Ken Burns America Collection: The Congress

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Part of the Ken Burns America Collection, this incisive documentary profiles our government's legislative branch. Narrated by David McCullough, the program uses historic footage and interviews with veteran political observers-including David Broder, Alistair Cooke, and Cokie Roberts-to detail the first 200 years of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Incorporating readings from diary entries, letters, and famous speeches, the film chronicles the careers of notable lawmakers and charts the evolution and development of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C
Introduction: Engine of Democracy (0:38)
Hallowed Halls of Congress (1:26)
First Branch of Government (1:10)
Congress as National Temple (2:00)
Congress as Great Commanding Theater (1:12)
Congress: Creation of Founding Fathers (1:27)
First Congress (1:26)
Congress Invents Itself (2:24)
New Capitol City (0:58)
First Years (0:59)
Henry Clay: Speaker of the House (1:44)
Slavery (2:16)
The Missouri Compromise (0:47)
Daniel Webster (2:54)
John C. Calhoun (1:16)
California:Slave or Free? (1:55)
Compromise of 1850 (1:20)
Capitol Hill Gets a New Dome (1:39)
A Divided House (2:00)
Capitol Becomes Makeshift Barracks (0:52)
Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution (1:12)
Post Civil War Congress: The Millionaires Club (3:21)
Election of 1876 (1:24)
Thomas Brackett Reed (3:26)
Joseph Gurney Cannon (2:49)
George W. Norris and the Progressive Movement (3:03)
World War I (1:46)
Fiorello La Guardia: Progressive Voice (1:04)
George W. Norris and the Tennessee Valley Authority Act (0:49)
Congressman Robert Wagner and New Deal Legislation (1:29)
Percy Gassaway: Cowboy Congressman (0:50)
Jeannette Rankin: Lady of the House (1:32)
Political Cathedral (1:41)
One Town Under One Roof (1:27)
America's House (1:54)
Upstairs Downstairs: A Brief Tour of the Capitol (1:34)
Place for Politics (2:36)
Hero on the Hill: Sam Rayburn (1:35)
Famous Hearings (1:21)
Everett Dirksen: Conservative Clown (1:14)
Capitol Gets a Bath (0:30)
Congress Takes a Beating (2:19)
Congress Debates Civil Rights (2:50)
Death of President John F. Kennedy (1:30)
Master of the Senate Moves to the White House (0:40)
Dangers for Congress (1:50)
Power of Congress (3:38)
Promise of Congress (2:15)
Mr.Smith Goes to Washington (1:59)

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