And bad . The legacies of vietnam is that we, before we get into a conflict, we better have a strategy and a capability to win. And this was one of these gradual drip, drip, drip involvements, started out with the thing called the gulf of tonkin resolution, still not clear today, confrontation between vietnamese ship or ships and american ships, which then led to a resolution rammed through by linden johnson, a complete lack of focus and strategy on how to bring it to a close. And im very sympathetic because the one thing that overrode most of linden johnsons thinking appropriately was china, that we certainly didnt want to have a confrontation and a conflagration that would lead to a conflict there. So, it cautioned all of our actions so that it was a very gradual escalation, which then not only didnt harm the enemy, but it strengthened their resolve. And that led, of course, to all kinds of implications and repercussions, the new age, the use of drugs, demonstrations right out here o
We are here at the Henry Ford Museum of innovation. Were in the railroad exhibit. As automobiles sp airplanes were the key Transportation Technology of the 20th century. The rail yoed was the Major Technology of the 19th century. Its not an exaggeration it was the equal of an astronaut. What we have here are railroad locomotives that tell the story of railroad in the United States from the earliest day ins the 1830s. To the 1920s. Behind me is our earliest example. A replica of the 1831 locomotive and car on the moe hawk and hudson railroad. Built in 1892. This gives us an idea of what Steam Locomotives and trains look like in the 1820s and 1830s. The moe hawk and hudson located nd new york state and became a part of a railroad known as the new york central. One of the largest in the United States. Railroads in the 1830s were small and local affairs. They might run 15, 20 miles between a couple cities. Some had grander ambition of connecting the ocean with the great lakes or with the m
Culture. We look at exhibits and artifacts chronicling the africanamerican story from slavery through the inauguration of the first africanamerican president. And we talk to Museum Specialists. This is American History tv, only on cspan3. You are looking at the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture on the mall in washington, d. C. It is the newest Smithsonian Museum opening back in september. And this week it welcomed its 1 millionth visitor through these doors. Tonight we will take you through the doors of this museum that for artifacts that chronicled the africanamerican experience and also telling a shared american story. Well be live for the next 2. 5 hours. In about 40 minutes well be taking your calls, tweets, facebook posts for curators. Were joined inside with Robert Wilkins to talk about how this museum came about. He is the author of the book long road to hard truth. 100 year mission to create the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture. Thanks
Here at the henry ford. We are inside the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, just outside our driving america exhibit where we look at the history of the automobile in the united states. Were actually standing in front of series of president ial limousines telling the story of the development of president ial transportation over the last 117 years or so. Behind me is a 1902 clarj used by theodore roosevelt. By the time of his administration its a common occurrence of cars moving on public streets. Roosevelt, for all of the reputation he has is a forward looking progressive. They thought there was a formality appropriate to the dig any to the office and he had a progressive and man of the people image he wanted to protect and automobiles were thought of as play things for the wealthy. It wouldnt do him good riding around in a car. He used a broem moving around washington, d. C. Vehicles like this were fairly common in larger cities. We have a vision in our heads by so many wester
And people were always astounded to think that this car was put back into service after the assassination. Would you assume either that it was destroyed or perhaps locked away in a warehouse somewhere. But the simple fact is, the president needed to have a vehicle. President johnson at that point, and there simply wasnt time go back to the drawing board and build something from scratch. The most expeditious thing to do was to rebuild this car. That said, they thoroughly rebuilt it, stripped the car down to its bear frame and put tight tainium plating under the doors, there was a special filter put into the trunk there so that if there was a gas attack it would filter and take out harmful gas to protect the president. And of course there was this large wrap around rear wind screen which at the time was the largest piece of bullet proof glass that had ever been made the. These cars from this tricky dual mission, they have to protect the president but then make him as visible as possible