American Experience: The Presidents

Watch American Experience: The Presidents

  • 1994
  • 1 Season

American Experience: The Presidents is a documentary television series that premiered on PBS in 2013. The show explores the lives and legacies of the 44 presidents of the United States, from George Washington to Barack Obama. The series is produced by a team of award-winning filmmakers, historians, and journalists, and features expert commentary from leading presidential scholars and biographers.

Each episode of American Experience: The Presidents focuses on one president, providing an in-depth portrait of his life, presidency, and impact on American history. The series combines archival footage, photographs, and expert analysis to provide a comprehensive and engaging look at these iconic figures. Viewers will learn about the struggles, triumphs, and controversies that defined each president's tenure in office, as well as the personal stories and relationships that shaped their lives.

American Experience: The Presidents covers a wide range of topics, from foreign policy and economic issues to social and cultural developments. The series also delves into the personal lives of the presidents, exploring their relationships with their families, their struggles with illness and personal challenges, and their impact on popular culture. Viewers will gain a new understanding of these figures who have shaped the country's history, and will be inspired to delve deeper into the complexities of American politics.

Throughout the series, viewers will encounter a diverse cast of presidents, each with his unique style and approach to leadership. They will learn about the foundational figures of American politics, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln, as well as lesser-known presidents who nonetheless made important contributions to the country's history. The series also covers modern presidents, including the controversial figures of Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, and ends with an in-depth look at Barack Obama's historic presidency.

American Experience: The Presidents is a fascinating and engaging look at the men who have held the highest office in the land. The series provides a nuanced and complex view of these figures, exploring both their successes and their failures, and encouraging viewers to think critically about the role of the president in American society. Whether you are a presidential scholar, a history buff, or simply interested in the fascinating lives of these powerful figures, American Experience: The Presidents is a must-watch series that offers an unparalleled look at the men who have shaped the course of American history.

