Easy 165 00:10:30,568 --> 00:10:40,078 Rider oh yeah easy right in there we are 166 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:43,740 yeah well um Easy Rider yeah well where 167 00:10:40,078 --> 00:10:45,989 do you want to start there that film was 168 00:10:43,740 --> 00:10:49,528 so extraordinarily unlike anything that 169 00:10:45,990 --> 00:10:52,889 had gone before its sense of really 170 00:10:49,528 --> 00:10:54,600 growing out of a culture not even trying 171 00:10:52,889 --> 00:10:56,909 to reflect the culture but just being 172 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:59,009 the culture what the hell is in trouble 173 00:10:56,909 --> 00:11:01,620 making that had so much to say about the 174 00:10:59,009 --> 00:11:03,449 society about the becoming a society of 175 00:11:01,620 --> 00:11:06,659 two cultures along generational lines 176 00:11:03,448 --> 00:11:08,439 and other kinds of minds why'd you get a 177 00:11:06,659 --> 00:11:11,379 cut 178 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:15,450 that it was like getting hit in the gut 179 00:11:11,379 --> 00:11:15,450 bye sis 180 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:27,250 my idea was basically the talked about 181 00:11:25,210 --> 00:11:29,470 America talked about the problems and at 182 00:11:27,250 --> 00:11:31,149 that time I felt that the country was 183 00:11:29,470 --> 00:11:33,250 going to explode it was explained wasn't 184 00:11:31,149 --> 00:11:37,329 going to it was explode and it was 185 00:11:33,250 --> 00:11:39,549 really happy as the 60s came to a close 186 00:11:37,330 --> 00:11:42,850 the violent and deadly backlash in Easy 187 00:11:39,549 --> 00:11:45,479 Rider was an eerie foreshadowing of real 188 00:11:42,850 --> 00:11:45,480 events to come 189 00:11:57,929 --> 00:12:03,309 in cooperation with the Armed Forces of 190 00:12:00,669 --> 00:12:05,259 South Vietnam attacks are being launched 191 00:12:03,309 --> 00:12:08,859 this week to clean out major enemy 192 00:12:05,259 --> 00:12:14,950 sanctuaries on the Cambodian Vietnam 193 00:12:08,860 --> 00:12:19,029 border this is not an invasion of 194 00:12:14,950 --> 00:12:20,680 Cambodia in may of nineteen seventy when 195 00:12:19,029 --> 00:12:24,009 president nixon announced that american 196 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:26,589 troops were being sent into cambodia 350 197 00:12:24,009 --> 00:12:29,039 college campuses erupted in violent 198 00:12:26,590 --> 00:12:29,040 protest 199 00:12:31,340 --> 00:12:35,120 and Nixon had been promising we're 200 00:12:33,350 --> 00:12:37,750 getting out of it and all of a sudden 201 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:42,169 here comes this invasion of Cambodia 202 00:12:37,750 --> 00:12:51,259 another country added to the list with 203 00:12:42,169 --> 00:12:54,289 just a shock wave around the nation at 204 00:12:51,259 --> 00:12:56,210 Kent State University in Ohio the ROTC 205 00:12:54,289 --> 00:12:59,169 building was firebombed the governor 206 00:12:56,210 --> 00:12:59,170 called in the National Guard 207 00:13:03,458 --> 00:13:07,229 tonks and rocks were thrown 208 00:13:12,499 --> 00:13:18,308 before it was over for college students 209 00:13:15,198 --> 00:13:18,308 were shot and killed 210 00:13:20,309 --> 00:13:24,819 representative country gone man American 211 00:13:23,259 --> 00:13:28,000 troops shot down American students who 212 00:13:24,820 --> 00:13:31,480 were taking classes that's the point we 213 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:34,330 had gotten to after the violence of kent 214 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:36,310 state polls found fifty-eight percent of 215 00:13:34,330 --> 00:13:40,860 the respondents sided with the guardsmen 216 00:13:36,309 --> 00:13:40,859 only eleven percent with the students 217 00:13:40,950 --> 00:13:46,420 university campus include please return 218 00:13:44,259 --> 00:13:48,429 to the dormitories and leave the campus 219 00:13:46,419 --> 00:13:50,439 by the shorter the backlash of opinion 220 00:13:48,429 --> 00:13:53,889 against campus demonstrators would only 221 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:55,810 grow following Kent State some 75 222 00:13:53,889 --> 00:13:58,000 colleges were closed down for the rest 223 00:13:55,809 --> 00:14:00,539 of the year the cause they said was 224 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:00,539 student unrest 225 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:14,370 four days after Kent State a massive 226 00:14:11,580 --> 00:14:16,920 demonstration in lower Manhattan set off 227 00:14:14,370 --> 00:14:19,080 legions of hard hats whose Ray's had 228 00:14:16,919 --> 00:14:24,419 been building for years it was never 229 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:26,610 plan to explode but it did explode well 230 00:14:24,419 --> 00:14:30,029 I was on Water Street and we all just 231 00:14:26,610 --> 00:14:33,450 headed towards broadway and all you 232 00:14:30,029 --> 00:14:35,819 could hear was just shouting and census 233 00:14:33,450 --> 00:14:39,140 of let's get the bastards and let's 234 00:14:35,820 --> 00:14:39,140 finish this once and for all 235 00:14:46,870 --> 00:14:50,889 then there were some blood spilt 236 00:14:56,879 --> 00:15:02,080 but it was all in anger all in vengeance 237 00:15:00,370 --> 00:15:06,580 let's get them and a lot of people 238 