All language subtitles for The.Dust.Bowl.S01E03.1080p.Bluray.x265.10bit.AAC.5.1-LION[UTR].en

Narrator: HISTORY, AS SEEN
THROUGH THE EYES OF KEN BURNS,

IS JUST
COLLECTION OF STORIES

ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED
IN THE .

TO REFLECT ON HOW TO BUILD
A STRONGER TOMORROW.

WE SHARE IN HIS VISION,

WE'RE PROUD
TO SUPPORT HIS EFFORTS.

FUNDING FOR
THIS IS PROVIDED BY:

MEMBERS OF
THE ANGELS SOCIETY,

DEDICATED TO HELPING KEN BURNS
TELL AMERICA'S STORIES,

INCLUDING THE HAMEL
FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST,

ROBERT
BEVERLY GRAPPONE;

THE ARTHUR VINING DAVIS
FOUNDATIONS,

DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING
AMERICA'S FUTURE

THROUGH EDUCATION;

THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT
FOR THE HUMANITIES,

EXPLORING THE HUMAN ENDEAVOR;

THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION;

THE WALLACE GENETIC FOUNDATION;

THE CORPORATION
FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING

AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS

FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

[WIND BLOWING]

Woody Guthrie:
ON THE 14th DAY OF APRIL

§ OF 1935 §

THERE STRUCK THE WORST
OF DUST STORMS

THAT EVER FILLED THE SKY

YOU COULD SEE
THAT DUST STORM COMING

THE CLOUD LOOKED
DEATH-LIKE BLACK

THROUGH
OUR MIGHTY NATION

IT LEFT A DREADFUL TRACK

Donald Worster: WE HAVE MANY
WORDS FOR WHAT'S UNDER OUR FEET.

THE GOOD EARTH--WE LIKE TO
TALK ABOUT THE GOOD EARTH

PICK IT UP
SMELL IT AND TASTE IT.

THIS IS THE SOIL OF OUR
PRODUCTIVITY, OUR PROSPERITY.

BUT WHEN IT'S LOOSE
BLOWING

AND IT'S GETTING
INTO YOUR ATTIC

IT'S COVERING YOUR LAUNDRY
ON THE CLOTHES LINE, IT'S DIRT,

WHEN YOU'RE
BREATHING IT, IT'S DUST.

I THINK WE ALL REALIZE
THAT WHERE DIRT BELONGS

NOT UP IN THE AIR.

Wayne Lewis: WE MADE

IN THE LATE TWENTIES

THAT WE BROKE EVERYTHING OUT
TO RAISE WHEAT.

THEN THE CLIMATE CHANGED
THE DEPRESSION CAME ALONG,

THE WHEAT
WASN'T MUCH.

BUT WE STILL
THE BROKEN OUT.

GET RICH QUICK
OFF OF THE WHEAT,

AND IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.

Riney-Kehrberg:
THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST

SUSTAINED ENVIRONMENTAL

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENS IN JUST ONE YEAR.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT
JUST LASTS FOR 3 OR 4 YEARS.

BECAUSE OF THE COMBINATION
OF EXTREME DROUGHT

AND EXTREME HIGH TEMPERATURES,

THIS IS THE WORST
10-YEAR PERIOD

IN RECORDED HISTORY
ON THE PLAINS.

Guthrie: § WE SAW
OUTSIDE OUR WINDOW

WHERE WHEAT FIELDS
THEY GROWN

WAS NOW A RIPPLING

OF DUST
THE WIND HAD BLOWN

Narrator: IN THE SUMMER OF 1935,

AT HER HOMESTEAD IN
THE PANHANDLE,

CAROLINE HENDERSON,
A FARM WIFE AND WRITER,

SAT DOWN AND COMPOSED A LETTER

TO THE SECRETARY OF
AGRICULTURE, HENRY WALLACE,

TO LET HIM KNOW WHAT
SHE, HER HUSBAND,

OF HER NEIGHBORS
WERE GOING THROUGH.

Caroline Henderson portrayer:

A FOURTH YEAR OF FAILURE.

SINCE 1931,
THE BEEN

ONE OF PRACTICALLY
UNBROKEN DROUGHT.

