"History teaches everything, including the future." When Lamartine said this, he must have known we’d reach a time when everything that could go wrong already has at some point in the past, and every decision we could possibly make to ameliorate grievances has already been tried. Here are some of the greatest moments of U.S. history, although "great" in this sense means momentous rather than victorious. Watch the history of this country unfold, from its birth, to its music, to its elections, and to its cultural breakthroughs.
Presidential Inaugurations
Watch these men, from both the Left and Right, take their vows of office and promise the American people that hope is alive and freedom is abundant.
- George Washington: In the television series, John Adams, Washington’s inauguration is recreated. He takes the same presidential oath that is still used today.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt: FDR was inaugurated in 1933. There is actual footage from that era of him taking the oath, giving a speech, and reactions.
- Harry Truman: This was the famous ‘Dewey Defeats Truman’ election. The inauguration took place in 1949. It includes the oath, a speech, and newsreel.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower: This inauguration took place in 1953. President Eisenhower says a prayer before taking the oath in the hopes of uniting the country.
- John F. Kennedy: This historic inauguration took place in 1961 and begins with a speech done as only JFK could. It calls for human rights, the abolishment of poverty, and the famous line: "ask not what your country can do for you."
- Lyndon B. Johnson: In 1965, LBJ took office and gave a short speech. He believed we were one nation, and our faith and future rested upon all citizens.
- Richard Nixon: President Nixon took office in 1969. His speech was on hope for the future and he believed that "the times were on the side of peace."
- Gerald Ford: He was sworn in as the 38th President of the United States after President Nixon resigned. His speech opened with the unique circumstances of his inauguration.
- Jimmy Carter: President Carter was inaugurated in 1977 and began his speech by thanking his predecessor. It only contains the first five minutes, but there is a link to the full speech.
- Ronald Reagan: He took office in 1981 and was a former actor and governor of California. His speech called for an end to inflation, lower taxes, and stove to stop excessive government spending.
- George H.W. Bush: The 41st President of the United States, he was inaugurated in 1989. He began his speech by giving thanks to President Reagan and his next act was to say a prayer.
- Bill Clinton: His first inaugural address was in January of 1993. His speech called for a spring to "reinvent America."
- George W. Bush: The 43rd President of the United States gave his inaugural speech in 2001. He began by thanking President Clinton for his service to the nation and Vice President Gore for a race "conducted with spirit and ended with grace."
- Barack Obama: Elected as the first African-American president, Barack Obama took office in 2009. He began his speech by acknowledging the sacrifices of his ancestors and the contributions of the previous President Bush.
World Ties
Don’t just read about them. Relive these trying moments in American and world history by watching these videos.
- 1929 Wall Street Stock Market Crash: The first and most devastating market crash in U.S. history led to the longest depression on the books. Leading experts discuss the event and there is even footage from that era.
- The Great Wall Street Crash and Depression: This six-part documentary further explores this historic moment in history. There are interviews with people from that era and stock film.
- Attack on Pearl Harbor: This short film depicts the attack by the Japanese on an American military base in December of 1941. It includes film by both the Americans and Japanese from the 1940s.
- World War II: The Lost Color Archives: One of the most devastating wars in the history of mankind, this five part series contains many lost images of the war presented in color. There are images of many turning points in the war and even images of Hitler himself.
- Rosa Parks: In 1955, she was arrested for breaking segregation laws. She tells why in this short interview and there are related links.
- The Unsung: This documentary takes a look at the civil rights movement from the past and present. It is divided in several parts and is available entirely on YouTube.
- Watergate: In the 1970s, scandal and allegations surrounded President Nixon. National Geographic takes an extensive look at what happened in this 45-minute presentation.
- The Cold War: Although it began in the middle of the 20th century, the Cold War was still going strong in the 1980s. Get the beginning and end, with pieces by Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan.
- Fall of the Berlin Wall: ABC covers the history and fall of the Berlin wall. It includes footage of the wall coming down and the accompanying celebration.
- L.A. Riots of 1992: In that year, police were acquitted of beating Rodney King. This later sparked riots in Los Angeles and this video is on the CNN coverage of the event.
