The meeting at the summit, the most momento summit of the and the gleaming palace ations the big four, america, england, france, and russia, met to seek an end to a decade of cold war. Heading the soviet delegation were khrushchev. Khrushchev called the gun and back, though he appeared very much the boss. President eisenhower accompanied by the secretary of state dulles offered to exchange military information with the russians in a dramatic personal appeal, but the plan was rejected. And the president s wartime friend had left. Britains leader and the french premier supported the american proposal. The president startled and delighted genevans by going windowshopping near the partys end. He proved a Popular American ambassador of goodwill. On the return to washington, a heavy rain drenched mrs. Eisenhower, the president , and the welcoming party, including Vice President nixon, ms. Nixon, the president s motherinlaw, and his daughterinlaw. Also at the airport were cabinet members, congressmen, and diplomats. Reporting on the historic meeting at the summit the president said pres. Eisenhower the result of this conference, no one knows, but the coming months will tell. In the meantime, we do know that new contacts have been established and there is evidence of a new friendliness in the world. Narrator civil war in saigon, south vietnams capital reminds the world that enduring peace was far away. Troops fought in the streets against a rebel outlaw army. Civilians caught in the crossfire ran anywhere to escape with their lives and loved ones. The americanbacked government was victorious, but saigon lay scarred under the devastation of civil war. Sovereignty for west germany signified her return in the her return to a place of trust in the committee of free nations. The occupation ended, west germany was again mistress of her destiny. Chancellor adenour, flagwaving ceremonies open a new era of german history announced, we are free and independent, standing free among the free. Sovereignty for austria included within viennas belvedere palace, marked the end of 17 years of german and big four occupation. Russias molotov was first to sign the freedom pack, followed by secretary of state dulles. A foreign minister rubbers represented austria. The ceremony is completed, the iron curtain lifted for austria, as church bells proclaim the rebirth of freedom. Operation alert. A realistic rehearsal for an atomic attack was the biggest nationwide air raid drill ever attempted. In washington, 15,000 government workers left their desks, scattering to 31 secret rural sites away from the capital. [siren] military personnel emptied out of the pentagon, while state Department Employees joined americans from coasttocoast in taking cover against a mythical assault. The pulse of the nation stood still. Old glory flew over the city where Government Agencies carried on their duties after the attack. From an emergency white house, president eisenhower led the nation in operation alert. The survival town, atom test, a Model Village in a nevada desert, against the awesome power of nuclear energy. Buildings of various materials went up, 1 million worth of equipment installed, including mannequins and tons of food to measure the contamination caused by radiation. The big dolls were the towns sole inhabitants. Thanks to the first atomic maneuvers, some less than a mile away, the closest in any test. 6000 persons participated, including troops sheltered by trenches. Many cameras filmed the single blast. [explosion] [explosion] [explosion] [explosion] [explosion] [explosion] [explosion] [explosion] [explosion] the wreckage in the desert held Vital Information on how to survive an enemy attack. With geiger counters to check the radiation, experts assessed the damage. An aluminum building was left a gaping wreck. Concrete or cinderblock houses weather the blast best. This one was less than a mile away. Survival towns electric wires had become a tangled mass. Demonstrating the importance of Civil Defense preparedness, the elaborate exercises proved survival is possible, offering new hope to all who lived in the shadow of the atomic age. Gleaming skyscrapers are traditional landmarks of new york, but there are other landmarks, like the ribbon of steel, now being dismantled, decorating manhattans east side. Officially it was a third avenue elevated railroad. But new yorkers called it the l. For 76 years, l trains carried people to work and home again, but the steel skeleton outlived its usefulness. Passengers dwindled. And so, the l is being torn down. Above chinatown, manhattans last l dappled the street in shadows. It proudly clung to cold stoves for heating its oldfashioned waiting rooms. Colored glass ornamented ancient windows and passengers paid a station agent who pushed a plunger to unlock a gate to let them in. The wooden train started with tired dignity. Passengers sat and swayed and the track rolled on behind. The route was passed miles of tenements, giving passengers a glimpse into every window. All they got in return was a feeling of being close to the passing parade and lots of noise. The cars themselves were 50 years old and almost everybody agreed 3rd avenue would be better without the