THERE BE NO WHEAT
FOR US IN 1935.

IN ONE RESPECT, WE REALIZE THAT

CONTRIBUTED TO THIS
REAPING OF THE WHIRLWIND.

PREACHER-
TRUE JOB'S COMFORTER--

PROCLAIMED THAT THE DROUGHT IS A
DIRECT PUNISHMENT FOR OUR SINS.

THE FUTURE PROMISES ONLY

HOPELESS AND PERMANENT
DESERT CONDITIONS.

SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR
RAIN WERE OFFERED

AT OUR COUNTY SEAT
LAST SUNDAY MORNING.

THE AFTERNOON BROUGHT ONE
OF THE MOST SUDDEN, DENSE,

SUFFOCATING DUST ST:
OF THE SEASON.

Narrator: BY 1935, CAROLINE
HENDERSON AND HER NEIGHBORS

NEEDED ALL THE HELP
THEY COULD FIND.

LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN
THE UNITED STATES,

THEY WERE SUFFERING AS THE

IN THE NATION'S HISTORY--

THE GREAT DEPRESSION--
LINGERED ON.

BUT THEY WERE ALSO
CAUGHT IN THE MIDST

OF THE NATION'S GREATEST

WHERE "BLACK BLIZZARDS"
BLOTTED OUT THE SUN,

CREATED DRIFTS AGAINST THEIR
HOMES, RUINED THEIR CROPS,

AND TOOK THE LIVES
OF THEIR CHILDREN.

AND JUST WHEN IT SEEMED THINGS

COULD NOT GET WORSE,

ON SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 1935,

OF ALL HAD STRUCK

Riney-Kehrberg: I THINK IT
REALLY SCARED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THAT IT GETS THE ATTENTION

OF THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

IF PEOPLE WEREN'T PAYING
ATTENTION TO BLACK SUNDAY,

THIS IS AN EVENT
THAT IS SO MONUMENTAL

THAT PEOPLE CAN'T IGNORE IT.

Narrator: IN THE DUST BOWL,
THE SURVIVORS OF BLACK SUNDAY

WORRIED THAT THEY HAD
BECOME A FORGOTTEN PEOPLE

IN A FORGOTTEN LAND.

THEY WEREN'T FORGOTTEN.

WHILE PRESIDENT FRANKLIN

TO GET THE WHOLE COUNTRY
BACK ON ITS FEET,

CONCERNED ABOUT THE FATE

OF THE SOUTHERN PLAINS.

BUT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS,
THE DROUGHT WOULD ONLY DEEPEN,

AND THE "BLACK BLIZZARDS"
THAT ADDED IMMEASURABLY

TO PEOPLE'S MISERIES
WOULD ONLY INTENSIFY.

MANY WOULD FIGHT DESPERATELY

TO HOLD ON TO THEIR
THEIR LIVES.

OTHERS WOULD BE FORCED
TO JOIN AN EXODUS

TOWARD A PROMISED LAND THAT
OFFERED BOTH WATER AND WORK.

IN THE CRUCIBLE OF DUST
DROUGHT DEPRESSION,

SOME FAMILIES WOULD
BE TORN \

OTHERS UPROOTED
FROM THEIR HOMES,

AND SOME BROUGHT CLOSER
TOGETHER THAN EVER BEFORE.

I THINK TO BE
DRY FARMER,

YOU HAVE TO BE A CERTAIN
KIND OF A PERSON,

DEEP DOWN INSIDE
OF THEMSELVES,

THEY MUST HAVE THE FEELING,
"IF WE JUST STICK IT OUT

STAY HERE, TIMES
BOUND TO GET BETTER,"

WHICH DID GIVE THEM
LITTLE HOPE,

BUT IN THE MIDDLE
OF A DUST STORM,

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO HOPE,

IT TAKES A LOT OF WILLPOWER
EVERYTHING ELSE

TO BRING YOURSELF BACK OUT
TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME.

PEOPLE WHO DID STICK IT OUT.

THEY COME THERE,
MAYBE THEY'D BEEN THERE,

AND THEY INTENDED TO STAY.

THIS WAS THEIR HOME.

