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( men singing in russian )
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00:00:02,969 --> 00:00:05,771
Stone:
In January 1943,
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00:00:05,805 --> 00:00:10,442
Just days before the final
german surrender at stalingrad,
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00:00:10,477 --> 00:00:11,977
Roosevelt and churchill met
5
00:00:12,012 --> 00:00:14,246
At casablanca
in french morocco.
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00:00:16,983 --> 00:00:19,018
Stalin was not
in attendance.
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00:00:19,052 --> 00:00:23,005
He'd withdrawn his ambassadors
from london and washington.
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00:00:23,039 --> 00:00:25,340
The alliance was in crisis.
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00:00:25,375 --> 00:00:28,811
The red army was moving west
against the germans.
10
00:00:28,845 --> 00:00:30,713
The momentum had shifted.
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00:00:31,848 --> 00:00:34,266
Appreciation
of the soviet sacrifice
12
00:00:34,300 --> 00:00:36,318
Was finally growing
in the u.S.
13
00:00:36,352 --> 00:00:40,222
Even fervent anti-communist
media-baron henry luce
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00:00:40,256 --> 00:00:45,210
Made stalin "time" magazine's
man of the year in 1942,
15
00:00:45,245 --> 00:00:47,529
Praising
his industrialization,
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00:00:47,563 --> 00:00:51,100
Stating, "stalin's methods
were tough, but they paid off."
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00:00:53,937 --> 00:00:56,438
Another luce magazine, "life,"
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00:00:56,473 --> 00:00:58,907
Painted the soviet union
as a quasi-america,
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00:00:58,941 --> 00:01:01,960
With its citizens
"one hell of a people
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00:01:01,995 --> 00:01:04,880
Who to a remarkable degree
look like americans,
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00:01:04,914 --> 00:01:08,067
Dress like americans
and think like americans."
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00:01:09,819 --> 00:01:12,054
His ruthless secret police
was even described
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00:01:12,088 --> 00:01:15,340
As a national police
similar to the fbi.
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00:01:25,652 --> 00:01:28,187
Roosevelt felt
he had to take action,
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00:01:28,221 --> 00:01:30,856
Or he risked
the breakup of the alliance.
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00:01:30,890 --> 00:01:35,043
Both he and churchill
feared stalin might indeed
make a deal with hitler
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00:01:35,078 --> 00:01:37,946
To save the soviet union
further destruction.
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00:01:37,981 --> 00:01:40,983
After all
he'd done it before.
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00:01:41,017 --> 00:01:44,419
But on many issues
roosevelt, unlike churchill,
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00:01:44,454 --> 00:01:46,822
Saw eye-to-eye with stalin.
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00:01:46,856 --> 00:01:48,824
Both wanted a weakened,
32
00:01:48,858 --> 00:01:51,994
Pastoralized postwar germany
without industry.
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00:01:52,028 --> 00:01:53,896
It was germany's militarism
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00:01:53,930 --> 00:01:56,498
That had been the cause
of such unrest in europe.
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00:01:56,533 --> 00:01:59,701
Roosevelt's voice:
We either have to castrate
the german people
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00:01:59,736 --> 00:02:01,904
Or we have to treat them
in such a manner,
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00:02:01,938 --> 00:02:04,690
So that they can't just
go on reproducing people
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00:02:04,724 --> 00:02:07,910
Who want to continue the way
they have in the past.
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00:02:09,662 --> 00:02:12,881
Stone:
It was at casablanca that
the president announced
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00:02:12,899 --> 00:02:15,400
A policy
of "unconditional surrender."
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00:02:15,435 --> 00:02:17,636
He wanted to send
a message to stalin
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00:02:17,670 --> 00:02:19,788
That the u.S. Would not rest
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00:02:19,823 --> 00:02:23,592
Until hitler's germany
was destroyed.
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00:02:23,626 --> 00:02:26,795
"unconditional surrender"
was a declaration of war
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00:02:26,830 --> 00:02:28,881
Not merely
on the enemy governments,
46
00:02:28,915 --> 00:02:31,917
But on the german
and japanese people themselves.
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00:02:31,951 --> 00:02:34,052
Which in its unintended way,
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00:02:34,087 --> 00:02:38,173
Would lead to terror bombing
of civilian populations,
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00:02:38,208 --> 00:02:41,410
Harden the resistance
of those populations,
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00:02:41,444 --> 00:02:45,247
And result
in the most controversial
decision of the war:
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00:02:45,281 --> 00:02:48,400
The dropping
of the atomic bomb on japan.
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00:02:51,287 --> 00:02:53,522
In hindsight
one might argue
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00:02:53,556 --> 00:02:56,525
That the declaration
of "unconditional surrender"
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00:02:56,559 --> 00:02:59,461
Was one of roosevelt's
greatest blunders.
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00:02:59,495 --> 00:03:03,732
To make matters worse,
roosevelt and churchill
confirmed at casablanca
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00:03:03,766 --> 00:03:08,604
The allied decision to land
in sicily after north africa,
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00:03:08,638 --> 00:03:11,907
Again postponing
the second front in europe
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00:03:11,941 --> 00:03:15,344
And relegating their nations
to further irrelevance
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00:03:15,378 --> 00:03:18,247
In determining
the outcome of the war.
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00:03:18,281 --> 00:03:20,282
This would lead
to the disastrous
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00:03:20,316 --> 00:03:23,552
Italian campaign
of 1943-'45
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00:03:23,586 --> 00:03:26,421
That achieved little
but a fierce bloodletting
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00:03:26,456 --> 00:03:28,323
Of allied troops in sicily,
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00:03:28,358 --> 00:03:31,293
And at slaughterhouses like
the beach-head at anzio
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00:03:31,327 --> 00:03:33,629
And the four battles
for monte cassino,
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00:03:33,663 --> 00:03:36,031
Which did little damage
to the nazis.
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00:03:55,818 --> 00:03:58,220
With the allies
bogged down in Italy,
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00:03:58,254 --> 00:04:02,324
And the soviets
increasingly suspicious
of british intentions,
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00:04:02,358 --> 00:04:06,378
Roosevelt and stalin met
10 months after casablanca
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00:04:06,412 --> 00:04:10,382
For the very first time
in tehran in iran
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00:04:10,416 --> 00:04:13,702
In November 1943.
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00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:17,973
After trying unsuccessfully
to exclude churchill
from the meeting,
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00:04:17,991 --> 00:04:22,644
Roosevelt accepted
stalin's offer to stay
in the soviet embassy.
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00:04:22,679 --> 00:04:25,414
But roosevelt found
stalin cold and aloof
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00:04:25,448 --> 00:04:27,950
During the first three days
of meetings
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00:04:27,984 --> 00:04:29,885
And feared
he would not succeed.
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00:04:29,919 --> 00:04:32,671
But on the fourth day,
after teasing churchill
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00:04:32,705 --> 00:04:34,673
In front of stalin
about his britishness
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00:04:34,707 --> 00:04:36,792
And about his cigars,
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00:04:36,826 --> 00:04:38,593
Churchill,
according to roosevelt,
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00:04:38,628 --> 00:04:40,696
Grew red and scowled.
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00:04:40,730 --> 00:04:43,632
And the more he did,
the more stalin smiled,
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00:04:43,666 --> 00:04:47,669
Until finally stalin broke out
into a deep, hearty guffaw
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00:04:47,704 --> 00:04:49,721
At the expense of churchill.
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00:04:49,756 --> 00:04:53,258
And before long,
roosevelt was calling him
"uncle joe."
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00:04:53,293 --> 00:04:54,826
The ice had been broken,
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00:04:54,861 --> 00:04:57,512
And roosevelt felt
that he and stalin
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Were now talking
like men and brothers.
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00:05:01,985 --> 00:05:04,670
Roosevelt reiterated
to the soviet leader
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00:05:04,704 --> 00:05:07,506
That he would open
the long-delayed second front
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00:05:07,540 --> 00:05:10,892
The following spring.
Churchill was forced
to commit,
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00:05:10,927 --> 00:05:13,612
But argued still
the landing should be made
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00:05:13,663 --> 00:05:15,998
To the east through
the balkans,
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00:05:16,032 --> 00:05:18,166
Heading off
the advancing soviets.
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00:05:18,201 --> 00:05:20,502
Roosevelt's voice:
The p.M. Is thinking too much
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00:05:20,536 --> 00:05:23,939
Of a postwar world
and where England will be.
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00:05:23,973 --> 00:05:27,809
He's scared of letting
the russians get too strong.
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00:05:27,844 --> 00:05:29,778
Stone:
Roosevelt clearly indicated
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00:05:29,796 --> 00:05:32,714
He would allow the soviets
considerable latitude
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00:05:32,749 --> 00:05:34,783
In shaping the future
of eastern europe
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00:05:34,817 --> 00:05:36,852
And the baltic states,
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00:05:36,886 --> 00:05:40,322
Requesting only that stalin
implement changes judiciously
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00:05:40,356 --> 00:05:42,758
And not offend world opinion.
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00:05:42,792 --> 00:05:46,428
Roosevelt had written stalin
a personal note promising...
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00:05:46,462 --> 00:05:49,264
Roosevelt's voice:
The United States will
never lend its support
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In any way to any
provisional government
in poland
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That would be inimical
to your interests.
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00:05:55,338 --> 00:05:59,007
Stone:
Crucially, roosevelt made
important headway
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00:05:59,025 --> 00:06:02,544
When he got stalin
to agree to enter
the war against japan
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00:06:02,578 --> 00:06:05,213
When the war
against germany was concluded.
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00:06:07,550 --> 00:06:11,086
Exhausted, roosevelt wrote
of the tehran conference,
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00:06:11,104 --> 00:06:13,254
"we made great progress."
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00:06:13,272 --> 00:06:15,057
Roosevelt:
To use an american
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00:06:15,091 --> 00:06:19,361
And somewhat
ungrammatical colloquialism,
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00:06:19,395 --> 00:06:23,115
I may say that
I "got along fine"
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00:06:23,166 --> 00:06:25,467
With marshal stalin.
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00:06:25,501 --> 00:06:28,670
And I believe
that we are going
to get along very well
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00:06:28,688 --> 00:06:31,106
With him
and the russian people,
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00:06:31,140 --> 00:06:33,358
Very well indeed.
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00:06:36,946 --> 00:06:39,114
( gunfire )
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00:06:39,148 --> 00:06:44,186
The soviet war continued
with a bloody campaign
in belorussia,
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00:06:44,220 --> 00:06:48,790
Followed by their entry
into poland in January 1944--
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00:06:48,825 --> 00:06:51,393
Russia's ancient
border enemy.
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00:06:51,427 --> 00:06:54,830
The retaking of poland
and particularly warsaw
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00:06:54,864 --> 00:06:56,998
Is a tragic
and bloody story.
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00:06:57,033 --> 00:07:01,369
Few suffered as much
as the poles in this long war.
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00:07:01,404 --> 00:07:04,573
Six million were killed,
three million of them jewish.
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00:07:04,607 --> 00:07:07,609
But the u.S.S.R. Too
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00:07:07,643 --> 00:07:10,879
Paid a stiff price
to free poland.
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00:07:10,913 --> 00:07:13,782
600,000 soviets perished.
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00:07:13,816 --> 00:07:17,185
It was here that
the first death camps
were actually found
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00:07:17,220 --> 00:07:20,088
In 1944 by soviet troops,
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00:07:20,123 --> 00:07:22,691
And revealed unquestionably
to the world,
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00:07:22,725 --> 00:07:27,028
Pictures of the true insanity
of hitler's regime.
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00:07:28,514 --> 00:07:32,584
The soviets quickly set up
a friendly government in lublin
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00:07:32,618 --> 00:07:34,986
That cracked down
on the opposition,
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00:07:35,021 --> 00:07:37,255
Triggering a civil war.
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00:07:37,290 --> 00:07:41,493
They had excluded the fiercely
anti-communist representatives
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00:07:41,527 --> 00:07:45,297
Of the polish exile government
that had been set up in london.
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00:07:45,331 --> 00:07:48,233
The westerners thought
of them as democrats,
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00:07:48,267 --> 00:07:50,902
But stalin said
they were terrorists--
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00:07:50,937 --> 00:07:52,871
Descendants
of the white russians
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00:07:52,905 --> 00:07:54,789
Who had fought against
the revolution
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00:07:54,823 --> 00:07:59,578
In the russian civil war
of 1919-1922.