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:11,830 including myself was was releasing the 239 00:15:06,580 --> 00:15:15,850 hate and the feelings that you have of 240 00:15:11,830 --> 00:15:21,720 course a lot of us felt the winners we 241 00:15:15,850 --> 00:15:21,720 felt very proud we scattered the enemy 242 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:28,120 the part hats were heroes for a few days 243 00:15:24,730 --> 00:15:31,539 praised by Wall Street workers when free 244 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:33,009 coffee by area luncheonette owners the 245 00:15:31,539 --> 00:15:34,449 leaders of the construction unions were 246 00:15:33,009 --> 00:15:35,860 invited to the White House where they 247 00:15:34,450 --> 00:15:38,589 presented President Nixon with an 248 00:15:35,860 --> 00:15:41,710 honorary hard hat and the hard hat 249 00:15:38,589 --> 00:15:44,740 became a symbol for the so called silent 250 00:15:41,710 --> 00:15:47,650 majority those who felt their way of 251 00:15:44,740 --> 00:15:49,720 life was now under siege by the early 252 00:15:47,649 --> 00:15:51,459 1970s it wasn't just a d Vietnam 253 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:54,278 protesters on the streets and on the 254 00:15:51,460 --> 00:15:57,910 news anymore about a dizzying array of 255 00:15:54,278 --> 00:16:00,278 other forces as well women Native 256 00:15:57,909 --> 00:16:02,409 Americans Chicanos Puerto Ricans Black 257 00:16:00,278 --> 00:16:06,639 Panthers gray Panthers the openly gay 258 00:16:02,409 --> 00:16:09,429 Pink Panthers all these groups forged in 259 00:16:06,639 --> 00:16:12,338 this era of so-called identity politics 260 00:16:09,429 --> 00:16:16,209 were all militantly demanding their 261 00:16:12,339 --> 00:16:18,940 rights the backlash against this 262 00:16:16,210 --> 00:16:25,089 politics of protest was just about ready 263 00:16:18,940 --> 00:16:28,510 to explode an event in September of 1971 264 00:16:25,089 --> 00:16:30,520 hastened the eruption when 1500 prison 265 00:16:28,509 --> 00:16:32,559 inmates rioted and demanded of air 266 00:16:30,519 --> 00:16:34,689 rights the nation's anger and 267 00:16:32,559 --> 00:16:36,909 frustration became focused on the Attica 268 00:16:34,690 --> 00:16:38,850 Correctional Facility in upstate New 269 00:16:36,909 --> 00:16:42,129 York 270 00:16:38,850 --> 00:16:44,800 the inmates captured 50 hostages took 271 00:16:42,129 --> 00:16:46,870 control of the prisons D yard and issued 272 00:16:44,799 --> 00:16:52,929 what they call five non-negotiable 273 00:16:46,870 --> 00:16:55,480 demands wait at home New York Times 274 00:16:52,929 --> 00:16:57,339 reporter Tom wicker was one of the 275 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:59,050 outside observers the inmates called on 276 00:16:57,340 --> 00:17:03,250 to help negotiate that non-negotiable 277 00:16:59,049 --> 00:17:05,519 the Attica inmates revolted basically 278 00:17:03,250 --> 00:17:09,250 against many internal prison conditions 279 00:17:05,519 --> 00:17:12,460 but the rhetoric of the revolt was very 280 00:17:09,250 --> 00:17:15,160 Marxist you know the oppressed peoples 281 00:17:12,460 --> 00:17:18,490 of the world arise the entire incident 282 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:20,800 that has erupted here at adequate is a 283 00:17:18,490 --> 00:17:22,779 result of an unmitigated oppression 284 00:17:20,799 --> 00:17:26,049 brought by the races administrative 285 00:17:22,779 --> 00:17:28,629 network of this prison as this tense 286 00:17:26,049 --> 00:17:30,549 real-life drama unfolded families of the 287 00:17:28,630 --> 00:17:32,230 hostages desperate for word on the 288 00:17:30,549 --> 00:17:36,119 condition of their husbands or fathers 289 00:17:32,230 --> 00:17:36,120 or brothers clustered around the prison 290 00:17:37,919 --> 00:17:43,059 they saw Black Panther leader Bobby 291 00:17:40,298 --> 00:17:44,950 Seale come to visit the inmates they 292 00:17:43,058 --> 00:17:48,339 heard that North Vietnam offered the 293 00:17:44,950 --> 00:17:50,830 rioters asylum Attica quickly became a 294 00:17:48,339 --> 00:17:56,349 symbol for all of America's boiling 295 00:17:50,829 --> 00:17:59,139 hatreds I went outside prison to report 296 00:17:56,349 --> 00:18:01,058 on what was happening inside an oven 297 00:17:59,140 --> 00:18:02,890 that can be these shouts from screen 298 00:18:01,058 --> 00:18:05,009 from the ground I hope they kill you all 299 00:18:02,890 --> 00:18:10,090 that sort of thing they identified us 300 00:18:05,009 --> 00:18:12,369 observers with it with the inmates the 301 00:18:10,089 --> 00:18:14,648 tensions mounted as neither side seemed 302 00:18:12,369 --> 00:18:16,538 willing to make concessions and the 303 00:18:14,648 --> 00:18:18,509 state ready to take the prison back by 304 00:18:16,538 --> 00:18:20,759 force 305 00:18:18,509 --> 00:18:22,980 on the morning of the revolts fourth day 306 00:18:20,759 --> 00:18:29,039 prison officials did not let the 307 00:18:22,980 --> 00:18:30,870 observers back into dr arm state 308 00:18:29,039 --> 00:18:33,139 troopers were perched on the prison 309 00:18:30,869 --> 00:18:33,139 walls 310 00:18:34,919 --> 00:18:41,100 and certainly those scared young 311 00:18:38,519 --> 00:18:47,419 troopers thought the inmates were gonna 312 00:18:41,099 --> 00:18:49,949 kill the hostage so they came in scared 313 00:18:47,419 --> 00:18:54,929 they came in shooting they came in 314 00:18:49,950 --> 00:18:57,200 taking no chances good night that their 315 00:18:54,929 --> 00:18:57,200 throat 316 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:10,340 the four-day standoff ended in nine 317 00:19:06,289 --> 00:19:12,889 minutes of mayhem helicopters dropped CS 318 00:19:10,339 --> 00:19:16,639 gas on D yard and state police marksmen 319 00:19:12,890 --> 00:19:19,030 opened fire killing 29 inmates and ten 320 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:19,030 hostages 321 00:19:25,910 --> 00:19:31,240 it's crazy didn't have to do that if the 322 00:19:28,190 --> 00:19:33,890 state of just SAT there just SAT there 323 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:35,930 for two more weeks maybe three at the 324 00:19:33,890 --> 00:19:38,020 outside where those guys have been given 325 00:19:35,930 --> 00:19:38,019 up 326 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:58,769 what is it now twenty-odd years later I 327 00:19:56,690 --> 00:20:03,500 can't get over that fitting that didn't 328 00:19:58,769 --> 00:20:03,500 have to do it but they did 329 00:20:03,548 --> 00:20:08,079 what happened at Attica was the largest 330 00:20:05,648 --> 00:20:10,479 and deadliest attack on Americans by 331 00:20:08,079 --> 00:20:13,868 other Americans since the Civil War and 332 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:15,788 in 1971 it often looked as though the 333 00:20:13,868 --> 00:20:18,359 country was in the middle of another 334 00:20:15,788 --> 00:20:18,359 Civil 335 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:51,610 I'm just like the love most of the guys 336 00:20:49,390 --> 00:20:54,759 I was saying Vietnam I'm just gonna do 337 00:20:51,609 --> 00:20:57,788 my time and get out of here if I can I'm 338 00:20:54,759 --> 00:21:01,839 not here to win a war I'm just here to 339 00:20:57,788 --> 00:21:04,778 do my time I rotate how sure that line 340 00:21:01,839 --> 00:21:06,720 how much time do I have that's the 341 00:21:04,778 --> 00:21:11,548 biggest concern of her 342 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:14,038 and can I make it the war was not gonna 343 00:21:11,548 --> 00:21:18,048 be one it was just gonna be exited in 344 00:21:14,038 --> 00:21:18,048 the best possible political manner 345 00:21:19,220 --> 00:21:23,750 and it was about dougie Dogg and 346 00:21:21,259 --> 00:21:30,319 surviving really a very brutal prison 347 00:21:23,750 --> 00:21:33,558 like existence of survival inside that 348 00:21:30,319 --> 00:21:36,079 really eats away that has a tremendous 349 00:21:33,558 --> 00:21:38,000 negative effect on your spirit and your 350 00:21:36,079 --> 00:21:40,609 your sense of Worth and your sense of 351 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:43,640 purpose and I was tired of all that 352 00:21:40,609 --> 00:21:46,839 weary of it too many deaths in too much 353 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:48,900 pain to what suffering 354 00:21:46,839 --> 00:21:48,899 you 355 00:21:55,730 --> 00:22:01,220 by 1970 American troops left in Vietnam 356 00:21:58,940 --> 00:22:08,539 felt the country was abandoning the war 357 00:22:01,220 --> 00:22:10,730 and then the number of American ground 358 00:22:08,539 --> 00:22:12,980 forces had been cut in half as part of 359 00:22:10,730 --> 00:22:16,730 President Nixon's pledge to win peace 360 00:22:12,980 --> 00:22:19,759 with honor as the pullout continued new 361 00:22:16,730 --> 00:22:21,289 recruits overwhelmingly draftees felt 362 00:22:19,759 --> 00:22:23,680 they were being asked to fight a war 363 00:22:21,289 --> 00:22:30,649 already lost on the battlefield and 364 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:32,900 despised at home the enemy had no doubt 365 00:22:30,650 --> 00:22:36,050 about its purpose it's only way out of 366 00:22:32,900 --> 00:22:38,570 the war was victory or death unlike 367 00:22:36,049 --> 00:22:40,549 American soldiers who came to Vietnam 368 00:22:38,569 --> 00:22:45,710 and they came only for one GM them 369 00:22:40,549 --> 00:22:49,309 around in Vietnam there was no drop 370 00:22:45,710 --> 00:22:52,579 period like a one or two years so you 371 00:22:49,309 --> 00:22:55,240 would go on to the end of the day to the 372 00:22:52,579 --> 00:22:55,240 end of the war 373 00:23:09,589 --> 00:23:12,490 you can do that 374 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:23,140 they were tough and it proved when the 375 00:23:20,529 --> 00:23:25,059 trails were bombed they would carry all 376 00:23:23,140 --> 00:23:27,600 of their gay Lonnie back then hump it 377 00:23:25,059 --> 00:23:30,730 for days they were fighting for home 378 00:23:27,599 --> 00:23:35,579 which is something I wasn't doing when 379 00:23:30,730 --> 00:23:35,579 you're fighting for home you get down 380 00:23:38,919 --> 00:23:43,210 as American ground forces were being cut 381 00:23:41,230 --> 00:23:45,940 back air attacks were being stepped up 382 00:23:43,210 --> 00:23:48,389 in an effort to pound concessions out of 383 00:23:45,940 --> 00:23:48,389 the enemy 384 00:23:49,099 --> 00:23:55,609 we had to rely on caves and tunnels and 385 00:23:52,609 --> 00:24:00,678 underground bunkers to defend us because 386 00:23:55,609 --> 00:24:04,189 the b-52 is a terrible I take if you see 387 00:24:00,679 --> 00:24:05,538 half of the long bomb like it then we 388 00:24:04,190 --> 00:24:09,230 know for sure that they would go to 389 00:24:05,538 --> 00:24:12,589 