Dorothy Kleffman: WE LIVED
IN A BROWN WORLD.

THE LAND WAS
BARREN AND BROWN.

IT SEEMED LIKE MOST OF THE

IN MY LIFE, IT WAS
A BROWN WORLD.

THE GROUND WAS BROWN.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW
ANY DIFFERENCE.

Narrator: DURING THE 1930s,
OF THE 48 STATES

EXPERIENCED
SOME FORM OF DROUGHT,

AND FARMERS EVERYWHERE
WERE HURTING, BUT NONE MORE

THAN THOSE IN THE AREA
SURROUNDING THE TOWN

OF BOISE CITY,
WHICH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

HAD DECLARED AS THE

OF THE DUST BOWL, WHERE
CONDITIONS WERE THE WORST--

PLACE ONCE KNOWN
NO MAN'S LAND.

IN 1935, BOISE CITY RECEIVED

FEWER 10 INCHES
OF PRECIPITATION,

THE OFFICIAL DEFINITION
OF A DESERT.

FARMERS IN NEARBY
COUNTY, COLORADO,

WHO HAD ONCE HARVESTED

NOW SUCCESSFUL CROPS
ON ONLY 516.

IN THE
PANHANDLES,

THE ABSENTEE

WHO HAD HOPED TO
STRIKE IT RICH IN WHEAT

SIMPLY ABANDONED NEARLY 4
MILLION ACRES OF EXPOSED FIELDS,

LEAVING THEM TO BLOW
WITH EACH NEW WIND.

VEGETABLE GARDENS WERE
PRODUCING LESS NORMAL,

QUARTER
OF THE CHILDREN

WERE REPORTED TO BE
AT LEAST 10% UNDERWEIGHT.

PEOPLE HERE "HAVE GIVEN UP
TRYING TO BE CIVILIZED,"

A LOCAL MINISTER SAID.

"WE ARE MERELY

Virginia Frantz: WE HAD A LITTLE
HEIFER THAT HAD A NEW CALF.

I WENT DOWN TO SEE THE CALF,

IT WAS LAYING
THERE KICKING,

AWAY WITH A HAMMER.

HE HAD KILLED IT.

AND I RAN TO MY MOTHER
JUST BAWLING ABOUT IT,

SO TENDER-HEARTED,

SHE SAID, "HE TO."

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MILK FOR

SHE SAID, "YOU HAVE
GOT TO HAVE MILK."

HE KILLED THE CALF.

Imogene Glover:
WELL, IT WAS BAD.

AND FLOUR SACKS FOR MATERIAL

TO MY PANTIES,

AND I HAD A DRESS MADE

IT WAS JUST COTTON
THAT BEEN PRINTED,

LIKE LITTLE FLOWERS

USED FOR MY PANTIES.

THE FLOUR SACKS MIGHT BE
HAVE BIG FLOWERS,

MOTHER COULD GET US A DRESS
OUT OF 3 FEED SACKS.

THEY MADE THEM PRETTY--
PRINTS

WERE USING THEM FOR THAT.

WE FOUND OUT SOME OF
THE NEIGHBORS WORE

EACH OTHER AND WENT ON

IT WAS FINE.

Clarence MY FAMILY,
IN TERMS OF EATING,

COULD HAVE EGGS,
OUR OWN EGGS,

THEN START BORROWING
FROM THE GROCER.

WHEN HE WOULD QUIT
LENDING YOU MONEY,

YOU WERE DOWN TO EATING
LARD AND BREAD OR AN EGG.

WE ATE SO POORLY THAT THE HOBOS
WOULDN'T COME TO OUR HOUSE.

I WAS DOWN TO EATING
BREAD.

Calvin Crabill: WE LIVED
IN 4 DIFFERENT PLACES

WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL TO SURVIVE.

EVERY MY FIRST, SECOND,
THIRD GRADE,

WE MOVED TO A DIFFERENT
FARM EVERY TIME,

EVERY TIME, WE LOST IT.

ONE SUMMER, WE NEEDED
LOAF OF BREAD,

THERE WAS THIS LITTLE
COUNTRY ST

HALF-MILE AWAY
FROM WHERE WE LIVED.