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00:07:59,612 --> 00:08:03,248
No stranger himself
to terrorist tactics,
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00:08:03,282 --> 00:08:05,350
Stalin,
in order to prevail
147
00:08:05,384 --> 00:08:09,187
Against the hated
anti-communist poles
in london,
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00:08:09,222 --> 00:08:12,190
Committed the dual atrocities
149
00:08:12,225 --> 00:08:14,960
Of killing thousands
of polish army officers
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00:08:14,994 --> 00:08:18,029
In the katyn forest in 1940,
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00:08:18,064 --> 00:08:20,232
And then in 1944,
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00:08:20,266 --> 00:08:24,102
He ordered the red army
to halt outside the capital
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00:08:24,136 --> 00:08:26,538
While the germans crushed
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00:08:26,572 --> 00:08:28,907
The native warsaw uprising.
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00:08:28,941 --> 00:08:30,809
Soviet defenders argued
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00:08:30,843 --> 00:08:33,111
That the red army
had exhausted itself
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00:08:33,145 --> 00:08:36,515
In a grueling 45-day,
450-mile advance
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00:08:36,549 --> 00:08:38,450
Against tough german troops,
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00:08:38,484 --> 00:08:41,987
Over-stretching their supply
and communication lines--
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00:08:42,021 --> 00:08:44,856
That they needed
to stand down.
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00:08:44,891 --> 00:08:47,092
Differences over poland
would become
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00:08:47,126 --> 00:08:49,394
The single greatest
source of distrust
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00:08:49,428 --> 00:08:51,162
Between the u.S., britain,
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00:08:51,197 --> 00:08:54,833
And the soviet union
during and after the war.
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00:08:54,867 --> 00:08:58,370
But to be fair,
many westerners
did not understand
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00:08:58,404 --> 00:09:01,373
That anti-semitism
had long been common
167
00:09:01,407 --> 00:09:05,010
Among a significant portion
of polish catholics,
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00:09:05,044 --> 00:09:07,879
Or that to stalin
poland was a matter
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00:09:07,914 --> 00:09:10,148
Of life and death
for the soviet union,
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00:09:10,182 --> 00:09:13,051
Because the polish territories
were the corridor
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00:09:13,085 --> 00:09:15,720
Through which the hated germans
had twice passed
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00:09:15,755 --> 00:09:18,490
Into russia
in the 20th century.
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00:09:18,524 --> 00:09:21,560
For these reasons
stalin demanded and enforced
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00:09:21,594 --> 00:09:23,528
A friendly government
on his border.
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00:09:23,563 --> 00:09:25,330
It was no less
an issue to him
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00:09:25,364 --> 00:09:27,599
Than canada or mexico was
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00:09:27,633 --> 00:09:29,434
For the United States.
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00:09:30,436 --> 00:09:33,054
Through 1944 and '45,
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00:09:33,089 --> 00:09:35,523
The soviets continued
to advance,
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00:09:35,558 --> 00:09:37,609
Taking romania, bulgaria,
181
00:09:37,643 --> 00:09:39,711
Hungary, czechoslovakia,
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00:09:39,745 --> 00:09:41,413
And with the significant help
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00:09:41,447 --> 00:09:43,915
Of partisan guerillas,
yugoslavia.
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00:09:44,917 --> 00:09:46,251
Mile by mile,
185
00:09:46,285 --> 00:09:48,954
Across eastern
and southeastern europe,
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00:09:48,988 --> 00:09:51,306
The germans fought
to the last man.
187
00:09:51,340 --> 00:09:54,676
Cities became fortresses
and were reduced to rubble.
188
00:09:54,710 --> 00:09:57,746
Warsaw, budapest, vienna--
189
00:09:57,780 --> 00:10:00,649
An estimated
million soviet troops perished
190
00:10:00,683 --> 00:10:02,884
Liberating these areas.
191
00:10:02,918 --> 00:10:05,387
And as the soviets fought
their way to berlin
192
00:10:05,421 --> 00:10:07,155
From several directions,
193
00:10:07,189 --> 00:10:10,692
In the west
on June 6th, 1944,
194
00:10:10,726 --> 00:10:12,427
The long-delayed second front
195
00:10:12,461 --> 00:10:14,496
Was finally opened,
196
00:10:14,530 --> 00:10:18,433
One and a half years
after roosevelt first
promised it to stalin.
197
00:10:18,467 --> 00:10:22,587
The largest armada
the world had ever seen,
198
00:10:22,622 --> 00:10:25,006
Involving 11,000 planes
199
00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:27,676
- And some 4,000 ships.
- ( gunfire )
200
00:10:27,710 --> 00:10:29,794
Over 100,000 allied troops
201
00:10:29,829 --> 00:10:31,713
And 30,000 vehicles
202
00:10:31,747 --> 00:10:34,783
Landed on the french beach
at normandy.
203
00:10:34,817 --> 00:10:37,636
An estimated 3,000 men
died in this landing.
204
00:10:38,971 --> 00:10:41,323
Allied forces were
now approaching germany
205
00:10:41,357 --> 00:10:43,224
From both east and west.
206
00:10:44,627 --> 00:10:46,027
Victory was inevitable.
207
00:10:49,899 --> 00:10:52,801
A month later in July 1944,
208
00:10:52,835 --> 00:10:56,905
A key event in the future
of the world was taking shape--
209
00:10:56,939 --> 00:11:00,141
The democratic party convention
opened in chicago.
210
00:11:00,176 --> 00:11:02,177
His health clearly failing,
211
00:11:02,211 --> 00:11:04,546
Roosevelt easily secured
the nomination
212
00:11:04,580 --> 00:11:06,915
For an unprecedented
fourth term.
213
00:11:06,949 --> 00:11:09,017
Henry wallace,
his vice president,
214
00:11:09,051 --> 00:11:12,253
Was probably the second
most popular man in america,
215
00:11:12,288 --> 00:11:15,056
The people's choice
to be his running mate.
216
00:11:16,792 --> 00:11:20,295
But he had made
many enemies over the years.
217
00:11:20,329 --> 00:11:22,731
In may 1942,
wallace had given
218
00:11:22,765 --> 00:11:25,250
The acclaimed
"common man" speech.
219
00:11:25,284 --> 00:11:27,902
Some have spoken
of the american century.
220
00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:31,289
I say that the century
on which we are entering,
221
00:11:31,323 --> 00:11:33,992
The century which will
come out of this war,
222
00:11:34,026 --> 00:11:36,594
Can be and must be
223
00:11:36,629 --> 00:11:39,214
The century
of the common man.
224
00:11:39,248 --> 00:11:43,501
There must be neither military
nor economic imperialism.
225
00:11:43,536 --> 00:11:47,555
The March of freedom
of the past 150 years
226
00:11:47,589 --> 00:11:50,842
Has been a great revolution
of the people.
227
00:11:50,876 --> 00:11:52,777
There were
the american revolution...
228
00:11:53,946 --> 00:11:55,613
The french revolution...
229
00:11:56,699 --> 00:11:58,700
The latin american
revolutions...
230
00:11:59,869 --> 00:12:01,753
The russian revolution.
231
00:12:01,787 --> 00:12:04,672
Each spoke
for the common man.
232
00:12:04,706 --> 00:12:06,524
Some went to excess,
233
00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:08,993
But people broke
their way to the light.
234
00:12:09,028 --> 00:12:11,896
Stone:
He called for a worldwide
peoples' revolution
235
00:12:11,931 --> 00:12:14,149
And an end to colonialism.
236
00:12:14,183 --> 00:12:18,002
His speech was received coldly
across the atlantic.
237
00:12:18,053 --> 00:12:20,722
Churchill charged
his secret agents
238
00:12:20,756 --> 00:12:23,241
In the u.S.
To spy on wallace.
239
00:12:24,477 --> 00:12:27,779
Wallace detested
the british empire.
240
00:12:27,813 --> 00:12:30,381
Wallace's voice:
I said bluntly that
I thought the notion
241
00:12:30,416 --> 00:12:32,100
Of anglo-saxon superiority,
242
00:12:32,134 --> 00:12:34,502
Inherent
in churchill's approach,
243
00:12:34,537 --> 00:12:37,255
Would be offensive to many.
244
00:12:37,289 --> 00:12:39,641
Churchill had had quite
a bit of whiskey,
245
00:12:39,675 --> 00:12:43,545
Said why be apologetic
about anglo-saxon superiority,
246
00:12:43,579 --> 00:12:45,480
That we were superior,
247
00:12:45,514 --> 00:12:47,582
That we had
the common heritage
248
00:12:47,616 --> 00:12:49,951
That had been worked out
over the centuries in England
249
00:12:49,985 --> 00:12:53,188
And had been perfected
by our constitution."
250
00:12:53,222 --> 00:12:55,640
Stone:
Wallace's hatred
of imperialism
251
00:12:55,674 --> 00:12:59,160
Was universally known
and widely acclaimed.
252
00:12:59,195 --> 00:13:02,814
In March 1943,
roosevelt sent him
253
00:13:02,848 --> 00:13:04,883
To latin america
on a goodwill tour--
254
00:13:04,917 --> 00:13:06,918
Secretly charging him
255
00:13:06,952 --> 00:13:09,754
To recruit nations
for the allied cause.
256
00:13:09,789 --> 00:13:12,891
65,000 greeted him
in costa rica,
257
00:13:12,925 --> 00:13:15,360
15% of the population.
258
00:13:15,394 --> 00:13:17,195
More than one million cheered
259
00:13:17,229 --> 00:13:19,764
As he moved down the streets
of santiago, chile.
260
00:13:19,799 --> 00:13:22,417
( cheering )
261
00:13:22,451 --> 00:13:25,086
( wallace speaking spanish )
262
00:13:33,913 --> 00:13:35,847
Stone:
The vice president returned
263
00:13:35,881 --> 00:13:38,683
With a dozen countries
declaring war on germany.
264
00:13:38,717 --> 00:13:41,920
It was more than anyone
had imagined possible.
265
00:13:42,988 --> 00:13:45,106
Back home,
in a gallup poll,
266
00:13:45,140 --> 00:13:48,042
Wallace was
the choice of 57%
267
00:13:48,077 --> 00:13:50,512
Of democratic voters
to succeed roosevelt.
268
00:13:50,546 --> 00:13:52,347
But opposition to him
269
00:13:52,381 --> 00:13:55,116
From inside
the party was enormous.
270
00:13:55,150 --> 00:13:57,886
Jesse jones was allied
to a powerful group
271
00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:01,189
Of democratic party bosses,
led by party treasurer
272
00:14:01,223 --> 00:14:03,725
And oil millionaire
edwin pauley.
273
00:14:03,759 --> 00:14:06,311
United by their hatred
of wallace,
274
00:14:06,345 --> 00:14:08,096
Their champion was
a man known to many
275
00:14:08,130 --> 00:14:10,815
As the "assistant president."
276
00:14:10,850 --> 00:14:12,884
James byrnes had been raised
277
00:14:12,918 --> 00:14:16,321
In the hot-house politics
of sultry south carolina,
278
00:14:16,355 --> 00:14:18,957
An environment where
white superiority
279
00:14:18,991 --> 00:14:22,327
And segregation
trumped all other issues.
280
00:14:22,361 --> 00:14:24,696
He was a driving force
behind blocking
281
00:14:24,730 --> 00:14:28,666
A federal
anti-lynching bill in 1938.
282
00:14:28,701 --> 00:14:32,503
After making his name smashing
trade unions in the south,
283
00:14:32,538 --> 00:14:35,340
Byrnes became
a powerful u.S. Senator.
284
00:14:35,374 --> 00:14:38,092
If you wanted something done
on capitol hill,
285
00:14:38,127 --> 00:14:40,328
You saw jimmy byrnes.
286
00:14:40,362 --> 00:14:44,265
By 1943, the mood
in washington had shifted.
287
00:14:44,300 --> 00:14:46,684
It was no longer
the "new deal,"
288
00:14:46,719 --> 00:14:50,021
And roosevelt removed
wallace from the bureau
of economic warfare
289
00:14:50,055 --> 00:14:54,459
And put byrnes
in charge of the new office
of war mobilization.
290
00:14:55,761 --> 00:14:58,229
But wallace still had
a powerful supporter--
291
00:14:58,264 --> 00:14:59,931
The american working man.