l that nearly touched the buildings, obstructed traffic, and blotted out the sun. A ride once cost a nickel. Before electricity came, steam engines hauled the cars. Showering red hot coals onto pedestrians, belching smoke on the housewifes wash. Things change, and the l is at the end of the line. This is the last of the 3rd avenue l. Filmed just before its trains rumbled into history. Bound for the scrapheap, it belongs to the past. In the mountains of brick and steel, it will soon be forgotten amid americas changing theme. On her final voyage, old ironsides, trim and proud, moved majestically into new york harbor on august 21, 1931. On august 29, 1931. Launched in 1797, her faded log yellowed with age, was a record of long and heroic service. Though her hull bore the scars of many battles, she never knew defeat and no ship ever fired the imagination of americans frigate forget constitution, whose sides protected a young and struggling nation in the dark and uncertain days following the revolution. Retired in 1881 after 84 years of active service, old ironsides had just been rebuilt and restored as she sailed by the statue of liberty a quarter of a century ago on a 22,000 mile farewell journey. American schoolchildren had contributed their pennies by the millions to save the gallant old ship, which brought glory to her name and honor to her country. Today, berthed in the waters of the boston navy yard, the eagle of the sea is as seaworthy as when she was built. Unconquered by hostile shot and shell, old ironsides has waged her hardest battle against time. Repairs have been made regularly through the years, preserving the original constitution, now nearing her 160th birthday. Workmen are busy replacing decks timbers on the 2200ton ship, whose hull is a little more than 200 feet long. Built for 300,000, her first spikes were supplied by paul revere. Old ironsides 54 cannons are silent, but 40 crewmen walk her deck. Mounting the gangway, they salute like the sailors in her days of glory. Keeping the frigate ship shape, todays crew remembers her first great sea victory, clearing the coast of french privateers in 1798. A halfcentury later, she was to carry old glory around the world on her longest cruise. Below deck are the tight quarters shared by old ironsides original crew. Of 475 men and boys. It is a low bridge for the taller sailors of today. Here can be found the heavy guns, ammunition, and to prevent sparks, the leather powder buckets. Early 19thcentury cannon shot included this chain and star spreader. A four pronged weapon, which, when fired, opened like an umbrella to rip the sails and rigging of enemy ships. This grapeshot sprayed like shrapnel and these 24 pound cannonballs helped old ironsides to a succession of famous victories against the british navy in the war of 1812. The constitution carried provisions for six months at sea. Though her rigging is fair, she still sales securely into the hearts of visitors who come by the thousands to see and marvel at this living link with a colorful age of winddriven warships. One of americas first fighting craft, she played a leading role in establishing our freedom on the seas. All the fittings are authentic, recapturing the spirit of that memorable day, when this constitution first weighed anchor. Emphasizing the cabin quarters, here is the warrant officers table set with original pewter ware. America dictated peace to the barbary pirates at this very table. Old ironsides guns in the background have bombarded the forts of tripoli into surrender. The constitution has secured her berth, though 1830 condemned as not seaworthy, she would have been broken up except for a poem that aroused the nation, Oliver Wendell holmes old ironsides. Aye tear her tattered ensign down, long has it waved on high, and many an eye has danced to see that banner in the sky. Beneath it rung the battle shout, and burst the cannons roar, the meteor of the ocean air, shall sweep the clouds no more. Her deck, once red with heroes blood, where knelt the vanquished foe, when winds were hurrying oer the flood, and waves were white below, no more shall feel the victors tread, or know the conquered knee. The harpies of the shore shall pluck the eagle of the sea. Oh, better that her shattered hulk should sink beneath the wave. Her thunders shook the mighty deep, and there should be her grave. Nail to the mast her holy flag, set every threadbare sail, and give her to the god of storms, the lightning and the gale. Youre watching American History tv covering cspan covering history cspan style with eyewitness counts eyewitness and lectures and visits to museums at historic places. All weekend, every weekend on cspan3. Hours cspan cities tour takes American History tv on the road. Here is a recent program. The battleship missouri, 53,000 ton flagship of admiral halseys third fleet becomes the scene of an unforgettable ceremony marking the complete and formal surrender of japan. In the bay of tokyo itself, the United States destroyer buchanan comes alongside, bringing representatives of the allied powers to witness the final capitulation. General of the army, douglas macarthur, supreme allied commander for the occupation of japan, boards the missouri