American Experience | PBS (original) (raw)

30 Dec Jimmy Carter FILM

Taken Hostage

Revisit the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, when 52 Americans were held hostage at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Unfolding like a political thriller, the story is told through the eyewitness accounts of those who took part in the events.

The Polio Crusade

The story of the polio crusade pays tribute to a time when Americans banded together to conquer a terrible disease. The medical breakthrough saved countless lives and had a pervasive impact on American philanthropy that continues to be felt today.

Jimmy Carter

President Jimmy Carter confronted one of the most significant challenges of his presidency during the Iran hostage crisis.

Carter's First Lady: Rosalynn

Rosalynn Carter was a major figure in her husband's campaigns and policy meetings.

American Experience Presents Podcast

"American Experience Presents" brings a fresh take on the iconic stories told on TV's most-watched history series. Launching with three powerful narratives in podcast form: Joseph McCarthy, whose anti-communist crusade terrorized 1950s America; media titan William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper mogul whose empire shaped public opinion for decades; and Sgt. Isaac Woodard, the decorated World War II veteran whose brutal assault by police sparked a civil rights awakening. This new GBH podcast examines how these three transformative figures shaped pivotal moments in 20th century America, bringing their stories to life for a new generation of listeners.

How to Cover up a Coup

To understand the erasure of a landmark event in our nation’s history, look to the books.

Inside the Bygone World of Wilmington's Black Elite

Beautiful, intimate photographs of a society in the crosshairs of white supremacy.

The coalition that challenged white supremacy in the Old South

Did you know that just decades after the Civil War, a multi-racial political alliance won control of North Carolina? In the 1890s, Black North Carolinians saw an opportunity to “fuse” together with the largely white Populist party for common goals. Enter: the Fusion government.

When White Supremacists Overthrew a Government

Fear, loathing, and the only successful coup d’état in American history.

The vice presidency isn't what the founding fathers thought it would be

America’s first vice president, John Adams, called his job “the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived.” But that would change dramatically over the next two and a half centuries. Discover how the vice presidency has evolved over time.

Documentaries to Watch Now

Stream these American Experience documentaries anywhere, anytime. We will update this page as new films become available.

What happens when the president can’t move into the White House?

When Gerald Ford and his family had to turn their home into The White House.