292
00:14:59,982 --> 00:15:02,200
( people singing )
293
00:15:02,251 --> 00:15:05,386
Stone:
Today, few remember
that the second world war
294
00:15:05,420 --> 00:15:07,421
Saw more strikes
by organized labor
295
00:15:07,439 --> 00:15:10,558
Than at any other time
in u.S. History.
296
00:15:10,592 --> 00:15:13,094
In 1944 alone
one million workers
297
00:15:13,112 --> 00:15:15,146
Were on strike
at one time or another.
298
00:15:15,197 --> 00:15:18,800
The war had rejuvenated
american capitalism.
299
00:15:18,834 --> 00:15:22,570
Corporate profits rose
from $6.4 billion in 1940
300
00:15:22,605 --> 00:15:26,808
To $10.8 billion in 1944.
301
00:15:26,842 --> 00:15:29,477
Put simply,
the war was good business.
302
00:15:29,511 --> 00:15:32,313
But in the face
of rising corporate profits,
303
00:15:32,348 --> 00:15:34,432
Workers' wages were frozen.
304
00:15:34,466 --> 00:15:38,386
As a result, a wave
of strikes rocked the nation.
305
00:15:38,420 --> 00:15:39,954
( people shouting )
306
00:15:39,988 --> 00:15:42,173
Man:
Americans versus americans--
307
00:15:42,207 --> 00:15:44,926
A tragic spectacle
in these critical times
308
00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:48,346
When unity is essential
to the preservation
of democracy.
309
00:15:52,318 --> 00:15:54,352
Stone:
Detroit was the key city
310
00:15:54,386 --> 00:15:56,587
In roosevelt's
"arsenal of democracy."
311
00:15:56,622 --> 00:15:59,357
Roosevelt:
A great arsenal of democracy.
312
00:15:59,391 --> 00:16:02,360
Stone:
Many african-american families
migrated north
313
00:16:02,394 --> 00:16:05,530
In search of work
in the armaments factories.
314
00:16:07,933 --> 00:16:10,084
Racial tensions
soon escalated.
315
00:16:11,086 --> 00:16:13,104
One demonstrator jeered...
316
00:16:13,138 --> 00:16:15,523
Man:
I'd rather see
hitler and hirohito win,
317
00:16:15,557 --> 00:16:18,042
Than work beside a nigger
on the assembly line.
318
00:16:18,077 --> 00:16:20,478
Stone:
In June, violence exploded,
319
00:16:20,512 --> 00:16:22,230
Exacerbated by the city's
320
00:16:22,264 --> 00:16:24,682
Nearly all-white
police force.
321
00:16:24,733 --> 00:16:27,201
Federal troops arrived
to restore order...
322
00:16:27,235 --> 00:16:29,637
With live ammunition.
323
00:16:29,655 --> 00:16:31,939
34 were killed
in the riots--
324
00:16:31,974 --> 00:16:33,808
25 of them black.
325
00:16:35,644 --> 00:16:38,496
Wallace went to detroit
to survey the damage.
326
00:16:38,530 --> 00:16:40,381
He was appalled.
327
00:16:50,509 --> 00:16:52,944
Stone:
Years later
this remark would be echoed
328
00:16:52,978 --> 00:16:55,913
By civil rights leader
martin luther king
329
00:16:55,948 --> 00:16:58,733
In reference
to the vietnam war.
330
00:16:58,767 --> 00:17:02,704
By 1944
powerful labor leaders
331
00:17:02,738 --> 00:17:05,940
Sidney hillman
and scotsman phil murray,
332
00:17:05,974 --> 00:17:08,609
Expressing complete
confidence in wallace,
333
00:17:08,644 --> 00:17:11,846
Had taken a dislike
to the new men like byrnes
334
00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:13,848
Taking power
in washington.
335
00:17:13,882 --> 00:17:16,851
But the anti-wallace forces
told the president
336
00:17:16,885 --> 00:17:19,721
That a wallace re-nomination
as vice president
337
00:17:19,755 --> 00:17:21,422
Would split the party.
338
00:17:21,457 --> 00:17:23,758
The president would
not answer their ultimatum.
339
00:17:23,792 --> 00:17:25,593
He stalled for time.
340
00:17:25,627 --> 00:17:28,463
Eleanor roosevelt reminded him
that wallace had been there
341
00:17:28,497 --> 00:17:32,033
With him since the beginning,
a fellow visionary.
342
00:17:32,067 --> 00:17:34,419
But the president's attitude
343
00:17:34,453 --> 00:17:36,454
Towards wallace
remained a puzzle.
344
00:17:37,656 --> 00:17:39,524
He sent wallace to evaluate
345
00:17:39,575 --> 00:17:42,777
The war's forgotten front--
in china.
346
00:17:42,811 --> 00:17:46,064
U.S. Ally jiang jieshi
had been fighting japan
347
00:17:46,098 --> 00:17:49,100
Since the early 1930s,
and with his wife,
348
00:17:49,134 --> 00:17:52,487
The powerful,
american-educated madame jiang,
349
00:17:52,521 --> 00:17:55,940
Had strong ties
to the u.S. Conservatives.
350
00:17:55,974 --> 00:17:58,493
Wallace, however,
saw the growing power
351
00:17:58,527 --> 00:18:00,495
Of mao tse-tung's
communist army
352
00:18:00,529 --> 00:18:03,364
And was unsure
of jiang's future.
353
00:18:03,398 --> 00:18:05,616
His final report
was considered
354
00:18:05,651 --> 00:18:08,870
Too controversial
and suppressed.
355
00:18:10,639 --> 00:18:13,808
On his return, wallace was
summoned immediately
356
00:18:13,842 --> 00:18:15,576
To meet the president.
357
00:18:15,611 --> 00:18:18,279
The ticket would be
the subject of discussion.
358
00:18:18,313 --> 00:18:20,848
It was the moment
wallace had been dreading.
359
00:18:20,883 --> 00:18:24,018
Wallace:
His affection for me seemed
to be completely undimmed,
360
00:18:24,052 --> 00:18:27,922
Because I can remember
him pulling me down
361
00:18:27,956 --> 00:18:32,660
So his mouth was next
to my ear and saying,
362
00:18:32,694 --> 00:18:37,064
"henry, I hope it will be
the same old team."
363
00:18:40,736 --> 00:18:42,603
Stone:
When the convention opened,
364
00:18:42,638 --> 00:18:44,538
He was waiting
for that support.
365
00:18:44,556 --> 00:18:46,473
But increasingly ill,
the president,
366
00:18:46,492 --> 00:18:49,460
Staying in san diego,
only sent a note.
367
00:18:49,495 --> 00:18:53,798
Franklin delano roosevelt
said, "if I were
368
00:18:53,832 --> 00:18:56,367
A delegate
to this convention,
369
00:18:56,401 --> 00:19:00,071
I would vote
for henry a. Wallace."
370
00:19:00,105 --> 00:19:02,974
Stone:
Despite these words,
it was a cruel blow.
371
00:19:03,008 --> 00:19:04,876
The president was not willing
372
00:19:04,910 --> 00:19:06,944
To fight
for his vice president.
373
00:19:06,979 --> 00:19:08,746
But wallace remained
the favorite.
374
00:19:08,780 --> 00:19:10,314
Labor told the president
375
00:19:10,365 --> 00:19:12,316
That the strike-breaking
jimmy byrnes
376
00:19:12,351 --> 00:19:14,669
Was not acceptable.
He was out.
377
00:19:14,703 --> 00:19:16,521
Desperate,
the party bosses,
378
00:19:16,555 --> 00:19:18,472
Led by edwin pauley,
379
00:19:18,507 --> 00:19:21,809
Robert hannegan, ed flynn,
ed kelley and others,
380
00:19:21,844 --> 00:19:24,679
Needed an 11th-hour
substitute.
381
00:19:24,713 --> 00:19:27,915
And they settled
on missouri senator
harry truman,
382
00:19:27,950 --> 00:19:30,418
A man of limited
qualifications,
383
00:19:30,452 --> 00:19:32,954
But one with few enemies.
384
00:19:32,988 --> 00:19:34,722
A graduate of high school,
385
00:19:34,756 --> 00:19:37,358
He'd been involved
in three failed businesses.
386
00:19:38,577 --> 00:19:40,745
He'd served honorably
in world war I.
387
00:19:40,779 --> 00:19:42,947
His most ambitious
business venture,
388
00:19:42,981 --> 00:19:46,551
A haberdashery,
went belly up in 1922.
389
00:19:46,585 --> 00:19:49,153
And in 1933 he wrote...
390
00:19:49,188 --> 00:19:51,022
Truman's voice:
Tomorrow I'll be 49,
391
00:19:51,056 --> 00:19:52,924
But for all the good
I have done,
392
00:19:52,958 --> 00:19:54,926
The 40 might as well
be left off.
393
00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:56,561
Stone:
A year later
394
00:19:56,595 --> 00:19:58,930
Kansas city political boss
tom pendergast,
395
00:19:58,964 --> 00:20:00,665
After having been turned down
396
00:20:00,699 --> 00:20:02,967
By his first four choices,
397
00:20:03,001 --> 00:20:05,036
Picked the 50-year-old truman
398
00:20:05,070 --> 00:20:06,571
To run for the senate.
399
00:20:06,605 --> 00:20:09,140
When asked why,
pendergast replied...
400
00:20:09,174 --> 00:20:12,176
Pendergast's voice:
I wanted to demonstrate
that a well-oiled machine
401
00:20:12,211 --> 00:20:14,712
Could send an office boy
to the senate.
402
00:20:14,746 --> 00:20:16,681
Stone:
Shunned by most senators,
403
00:20:16,715 --> 00:20:19,684
Who dismissed him as
the "senator from pendergast,"
404
00:20:19,718 --> 00:20:23,421
And failing to gain
roosevelt's endorsement
in his re-election bid,
405
00:20:23,455 --> 00:20:26,524
Truman worked hard
to achieve respectability
406
00:20:26,558 --> 00:20:28,759
In his second senate term.
407
00:20:28,794 --> 00:20:31,062
But a gallup poll
on the opening day
408
00:20:31,096 --> 00:20:35,233
Showed 65% supporting
wallace as vice president--
409
00:20:35,267 --> 00:20:37,301
Jimmy byrnes had
3% of the vote,
410
00:20:37,336 --> 00:20:40,388
And truman came in
eighth with 2%.
411
00:20:40,422 --> 00:20:42,673
As wallace arrived
at the convention,
412
00:20:42,724 --> 00:20:45,243
Labor leaders hillman
and murray had delivered.
413
00:20:45,277 --> 00:20:47,962
Wallace supporters were there
by the thousands.
414
00:20:47,980 --> 00:20:50,665
Murray,
in a thick scottish accent,
415
00:20:50,699 --> 00:20:54,402
Shouted to his men,
"wallace! That's it!
Just keep pounding!"
416
00:20:54,436 --> 00:20:56,570
The future must bring
417
00:20:56,605 --> 00:21:00,007
Equal wages for equal work
418
00:21:00,042 --> 00:21:03,310
Regardless of sex or race.
419
00:21:03,328 --> 00:21:05,680
- ( cheering )
- stone: Wallace's speech
420
00:21:05,714 --> 00:21:08,249
Was interrupted constantly
by applause.
421
00:21:08,283 --> 00:21:10,935
A chant of "we want wallace"
filled the hall.
422
00:21:10,986 --> 00:21:15,022
We want wallace!
We want wallace!
We want wallace!
423
00:21:15,057 --> 00:21:17,575
Stone:
Someone hijacked
the loudspeakers
424
00:21:17,609 --> 00:21:19,994
And played wallace's
campaign song
425
00:21:20,028 --> 00:21:24,265
With its chorus
"iowa, iowa, that's where
the tall corn grows!"
426
00:21:24,299 --> 00:21:27,618
♪ iowa, iowa, that's where
the tall corn... ♪
427
00:21:27,653 --> 00:21:29,904
Stone:
Furious, ed pauley threatened
428
00:21:29,938 --> 00:21:32,106
To cut the sound
to the amplifiers.
429
00:21:32,140 --> 00:21:35,609
A victorious vote was almost
a foregone conclusion--
430
00:21:35,644 --> 00:21:37,611
A wallace victory
was certain.