another place but when you look up and 390 00:24:09,230 --> 00:24:16,089 you see Rob on like this it means that 391 00:24:12,589 --> 00:24:16,089 it's right on you 392 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:25,080 but continuous rounds of bombing and 393 00:24:23,009 --> 00:24:27,359 hundreds of thousands of casualties did 394 00:24:25,079 --> 00:24:29,819 little to deter an adversary 395 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:32,279 continuously resupplied by China and the 396 00:24:29,819 --> 00:24:37,349 Soviet Union and able to recruit 397 00:24:32,279 --> 00:24:40,259 seemingly endless numbers of people that 398 00:24:37,349 --> 00:24:43,009 is truly a national mobilization in 399 00:24:40,259 --> 00:24:46,349 their own people men and women young 400 00:24:43,009 --> 00:24:51,180 children took part in the national 401 00:24:46,349 --> 00:24:54,809 effort of war we saw an escalation of 402 00:24:51,180 --> 00:24:59,299 the anti-war movement all over the world 403 00:24:54,809 --> 00:25:03,980 and even in America we heard about the 404 00:24:59,299 --> 00:25:06,629 killing of the student in can state and 405 00:25:03,980 --> 00:25:09,839 everything the news from the anti-war 406 00:25:06,630 --> 00:25:12,470 movement all over the world gave us 407 00:25:09,839 --> 00:25:12,470 strength 408 00:25:14,410 --> 00:25:22,009 Walt Kurtz tennessee for bryanstars in 409 00:25:19,730 --> 00:25:23,870 America by the early 70s protesters 410 00:25:22,009 --> 00:25:27,079 against the war included some of the men 411 00:25:23,869 --> 00:25:30,679 who had fought in it once eager soldiers 412 00:25:27,079 --> 00:25:32,539 who now felt lied to and betrayed I pray 413 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:35,060 the time will forgive me my breast what 414 00:25:32,539 --> 00:25:36,649 we did I wasn't Washington where they 415 00:25:35,059 --> 00:25:39,319 threw their medals I thought I'd try to 416 00:25:36,650 --> 00:25:42,230 do one better and I set my campaign 417 00:25:39,319 --> 00:25:44,419 ribbons to President Nixon i saw the 418 00:25:42,230 --> 00:25:46,940 wars is completely unwinnable which made 419 00:25:44,420 --> 00:25:50,210 it even worse even more criminal go on 420 00:25:46,940 --> 00:25:54,200 fighting a war that you know you can't 421 00:25:50,210 --> 00:25:57,350 and won't win struck me as his worse 422 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:59,029 than crema struck me is insanity as the 423 00:25:57,349 --> 00:26:00,949 war dragged on into the tenth year of 424 00:25:59,029 --> 00:26:05,299 american military involvement there was 425 00:26:00,950 --> 00:26:06,980 still no end in sight vietnam had 426 00:26:05,299 --> 00:26:08,149 already brought down one president and 427 00:26:06,980 --> 00:26:10,339 was now threatening to bring down 428 00:26:08,150 --> 00:26:13,160 another president nixon standing in the 429 00:26:10,339 --> 00:26:16,129 polls dropped severely as the promise of 430 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:17,600 peace with honor proved elusive peace 431 00:26:16,130 --> 00:26:20,750 talks in Paris with the North Vietnamese 432 00:26:17,599 --> 00:26:23,389 were stalled over the concept of mutual 433 00:26:20,750 --> 00:26:26,210 withdrawal and the release of American 434 00:26:23,390 --> 00:26:28,250 prisoners of war secret negotiations 435 00:26:26,210 --> 00:26:31,250 between National Security Advisor Henry 436 00:26:28,250 --> 00:26:35,950 Kissinger and Le Duc Tho were not making 437 00:26:31,250 --> 00:26:39,140 any progress but in February of 1972 438 00:26:35,950 --> 00:26:41,840 another set of secret negotiations did 439 00:26:39,140 --> 00:26:47,660 lead to one of the biggest diplomatic 440 00:26:41,839 --> 00:26:49,549 kuz of the 20th century in one stunning 441 00:26:47,660 --> 00:26:51,980 swoop the Cold War politics of the 442 00:26:49,549 --> 00:26:55,039 post-war era changed America was 443 00:26:51,980 --> 00:26:57,440 recognizing and dealing with the 444 00:26:55,039 --> 00:27:00,409 Communists Nixon was the great 445 00:26:57,440 --> 00:27:02,360 anti-communist and to come on national 446 00:27:00,410 --> 00:27:04,070 television and announce that I've been 447 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:08,179 invited to China and I've accepted with 448 00:27:04,069 --> 00:27:10,569 pleasure it was astonishing and you 449 00:27:08,180 --> 00:27:13,310 could tell by the reaction of the press 450 00:27:10,569 --> 00:27:15,079 White House aide Patrick Buchanan was on 451 00:27:13,309 --> 00:27:17,480 the trip the president called the week 452 00:27:15,079 --> 00:27:20,939 that changed the world 453 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:24,480 we have at times in the past than 454 00:27:20,940 --> 00:27:26,910 enemies we have great differences today 455 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:28,259 he went to Beijing frankly because he 456 00:27:26,910 --> 00:27:30,840 was trying to work the foreign policy 457 00:27:28,259 --> 00:27:35,339 game to get the United States out 458 00:27:30,839 --> 00:27:37,470 Vietnam with nixon's aim was to have the 459 00:27:35,339 --> 00:27:39,269 Chinese pressure their North Vietnamese 460 00:27:37,470 --> 00:27:43,170 allies to come to terms at the peace 461 00:27:39,269 --> 00:27:45,450 table and just four months after China 462 00:27:43,170 --> 00:27:47,730 richard nixon became the first American 463 00:27:45,450 --> 00:27:49,350 president