WE LOOKED FOR A DIME
IN THE HOUSE.

WE COULDN'T FIND A DIME.

WE COULDN'T FIND A DIME IN THE
HOUSE TO BUY A LOAF OF BREAD.

Glover: I THINK IT
WAS PROBABLY HARDER

ON MY MOTHER
IT WAS MY DAD

BECAUSE SHE WORRIED ABOUT

WHAT SHE WAS GONNA BE ABLE
TO FIX FOR US TO EAT.

IT WAS FOR
ANYONE TO HAVE MONEY,

BUT MY GRANDDAD
WAS RESOURCEFUL,

AND HE HAD GIVEN ME
3 DIMES--AND I WAS RICH!

AND I HID THEM, AND MY MOTHER

I SAID, "I BURIED THEM
IN THE

OUT AROUND THE
SOUTH WINDOW."

AND SHE SAID, "WELL,

AND SHE LOOKED UNTIL
SHE FOUND THOSE 3 DIMES.

ONE TIME MY BROTHER

AND MY MOTHER MADE HIM

TO GO TO THE BATHROOM UNTIL

Narrator; SOUTH OF BOISE CITY,
DON WELLS AND HIS FAMILY

ON THEIR 160-ACRE FARM.

Wells: THERE WAS
10 OF US KIDS,

WE LIVED
IN HOUSE.

AT NIGHT, WE
WALL-TO-WALL MATTRESSES.

AT DAYTIME, WE SCOOTED
THEM UNDER THE BED.

ROOMS--
THE KITCHEN,

THEN THERE WAS
BED IN THERE,

AND THEN THE REST OF US ALL
SLEPT IN THE OTHER ROOM.

Narrator: ONE SUNDAY,
WELLS LEARNED

THAT HIS FATHER DIED
IN A DIST. HOSPITAL,

FROM WHAT STARTED
STREP THROAT

AND ENDED WITH HIM

WITH A GRADE-SCHOOL EDUCATION
10 MOUTHS TO FEED.

Wells: WE COULDN'T STAY
OUT ON THE FARM

WHAT LITTLE MACHINERY WE HAD,

WE DIDN'T HAVE
COWS LEFT.

WE DIDN'T HAVE

MY UNCLES LOADED US
UP IN A TRUCK,

PUT ALL OF OUR CLOTHES
FURNITURE IN THE BACK OF IT,

THEY TOOK US
TO BOISE CITY.

Narrator: THE FAMILY LIVED
IN ONE HOUSE ANOTHER,

FORCED TO MOVE WHENEVER
THEY COULDN'T PAY THE RENT,

UNTIL THEY FINALLY FOUND
SOMETHING THEY COULD AFFORD--

DOWN IN AMARILLO,
THE DUST BOWL'S BIGGEST CITY,

WALTER LUCIUS DURRETT HAD

AND THEN HIS HEALTH.

THE STRAIN OF IT ALL PROVED
TOO MUCH FOR HIS WIFE.

Pauline Durrett Robertson:
MY MOTHER BEGAN TO DESPAIR

THAT THINGS WERE NEVER
GOING TO GET

IN FACT, THEY WERE

IT AFFECTED HER...
IT AFFECTED HER OUTLOOK ON LIFE,

WELL, SHE NERVOUS
BREAKDOWN, ACTUALLY.

WE 3 GIRLS
WERE MOTHERLESS

DURING THE DEPRESSION.

AT ONE TIME, WHEN WE DIDN'T
HAVE ANYTHING TO EAT,

WE TO APPLY FOR RELIEF,
THAT WAS FOR US TO DO.

THE BROWN TRUCK WITH THE
MARKING ON THE SIDE CAME

TO THE FRONT OF OUR HOUSE
AND BROUGHT SOME FOOD.

IT WAS REALLY HARD
FOR US TO SEE THAT.

FOR THE NEIGHBORS TO SEE

THAT WE NEEDED
THAT BROWN TRUCK.

Pauline Hodges: WE COULD GO
TO THE COURTHOUSE IN BEAVER

AND GET COMMODITIES
IF WE WANTED TO.

THE PROBLEM WAS THAT PEOPLE
LIKE MY FATHER

AND SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS
WERE TOO PROUD TO GO DO THAT.