431
00:21:37,646 --> 00:21:40,147
Florida senator claude pepper
realized that
432
00:21:40,182 --> 00:21:42,917
If he got wallace's name
in nomination this night,
433
00:21:42,951 --> 00:21:45,369
Wallace would sweep
the convention.
434
00:21:45,420 --> 00:21:47,688
He fought his way
through the crowd
to get to the microphone.
435
00:21:47,723 --> 00:21:49,690
But the bosses were
now demanding
436
00:21:49,725 --> 00:21:52,994
That session chair
samuel jackson adjourn.
437
00:21:53,028 --> 00:21:56,230
This chaos was a fire hazard,
they screamed.
438
00:21:56,264 --> 00:21:59,600
Not knowing what to do,
jackson called the vote
for adjournment.
439
00:21:59,618 --> 00:22:02,269
A few said "aye,"
but the overwhelming majority
440
00:22:02,287 --> 00:22:04,004
- Boomed "nay."
- ( gavel pounds )
441
00:22:04,022 --> 00:22:06,190
And yet,
jackson had the gall
442
00:22:06,241 --> 00:22:08,843
To announce that the vote
to adjourn had passed.
443
00:22:08,877 --> 00:22:11,128
It was outrageous.
444
00:22:11,163 --> 00:22:12,897
Confusion filled the hall.
445
00:22:12,931 --> 00:22:15,383
Pepper had reached
the first step of the stage,
446
00:22:15,417 --> 00:22:19,136
Only five feet--
probably nine seconds--
from the microphone,
447
00:22:19,187 --> 00:22:21,088
Before the bosses
forced adjournment
448
00:22:21,123 --> 00:22:23,357
Against the will
of the delegates.
449
00:22:23,392 --> 00:22:25,559
If he could have
nominated wallace
in those moments,
450
00:22:25,593 --> 00:22:27,778
There is no doubt
henry wallace would have been
451
00:22:27,813 --> 00:22:32,049
Overwhelmingly returned
as vice president.
452
00:22:32,084 --> 00:22:34,051
"what I understood,"
pepper wrote,
453
00:22:34,102 --> 00:22:36,137
"was that
for better or worse,
454
00:22:36,171 --> 00:22:40,007
History was turned topsy-turvy
that night in chicago."
455
00:22:40,025 --> 00:22:42,910
Samuel jackson apologized
to pepper the next day,
456
00:22:42,944 --> 00:22:46,013
And pepper wrote
in his autobiography
that jackson said,
457
00:22:46,048 --> 00:22:48,549
"I had strict instructions
from hannegan
458
00:22:48,583 --> 00:22:50,434
Not to let
the convention nominate
459
00:22:50,469 --> 00:22:52,336
The vice-president
last night."
460
00:22:52,371 --> 00:22:54,605
Hillman and murray rallied
the same troops
461
00:22:54,639 --> 00:22:57,925
To return the next day
and see it through to victory.
462
00:22:57,959 --> 00:23:00,594
- ( cheering )
- but over that night,
463
00:23:00,628 --> 00:23:02,997
Edwin pauley
and the anti-wallace forces
464
00:23:03,031 --> 00:23:05,516
United behind harry truman.
465
00:23:05,550 --> 00:23:07,668
Deals were cut.
Positions offered--
466
00:23:07,702 --> 00:23:10,838
Ambassadorships,
postmaster positions.
467
00:23:10,872 --> 00:23:12,239
Cash payoffs.
468
00:23:12,274 --> 00:23:14,708
Bosses called
every state chairman,
469
00:23:14,743 --> 00:23:16,610
Telling them
that roosevelt wanted
470
00:23:16,645 --> 00:23:19,146
The missouri senator
as his running mate.
471
00:23:19,181 --> 00:23:23,484
Bob hannegan managed to put up
16 "favorite son" nominees
472
00:23:23,518 --> 00:23:25,719
To draw votes away
from wallace,
473
00:23:25,754 --> 00:23:28,422
And then channeled
those votes to truman.
474
00:23:28,457 --> 00:23:31,325
Even so, the next day
when voting began,
475
00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:34,962
Things started to swing
wallace's way again.
476
00:23:34,980 --> 00:23:39,200
Iowa, the greatest
agricultural state
477
00:23:39,234 --> 00:23:42,603
In the union,
gives to this convention
478
00:23:42,621 --> 00:23:44,772
And to the democratic party
479
00:23:44,806 --> 00:23:47,708
Its illustrious,
distinguished son
480
00:23:47,742 --> 00:23:51,045
Henry a. Wallace
for this nomination
481
00:23:51,079 --> 00:23:53,814
Of the vice presidency
of the United States.
482
00:23:53,849 --> 00:23:55,666
( cheering )
483
00:23:55,700 --> 00:23:59,153
( chanting )
we want wallace!
We want wallace!
484
00:23:59,187 --> 00:24:01,122
We want wallace!
485
00:24:01,156 --> 00:24:03,274
Stone:
When the first ballot ended,
486
00:24:03,308 --> 00:24:06,610
It was wallace 429,
to truman's 319.
487
00:24:06,645 --> 00:24:09,280
Then a second ballot
got underway,
488
00:24:09,314 --> 00:24:13,400
And now the deals
the bosses had made
kicked into action.
489
00:24:13,435 --> 00:24:17,004
Jackson announced
that the second ballot
would begin at once--
490
00:24:17,038 --> 00:24:20,274
Therefore,
no new convention tickets
would be honored.
491
00:24:20,308 --> 00:24:23,077
Mayor kelley's police
barred thousands more
492
00:24:23,111 --> 00:24:25,412
Of wallace's supporters
from the hall.
493
00:24:25,447 --> 00:24:28,149
But those inside
began chanting as before--
494
00:24:28,183 --> 00:24:30,551
Attempting to drown out
the proceedings.
495
00:24:30,585 --> 00:24:34,138
Wallace started
the second ballot
firmly in the lead,
496
00:24:34,172 --> 00:24:36,957
But gradually
he lost ground to truman
497
00:24:36,975 --> 00:24:38,959
As the nominees
put up by hannegan
498
00:24:38,993 --> 00:24:41,879
Signed over their votes
to truman, one by one.
499
00:24:41,930 --> 00:24:43,848
Truman prevailed.
500
00:24:43,882 --> 00:24:45,633
It was over.
501
00:24:52,958 --> 00:24:56,694
I guess this is just
another lost cause, mr. Paine.
502
00:25:01,032 --> 00:25:03,918
All you people don't know
about lost causes.
503
00:25:04,953 --> 00:25:06,754
Mr. Paine does.
504
00:25:08,306 --> 00:25:11,758
He said once
they were the only causes
worth fighting for.
505
00:25:12,894 --> 00:25:14,761
And he fought for them once.
506
00:25:16,531 --> 00:25:18,365
And I loved you for it.
507
00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:20,985
And you know that you fight
for the lost causes
508
00:25:21,019 --> 00:25:24,805
Harder than for any others.
Yes, you even die for them.
509
00:25:24,823 --> 00:25:26,840
You think I'm licked.
510
00:25:28,510 --> 00:25:30,561
You all think I'm licked.
511
00:25:32,347 --> 00:25:34,148
Well, I'm not licked!
512
00:25:34,182 --> 00:25:36,049
And I'm gonna stay
right here
513
00:25:36,067 --> 00:25:37,935
And fight
for this lost cause!
514
00:25:37,986 --> 00:25:41,021
Even if this room gets filled
with lies like these
515
00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:44,325
And the taylors
and all their armies
516
00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:46,393
Come marching
into this place,
517
00:25:47,579 --> 00:25:49,663
Somebody'll listen to me.
518
00:25:52,951 --> 00:25:55,035
( exhausted sigh )
519
00:25:55,069 --> 00:25:56,203
( woman screams )
520
00:26:00,575 --> 00:26:03,260
Stone:
Henry wallace,
accepting his defeat,
521
00:26:03,295 --> 00:26:07,164
Pledged his loyalty
to the roosevelt-truman ticket
522
00:26:07,198 --> 00:26:09,767
And agreed to remain
in the cabinet.
523
00:26:09,801 --> 00:26:13,988
Today, buried by
the traditional tale
of the second world war,
524
00:26:14,022 --> 00:26:17,241
The events of the 1944
democratic convention
525
00:26:17,275 --> 00:26:19,559
Have been largely forgotten.
526
00:26:19,578 --> 00:26:23,213
They would however change
the course of history.
527
00:26:23,248 --> 00:26:25,883
The man who might
have been president
528
00:26:25,917 --> 00:26:28,752
Could now only watch
from the sidelines
529
00:26:28,787 --> 00:26:30,871
As events unfolded.
530
00:26:34,259 --> 00:26:36,060
There were
other deals going on
531
00:26:36,094 --> 00:26:38,929
Behind the scenes
in this critical year.
532
00:26:38,964 --> 00:26:41,999
Mistrusting roosevelt's
optimism in europe,
533
00:26:42,033 --> 00:26:43,934
Churchill flew to moscow
534
00:26:43,969 --> 00:26:46,403
In October 1944
535
00:26:46,438 --> 00:26:48,405
To meet alone with stalin.
536
00:26:49,808 --> 00:26:52,009
Based on
the previous experience
537
00:26:52,043 --> 00:26:55,379
Of u.S. Isolationism
after the first world war,
538
00:26:55,413 --> 00:26:58,382
Neither leader
seriously believed
that american troops
539
00:26:58,416 --> 00:27:00,985
Would remain in europe
after the war.
540
00:27:01,019 --> 00:27:03,420
Therefore
it was vital to churchill
541
00:27:03,455 --> 00:27:06,857
That he shore up
the british position
as strongly as possible.
542
00:27:06,891 --> 00:27:09,660
On the back
of a scrap of paper
543
00:27:09,694 --> 00:27:11,895
Churchill proposed
the share of influence
544
00:27:11,930 --> 00:27:15,466
Each nation would exert
in postwar europe.
545
00:27:15,500 --> 00:27:19,003
The u.S.S.R. Would get
90% in romania,
546
00:27:19,037 --> 00:27:22,006
75% in hungary
and bulgaria.
547
00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:24,541
Yugoslavia would
be split 50/50,
548
00:27:24,576 --> 00:27:28,212
But britain would
get 90% in greece.
549
00:27:28,246 --> 00:27:32,783
Greece was vital
to the british position
in the mediterranean--
550
00:27:32,817 --> 00:27:35,919
Close to egypt
and the strategic suez canal,
551
00:27:35,954 --> 00:27:40,024
Through which came
the trade which kept
the empire alive--
552
00:27:40,058 --> 00:27:42,326
From eastern africa
through the middle east,
553
00:27:42,360 --> 00:27:44,461
The near east,
and at the heart
of this empire--
554
00:27:44,496 --> 00:27:47,097
India, the crown jewel,
555
00:27:47,132 --> 00:27:49,133
And beyond it
the far east,
556
00:27:49,167 --> 00:27:52,436
Where singapore was
now british again.
557
00:27:54,572 --> 00:27:58,742
Although churchill wanted
a non-communist poland,
558
00:27:58,777 --> 00:28:03,380
The truth was that poland
was simply off the agenda
559
00:28:03,415 --> 00:28:05,082
And churchill was
more concerned
560
00:28:05,116 --> 00:28:07,685
With safeguarding
british power.
561
00:28:07,719 --> 00:28:10,888
Stalin took the paper
and made a large check
562
00:28:10,922 --> 00:28:13,390
With a blue pencil
before handing it back.
563
00:28:13,425 --> 00:28:15,292
Churchill remarked...
564
00:28:15,326 --> 00:28:17,594
Churchill's voice:
Might it not be thought
rather cynical
565
00:28:17,629 --> 00:28:20,330
If it seemed we had disposed
of these issues
566
00:28:20,365 --> 00:28:22,332
So fateful
to millions of people
567
00:28:22,367 --> 00:28:24,902
In such an offhand manner?
568
00:28:24,936 --> 00:28:27,471
Let us burn the paper.
569
00:28:27,505 --> 00:28:30,007
Stone:
But stalin urged churchill
570
00:28:30,041 --> 00:28:32,743
To hold onto
the historic scrap of paper,
571
00:28:32,777 --> 00:28:36,346
Which churchill called
a "naughty document."