to visit Moscow where he and 464 00:27:47,730 --> 00:27:51,589 landed Brezhnev signed the first 465 00:27:49,349 --> 00:27:55,589 strategic arms limitation treaty 466 00:27:51,589 --> 00:27:58,319 president got something else as well he 467 00:27:55,589 --> 00:27:59,759 wanted Mao and Joanne lion Beijing to 468 00:27:58,319 --> 00:28:02,490 have sleepless nights wondering what's 469 00:27:59,759 --> 00:28:05,670 Nixon talking to Brezhnev about over 470 00:28:02,490 --> 00:28:09,660 there in moscow tonight and he was a 471 00:28:05,670 --> 00:28:12,509 genius at this and putting those 472 00:28:09,660 --> 00:28:16,200 tensions on would had the effect of 473 00:28:12,509 --> 00:28:17,879 blocking soviet or chinese getting 474 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:19,880 together to present a united front 475 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:23,400 against the United States and Vietnam 476 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:26,580 Nixon had taken a calculated chance and 477 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:28,500 it had worked the Soviet Union cared 478 00:28:26,579 --> 00:28:30,599 more about getting controls on American 479 00:28:28,500 --> 00:28:32,460 offensive missiles and preventing the 480 00:28:30,599 --> 00:28:35,009 Americans from broadening and thickening 481 00:28:32,460 --> 00:28:36,870 an anti-ballistic missile system and 482 00:28:35,009 --> 00:28:39,359 they did about their little allies in 483 00:28:36,869 --> 00:28:41,849 North Vietnam who were getting the 484 00:28:39,359 --> 00:28:45,869 living hell bombed out of them and there 485 00:28:41,849 --> 00:28:48,149 was a sense of being betrayed sold up 486 00:28:45,869 --> 00:28:50,229 you know at that time by the by the 487 00:28:48,150 --> 00:28:52,269 superpowers 488 00:28:50,230 --> 00:28:53,890 no longer able to depend on their 489 00:28:52,269 --> 00:28:55,900 powerful allies the North Vietnamese 490 00:28:53,890 --> 00:28:59,559 appeared ready to make concessions at 491 00:28:55,900 --> 00:29:00,910 the peace talks in October of 1972 there 492 00:28:59,558 --> 00:29:05,230 was an announcement from the National 493 00:29:00,910 --> 00:29:08,650 Security Advisor we believe that peace 494 00:29:05,230 --> 00:29:10,750 is at hand a month later President Nixon 495 00:29:08,650 --> 00:29:14,610 now seen as a seasoned world statesman 496 00:29:10,750 --> 00:29:14,609 was reelected in a landslide 497 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:22,820 but by December peace was still not at 498 00:29:20,808 --> 00:29:25,460 hand the North Vietnamese had left the 499 00:29:22,819 --> 00:29:27,409 negotiations and President Nixon ordered 500 00:29:25,460 --> 00:29:31,009 the bombing of Hanoi and the port of 501 00:29:27,410 --> 00:29:34,000 Haiphong to force them back for 11 days 502 00:29:31,009 --> 00:29:37,808 American b-52 s pounded Hanoi with 503 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:37,808 40,000 tons of bombs 504 00:29:44,410 --> 00:29:52,690 a noi was in roubles the railroads 505 00:29:49,660 --> 00:29:54,460 bridges were all down they had selected 506 00:29:52,690 --> 00:29:57,160 targets obviously and the u.s. knew 507 00:29:54,460 --> 00:29:59,319 where we work and the only thing that 508 00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:01,810 happened in poww camp was a piece of 509 00:29:59,319 --> 00:30:03,429 plaster fell down and it hit one of the 510 00:30:01,809 --> 00:30:05,769 POWs in the head and cut his head that's 511 00:30:03,430 --> 00:30:08,380 the only the only injury throughout that 512 00:30:05,769 --> 00:30:10,450 whole bombing Bob Jones was in Hanoi 513 00:30:08,380 --> 00:30:12,190 during the Christmas bombings he was one 514 00:30:10,450 --> 00:30:14,860 of five hundred American prisoners of 515 00:30:12,190 --> 00:30:19,320 war held in a prison they called the 516 00:30:14,859 --> 00:30:22,089 Hanoi Hilton there was a loudspeaker 517 00:30:19,319 --> 00:30:27,669 every morning and every afternoon we had 518 00:30:22,089 --> 00:30:29,589 an English broadcast the prisoners of 519 00:30:27,670 --> 00:30:31,450 war whose release had become a crucial 520 00:30:29,589 --> 00:30:33,250 part of the peace negotiations were 521 00:30:31,450 --> 00:30:37,210 scolded about the bombings by their 522 00:30:33,250 --> 00:30:39,759 captors and Hanoi Hannah said how can 523 00:30:37,210 --> 00:30:42,850 the United States continue with their 524 00:30:39,759 --> 00:30:45,000 bellicose and obdurate policies bombing 525 00:30:42,849 --> 00:30:47,439 and strafing innocent women and children 526 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:49,869 churches hospitals how can they do all 527 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:51,910 that after they've placed a plaque on 528 00:30:49,869 --> 00:30:54,699 the moon saying we come in peace for all 529 00:30:51,910 --> 00:30:58,960 mankind and everyone said on the moon 530 00:30:54,700 --> 00:31:01,330 and that was the first we knew about our 531 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:04,049 moon landing and there were cheers all 532 00:31:01,329 --> 00:31:04,049 the way through the camp 533 00:31:04,579 --> 00:31:09,569 after that we'd point the guards that 534 00:31:08,009 --> 00:31:13,700 guards would come up when we'd go we 535 00:31:09,569 --> 00:31:13,700 point to the moon you know and say us us 536 00:31:14,079 --> 00:31:19,359 for some prisoners of war