Actors Holly Hunter and Liam Neeson read the words of Mary and Abraham Lincoln.

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Author and presidential historian William Seale discusses life in the Lincoln White House – and how the Lincoln family’s  presence there during wartime reinforced the idea of the White House as the President’s official residence. From the Lincoln Forum Symposium in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

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On The Civil War, author and history professor Stephen Berry discusses the relationships of President Abraham Lincoln and the Todd Family – the brothers and sisters of first lady Mary Todd Lincoln.  He spoke at November’s Lincoln Forum Symposium in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

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Travel back to April 15, 1865—and the manhunt for Abraham Lincoln’s assassin. We visit the Center for Education and Leadership which opened this month across from Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC. It was there that John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln as he enjoyed the play “Our American Cousin.” We see the 35-foot tower of Lincoln books symbolizing one of the most documented lives in human history, and walk through exhibits that contemplate Lincoln’s life, death and legacy.

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History professor Victoria Ott talks about the views of young, upper-class women of the South toward the North and President Abraham Lincoln. She spoke at the Lincoln Forum Symposium in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

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June 10th marks the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s commencement address at American University, when he called for high-level negotiations with the Soviet Union, a nuclear test ban treaty and an end to the Cold War.  This is a conversation with two veteran journalists, Tom Brokaw and Nick Clooney, on the Kennedy presidency and the significance of his “Peace Speech.”  This program is hosted by American University’s School of Communication and the Newseum, which is featuring two new exhibits on the Kennedy presidency – “Three Shots Were Fired” and "Creating Camelot".

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Presidential historian Richard Norton Smith moderates a panel on the influence of first ladies within the White House and on their fellow Americans. From Martha Washington to Michelle Obama, panelists explore how these women have defined their position and they look at the evolving public perception of their role. This discussion was part of a conference held at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was the fourth in a series of gatherings dedicated to the legacies of America’s first ladies. 

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Two of Betty Ford's four children -- Susan Ford Bales and Steve Ford -- remember her as a wife, mother and first lady. They offer a family perspective on their parents' marriage and their own upbringing as well as the difficulties of their mother's alcohol and prescription drug addictions -- and their pride in how she overcame those addictions and eventually helped others. This conversation was part of a conference held at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was the fourth such gathering focusing on the legacies of America's first ladies. The previous events were in Texas at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library, the George Bush Presidential Library and the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

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Barbara Bush and Laura Bush recall their years in the White House. This is the fourth time that the two women have sat down for extended interviews as part of a series of conferences on the legacies of America’s first ladies. Previously, they spoke at the libraries dedicated to presidents from Texas: Lyndon B. Johnson, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. In this appearance sponsored by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, they share memories of former First Lady Betty Ford and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. And they discuss their current work in childrens' and family literacy.

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Arizona State University Professor Brooks Simpson discusses Abraham Lincoln's 1863 war policies -- and the public letters he wrote to speak directly with Americans. Professor Simpson examines two of Lincoln’s public letters which explain his position on suppressing dissent during wartime and his reasons behind proposing and supporting emancipation. The Abraham Lincoln Association hosted this event.

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