572
00:28:37,582 --> 00:28:39,416
Newsreel voice:
For the first time on record,
573
00:28:39,451 --> 00:28:40,818
Stalin came to the airport
574
00:28:40,852 --> 00:28:42,686
To wish his guests godspeed.
575
00:28:42,721 --> 00:28:45,823
Stone:
This was exactly
the kind of secret deal
576
00:28:45,857 --> 00:28:48,392
That roosevelt had
set out to prevent.
577
00:28:48,426 --> 00:28:50,744
At a press conference
in 1944
578
00:28:50,779 --> 00:28:53,630
He'd said of british gambia
in west africa,
579
00:28:53,665 --> 00:28:56,300
Which he had visited
the previous year...
580
00:28:56,334 --> 00:28:59,853
Roosevelt's voice:
It's the most horrible thing
I've ever seen in my life.
581
00:28:59,888 --> 00:29:02,956
The natives are
5,000 years back of us.
582
00:29:02,991 --> 00:29:06,009
The british have been there
for 200 years.
583
00:29:06,044 --> 00:29:09,179
For every dollar
that the british have
put into gambia,
584
00:29:09,214 --> 00:29:11,014
They have taken out 10.
585
00:29:11,049 --> 00:29:13,450
It's just plain
exploitation."
586
00:29:13,485 --> 00:29:15,235
Stone:
Roosevelt spoke repeatedly
587
00:29:15,253 --> 00:29:17,588
About a postwar
trusteeship system
588
00:29:17,622 --> 00:29:21,074
That would prepare
the colonies for independence.
589
00:29:21,109 --> 00:29:23,510
One of these
would be indochina,
590
00:29:23,545 --> 00:29:26,680
Which he insisted
not be given back
to the french after the war,
591
00:29:26,698 --> 00:29:31,318
As churchill
and the french exiled leader
charles de gaulle demanded.
592
00:29:31,352 --> 00:29:33,187
Roosevelt told cordell hull,
593
00:29:33,221 --> 00:29:35,923
His secretary of state
in 1944,
594
00:29:35,957 --> 00:29:37,891
That "France has had
the country--
595
00:29:37,926 --> 00:29:41,528
30 million inhabitants--
for nearly 100 years,
596
00:29:41,563 --> 00:29:45,766
And the people are
worse off than they were
at the beginning."
597
00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:50,020
Churchill told his number two,
anthony eden, in late '44...
598
00:29:50,054 --> 00:29:52,256
Churchill's voice:
There must be no question
599
00:29:52,290 --> 00:29:55,893
Of our being hustled
or seduced into declarations
600
00:29:55,927 --> 00:29:57,895
Affecting
british sovereignty
601
00:29:57,929 --> 00:30:00,998
In any of the dominions
or colonies.
602
00:30:01,032 --> 00:30:04,735
"hands off the british empire"
is our maxim,
603
00:30:04,769 --> 00:30:07,738
And it must not
be weakened or smirched
604
00:30:07,772 --> 00:30:11,375
To please
sob-stuff merchants at home
605
00:30:11,409 --> 00:30:14,194
Or foreigners of any hue."
606
00:30:22,003 --> 00:30:23,854
Newsreel voice:
British soldiers have
607
00:30:23,888 --> 00:30:26,056
Returned to greece.
And historic athens,
608
00:30:26,107 --> 00:30:29,193
Capital of ancient freedom,
eagerly awaits liberation.
609
00:30:35,266 --> 00:30:38,385
Stone:
Churchill sent
british troops into athens
610
00:30:38,419 --> 00:30:41,922
To repress the left-wing
and communist partisans
611
00:30:41,956 --> 00:30:45,175
Who had led
the underground resistance
to the nazis
612
00:30:45,210 --> 00:30:47,311
And were now
battling for power
613
00:30:47,362 --> 00:30:51,498
Against reactionary forces
who wanted to restore the king.
614
00:30:51,533 --> 00:30:54,384
But the greek people
did not want to exchange
615
00:30:54,419 --> 00:30:56,353
The nazis
for the old monarch.
616
00:30:56,387 --> 00:30:59,206
Street fighting raged
through the greek capital.
617
00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:00,807
Churchill ordered his men
618
00:31:00,825 --> 00:31:03,410
To treat athens
as a conquered city.
619
00:31:03,428 --> 00:31:07,047
The british general scobie
called in dive bombers.
620
00:31:07,081 --> 00:31:10,434
Stalin, however,
refused to back the partisans,
621
00:31:10,468 --> 00:31:13,070
Delivering on his bargain
to churchill.
622
00:31:13,104 --> 00:31:15,389
Roosevelt is reported
to have said...
623
00:31:15,423 --> 00:31:18,342
Roosevelt's voice:
How the british can dare
such a thing!
624
00:31:18,376 --> 00:31:21,962
The lengths they will go
to hang on to the past."
625
00:31:23,798 --> 00:31:26,350
Stone:
With the dawn
of victory in europe,
626
00:31:26,384 --> 00:31:30,403
Roosevelt, stalin
and churchill met
for the second and last time
627
00:31:30,421 --> 00:31:34,074
At yalta on the black sea
in early February.
628
00:31:36,511 --> 00:31:40,397
The soviet union
was preoccupied
with its security.
629
00:31:40,448 --> 00:31:43,417
Britain was preserving
its empire.
630
00:31:43,451 --> 00:31:45,819
The u.S. Wanted
soviet assistance
631
00:31:45,853 --> 00:31:47,788
In ending the pacific war,
632
00:31:47,822 --> 00:31:50,557
And support
for a world economy
633
00:31:50,592 --> 00:31:53,293
Open to u.S. Trade
and investment,
634
00:31:53,328 --> 00:31:56,763
And for establishing
a united nations
635
00:31:56,798 --> 00:31:58,699
To preserve the new peace.
636
00:31:58,733 --> 00:32:01,735
Roosevelt's doctors had
begged him not to go to yalta.
637
00:32:01,769 --> 00:32:04,988
The president was
weakening daily,
638
00:32:05,039 --> 00:32:07,474
But his vast spirit
kept him going.
639
00:32:07,508 --> 00:32:09,743
Roosevelt's voice:
It's been a global war,
640
00:32:09,777 --> 00:32:11,544
And we've already started
641
00:32:11,562 --> 00:32:13,997
Making it a global peace.
642
00:32:18,770 --> 00:32:20,938
Stone:
There was little time to waste.
643
00:32:20,972 --> 00:32:23,323
And though they didn't see
eye to eye on germany,
644
00:32:23,357 --> 00:32:26,793
The big three agreed
to a complete disarmament,
645
00:32:26,828 --> 00:32:30,163
Demilitarization
and dismemberment
of germany.
646
00:32:32,684 --> 00:32:34,635
They would divide
the conquered nation
647
00:32:34,669 --> 00:32:36,553
Into four military zones,
648
00:32:36,587 --> 00:32:38,889
With one controlled
by France.
649
00:32:38,923 --> 00:32:42,059
The u.S. Still had
one major card to play--
650
00:32:42,093 --> 00:32:43,977
Postwar economic assistance
651
00:32:43,995 --> 00:32:47,748
To help the soviets rebuild
their shattered nation.
652
00:32:49,283 --> 00:32:51,385
A reparations commission
was established
653
00:32:51,419 --> 00:32:55,255
Based on an estimated figure
of $20 billion,
654
00:32:55,289 --> 00:32:57,724
With half going
to the soviet union.
655
00:32:57,759 --> 00:32:59,493
This was the carrot.
656
00:33:02,263 --> 00:33:03,747
Poland was the focus
657
00:33:03,781 --> 00:33:06,199
Of seven of yalta's
eight sessions.
658
00:33:06,233 --> 00:33:09,119
Ultimately
the three leaders compromised
659
00:33:09,170 --> 00:33:12,406
On a polish provisional
government of national unity,
660
00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:14,408
Which was admittedly vague,
661
00:33:14,442 --> 00:33:18,879
Intended to include democratic
leaders from outside poland.
662
00:33:18,913 --> 00:33:20,947
Naval chief of staff
william leahy,
663
00:33:20,982 --> 00:33:23,050
A veteran
of the spanish-american
664
00:33:23,084 --> 00:33:25,852
And first world wars,
warned roosevelt...
665
00:33:25,887 --> 00:33:27,754
Leahy's voice:
This is so elastic
666
00:33:27,789 --> 00:33:29,723
That the russians
can stretch it all the way
667
00:33:29,757 --> 00:33:31,591
From yalta to washington
668
00:33:31,626 --> 00:33:33,994
Without technically
breaking it.
669
00:33:34,028 --> 00:33:36,963
- Stone: Roosevelt agreed.
- Roosevelt's voice:
I know, bill.
670
00:33:36,998 --> 00:33:40,333
I know it.
But it's the best I can do
for poland at this time.
671
00:33:40,368 --> 00:33:43,870
Stone:
In truth, the United States and
britain had lost their leverage
672
00:33:43,905 --> 00:33:48,475
By failing to open up
the second front until
very late in the war.
673
00:33:48,509 --> 00:33:53,180
So at the end of the day,
f.D.R. Didn't give
anything at yalta
674
00:33:53,214 --> 00:33:55,248
That stalin didn't
already have.
675
00:33:55,266 --> 00:33:57,584
On the other hand
stalin was in no rush
676
00:33:57,618 --> 00:34:01,455
To institute
revolutionary change,
if at all.
677
00:34:01,489 --> 00:34:04,391
As in greece,
he recognized that
the communists,
678
00:34:04,425 --> 00:34:07,327
Although they'd
often played a leading role
679
00:34:07,361 --> 00:34:10,130
In anti-nazi
resistance movements,
680
00:34:10,164 --> 00:34:11,998
Represented
a minority element
681
00:34:12,033 --> 00:34:14,634
In most of these
liberated nations.
682
00:34:14,669 --> 00:34:17,471
Never having shared
trotsky's zeal
683
00:34:17,505 --> 00:34:19,873
For international communism,
684
00:34:19,907 --> 00:34:22,726
He had once remarked
that communism fit poland
685
00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:25,362
Like a saddle fit a cow.
686
00:34:25,396 --> 00:34:28,565
It was these conflicts,
primarily over poland,
687
00:34:28,599 --> 00:34:32,035
That would eventually
tear the alliance apart.
688
00:34:33,438 --> 00:34:35,672
But most importantly
to roosevelt,
689
00:34:35,706 --> 00:34:38,175
Stalin definitely
committed the u.S.S.R.
690
00:34:38,209 --> 00:34:40,277
To join the war
against japan
691
00:34:40,311 --> 00:34:43,914
Three months after the close
of the european war.
692
00:34:43,948 --> 00:34:48,085
There were still close
to two million japanese
soldiers in china.
693
00:34:48,119 --> 00:34:52,789
And without soviet aid,
the war could drag on
indefinitely.
694
00:34:52,824 --> 00:34:55,525
In return, roosevelt
and churchill promised
695
00:34:55,560 --> 00:34:57,778
Territorial
and economic inducements
696
00:34:57,812 --> 00:34:59,412
That would essentially restore
697
00:34:59,447 --> 00:35:01,648
What the russians
had lost to japan
698
00:35:01,682 --> 00:35:04,651
In their 1904-'05 war.
699
00:35:04,685 --> 00:35:08,021
Additionally, the big three
reached some agreements
700
00:35:08,055 --> 00:35:09,689
On the united nations,
701
00:35:09,724 --> 00:35:13,160
Which was set to convene
in April of '45,
702
00:35:13,194 --> 00:35:15,745
And a system
of trusteeships to deal
703
00:35:15,780 --> 00:35:18,682
With the liberated
colonial territories.
704
00:35:18,716 --> 00:35:21,017
Although there were
many vagaries left
705
00:35:21,052 --> 00:35:24,104
When it came
to the british
and french empires
706
00:35:24,138 --> 00:35:26,957
In indochina,
africa and asia.
707
00:35:28,709 --> 00:35:32,145
News of yalta ignited
a kind of optimism
708
00:35:32,180 --> 00:35:34,347
That hadn't been seen
for decades.
709
00:35:34,381 --> 00:35:36,316
Former president
herbert hoover
710
00:35:36,350 --> 00:35:39,953
Called the conference
a "great hope to the world."
711
00:35:39,987 --> 00:35:43,190
C.B.S. War correspondent
william shirer,
712
00:35:43,224 --> 00:35:45,659
Who later authored
the renowned bestseller
713
00:35:45,693 --> 00:35:47,727
"the rise and fall
of the third reich,"
714
00:35:47,762 --> 00:35:51,131
Declared it
a "landmark in human history."
