AHTV Coming Soon

Previews of AHTV's April 4-5 Programming

by rlogan

Oral Histories: Veterans History Project - Saturday 5pm ET

This month, American History TV airs a selection of interviews with former and current members of Congress who served in the military. They recorded their memories for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. This week, Senator John McCain - a former Navy pilot - talks about his Vietnam wartime experiences, including the more than five years he spent in Hanoi as a prisoner of war and his "near death" experiences. We begin with a brief conversation about the project with director Robert Patrick and reference specialist Megan Harris.

Lectures in History: Ulysses S. Grant's Presidency - Saturday 8pm & Midnight ET

East Carolina University professor emeritus Charles Calhoun discusses the obstacles Ulysses S. Grant faced during his presidency as well as his accomplishments. He describes how Grant's military background and personality influenced his decision-making during two terms in office. Professor Calhoun was a guest lecturer in this class at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

Reel America: President Johnson on Vietnam War (1965) - Sunday 4pm ET

Fifty years ago - on April 7, 1965 - President Lyndon Johnson delivered his first major policy speech regarding the Vietnam War, which was carried from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore to an estimated TV audience of 60 million. The president sought to answer the concerns of Americans opposed to escalation of the conflict as well as those who thought the United States wasn't doing enough to help South Vietnam. Entitled "Peace Without Conquest," the address attempted to explain why Southeast Asia was of vital American interest. U.S. military personnel there increased from about 23,000 in January, 1965, to over 180,000 by the end of the year.

American Artifacts: Surrender at Appomattox - Sunday 6pm & 10pm ET

On April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee met Union General Ulysses S. Grant in the village of Appomattox Court House and surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia. While Confederate armies were still active in the field, the surrender of the South's most potent remaining fighting force effectively ended the Civil War. We tour Appomattox Court House National Historical Park with historian Patrick Schroeder.

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