it was their 537 00:31:16,390 --> 00:31:22,110 seventh Christmas in captivity at the 538 00:31:19,359 --> 00:31:25,740 end of 1972 there was still no guarantee 539 00:31:22,109 --> 00:31:25,740 they never get home 540 00:31:45,180 --> 00:31:55,090 the end of America's longest war was met 541 00:31:48,880 --> 00:32:00,340 with no celebration in Times Square no 542 00:31:55,089 --> 00:32:02,379 honking of horns on Main Street USA the 543 00:32:00,339 --> 00:32:06,609 day the peace agreement in Vietnam was 544 00:32:02,380 --> 00:32:08,830 signed went by like any other people 545 00:32:06,609 --> 00:32:10,689 were prospering economy was booming and 546 00:32:08,829 --> 00:32:12,669 most of people didn't give a damn about 547 00:32:10,690 --> 00:32:14,890 Vietnam whatever they say now they 548 00:32:12,670 --> 00:32:16,870 really didn't I was very despairing 549 00:32:14,890 --> 00:32:19,870 they're very rough years coming back 550 00:32:16,869 --> 00:32:23,559 from their war from most vets I didn't 551 00:32:19,869 --> 00:32:25,929 feel like I fit or something I wouldn't 552 00:32:23,559 --> 00:32:30,639 same person mr. soon and I feel like a 553 00:32:25,930 --> 00:32:32,650 civilian it's hard to explain I was very 554 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:35,370 uncomfortable coming home very 555 00:32:32,650 --> 00:32:35,370 uncomfortable 556 00:32:36,019 --> 00:32:40,940 I'm on a civilian plane i'm flying from 557 00:32:38,539 --> 00:32:42,859 Los Angeles to newark non-stop and 558 00:32:40,940 --> 00:32:45,890 gentlemen sat down he was in a 559 00:32:42,859 --> 00:32:47,389 three-piece suit he had a briefcase and 560 00:32:45,890 --> 00:32:48,920 he kind of flipped down his tray and he 561 00:32:47,390 --> 00:32:51,680 was going through his briefcase and we 562 00:32:48,920 --> 00:32:53,840 made small talk before we took off you 563 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:56,060 know rain I go up and see that were you 564 00:32:53,839 --> 00:32:58,819 coming from untold Vietnam and as soon 565 00:32:56,059 --> 00:33:00,500 as the sign came on then you were free 566 00:32:58,819 --> 00:33:03,169 to move around the cabin he pushed the 567 00:33:00,500 --> 00:33:05,539 button for the stewardess she came and 568 00:33:03,170 --> 00:33:07,400 he looked up at her and she said can I 569 00:33:05,539 --> 00:33:09,769 help you and he said yes I need another 570 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:13,450 seat on this airplane as far away from 571 00:33:09,769 --> 00:33:13,450 this gentleman as I can get 572 00:33:13,980 --> 00:33:18,298 returning vets often felt they 573 00:33:16,019 --> 00:33:21,058 represented a war that Americans wanted 574 00:33:18,298 --> 00:33:22,889 to forget but if there was one moment 575 00:33:21,058 --> 00:33:28,079 that felt like a victory it was the 576 00:33:22,890 --> 00:33:31,290 return of the American POWs so we 577 00:33:28,079 --> 00:33:33,720 thought well you know maybe you get your 578 00:33:31,289 --> 00:33:37,168 name in the paper but nothing like that 579 00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:39,140 it was people everywhere we went that 580 00:33:37,169 --> 00:33:43,460 didn't know us we didn't know them 581 00:33:39,140 --> 00:33:48,620 outpourings of motion and feelings tears 582 00:33:43,460 --> 00:33:48,620 it was just overwhelming really was 583 00:33:56,920 --> 00:34:01,850 President Nixon invited us to the white 584 00:33:59,779 --> 00:34:06,440 house for a party at dinner and 585 00:34:01,849 --> 00:34:12,199 everything though many believe we never 586 00:34:06,440 --> 00:34:13,878 could win I choice his word grim but you 587 00:34:12,199 --> 00:34:15,888 had faith in there was a lot of 588 00:34:13,878 --> 00:34:18,559 celebrities and I remembered John Wayne 589 00:34:15,889 --> 00:34:20,570 was there so we're walking around 590 00:34:18,559 --> 00:34:24,289 talking with with the Duke you know was 591 00:34:20,570 --> 00:34:26,120 pretty pretty cool the bet we have now 592 00:34:24,289 --> 00:34:28,329 right off into the sunset with you 593 00:34:26,119 --> 00:34:28,329 anytime 594 00:34:34,739 --> 00:34:38,719 I was it was a grand time is fun 595 00:35:03,190 --> 00:35:10,250 it was the next pleasant EMP hit ended 596 00:35:06,409 --> 00:35:12,348 the war with honor the POWs were were 597 00:35:10,250 --> 00:35:14,420 there at the White House and mixer was 598 00:35:12,349 --> 00:35:17,950 at seventy percent is really the apex I 599 00:35:14,420 --> 00:35:17,950 think of the Nixon administration 600 00:35:20,338 --> 00:35:26,349 and then a month of course the Watergate 601 00:35:22,679 --> 00:35:28,690 thing ruptured and broke 602 00:35:26,349 --> 00:35:30,609 the crisis in Vietnam would soon be 603 00:35:28,690 --> 00:35:32,950 replaced by a new crisis at home a 604 00:35:30,608 --> 00:35:34,598 growing scandal stemming from a break-in 605 00:35:32,949 --> 00:35:37,358 of the Democratic National Committee 606 00:35:34,599 --> 00:35:43,059 headquarters in the office complex known 607 00:35:37,358 --> 00:35:45,038 as Watergate hearings on Watergate drag 608 00:35:43,059 --> 00:35:47,079 one White House aide after another in 609 00:35:45,039 --> 00:35:49,989 front of Congress to answer questions 610 00:35:47,079 --> 00:35:53,229 about systematic wrongdoing in the 611 00:35:49,989 --> 00:35:55,380 highest office in the land Watergate was 612 00:35:53,228 --> 00:35:58,868 certainly a fascinating spectacle 613 00:35:55,380 --> 00:36:00,579 suddenly all the bad things the left had 614 00:35:58,869 --> 00:36:02,798 been saying throughout the Vietnam 615 00:36:00,579 --> 00:36:05,170 protest seemed to be proven true in 616 00:36:02,798 --> 00:36:07,268 spades just about a field will you stand 617 00:36:05,170 --> 00:36:10,358 the televisor he's drew in an enormous 618 00:36:07,268 --> 00:36:12,038 audience you swam the ambulance that you 619 00:36:10,358 --> 00:36:13,358 should give this was the first time the 620 00:36:12,039 --> 00:36:15,089 American people had ever heard that the 621 00:36:13,358 --> 00:36:17,528 president I today's did things like that 622 00:36:15,088 --> 00:36:20,768 but I guarantee he knew what the private 623 00:36:17,528 --> 00:36:23,498 saucers had done it didn't all start 624 00:36:20,768 --> 00:36:25,808 with Watergate it was ample precedent 625 00:36:23,498 --> 00:36:28,659 for everything that Nixon did next thing 626 00:36:25,809 --> 00:36:30,999 I caught there was one outrageous charge 627 00:36:28,659 --> 00:36:33,489 after another break-ins spying on 628 00:36:30,998 --> 00:36:35,649 anti-war activists punishing political 629 00:36:33,489 --> 00:36:37,420 enemies and all of the millions of words 630 00:36:35,650 --> 00:36:39,039 of testimony there is not the slightest 631 00:36:37,420 --> 00:36:41,309 suggestion that I had any knowledge of 632 00:36:39,039 --> 00:36:42,969 the planning for the Watergate break-in 633 00:36:41,309 --> 00:36:44,559 congressional committees and their 634 00:36:42,969 --> 00:36:47,200 battery of lawyers were bringing the 635 00:36:44,559 --> 00:36:48,969 charges closer to the Oval Office one of 636 00:36:47,199 --> 00:36:51,848 the president's lawyers at the time was 637 00:36:48,969 --> 00:36:55,088 Leonard garment business the show of the 638 00:36:51,849 --> 00:36:58,229 week month year decade for young lawyers 639 00:36:55,088 --> 00:37:01,318 hello young lawyers wherever you are and 640 00:36:58,228 --> 00:37:04,478 they were drawn by the excitement of the 641 00:37:01,318 --> 00:37:08,460 the pursuit of this the great white 642 00:37:04,478 --> 00:37:08,460 whale all these a Habs 643 00:37:08,568 --> 00:37:13,710 there was a constant pursuit by Congress 644 00:37:11,579 --> 00:37:16,950 and the press it sometimes seemed the 645 00:37:13,710 --> 00:37:18,630 administration was coming unpinned it 646 00:37:16,949 --> 00:37:20,578 looked that way in New Orleans when 647 00:37:18,630 --> 00:37:22,470 President Nixon shoved press secretary 648 00:37:20,579 --> 00:37:25,530 Ron Ziegler toward a horde of reporters 649 00:37:22,469 --> 00:37:27,629 and Nixon was trying every which way how 650 00:37:25,530 --> 00:37:29,548 can he save his presidency how could he 651 00:37:27,630 --> 00:37:31,710 pin it on somebody else how could he 652 00:37:29,548 --> 00:37:34,440 rationalize what happened the Nixon 653 00:37:31,710 --> 00:37:35,880 White House was in least from the 654 00:37:34,440 --> 00:37:37,858 external and even from the journalist 655 00:37:35,880 --> 00:37:39,539 pond views in real shambles they were 656 00:37:37,858 --> 00:37:41,989 paralyzed I mean that it could do 657 00:37:39,539 --> 00:37:44,220 nothing but defend against Watergate and 658 00:37:41,989 --> 00:37:46,169 in the middle of all that the country 659 00:37:44,219 --> 00:37:49,529 was subjected to further signs of 660 00:37:46,170 --> 00:37:53,940 collapse I will not resign if indicted I 661 00:37:49,530 --> 00:37:56,400 will not resign if any in October of 662 00:37:53,940 --> 00:37:58,440 1973 vice president Agnew the 663 00:37:56,400 --> 00:38:01,349 administration's top spokesman for law 664 00:37:58,440 --> 00:38:04,139 and order did resign after he was 665 00:38:01,349 --> 00:38:06,510 charged with extortion bribery and tax 666 00:38:04,139 --> 00:38:08,429 evasion in a separate scandal all his 667 00:38:06,510 --> 00:38:11,430 own ladies and gentlemen the President 668 00:38:08,429 --> 00:38:13,019 of the United States but even as his 669 00:38:11,429 --> 00:38:14,759 allies were falling around him the 670 00:38:13,019 --> 00:38:17,000 president was determined to finish his 671 00:38:14,760 --> 00:38:17,000 watch 672 00:38:19,809 --> 00:38:24,759 I welcome this kind of examination 673 00:38:22,239 --> 00:38:27,189 because people have got to know whether 674 00:38:24,760 --> 00:38:29,980 or not their presidents a crook well I'm 675 00:38:27,190 --> 00:38:32,079 not a crook I've earned everything I've 676 00:38:29,980 --> 00:38:34,269 got imagine a predator in the United 677 00:38:32,079 --> 00:38:36,369 States in a news conference on to 678 00:38:34,269 --> 00:38:39,099 national television safe I am NOT a 679 00:38:36,369 --> 00:38:40,960 crook you know you never even before he 680 00:38:39,099 --> 00:38:44,049 had ever conceived that a president 681 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:46,300 might be a crook it just all began to 682 00:38:44,050 --> 00:38:49,330 mount up and ultimately it was a 683 00:38:46,300 --> 00:38:52,120 collapsing good evening this is the 37th 684 00:38:49,329 --> 00:38:55,329 time I have spoken to you from this 685 00:38:52,119 --> 00:38:57,909 office where so many decision it was all 686 00:38:55,329 --> 00:39:02,920 to me overwhelming even for the toughest 687 00:38:57,909 --> 00:39:05,079 of battle-scarred politicians i shall 688 00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:09,820 resign the presidency effective at noon 689 00:39:05,079 --> 00:39:15,099 