715
00:35:51,165 --> 00:35:53,433
Roosevelt returned in triumph.
716
00:35:53,467 --> 00:35:55,802
Addressing congress
for the first time
717
00:35:55,837 --> 00:35:57,938
Without standing
on his braces,
718
00:35:57,972 --> 00:36:00,841
He called for acceptance
of the results.
719
00:36:00,875 --> 00:36:04,477
...As the beginnings of
a permanent structure of peace
720
00:36:05,680 --> 00:36:10,650
Upon which we can begin
to build, under god,
721
00:36:10,685 --> 00:36:15,655
That better world
in which our children
and grandchildren,
722
00:36:15,690 --> 00:36:18,058
Yours and mine,
723
00:36:18,092 --> 00:36:22,362
The children and grandchildren
of the whole world,
724
00:36:22,396 --> 00:36:25,799
Must live and can live.
725
00:36:25,833 --> 00:36:27,400
( applause )
726
00:36:27,435 --> 00:36:29,402
Stone:
For franklin delano roosevelt,
727
00:36:29,437 --> 00:36:32,622
It was an amazing conclusion
to an amazing life.
728
00:36:34,091 --> 00:36:36,993
The yalta agreement would
forever be controversial
729
00:36:37,028 --> 00:36:39,646
And roosevelt would
be unfairly attacked
730
00:36:39,680 --> 00:36:42,265
For capitulating to stalin.
731
00:36:42,300 --> 00:36:43,934
And in the weeks to follow,
732
00:36:43,968 --> 00:36:46,069
Disagreements
with the soviets surfaced
733
00:36:46,103 --> 00:36:48,205
Over poland and other issues.
734
00:36:48,239 --> 00:36:50,774
But roosevelt never lost hope,
735
00:36:50,808 --> 00:36:53,543
And in his last cable
to churchill wrote...
736
00:36:53,578 --> 00:36:57,547
Roosevelt's voice:
I would minimize the soviet
problem as much as possible,
737
00:36:57,582 --> 00:37:01,334
Because these problems
in one form or another
738
00:37:01,368 --> 00:37:03,587
Seem to arise every day
739
00:37:03,638 --> 00:37:06,256
And most of them
straighten out.
740
00:37:06,307 --> 00:37:08,258
Stone:
Roosevelt truly thought
741
00:37:08,292 --> 00:37:11,094
He would live
to enforce the peace.
742
00:37:13,264 --> 00:37:15,398
But less than two months later
743
00:37:15,433 --> 00:37:17,851
After 12 years in office,
744
00:37:17,885 --> 00:37:20,370
His great, great heart
finally gave out
745
00:37:20,404 --> 00:37:22,956
When he died
of a massive stroke.
746
00:37:27,194 --> 00:37:30,847
The longest-serving president
in american history,
747
00:37:30,881 --> 00:37:33,883
Franklin roosevelt had
seen the country through
its hardest times--
748
00:37:33,918 --> 00:37:36,386
The great depression
and great war.
749
00:37:38,639 --> 00:37:42,509
Without him, the postwar peace
that was achieved at yalta
750
00:37:42,543 --> 00:37:46,096
Between the british
and american empires
and soviet communism
751
00:37:46,130 --> 00:37:48,481
Could not be maintained.
752
00:37:50,985 --> 00:37:52,836
In-between these giants,
753
00:37:52,870 --> 00:37:56,673
America's new president was
a shadow of his predecessor,
754
00:37:56,707 --> 00:37:58,575
And he openly admitted it.
755
00:38:01,145 --> 00:38:03,747
Newsreel voice:
As the nation is plunged
into mourning,
756
00:38:03,781 --> 00:38:05,982
Harry s. Truman
becomes president,
757
00:38:06,017 --> 00:38:07,751
The seventh american...
758
00:38:07,785 --> 00:38:09,853
Stone:
On his first day in office
759
00:38:09,887 --> 00:38:12,389
A group of reporters asked
how the job was going
760
00:38:12,423 --> 00:38:14,808
And truman replied...
761
00:38:14,842 --> 00:38:18,261
Harry truman's voice:
Boys, if you ever pray,
pray for me now.
762
00:38:18,296 --> 00:38:21,665
I don't know whether
you fellows ever had
a load of hay fall on you,
763
00:38:21,699 --> 00:38:24,267
But when they told me
yesterday what happened,
764
00:38:24,302 --> 00:38:26,970
I felt like the moon,
the stars
765
00:38:27,004 --> 00:38:29,406
And all the planets
had fallen on me.
766
00:38:29,440 --> 00:38:33,193
I've got the most
terribly responsible job
a man ever had.
767
00:38:33,227 --> 00:38:35,195
Stone:
When a reporter yelled out,
768
00:38:35,229 --> 00:38:37,914
"good luck, mr. President,"
truman responded...
769
00:38:37,948 --> 00:38:40,600
Truman's voice:
"I wish you didn't have
to call me that."
770
00:38:40,634 --> 00:38:43,169
Stone:
This was not false humility
on truman's part.
771
00:38:43,203 --> 00:38:46,139
He'd only been
vice president for 82 days
772
00:38:46,173 --> 00:38:48,425
And only spoken
to roosevelt twice.
773
00:38:48,459 --> 00:38:50,810
But neither roosevelt
or anyone else
774
00:38:50,845 --> 00:38:54,230
Had ever bothered to inform
the lightly-regarded
vice president
775
00:38:54,281 --> 00:38:56,066
That the United States
was building
776
00:38:56,117 --> 00:38:58,518
The most powerful weapon
in history.
777
00:39:03,290 --> 00:39:06,109
On April 15th
truman and wallace,
778
00:39:06,160 --> 00:39:09,045
Who had remained in the cabinet
as secretary of commerce,
779
00:39:09,096 --> 00:39:13,083
Met the funeral train
at washington's union station.
780
00:39:13,117 --> 00:39:14,984
There was another man
with them--
781
00:39:15,019 --> 00:39:16,453
Jimmy byrnes,
782
00:39:16,487 --> 00:39:19,422
Truman's old mentor
from his senate days
783
00:39:19,457 --> 00:39:21,825
Who had befriended
the missourian at a time
784
00:39:21,859 --> 00:39:23,626
When most senators avoided him
785
00:39:23,661 --> 00:39:26,262
As a pendergast political hack.
786
00:39:27,865 --> 00:39:29,599
Impressed with the fact
787
00:39:29,633 --> 00:39:31,935
That byrnes had accompanied
roosevelt to yalta,
788
00:39:31,969 --> 00:39:35,238
Although he found out
later that he'd left
the conference early
789
00:39:35,272 --> 00:39:38,641
And was not in
on the important discussions,
790
00:39:38,676 --> 00:39:42,712
Truman came to rely on byrnes
above all others for advice.
791
00:39:43,948 --> 00:39:46,416
Byrnes gave truman
his first real briefing
792
00:39:46,450 --> 00:39:48,685
About the atomic bomb,
which he described
793
00:39:48,719 --> 00:39:51,521
As an explosive great enough
to destroy the whole world
794
00:39:51,555 --> 00:39:53,757
That "might well
put us in a position
795
00:39:53,791 --> 00:39:56,993
To dictate our own terms
at the end of the war."
796
00:39:58,129 --> 00:40:00,797
He did not specify
exactly to whom
797
00:40:00,831 --> 00:40:04,100
The u.S. Would be
dictating those terms.
798
00:40:06,270 --> 00:40:08,271
( applause )
799
00:40:11,809 --> 00:40:13,760
With great humility,
800
00:40:13,794 --> 00:40:16,396
I call upon all americans
801
00:40:16,430 --> 00:40:20,433
To help me keep
our nation united
802
00:40:20,468 --> 00:40:23,136
In defense of those ideals
803
00:40:23,170 --> 00:40:26,039
Which have been
so eloquently proclaimed
804
00:40:26,073 --> 00:40:28,274
- By franklin roosevelt.
- ( applause )
805
00:40:28,309 --> 00:40:30,543
Stone:
This turns out
to be a crucial moment
806
00:40:30,578 --> 00:40:32,228
In the history of the world
807
00:40:32,279 --> 00:40:34,631
And much of it
has been forgotten,
808
00:40:34,665 --> 00:40:36,966
But it is
well worth revisiting.
809
00:40:37,001 --> 00:40:41,187
The first to see truman
after roosevelt's death
on April 13th
810
00:40:41,222 --> 00:40:43,723
Was secretary of state
edward stettinius.
811
00:40:43,757 --> 00:40:46,960
The former u.S. Steel
chairman of the board
812
00:40:46,994 --> 00:40:50,029
Had had very little influence
with roosevelt.
813
00:40:50,064 --> 00:40:52,332
But for truman,
stettinius painted
814
00:40:52,366 --> 00:40:55,635
A picture
of soviet deception
and perfidy,
815
00:40:55,669 --> 00:40:58,838
Saying that britain's churchill
felt even more strongly.
816
00:40:58,873 --> 00:41:02,642
And churchill wasted
little time confirming
that view both in cables
817
00:41:02,676 --> 00:41:05,378
And in a hurried visit
to washington
818
00:41:05,412 --> 00:41:08,264
From his foreign secretary
anthony eden.
819
00:41:08,299 --> 00:41:11,784
The british ambassador
to the u.S., lord halifax,
820
00:41:11,819 --> 00:41:14,804
Sized truman up,
saying the new president was
821
00:41:14,839 --> 00:41:17,273
"an honest
and diligent mediocrity.
822
00:41:17,324 --> 00:41:20,043
A bungling,
if well-meaning amateur"
823
00:41:20,077 --> 00:41:24,747
Surrounded by "missouri county
courthouse caliber" friends.
824
00:41:24,782 --> 00:41:27,951
That afternoon truman met
with jimmy byrnes.
825
00:41:27,985 --> 00:41:30,003
Admitting his abject ignorance,
826
00:41:30,037 --> 00:41:32,539
He implored byrnes
to tell him about everything
827
00:41:32,573 --> 00:41:36,192
"from tehran to yalta"
and "everything else
under the sun."
828
00:41:36,227 --> 00:41:38,161
Byrnes gladly accommodated.
829
00:41:38,195 --> 00:41:39,762
In a series of meetings,
830
00:41:39,797 --> 00:41:42,699
Byrnes reinforced
stettinius's message
831
00:41:42,733 --> 00:41:45,568
That the soviets were breaking
their yalta agreements
832
00:41:45,603 --> 00:41:47,971
And implored truman
to be, above all,
833
00:41:48,005 --> 00:41:50,173
Uncompromising with them.
834
00:41:50,207 --> 00:41:54,010
Truman made clear
his intention to make
byrnes secretary of state
835
00:41:54,044 --> 00:41:56,846
As soon
as stettinius had gotten
836
00:41:56,897 --> 00:41:59,115
The united nations
off the ground.
837
00:41:59,149 --> 00:42:01,935
In this atmosphere,
ambassador to the soviet union
838
00:42:01,969 --> 00:42:03,369
Averell harriman,
839
00:42:03,404 --> 00:42:05,238
Having rushed back
from moscow,
840
00:42:05,272 --> 00:42:07,040
Warned that
the u.S. Was facing
841
00:42:07,074 --> 00:42:09,375
A "barbarian invasion
of europe"
842
00:42:09,410 --> 00:42:11,377
And urged truman
to stand firm
843
00:42:11,412 --> 00:42:14,247
And tell foreign minister
molotov in washington
844
00:42:14,281 --> 00:42:17,183
That "we would not stand
for any pushing around
845
00:42:17,218 --> 00:42:19,319
On the polish question."
846
00:42:19,353 --> 00:42:22,088
As soon as the russians
had control over a country,
847
00:42:22,122 --> 00:42:25,892
Harriman said,
the secret police moved in
and wiped out free speech.
848
00:42:25,926 --> 00:42:30,396
But he clarified that
the soviets would not risk
a break with the u.S.
849
00:42:30,431 --> 00:42:34,434
Because they desperately sought
the postwar reconstruction aid
850
00:42:34,468 --> 00:42:36,402
That roosevelt had
promised them.