AND I REMEMBER MY MOTHER

BECAUSE SHE
WASN'T TOO PROUD,

AND WE DID GET
SOME GRAPEFRUIT

AND SOME OTHER

THAT HELPED OUT WITH FOOD.

Narrator: IN TOWNS,
THE NAMES OF FAMILIES ON RELIEF

WERE PUBLISHED EACH MONTH
IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER.

IN ONE COUNTY, OF
THE POPULATION NOW RELIED

ON SOME FORM OF
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.

Williamson: THESE PEOPLE
WERE...WERE SO NEEDY,

YOU FELT
SORRY FOR THEM.

YOU MIGHT FEEL LIKE GIVING THEM
DOLLAR OUT OF YOUR OWN POCKET,

BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST
DIDN'T DO THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT'S NOT PROFESSIONAL.

Narrator: FRESH OUT OF
COLLEGE, AT AGE 21,

DOROTHY WILLIAMSON WAS
HIRED AS A SOCIAL WORKER,

TRAINED BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, DISPATCHED

TO PROWERS COUNTY
IN SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO.

50-SQUARE-MILE TERRITORY

WENT FROM ONE
DUST-RAVAGED FARM TO ANOTHER.

TABLE AND TALKED TO EACH OTHER.

IT WAS ALMOST AS IF THEY WERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING

THAT THEY COULD

THAT'S WHY THEY LOOKED
HOPELESS,

ALSO THEY LOOKED STUNNED,

IF, "CAN THIS
REALLY BE HAPPENING?"

IT KIND OF LEFT ME
WITH FEELING, TOO,

TO HAVE TO GO OUT THERE
AND SEE THESE PEOPLE

BECAUSE YOU FELT YOU WERE
HELPING THEM WHAT YOU COULD,

BUT YOU REALLY
COULDN'T HELP THEM.

WHAT THEY REALLY NEEDED
WAS AN INNER THING

THAT NOBODY COULD GIVE THEM.

THEY NEEDED A...

TRUST AGAIN IN SOMETHING
WHICH THEY LOST.

Narrator: WHAT HELP THERE WAS

AND THE FLOOD OF
NEW DEAL PROGRAMS

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
CREATED.

THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS
PUT YOUNG MEN TO

IN NATIONAL PARKS, STATE PARKS,
NATIONAL FORESTS,

THEM MONTH,

25 WHICH THEY WERE REQUIRED
TO SEND HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES.

WERE ALSO DISPATCHED

TO PLANT ROWS OF TREES UP
AND DOWN THE GREAT PLAINS

POTENTIAL WINDBREAKS AGAINST
THE FIERCE DUST STORMS.

BY THE END OF THE DECADE,
18,600 MILES OF SHELTERBELTS,

WITH 217 MILLION TREES,
BEEN PLANTED.

THE NATIONAL YOUTH
ADMINISTRATION,

OPEN TO BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS,
LET STUDENTS REMAIN AT HOME

AND EARN A LITTLE MONEY

THROUGH WORK-STUDY PROJECTS.

IN AMARILLO,
PAULINE DURRETT ROBERTSON

WAS 25 CENTS AN HOUR
TO GRADE PAPERS.

IN BOISE CITY, DON WELLS
AND HIS OLDER BROTHER

AS A BONUS, HE LET THEM TAKE
SHOWERS IN THE LOCKER ROOM--

LIVED IN A CHICKEN COOP.

LORENE WHITE'S MOTHER

FROM THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY
RELIEF ADMINISTRATION,

HER FATHER
RELUCTANTLY ENROLLED

WITH THE WORKS PROGRESS
ADMINISTRATION,

THE NEW DEAL'S BIGGEST
MOST CONTROVERSIAL PROGRAM.

White:
My WAS A PROUD MAN.

HE DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO
DO WITH GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.

HE THOUGHT HE COULD
HANDLE IT ON HIS OWN.

HE FOUND OUT LATER THAT HE
NEEDED TO TAKE PART IN THEM.

