America's Presidents (ca 1950s)

[Music] and Shrine forever in The Archives of America's history will be those great men who have guided our country to her Destiny as leader of the world's free Nations here then are our presidents George Washington first in war first in peace his grateful Countryman called to be their first President John Adams first president to live in the White House Thomas Jefferson author of the Declaration of [Music] Independence James Madison Jefferson secretary of state twice elected to the presidency James Monroe fifth president he formulated the Monroe Doctrine John Quincy Adams scholar Statesman son of President John Adams Andrew Jackson colorful Old Hickory the people's President Martin Van Beren first president born an American citizen William Henry Harrison the Gallant old Indian fighter who died a month after his inauguration John Tyler first vice president to succeed to the presidency James K poke his admin Administration saw Texas admitted to the union Zachary Taylor old Rough and Ready found the slavery issue splitting the nation Millard Filmore affected a temporary Solution by signing the Compromise of 1850 Franklin Pierce 14th president of the 31 United States James Buchanan despite his efforts the country drifted toward Civil War Abraham Lincoln he preserved the ion and his Immortal words are still reverently read at the Lincoln Memorial with malice toward none with charity for all let us bind up the nation's wounds a gentle father a forgiving Victor a humble leader Andrew Johnson to him fell the momentous problems of reconstru ction ulyses S Grant a brilliant General for8 years he led America at peace bruford B Hayes 19th president of a Nation now grown to 39 States James Garfield victim of an Assassin's bullet four months after taking office Chester Arthur a champion of civil service reform in government Grover Cleveland only president to serve two non-consecutive terms in the White House Benjamin Harrison grandson of the ninth President William Henry Harrison William McKinley 24th president was assassinated while visiting the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo in 191 and now for the first time a new invention the motion picture camera records the inauguration of a president M Kinley rides to the capital on a blustery March day a year later he was to guide America in the war with Spain Theodore Roosevelt returned from the Spanish American war a national Idol and when McKinley was assassinated he became our youngest president these were busy exciting years for America now becoming a world power the Panama Canal was started Pure Food legislation passed conservation furthered the dynamic old Rough Rider steered the ship of state with a Resolute forceful hand long after his seven years as president were over he remained in the public Spotlight a respected and beloved [Music] figure William Howard Taft a portly jovial personality with an infectious chuckle was the successor Theodore Roosevelt picked to carry on the policy started by him Taft was the only president to later serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court but while America continued to prosper during his administration War clouds were blowing across the face of Europe woodro Wilson became president in 1913 War erupted in Europe a year later America entered in 1917 when the war was won Wilson sailed for France to receive there a heartfelt welcome at the peace conference he worked tirelessly to well the Covenant of the League of Nations into the Versailles treaty the president returned to America and knew a claim from his own people still more honors were heaped upon him for his labors for peace he was awarded the Nobel Prize but his Endeavors had taken a severe toll although in health the president continued to toil with his remaining energies for lasting World Peace Warren G Harding embarked the country on the job of returning to a peacetime footing his easygoing cordiality was exemplified by his campaign conducted mainly from the front porch of his home in Marian Ohio in 1923 the nation mourned his [Music] passing Calvin kulie a man of simple manners and few words conscientious and scrupulously honest succeeded to the presidency the first family shun the spotlight with the shrewd conservatism instilled by his New England parent kulage carefully guided the United States with his wife by his side through an era of prosperity and rare Good [Music] Feeling Herbert Hoover had won wide respect for his relief work in Europe after World War I his were an eventful four years in the white house there was a worldwide depression Japan sent troops into Manchuria Adolf Hitler began his rise to power in Germany the seeds were being sown for World War two Franklin Delano Roosevelt energetic Progressive e been Wilson's assistant Secretary of Navy and vice presidential candidate before infantile paralysis threatened His Brilliant career but he overcame the crippling illness was elected governor of New York nominated for the presidency and elected [Music] overwhelmingly America was fighting for her life in World War II when Rosevelt Ed for an unprecedented third term visited American troops in North Africa the pendulum of Victory already was swinging to the Allies but the president was not to see Germany and Japan surrender 3 months after beginning a fourth term death claimed America's commanderin-chief har S Truman took the presidential oath in the Greenwall cabinet room of the White House from Chief Justice harand F Stone of the Supreme Court reverently he asked friends give me your prayers Truman's career was the realization of the Great American Dream the country boy who became president his friendly manner made Americans feel he was plain folks Dwight D Eisenhower sincere and vigorous a man in any cloth Soldier educator or Statesman architect of Victory in Europe in World War II he swept the forces of Hitler to Total defeat he returned home and his own people took him to their hearts in New York he waved happily as a storm of confetti and ticker tape swirled down around him he was a man of the hour a leader in civilian life as president of Colombia Ike championed the cause of Freedom then NATO called him and in one short year he made allies out of old enemies and helped unify Western Europe om again General Eisenhower engaged in the biggest battle of his career the battle for the White House and won an emphatic Victory Dwight David Eisenhower 33rd president another chapter may it be a bright one in the Glorious and continuing story of America's president [Music]