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Seasons
Reagan, Part 4
17. Reagan, Part 4
February 24, 1998
Solidarity thrived in Poland; Soviets faced military pressure in Afghanistan, but Congress cut funding for Nicaragua. In 1986 Reagan met Mikhail Gorbachev, but missile reduction talks failed over SDI research. The Iran-Contra scandal broke. Gorbachev signed a missile reduction treaty. Reagan visited Moscow in 1988, but his dream of ending the Soviet Union came after retirement in 1989. Soon after, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This is the fourth of four parts.
Reagan, Part 3
16. Reagan, Part 3
February 24, 1998
Solidarity thrived in Poland; Soviets faced military pressure in Afghanistan, but Congress cut funding for Nicaragua. In 1986 Reagan met Mikhail Gorbachev, but missile reduction talks failed over SDI research. The Iran-Contra scandal broke. Gorbachev signed a missile reduction treaty. Reagan visited Moscow in 1988, but his dream of ending the Soviet Union came after retirement in 1989. Soon after, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This is the third of four parts.
Reagan, Part 2
15. Reagan, Part 2
February 23, 1998
Solidarity thrived in Poland; Soviets faced military pressure in Afghanistan, but Congress cut funding for Nicaragua. In 1986 Reagan met Mikhail Gorbachev, but missile reduction talks failed over SDI research. The Iran-Contra scandal broke. Gorbachev signed a missile reduction treaty. Reagan visited Moscow in 1988, but his dream of ending the Soviet Union came after retirement in 1989. Soon after, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This is the second of four parts.
Reagan, Part 1
14. Reagan, Part 1
February 23, 1998
Solidarity thrived in Poland; Soviets faced military pressure in Afghanistan, but Congress cut funding for Nicaragua. In 1986 Reagan met Mikhail Gorbachev, but missile reduction talks failed over SDI research. The Iran-Contra scandal broke. Gorbachev signed a missile reduction treaty. Reagan visited Moscow in 1988, but his dream of ending the Soviet Union came after retirement in 1989. Soon after, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This is the first of four parts.
Carter, Part 2
13. Carter, Part 2
November 12, 2002
Jimmy Carter ran for president on a wave of post-Watergate disaffection with Washington politics. But inexperience, inflation, recession, and the Iran hostage crisis, derailed his presidency dramatically. His crowning achievement, the Camp David Accords, created a framework for Middle East peace, inspiring his life since. The film traces his ascent from Plains, Georgia, to the Oval Office and explores the role of religion in his career. This is the second of two parts.
Carter, Part 1
12. Carter, Part 1
November 11, 2002
Jimmy Carter ran for president on a wave of post-Watergate disaffection with Washington politics. But inexperience, inflation, recession, and the Iran hostage crisis, derailed his presidency dramatically. His crowning achievement, the Camp David Accords, created a framework for Middle East peace, inspiring his life since. The film traces his ascent from Plains, Georgia, to the Oval Office and explores the role of religion in his career. This is the first of two parts.
Nixon, Part 3
11. Nixon, Part 3
October 22, 1990
Richard M. Nixon was one of American history's most powerful figures. Recalling events etched in U.S. memory, this three-hour program explores a fateful mix of strength and weakness that made him president, and then brought him down. Events revealing Nixon's distinctive signature in American politics, from a meteoric rise to Congress to the presidency and the morass of Watergate, unfold in three parts: The Quest, Triumph, and The Fall. This is the third of three parts.
Nixon, Part 2
10. Nixon, Part 2
October 15, 1990
Richard M. Nixon was one of American history's most powerful figures. Recalling events etched in U.S. memory, this three-hour program explores a fateful mix of strength and weakness that made him president, and then brought him down. Events revealing Nixon's distinctive signature in American politics, from a meteoric rise to Congress to the presidency and the morass of Watergate, unfold in three parts: The Quest, Triumph, and The Fall. This is the second of three parts.
Nixon, Part 1
9. Nixon, Part 1
October 10, 1990
Richard M. Nixon was one of American history's most powerful figures. Recalling events etched in U.S. memory, this three-hour program explores a fateful mix of strength and weakness that made him president, and then brought him down. Events revealing Nixon's distinctive signature in American politics, from a meteoric rise to Congress to the presidency and the morass of Watergate, unfold in three parts: The Quest, Triumph, and The Fall. This is the first of three parts.
LBJ, Part 2
8. LBJ, Part 2
October 1, 1991
Award winning filmmaker David Grubin profiles one of the most controversial U.S. presidents, Lyndon Baines Johnson, who rose from obscurity to the pinnacle of power, only to suffer disillusionment and defeat. Witness the events that brought LBJ from Texas to Washington, the White House, and a landslide election in 1964. Follow his triumphs in passing a wave of social legislation then his downward spiral which ends in withdrawal from politics. This is the second of two parts.
LBJ, Part 1
7. LBJ, Part 1
September 30, 1991
Award winning filmmaker David Grubin profiles one of the most controversial U.S. presidents, Lyndon Baines Johnson, who rose from obscurity to the pinnacle of power, only to suffer disillusionment and defeat. Witness the events that brought LBJ from Texas to Washington, the White House, and a landslide election in 1964. Follow his triumphs in passing a wave of social legislation then his downward spiral which ends in withdrawal from politics. This is the first of two parts.
Truman, Part 2
6. Truman, Part 2
October 6, 1997
He was a farmer, a businessman, an unknown politician who suddenly found himself president. Of all the men who had held the highest office, Harry Truman was the least prepared, but would prove to be a surprise. Acclaimed filmmaker David Grubin recounts his struggles and success as an army captain and marriage to his lifelong sweetheart, Bess. When he landed the vice presidency in 1944 he had no idea that his world was about to change forever. This is the second of two parts.
Truman, Part 1
5. Truman, Part 1
October 5, 1997
He was a farmer, a businessman, an unknown politician who suddenly found himself president. Of all the men who had held the highest office, Harry Truman was the least prepared, but would prove to be a surprise. Acclaimed filmmaker David Grubin recounts his struggles and success as an army captain and marriage to his lifelong sweetheart, Bess. When he landed the vice presidency in 1944 he had no idea that his world was about to change forever. This is the first of two parts.
FDR, Part 4
4. FDR, Part 4
October 13, 1994
Polio at age 39, president at age 50. Explore the public and private life of a determined man who steered this country through two monumental crises: the Depression and World War II. FDR served as president longer than any other, and his legacy still shapes our understanding of the role of government and the presidency. A film by award winning filmmaker David Grubin. This is the fourth of four parts.
FDR, Part 3
3. FDR, Part 3
October 13, 1994
Polio at age 39, president at age 50. Explore the public and private life of a determined man who steered this country through two monumental crises: the Depression and World War II. FDR served as president longer than any other, and his legacy still shapes our understanding of the role of government and the presidency. A film by award winning filmmaker David Grubin. This is the third of four parts.
FDR, Part 2
2. FDR, Part 2
October 12, 1994
Polio at age 39, president at age 50. Explore the public and private life of a determined man who steered this country through two monumental crises: the Depression and World War II. FDR served as president longer than any other, and his legacy still shapes our understanding of the role of government and the presidency. A film by award winning filmmaker David Grubin. This is the second of four parts.
FDR, Part 1
1. FDR, Part 1
October 12, 1994
Polio at age 39, president at age 50. Explore the public and private life of a determined man who steered this country through two monumental crises: the Depression and World War II. FDR served as president longer than any other, and his legacy still shapes our understanding of the role of government and the presidency. A film by award winning filmmaker David Grubin. This is the first of four parts.
Description
  • Premiere Date
    October 12, 1994