DAD WORKED ON WPA,
I THINK, ABOUT A YEAR,

THEY WERE BUILDING A BRIDGE
NOT TOO FAR FROM HOME.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BRIDGE.
IT'S STILL THERE.

Narrator: DURING THE DEPTHS
OF THE DEPRESSION,

THE BECAME THE LARGEST
EMPLOYER IN THE NATION,

CREATING 8 MILLION JOBS

IN VIRTUALLY EVERY
CORNER OF THE COUNTRY.

"THE PRAIRIE, ONCE THE HOME
OF THE DEER, BUFFALO,

ANTELOPE,"
ONE NEWSPAPER WROTE,

"IS NOW THE HOME OF
THE DUST BOWL THE WPA."

MANY PEOPLE CONSIDERED IT

Lewis: IT MADE
LOT OF DIFFERENCE

IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A JOB,

DO-NOTHINGS, LEANED ON THEIR
SHOVELS AND GOT MONEY FOR IT,

THEY RESENTED IT
VERY MUCH.

BUT IF YOU WERE THE ONES
THAT THE SHOVEL,

IT WAS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN STARVING

WE GOT ENOUGH,
IT SAVED--IT KEPT US ALIVE.

Narrator:
THE BUILT A

ON RITA BLANCA CREEK

TO CREATE A RESERVOIR
AND RECREATION AREA.

USING ONLY LOCAL MATERIALS,

6,000 OF THE 10,000
AREA RESIDENTS

FOUND TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT
WORKING ON A NEW HIGH SCHOOL

THAT WOULD STILL BE IN USE

WITH MY FAMILY, WE WOULD
HAVE STARVED TO DEATH

BECAUSE WE HAD NO OTHER

THE NEW FOR US,
THE IN PARTICULAR,

MOST OF OUR NEIGHBORS
FELT THAT WAY.

Narrator; PAULINE HODGES'
FATHER HELPED BUILD

HIGHWAY 64 THROUGH
THE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE.

IT PASSED WITHIN A FEW MILES OF
CAROLINE HENDERSON'S HOMESTEAD.

Henderson IF MERE
DOLLARS WERE TO BE CONSIDERED,

THE ACTUALLY DESTITUTE
IN OUR SECTION

COULD UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE BEEN
FED AND CLOTHED MORE CHEAPLY

THAT HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT.

BUT IN OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY,

MANHOOD MUST BE CONSIDERED
WELL AS MONEY.

PEOPLE EMPLOYED TO

MAY RETAIN THEIR SELF-RESPECT

TO A DEGREE IMPOSSIBLE
UNDER CASH RELIEF.

IF WE MUST WORRY
OVER THE RUINOUS EFFECTS

OF "MADE ON PEOPLE
OF THIS TYPE,

WHY HAVEN'T WE BEEN
WORRYING FOR GENERATIONS

OVER THE CHARACTER
OF THE IDLERS

OF BIRTH OR INHERITANCE

HAS GIVEN WEALTH UNMEASURED,
UNEARNED, AND UNAPPRECIATED?

Man: "IF YOU WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE YOUR HEART BROKEN,

"JUST COME OUT HERE.

"THIS IS THE
DUST ST COUNTRY.

"IT IS THE SADDEST
I HAVE EVER SEEN.

"THEY SAY THAT IN 20 YEARS,

"OUR FARMLAND IS GOING
TO BE PRETTY WELL SHOT

"AND THAT IN 75 YEARS,

WOULDN'T BE SEEN ON MOST OF IT."

ERNIE PYLE.

Narrator: IN 1935, AN ESTIMATED
850 MILLION TONS OF TOPSOIL

WERE BEING SWEPT OFF THE
FIELDS OF THE GREAT PLAINS,

WHERE 4 MILLION ACRES
IN 100 COUNTIES WERE BLOWING.

PREDICTIONS CALLED FOR

A MILLION MORE ACRES
TO DO THE SAME IN 1936.

"UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE,"
ONE GOVERNMENT CONCLUDED,

"THE WESTERN PLAINS WILL BE

AS ARID AS THE ARABIAN DESERT."

Worster: THERE WERE
MANY PEOPLE IN THAT ERA

WHO THOUGHT THIS IS

HOW DO YOU STOP THIS?