- 1993 WTC Bombing: In February 26, 1993 the World Trade Center in New York City was bombed by foreign terrorists. This documentary takes an alternative look at the event.
- Live Footage from the Scene of the Destroyed Murrah Building: In 1995, Timothy McVeigh conducted the first act of domestic terrorism on a federal building in Oklahoma City. This video contains live news coverage from that day.
- Johnny Cochran Closing Arguments: In 1995, O.J. Simpson was acquitted of a double murder and sparked a worldwide controversy. Hear one of his defense lawyer’s closing arguments in this video.
- CNN Millennium 2000: Larry King narrated this short sequence which kicked off CNN’s coverage of this historic moment. There are also links to the various celebrations around the world.
- ABC News September 11th Coverage: Peter Jennings and others cover this historic event in American and world history. Fifteen parts begin right after the second plane crashes and continues after the second tower falls.
Historical Assassinations
Perhaps one of the saddest times in the life of an American is losing the person in which the hopes of the country have been placed. Though mournful and grievous, these moments are essential for everyone to recall.
- Abe Lincoln: The 16th President of the United States had just won the Civil War when he was assassinated at the theater on April 15, 1865. This short video gives the events leading up to it, along with the events afterwards.
- JFK: On November 22, 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, TX. This short video contains original news reports and stock footage of the event.
- Lee Harvey Oswald: Only two days later, President Kennedy’s accused assassin was shot by Jack Ruby. This newsreel is from that era and shows Oswald’s last moments.
- Robert Kennedy Announces Death of MLK: On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King was assassinated. In a moving speech, he is remembered by Robert F. Kennedy.
- Robert F. Kennedy: On June 6, 1968, he suffered the same fate as his brother. The video contains an excerpt from his last interview, as well as the calamity that followed his death.
- John Lennon: In December 1980, former Beatle John Lennon was assassinated by an insane fan. This video is an A&E documentary which chronicles the assassination.
- Ronald Reagan: In March of 1981, President Reagan was fired at and hit just 69 days into his presidency. The video contains the events leading up to and after the attempt.
- Pope John Paul II: ABC News reported on the attempted assassination of the Holy Father on May of 1981. There is footage of the shooting, reports from the Vatican, and even eyewitness accounts.
Historical Speeches
We all know the world is made of talkers and doers. The latter category plays a larger role in shaping the actual course of the country, but inspiring the people to action, through words, whether to revolution or peace, is just as important in creating the stories that comprise our history books.
- The Declaration of Independence: The birthing document of the United States was signed on July 4, 1776. Mel Gibson, Michael Douglas, Whoopi Goldberg, and others recite it word for word.
- Gettysburg Address: Abraham Lincoln gave this speech at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Pennsylvania on November 19, 1863, at the height of the Civil War. Actor Jeff Daniels reads it over a slideshow of historical images.
- Fireside Chat: President Roosevelt was famous for these radio addresses. This one was given in March of 1933 to talk about the banking crisis.
- Pearl Harbor Speech: After the base was bombed in 1944, President Roosevelt issued this speech. Audio only, it is almost five minutes long and conveys the United States’ outrage over the attack.
- JFK on Civil Rights: On June 11, 1963 JFK gave a historic speech supporting the civil rights movement. The full text of the speech is also included.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.: This historic speech was given on August 28, 1963. It is the "I Have A Dream Speech" and is still widely quoted and used as inspiration today.
- Malcolm X: In June 1964, this civil rights advocate gave the famous "by any means necessary" speech. Over seven minutes long, the full text is also included.
- LBJ: On March of 1965, LBJ addressed congress on the issue of voting rights. This speech contains the famous line: "we shall overcome."
- Reagan’s Berlin Address: In September of 1990, President Reagan traveled to Germany in hopes of unifying it. This speech contains the famous ‘tear down this wall’ line.
- President Bush Speech Sept 11, 2001: After the worst terrorist attack on the United States, President Bush gave this speech. It centered around the worst in human nature, American resolve, and a call for justice.