851
00:42:36,437 --> 00:42:39,455
Truman masked
his limited understanding
852
00:42:39,506 --> 00:42:41,641
Of the issues
with bluster and bravado,
853
00:42:41,675 --> 00:42:44,110
Telling harriman that
he didn't expect
854
00:42:44,144 --> 00:42:46,696
To get 100% of what
he wanted from the russians,
855
00:42:46,730 --> 00:42:49,666
But he did expect
to get 85%.
856
00:42:49,700 --> 00:42:51,768
It is important to note
857
00:42:51,802 --> 00:42:55,405
That many of the most
vociferous critics
of the soviet union
858
00:42:55,439 --> 00:42:57,991
Shared a similar
class background
859
00:42:58,025 --> 00:43:01,361
And a deep hatred
for anything that smacked
of socialism.
860
00:43:01,395 --> 00:43:04,614
Harriman was the son
of a railroad tycoon
861
00:43:04,648 --> 00:43:07,450
Who had founded
brown brothers harriman.
862
00:43:07,484 --> 00:43:10,653
James forrestal had made
a fortune on wall street.
863
00:43:10,688 --> 00:43:13,623
Stettinius had been
chairman of the board
864
00:43:13,657 --> 00:43:15,992
Of the nation's
largest corporation.
865
00:43:16,026 --> 00:43:19,529
They were joined
by enormously wealthy
international bankers,
866
00:43:19,563 --> 00:43:21,631
Wall street
and washington lawyers,
867
00:43:21,665 --> 00:43:24,250
And corporate executives
who had mostly inherited
868
00:43:24,284 --> 00:43:27,920
Or made their fortunes
during the interwar years.
869
00:43:27,955 --> 00:43:32,625
These men would come
to shape postwar u.S. Policy
870
00:43:32,660 --> 00:43:35,662
And included dean acheson,
robert lovett,
871
00:43:35,696 --> 00:43:39,065
John mccloy,
john foster and allen dulles,
872
00:43:39,099 --> 00:43:42,468
Nelson rockefeller,
paul nitze,
873
00:43:42,503 --> 00:43:45,038
And general motors president
charles wilson,
874
00:43:45,072 --> 00:43:47,407
Who as head of the war
production board
875
00:43:47,441 --> 00:43:49,575
Had said that
the United States needed
876
00:43:49,610 --> 00:43:51,678
A "permanent war economy."
877
00:43:51,712 --> 00:43:53,946
Although they had
served roosevelt,
878
00:43:53,981 --> 00:43:56,783
They had in fact
little influence on him.
879
00:43:56,817 --> 00:44:00,136
Opposed to this
antagonistic point of view
880
00:44:00,170 --> 00:44:02,922
Towards the soviets
were the veterans--
881
00:44:02,956 --> 00:44:05,141
Secretary of war
henry stimson,
882
00:44:05,175 --> 00:44:07,677
Army chief of staff
general george marshall,
883
00:44:07,711 --> 00:44:11,180
And former vice president
henry wallace.
884
00:44:11,215 --> 00:44:14,300
Admiral william leahy
again noted the elasticity
885
00:44:14,334 --> 00:44:17,403
Of the yalta agreement
and the difficulty
886
00:44:17,438 --> 00:44:19,956
Of alleging bad faith
on that basis.
887
00:44:19,990 --> 00:44:23,009
In fact he said, after yalta,
he would have been surprised
888
00:44:23,043 --> 00:44:26,079
Had the soviets behaved
differently than they had.
889
00:44:26,113 --> 00:44:28,081
Marshall,
who "time" magazine
890
00:44:28,115 --> 00:44:31,351
Had named "man of the year"
for 1943,
891
00:44:31,385 --> 00:44:33,920
Contended that a break
with the soviets
892
00:44:33,954 --> 00:44:36,806
Would be disastrous,
given u.S. Dependence on them
893
00:44:36,840 --> 00:44:39,092
To help defeat
the japanese.
894
00:44:39,126 --> 00:44:41,694
The conservative secretary
of war, henry stimson,
895
00:44:41,729 --> 00:44:44,731
Who had fought the ute indians
in the 19th century
896
00:44:44,765 --> 00:44:46,966
And still liked
to be called "the colonel,"
897
00:44:47,000 --> 00:44:49,602
Was long practiced
in the ways of the world.
898
00:44:49,636 --> 00:44:53,122
When confronted by the issues
of acquisition by force,
899
00:44:53,173 --> 00:44:56,659
He explained that
the u.S.S.R. Had been
a trustworthy ally,
900
00:44:56,694 --> 00:44:59,896
Often delivering even more
than had been promised,
901
00:44:59,930 --> 00:45:02,765
Especially
in military matters.
902
00:45:02,800 --> 00:45:07,336
He reminded the president
of poland's importance
to russia and said...
903
00:45:07,371 --> 00:45:10,473
Stimson's voice:
The russians are probably
being more realistic
904
00:45:10,507 --> 00:45:12,975
About their own security
than we are.
905
00:45:13,010 --> 00:45:15,545
Stone:
He had previously noted
that russia...
906
00:45:15,579 --> 00:45:18,614
Stimson's voice:
Prior to 1914 had owned
the whole of poland,
907
00:45:18,649 --> 00:45:21,417
Including warsaw,
as far as germany
908
00:45:21,452 --> 00:45:24,954
And that she was not asking
for restitution of that.
909
00:45:24,988 --> 00:45:27,807
Stone:
He added that,
outside the u.S. And britain,
910
00:45:27,825 --> 00:45:32,128
Very few countries shared
the western understanding
of free elections.
911
00:45:34,231 --> 00:45:36,466
Nonetheless,
in his first meeting
912
00:45:36,500 --> 00:45:40,203
With soviet
foreign minister molotov
on April the 23rd,
913
00:45:40,237 --> 00:45:42,772
11 days
after roosevelt's death,
914
00:45:42,806 --> 00:45:45,708
Truman wasted little time
accusing the soviets
915
00:45:45,743 --> 00:45:50,146
Of having broken
their yalta agreement,
particularly in poland.
916
00:45:50,197 --> 00:45:52,148
When molotov tried to explain
917
00:45:52,182 --> 00:45:55,118
The yalta-polish agreement
through stalin's eyes,
918
00:45:55,152 --> 00:45:57,854
Truman dismissed
his clarifications.
919
00:45:57,888 --> 00:46:01,457
When molotov raised
other issues, truman snapped...
920
00:46:01,492 --> 00:46:03,993
Truman's voice:
That will be all,
mr. Molotov.
921
00:46:04,027 --> 00:46:06,095
I would appreciate it
if you would transmit
922
00:46:06,130 --> 00:46:08,364
My views
to marshal stalin.
923
00:46:08,398 --> 00:46:11,000
Molotov's voice:
I've never been talked to
like that in my life.
924
00:46:11,034 --> 00:46:12,969
Truman's voice:
Carry out your agreements
925
00:46:13,003 --> 00:46:14,837
And you won't get
talked to like that.
926
00:46:14,872 --> 00:46:16,939
Stone:
Molotov stormed out
of the room.
927
00:46:16,974 --> 00:46:19,308
After the meeting,
truman boasted...
928
00:46:19,343 --> 00:46:22,145
Truman's voice:
I gave it to him straight.
I let him have it.
929
00:46:22,179 --> 00:46:24,614
It was a straight
one-two to the jaw.
930
00:46:24,648 --> 00:46:27,617
Stone:
His bullying
of the soviet foreign minister
931
00:46:27,651 --> 00:46:29,619
Probably conjured up images
932
00:46:29,653 --> 00:46:33,289
Of 5'4" john "peanuts" truman,
933
00:46:33,323 --> 00:46:36,392
The 5'8" president's father,
934
00:46:36,426 --> 00:46:39,295
Who, back in missouri,
would pick fights with men
935
00:46:39,329 --> 00:46:42,565
A foot taller
to show how tough he was.
936
00:46:42,599 --> 00:46:45,201
He wanted
that same toughness
in his sons
937
00:46:45,235 --> 00:46:48,287
And found it in harry's
younger brother vivian.
938
00:46:48,322 --> 00:46:51,290
Harry, however, was diagnosed
with flat eyeballs
939
00:46:51,325 --> 00:46:54,627
And forced to wear
coke-bottle-thick glasses.
940
00:46:54,661 --> 00:46:56,462
He could not play sports
941
00:46:56,497 --> 00:46:58,364
And he was bullied
by the other boys,
942
00:46:58,398 --> 00:47:00,500
Who called him
"four-eyes" and "sissy"
943
00:47:00,534 --> 00:47:02,935
And chased him home
after school.
944
00:47:02,970 --> 00:47:05,505
When he arrived home trembling,
945
00:47:05,539 --> 00:47:08,508
His mother would comfort him
by telling him not to worry
946
00:47:08,542 --> 00:47:10,877
Because he was meant
to be a girl anyway.
947
00:47:10,911 --> 00:47:13,246
Gender issues
plagued him for years.
948
00:47:13,280 --> 00:47:16,883
He would often refer
to his feminine features
and attributes.
949
00:47:16,917 --> 00:47:20,019
Economic hardship
added to his woes.
950
00:47:20,053 --> 00:47:23,856
No sissy anymore,
he now proved he could
stand up to leaders
951
00:47:23,891 --> 00:47:26,826
Of the second
most powerful nation
in the world.
952
00:47:26,860 --> 00:47:30,863
His father,
whose approval he struggled
unsuccessfully to win
953
00:47:30,898 --> 00:47:34,400
When he was alive,
would have been proud
of him now.
954
00:47:34,434 --> 00:47:36,152
Stalin, feeling betrayed,
955
00:47:36,186 --> 00:47:38,604
Wasted no time cabling truman
the following day,
956
00:47:38,639 --> 00:47:41,140
Insisting that
roosevelt had agreed
957
00:47:41,158 --> 00:47:43,359
That the pro-soviet
polish government
958
00:47:43,410 --> 00:47:46,445
Would form the kernel
of the new government.
959
00:47:46,480 --> 00:47:48,631
He added he didn't know
if the governments
960
00:47:48,682 --> 00:47:51,434
Of belgium or greece were
really democratic,
961
00:47:51,468 --> 00:47:53,202
But he wouldn't make a stink
962
00:47:53,237 --> 00:47:55,788
Because they were vital
to british interests.
963
00:47:55,822 --> 00:47:58,207
These were strong words.
964
00:47:58,258 --> 00:48:00,927
And where the opening
of the united nations
965
00:48:00,961 --> 00:48:04,597
In san francisco two days
later on April the 25th
966
00:48:04,631 --> 00:48:08,951
Should have been an occasion
to celebrate a new era
in international peace,
967
00:48:08,986 --> 00:48:13,172
It was instead ruined
by tension between the allies.
968
00:48:13,206 --> 00:48:16,459
The russian request
to have the pro-soviet
government seated
969
00:48:16,493 --> 00:48:19,462
To represent poland
was rejected.
970
00:48:19,496 --> 00:48:20,980
After that
971
00:48:21,014 --> 00:48:24,917
Relations continued
to deteriorate rapidly.
972
00:48:24,952 --> 00:48:27,420
Realizing that
his get-tough tactics
973
00:48:27,454 --> 00:48:30,189
Had not produced
the desired results,
974
00:48:30,223 --> 00:48:32,525
Truman met twice
with joseph davies,
975
00:48:32,559 --> 00:48:35,161
The former ambassador
to the soviet union.
976
00:48:35,195 --> 00:48:37,897
A conservative
corporate attorney,
977
00:48:37,931 --> 00:48:39,799
He'd surprised
liberal critics
978
00:48:39,833 --> 00:48:43,135
By sympathizing
with the soviet experiment.
979
00:48:43,170 --> 00:48:46,505
Davies counseled truman that
the soviets had always been
980
00:48:46,540 --> 00:48:50,543
"sticklers for reciprocity
between allies."
981
00:48:50,577 --> 00:48:52,945
So they accepted
british-imposed governments
982
00:48:52,980 --> 00:48:54,981
In africa, Italy and greece
983
00:48:55,015 --> 00:48:57,016
Even though
they did not represent
984
00:48:57,050 --> 00:48:59,719
The anti-fascist forces
in those countries,
985
00:48:59,753 --> 00:49:01,687
Because they understood
these were
986
00:49:01,722 --> 00:49:04,857
"vital interests"
to america and britain.
987
00:49:04,891 --> 00:49:07,226
And they expected
similar consideration
988
00:49:07,260 --> 00:49:10,529
For their vital security
interests in poland.