tomorrow he could never take the 690 00:39:09,820 --> 00:39:19,630 presidency quite as seriously again it 691 00:39:15,099 --> 00:39:23,019 may be was purgative it kind of ended 692 00:39:19,630 --> 00:39:26,760 ended that particular unhappy decade to 693 00:39:23,019 --> 00:39:29,829 have Nixon resign and they'd rather 694 00:39:26,760 --> 00:39:32,460 blank but the nine figure of Jerry Ford 695 00:39:29,829 --> 00:39:32,460 take over 696 00:39:39,039 --> 00:39:46,900 his resignation was a relief 697 00:39:44,048 --> 00:39:50,369 yeah casting off of an old snakeskin 698 00:39:46,900 --> 00:39:50,369 moving forward 699 00:40:07,510 --> 00:40:11,410 in april of nineteen seventy five two 700 00:40:09,699 --> 00:40:14,679 years after an American combat troops 701 00:40:11,409 --> 00:40:17,199 and left Vietnam North Vietnamese forces 702 00:40:14,679 --> 00:40:21,099 reach the outskirts of Saigon the South 703 00:40:17,199 --> 00:40:23,019 Vietnamese capital an ally the United 704 00:40:21,099 --> 00:40:25,630 States had supported with men and 705 00:40:23,019 --> 00:40:28,150 material for nearly two decades was 706 00:40:25,630 --> 00:40:30,510 about to fall to the Communists it's 707 00:40:28,150 --> 00:40:34,590 almost like we were never there now and 708 00:40:30,510 --> 00:40:34,590 that's the tragedy of it I think 709 00:40:36,210 --> 00:40:40,230 on April the 29th there were still more 710 00:40:38,519 --> 00:40:43,679 than a thousand American personnel of 711 00:40:40,230 --> 00:40:46,650 the city they and 6,000 desperate South 712 00:40:43,679 --> 00:40:48,929 Vietnamese were helicoptered out as the 713 00:40:46,650 --> 00:40:51,588 last remnants of American power fled 714 00:40:48,929 --> 00:40:51,588 Saigon 715 00:40:54,010 --> 00:40:59,860 Metron Phil Caputo had returned to 716 00:40:56,530 --> 00:41:03,810 Vietnam as a reporter North Vietnamese 717 00:40:59,860 --> 00:41:03,809 were shelling town sanu near base 718 00:41:04,400 --> 00:41:08,568 I remember some of those shells landing 719 00:41:07,010 --> 00:41:11,240 closed about the building was just 720 00:41:08,568 --> 00:41:14,210 trembling and somebody said go go go and 721 00:41:11,239 --> 00:41:18,909 I remember running out and just leaping 722 00:41:14,210 --> 00:41:18,909 in this big ch-53 helicopter huge 723 00:41:25,318 --> 00:41:31,199 must have been 60 70 maybe 80 Vietnamese 724 00:41:28,528 --> 00:41:34,498 refugees and a few American news men 725 00:41:31,199 --> 00:41:38,809 handful of people from the embassy and 726 00:41:34,498 --> 00:41:38,808 in the helicopter check off 727 00:41:40,260 --> 00:41:44,730 remember just looking down and just 728 00:41:41,969 --> 00:41:48,899 seeing this this brown and green country 729 00:41:44,730 --> 00:41:51,539 and then we cross the coast the site 730 00:41:48,900 --> 00:41:53,010 i'll never forget the 7th fleet can 731 00:41:51,539 --> 00:41:56,130 muster it out there then we're gonna 732 00:41:53,010 --> 00:42:02,130 take refugees out eyes looked at all of 733 00:41:56,130 --> 00:42:07,730 this might and i said we got whipped by 734 00:42:02,130 --> 00:42:07,730 a bunch of peasant gorillas in the earth 735 00:42:08,150 --> 00:42:16,559 on the next day victorious North 736 00:42:11,250 --> 00:42:18,619 Vietnamese troops rolled into Saigon ten 737 00:42:16,559 --> 00:42:21,059 o'clock in the morning the radio 738 00:42:18,619 --> 00:42:25,650 announced that you know the South 739 00:42:21,059 --> 00:42:30,759 Vietnamese at surrender and and that was 740 00:42:25,650 --> 00:42:35,989 it you know we hop one another and cried 741 00:42:30,759 --> 00:42:39,969 for me it's a long many long years and 742 00:42:35,989 --> 00:42:39,969 now we see the final day 743 00:42:41,900 --> 00:42:47,780 I felt in a whole range range of 744 00:42:44,300 --> 00:42:50,840 emotions I mean I felt sad I felt 745 00:42:47,780 --> 00:42:53,900 grateful I felt relieved that it was 746 00:42:50,840 --> 00:42:55,550 over maybe they were the one emotion I 747 00:42:53,900 --> 00:43:04,579 didn't feel was any sense of happiness 748 00:42:55,550 --> 00:43:06,710 or or joy I felt a sense of loss like it 749 00:43:04,579 --> 00:43:09,289 stays with you forever be and I will be 750 00:43:06,710 --> 00:43:10,579 there until the day I joined the so I 751 00:43:09,289 --> 00:43:15,230 joined the friends of mine who died 752 00:43:10,579 --> 00:43:17,259 before me I think they won't ever go 753 00:43:15,230 --> 00:43:17,260 away 754 00:43:20,469 --> 00:43:25,899 for America the fall of Vietnam would 755 00:43:22,929 --> 00:43:30,929 symbolize the end of an era the post-war 756 00:43:25,900 --> 00:43:30,930 era of confidence unity and optimism 757 00:43:32,039 --> 00:43:37,750 America had found that there were some 758 00:43:34,659 --> 00:43:41,879 burdens too great to bear and some 759 00:43:37,750 --> 00:43:41,880 prices too steep to pay 760 00:43:51,239 --> 00:43:55,989 the fall of Vietnam was the nadir of a 761 00:43:54,070 --> 00:44:00,010 humiliating episode in American history 762 00:43:55,989 --> 00:44:02,139 the desire to begin again to recover 763 00:44:00,010 --> 00:44:03,730 some sense of national purpose would 764 00:44:02,139 --> 00:44:07,059 drive American life through the 765 00:44:03,730 --> 00:44:08,559 remaining years of the 1970s that's on 766 00:44:07,059 --> 00:44:10,989 the next episode of the century 767 00:44:08,559 --> 00:44:14,400 America's time and we hope you'll join 768 00:44:10,989 --> 00:44:14,399 us I'm Peter Jennings