- Reagan’s 1964 Republican National Convention: "I think it’s time to ask ourselves if we still know the freedoms that were intened to us by our Founding Fathers."
Out-of-this-World Moments
Who thought we’d ever put a man on the moon? And amazingly, that feat wasn’t even the greatest in space exploration. Learn more here.
- The Sputnik Moment: Over fifty years ago, Sputnik changed the world forever. See how this historical change effected education. This 55-minute film is ideal for students and teachers.
- First Moon Landing: The Russians beat the Americans to space, but Neil Armstrong played a pivotal role in history when he set foot on the moon in 1969. This short video is actual footage of the moon landing, including the historic line.
- The Tragedy and Triumph of Apollo 1: An everyday YouTube user created this documentary on the fire of Apollo 1 and the missions it later inspired. It includes many historical videos from that era.
- Classic NASA Film – Apollo 13: In 1970, the crew of Apollo 13 launched for what they thought would be a routine mission. This classic documentary shows what actually happened in what would later inspire a movie.
- Classic NASA Film: The first manned space mission was launched by NASA in 1973 and was named Skylab. This Discovery film chronicles the problem plagued mission.
- Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion: ABC did an extensive piece on the last moments of the Challenger crew before it crashed in January of 1986. Get details on the lives of the astronauts, the explosion, and more.
- Comet Haley: It only happens once every 76 years. Get actual footage of the comet’s flight recorded in 1986.
- Hubble Space Telescope: In 1990, NASA launched the most complex telescope of our time. This documentary was produced by the ESA to teach us more about this device and what it has shown us about the universe.
- Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster: In 2003, the Columbia shuttle was lost after a plasma breach. This is actual footage from NASA that recorded everything before, during, and after the disaster.
- Soaring Over Mars: View actual NASA footage of the red planet in this four minute video. Get images of Candor Chasma, the Mojave Crater, and more.
Moments in Music
From the hip-shakin’ of Elvis Presley to the birth of MTV, these moments make the music of a nation.
- Elvis Presley on Ed Sullivan: In 1956, Elvis Presley starred in this controversial and historical performance of "Heartbreak Hotel." View the entire hip-shaking, girl-screaming song.
- The Beatles: They first exploded on American television with their appearance on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964. Get this, and many other subsequent, appearances through this video.
- Dean Martin Presents The Rolling Stones: In June of 1964, Dean Martin hosted a young rock band on his show. They went on to another 45 years of success afterwards.
- Woodstock 1969: This concert lasted for several days and helped change a nation. The playlist contains 20 performances including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who.
- Black Sabbath: The band that made Ozzy Ozbourne famous made an impression with such hits as "Paranoid." Here it live from Paris in this video from 1970.
- Jackson 5: In 1972, the Jackson 5 made history through their performance on Soul Train. Hear the astonishing lyrics of a young Michael and the flawless choreography of "I Want You Back."
- Led Zeppelin: This rare and historic footage was taken with an 8mm camera during a concert in Chicago in 1975. They play "No Quarter," and there are many related videos.
- Frank Sinatra: The constantly popular performer sings one of his greatest hits: "My Way." Lyrics are also included.
- Michael Jackson: On December 2,1983, he broke ground with a short film/music video that was the first by an African American to be played on MTV. View "Thriller" in its entirety by following this link.
- Prince: Formerly and currently known as Prince, he broke onto the scene in 1984. The song was "Purple Rain" and the video of his performance can be found here.
- We Are The World: This historic collaborative effort was made in an effort to help Africa in 1985. Listen to Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, and many others as they join together for this moving song.
- Madonna: A young, sassy woman broke onto the music scene in 1985 and was known only as Madonna. Hear her breakout single "Like A Virgin" live from Detroit.
- Nirvana: They brought the boy band back in the 90’s. Get a double dose of nostalgia by watching them perform "The Right Stuff" as a medley on the Arsenio Hall show.
- Kelly Clarkson: American Idol changed American television and music forever. In 2002, she was the winner and sings the hit "A Moment Like This" for the first time.
- U2: This band has been around for decades. One of its most memorable hits was "One," and in this video it is performed live from Chicago in 2005.