989
00:49:10,564 --> 00:49:13,282
Davies noted
how fundamentally
990
00:49:13,317 --> 00:49:16,052
The relationship had changed
in the last six weeks
991
00:49:16,086 --> 00:49:18,421
With the british acting
as instigators,
992
00:49:18,455 --> 00:49:20,673
And warned that
if the russians decide
993
00:49:20,707 --> 00:49:23,175
The u.S. And britain are
"ganging up on them,"
994
00:49:23,193 --> 00:49:25,861
They'll respond
by out-toughing the west
995
00:49:25,896 --> 00:49:30,149
As they did in concluding
the 1939 pact with hitler
996
00:49:30,167 --> 00:49:34,286
When it became clear
that the west would not
help them stop the nazis.
997
00:49:34,321 --> 00:49:36,539
But he assured truman that
998
00:49:36,573 --> 00:49:39,542
"when approached
with generosity
and friendliness,
999
00:49:39,576 --> 00:49:42,812
The soviets respond
with even greater generosity."
1000
00:49:42,846 --> 00:49:46,415
Davies agreed
to set up a meeting
between truman and stalin.
1001
00:49:46,450 --> 00:49:48,734
In that same crucial month,
1002
00:49:48,752 --> 00:49:51,153
A few days
after roosevelt's death,
1003
00:49:51,188 --> 00:49:55,157
The soviets had
amassed three armies
of 2 1/2 million men
1004
00:49:55,192 --> 00:49:59,511
To take berlin
and end forever hitler's
1,000-year reich.
1005
00:50:04,517 --> 00:50:07,603
But incredibly
the germans were still able,
1006
00:50:07,637 --> 00:50:10,923
With all their losses,
to muster an enormous defense
1007
00:50:10,957 --> 00:50:15,177
Of one million men
with fortified bunkers,
air, artillery.
1008
00:50:15,212 --> 00:50:17,179
Their most fanatical recruits
1009
00:50:17,214 --> 00:50:20,366
In this terrible
gotterdammerung:
1010
00:50:20,400 --> 00:50:22,018
Child soldiers.
1011
00:50:23,820 --> 00:50:26,322
It was the third reich's
last stand.
1012
00:50:27,357 --> 00:50:29,392
The battle was bloody.
1013
00:50:29,426 --> 00:50:31,527
80,000 russian troops
were killed,
1014
00:50:31,561 --> 00:50:34,363
At least 300,000 casualties,
1015
00:50:34,398 --> 00:50:35,931
Fighting street to street.
1016
00:50:35,966 --> 00:50:38,667
Berlin fell in four days.
1017
00:50:38,702 --> 00:50:42,588
Hitler and his
long-term mistress
eva braun
1018
00:50:42,622 --> 00:50:45,424
Married and the next day
committed suicide.
1019
00:50:45,459 --> 00:50:49,328
Seeking revenge
for the german rape
of the u.S.S.R.,
1020
00:50:49,362 --> 00:50:53,099
And further fueled by what
they had witnessed liberating
1021
00:50:53,133 --> 00:50:55,768
The concentration camps
of majdanek,
1022
00:50:55,802 --> 00:50:58,304
Sobibor, treblinka
and auschwitz
1023
00:50:58,338 --> 00:50:59,805
En route to berlin,
1024
00:50:59,840 --> 00:51:02,441
The soviet soldiers
behaved brutally
1025
00:51:02,476 --> 00:51:04,009
Towards
the vanquished germans.
1026
00:51:04,044 --> 00:51:05,811
( gunfire )
1027
00:51:05,846 --> 00:51:08,247
Stalin did nothing
to stop it.
1028
00:51:08,281 --> 00:51:11,984
But when reports began
to fill the world's airwaves
1029
00:51:12,018 --> 00:51:16,338
Of vast hordes
of soviet soldiers raping
their way through germany,
1030
00:51:16,373 --> 00:51:19,108
Orders came
from above to stop,
1031
00:51:19,142 --> 00:51:21,177
And the rapes stopped.
1032
00:51:21,211 --> 00:51:22,978
The stories continued--
1033
00:51:23,013 --> 00:51:26,248
Up to two million women,
some claimed, were raped.
1034
00:51:26,283 --> 00:51:29,051
In just a few weeks
over 100,000 did seek
1035
00:51:29,086 --> 00:51:31,053
Medical care for rape.
1036
00:51:33,190 --> 00:51:35,925
As part of the intended
roosevelt-stalin plan
1037
00:51:35,959 --> 00:51:38,360
For the pastoralization
of germany,
1038
00:51:38,395 --> 00:51:41,263
Soviet officials
in the first few months
1039
00:51:41,298 --> 00:51:44,633
Shipped 100,000 rail cars
of construction materials
1040
00:51:44,668 --> 00:51:47,203
And personal goods
back to russia--
1041
00:51:47,237 --> 00:51:49,338
Some to help rebuild
1042
00:51:49,372 --> 00:51:51,340
The shattered economy
and some--
1043
00:51:51,391 --> 00:51:54,543
Like furs, paintings,
gold and jewels--
1044
00:51:54,578 --> 00:51:57,146
For purely
monetary purposes.
1045
00:51:57,180 --> 00:51:59,849
But as a result,
the worldwide perception
1046
00:51:59,883 --> 00:52:03,285
Of the soviet union endured
that it was a barbaric
1047
00:52:03,320 --> 00:52:05,988
And brutal semi-asian nation
1048
00:52:06,022 --> 00:52:09,959
Invading what had
once been civilized europe.
1049
00:52:09,993 --> 00:52:13,429
The dictionary definition
of "empathy" is...
1050
00:52:20,537 --> 00:52:23,472
But truman did not seem
capable of comprehending
1051
00:52:23,507 --> 00:52:27,977
The pain and suffering
of the soviet people
or their motives.
1052
00:52:29,579 --> 00:52:33,415
Roosevelt,
a man who had suffered
from polio in his life,
1053
00:52:33,450 --> 00:52:37,887
Had understood
that the war had been won
by soviet sacrifice
1054
00:52:37,921 --> 00:52:41,106
And that peace now depended
on mutual respect.
1055
00:52:44,144 --> 00:52:47,913
Even churchill had admitted
the soviet army tore
1056
00:52:47,948 --> 00:52:51,483
The guts out
of the german military machine.
1057
00:52:51,518 --> 00:52:54,119
Stalin was a tyrant,
absolutely--
1058
00:52:54,154 --> 00:52:57,523
A ruthless, paranoid dictator
who disdained
1059
00:52:57,557 --> 00:53:00,509
The u.S. Concept
of democracy,
1060
00:53:00,544 --> 00:53:05,080
But he was also
in the tradition
of the cruelest tsars.
1061
00:53:05,115 --> 00:53:07,332
He had clearly gotten along
with roosevelt,
1062
00:53:07,350 --> 00:53:10,186
And had, according to several
high-level witnesses,
1063
00:53:10,220 --> 00:53:12,788
Kept his word to roosevelt.
1064
00:53:12,822 --> 00:53:15,057
He desperately wanted
friendly relations
1065
00:53:15,091 --> 00:53:16,792
With the u.S. To continue.
1066
00:53:16,826 --> 00:53:19,395
But as the cold war descended,
1067
00:53:19,429 --> 00:53:23,732
The laurels of the u.S.S.R.'s
victory over nazi germany
1068
00:53:23,767 --> 00:53:26,569
Were stolen--
or rather, forgotten.
1069
00:53:27,988 --> 00:53:30,406
It would take
another 20 years
1070
00:53:30,440 --> 00:53:32,691
For another u.S. President
and veteran--
1071
00:53:32,726 --> 00:53:36,695
John fitzgerald kennedy,
who had lived his entire life
1072
00:53:36,730 --> 00:53:40,132
In some degree of pain
and with the prospect
of death--
1073
00:53:40,166 --> 00:53:44,286
To pay homage
to the soviet contribution
in world war ii.
1074
00:53:45,939 --> 00:53:47,890
No nation
in the history of battle
1075
00:53:47,924 --> 00:53:50,826
Ever suffered more
than the soviet union
1076
00:53:50,860 --> 00:53:53,162
In the second world war.
1077
00:53:53,196 --> 00:53:56,348
At least 20 million
lost their lives.
1078
00:53:56,366 --> 00:53:58,918
Countless millions
of homes and families
1079
00:53:58,952 --> 00:54:01,220
Were burned or sacked.
1080
00:54:01,254 --> 00:54:04,039
A third
of the nation's territory,
1081
00:54:04,074 --> 00:54:06,875
Including two-thirds
of its industrial base,
1082
00:54:06,910 --> 00:54:08,877
Was turned
into a wasteland--
1083
00:54:08,912 --> 00:54:11,263
A loss equivalent
to the destruction
1084
00:54:11,281 --> 00:54:13,882
Of this country
east of chicago."
1085
00:54:25,028 --> 00:54:29,398
Stone:
Germany officially
surrendered may 7th.
1086
00:54:35,839 --> 00:54:38,257
Newsreel voice:
The war in europe has ended.
1087
00:54:38,291 --> 00:54:41,293
Unconditionally and finally
our german enemy
1088
00:54:41,328 --> 00:54:43,429
Has surrendered
to russia, to britain
1089
00:54:43,463 --> 00:54:45,648
And her commonwealth,
to america,
1090
00:54:45,682 --> 00:54:48,450
To the millions who fought
with their hearts and souls,
1091
00:54:48,485 --> 00:54:50,953
To the people
of all free nations.
1092
00:54:50,987 --> 00:54:53,822
( cheering )
1093
00:54:53,857 --> 00:54:57,226
Stone:
As v-e day was celebrated
around the world,
1094
00:54:57,260 --> 00:55:01,447
It also meant that the soviets,
as agreed at yalta,
1095
00:55:01,481 --> 00:55:04,917
Would enter the pacific war
around August 8th--
1096
00:55:04,951 --> 00:55:08,454
Almost three months
before the November 1
start date
1097
00:55:08,488 --> 00:55:11,974
For the planned allied invasion
of mainland japan.
1098
00:55:13,009 --> 00:55:14,677
When truman and byrnes,
1099
00:55:14,711 --> 00:55:17,096
Now appointed
secretary of state,
1100
00:55:17,130 --> 00:55:20,015
Met with stalin
and churchill in the most
important conference
1101
00:55:20,066 --> 00:55:23,852
Of world war ii at potsdam
in a suburb of berlin,
1102
00:55:23,903 --> 00:55:27,572
They were waiting for news
of the secret atomic tests
1103
00:55:27,590 --> 00:55:30,159
In the desert of alamogordo.
1104
00:55:32,562 --> 00:55:34,697
Truman had pushed
the start of the summit
1105
00:55:34,731 --> 00:55:37,282
Back two weeks to mid-July
1106
00:55:37,317 --> 00:55:39,184
And hoped the bomb
would be tested
1107
00:55:39,219 --> 00:55:42,087
Before negotiations
with stalin began.
1108
00:55:43,289 --> 00:55:45,107
In the desert,
robert oppenheimer said,
1109
00:55:45,158 --> 00:55:47,326
"we were under
incredible pressure
1110
00:55:47,360 --> 00:55:50,813
To get it done before
the potsdam meeting."
1111
00:55:50,847 --> 00:55:54,800
It turned out,
from truman's perspective,
to be worth the wait.
1112
00:55:56,269 --> 00:56:00,005
On July 16th, while truman was
touring bombed-out berlin
1113
00:56:00,040 --> 00:56:04,059
And preparing
for the next day's
meeting with stalin,
1114
00:56:04,094 --> 00:56:07,579
Scientists exploded
the first atomic bomb.
1115
00:56:11,785 --> 00:56:14,586
It exceeded
all expectations.
1116
00:56:15,789 --> 00:56:17,589
Some scientists even feared
1117
00:56:17,624 --> 00:56:20,859
They had indeed set
the atmosphere on fire.
1118
00:56:20,894 --> 00:56:24,763
Groves cabled
the preliminary results
to stimson,
1119
00:56:24,798 --> 00:56:28,000
Who rushed to brief
truman and byrnes.
1120
00:56:28,034 --> 00:56:31,603
They were elated.
They knew that they had
a date with destiny.
1121
00:56:31,637 --> 00:56:33,639
( dramatic music playing )
90240
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