Sports Moments
Sports often highlight the greatest aspects of humanity: brotherhood, loyalty, competition, triumph, and healthy living. So it’s only right that we include the biggest and best moments in the history of U.S. sports.
- Babe Ruth: Known as "The Great Bambino," Babe Ruth was the first player to hit 60 home runs in one season. In this moving 1935 speech, he says farewell to baseball.
- Lou Gehrig: On July 4, 1939, this baseball superstar announced his rare disease. View the speech, including the "luckiest man in the world" line.
- Jackie Robinson: He was the first person to break the color barrier in sports by playing for the Dodgers in 1945. This video chronicles his historic journey.
- Wilt Chamberlain: Still unbroken today, Wilt scored 100 points in a single NBA game in 1962. Footage of the game remains lost, but the video contains images and commentary by Sportscenter.
- Cassius Clay Defeats Sonny Liston: In 1964, this young prize fighter won the heavyweight championship. In a post interview, a young Clay declares "I’m a bad man" and "I shook up the world."
- Billie Jean King: The battle of the sexes was on as tennis players Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King squared off in 1973, with the latter getting the upset. This interesting clip from 60 Minutes features an interview with Riggs before the game and you can also get links to clips of the actual game.
- Nadia Comaneci: At the young age of 14, she became the first ever gymnast to score a perfect 10 in 1976. View the winning balance beam routine here.
- 1980 U.S. Hockey Team: Often called the Miracle on Ice, underdog United States faced off against the juggernaut Russians in the Winter Olympics. The video has actual game footage of the 4-3 victory.
- Tiger Woods: In 1997, he broke racial barriers when he won the Master’s tournament. In this video, you can see the famous chip that won it all.
- Michael Phelps: In the 2008 Olympics Michael Phelps became the first athlete to win eight gold medals in a single Olympics. In this video, he conducts an interview with Matt Lauer.
- Great Sports Moments: Here is a video montage of some of the coolest sports moments.
- Texas Longhorns Highlights: The best of the 2008 Texas Longhorns. Music is Heart of a Champion by Nelly.
- Super Bowl: Because it’s too hard to narrow, this video contains the top ten moments from this historic game. It even features a winning play from the first Super Bowl.
Television Moments
These shows, interviews, networks, and programs have changed the course of United States history. Follow the links to see some of their greatest moments.
- I Love Lucy: Debuting in 1951, the series continues to live on in reruns. This YouTube playlist includes many classic moments and performances by both Lucy and Desi.
- 1960 Presidential Debate: The first debate ever to take place on television, Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy participated. Get all four parts of this historic event.
- Johnny Carson: For thirty years Johnny was a leading host in late night talk shows. View the first ten minutes of his final episode in 1992.
- Star Trek: The first franchise in television history, Star Trek broke new ground in all media. This clip is from 1968 and is the first interracial kiss on screen.
- All in the Family: From 1971 to 1979 this sitcom broke all the rules and was a constant topic of conversation. In this clip, Archie meets the legendary Sammie Davis, Jr.
- Saturday Night Live: Debuting in 1975, this show still leads the way in live comedy skits. This playlist contains some of the best in recent history.
- CNN: The first ever cable news channel was thought to be a certain failure when launched in 1980. See Ted Turner’s initial speech before launching the network.
- MTV: Music Television made history when it launched in 1981. View the actual first ten minutes of broadcast on this video.
- Seinfeld: In its first year the 1989 was on the verge of cancellation. Now a leading name in reruns, this video clip contains many classic moments.
- Will and Grace: This show broke ground by depicting the first openly gay leading character in 1998. The playlist contains fourteen clips of the series.
- The O’Reilly Factor: A controversial show, it premiered in 1996, showcased a wide array of political thought, and went on to become the most watched cable news show. This playlist contains many of the show’s highlights.
- Rush Limbaugh on Today Show: Rush Limbaugh appeared on The Today Show on his way to success.
- Survivor: In 2000, reality television came to the United States through a little known show called Survivor. This YouTube playlist highlights the first season of the groundbreaking show.
- Miss South Carolina: This classic answer went viral on YouTube and is worth a quick watch.