WHAT'S GOING TO BE
THE BARRIER YOU PUT UP

TO KEEP IT FROM UNDERMINING
AGRICULTURE IN ILLINOIS?

Timothy Egan: IT HUGE
EFFECT ON AMERICAN POLICY, TOO,

BECAUSE 5 DAYS LATER,

THE REMNANTS OF BLACK SUNDAY

YOU COULD GO LIKE THIS
ON YOUR DESK,

AS FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT DID,

GET A LITTLE BIT OF
IN THE OVAL OFFICE.

Narrator:
WITHIN PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S
INNER CIRCLE OF ADVISERS,

WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE CRISIS.

HENRY WALLACE, THE SECRETARY
OF AGRICULTURE,

THOUGHT NEW POLICIES COULD
KEEP FARMERS ON THEIR LAND,

BUT INTERIOR SECRETARY
HAROLD ICKES QUESTIONED

WHETHER ANY ATTEMPT SHOULD BE

Egan: IT WAS
CHARACTER STRUGGLE

WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION

CHARACTER STRUGGLE OUT
ON THE PRAIRIE ITSELF.

ICKES SAYS IN HIS DIARY,
"LET'S JUST GET OUT.

"LET'S PULL OUT.

"MR. PRESIDENT, IT'S NOT
THE EFFORT.

THE PEOPLE OR THE LAND?"

I MEAN, LET IT RE-WILD.
LET'S NOT FOOL THESE PEOPLE

INTO THINKING
THEY STAY THERE.

PERHAPS SETTLEMENT
WAS A MISTAKE.

Narrator: ANOTHER
NEW PROGRAM,

THE RESETTLEMENT
ADMINISTRATION,

WAS ALREADY PROVIDING FARMERS
ON THE MOST MARGINAL LANDS

WITH LOANS TO ENCOURAGE THEM
TO MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE,

TAKING THEIR LAND
OUT OF PRODUCTION.

Egan: IT WAS
HOMESTEADING IN REVERSE,

IT WAS VERY CONTROVERSIAL
BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL,

IT WAS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
THAT WE'D FAILED.

PERHAPS THEY WERE RIGHT
WHEN STEPHEN LONG SAID IN 1820

THAT THIS IS A LAND "WHOLLY
UNINHABITABLE BY A PEOPLE

WHO ARE DEPENDENT
ON AGRICULTURE."

Narrator: BUT THE PRESIDENT
REFUSED TO GO THAT FAR.

Egan: REMEMBER, ROOSEVELT,
BY HIS NATURE,

IN HIS CHARACTER,

HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE KNOWN
AS THE ONLY PRESIDENT

WHO GAVE UP A BIG SECTION
OF ON HIS WATCH.

HE THOUGHT HE COULD SAVE
BOTH THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE.

AND THEY FELT A SIMILAR
ATTACHMENT TO HIM.

Narrator: ROOSEVELT TURNED
TO HUGH HAMMOND BENNETT,

NORTH CAROLINIAN,

TO CREATE A NEW SOIL

TO STUDY
AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

AND TEACH THEM TO
THE NATION'S FARMERS.

WE AMERICANS HAVE BEEN

THE GREATEST
DESTROYERS OF

BARBARIC OR CIVILIZED.

UNLESS IMMEDIATE

TO REST! THESE SUN-SCORCHED,
WIND-ERODED LANDS,

WE SHALL HAVE ON OUR
NEW, MANMADE SAHARA

RICH GRAZING LAND.

Egan: HUGH BENNETT WAS
THIS TALL, BIG-ARMED,

FLAP-EARED, FUNNY, JOVIAL
DOCTOR OF DIRT.

NOBODY KNEW MORE ABOUT SOIL

IN THE UNITED STATES
THAN HUGH BENNETT.

SO WHEN ROOSEVELT GAVE HIM THE
JOB OF TRYING TO SAVE THE LAND,

HE WAS ARGUABLY
THE PERFECT FORT.

Narrator: FOR THE AGENCY'S
LARGEST HARDEST-HIT REGION--

THE NEARLY 100 MILLION ACRES
OF THE SOUTHERN PLAINS--

BENNETT KNEW JUST
THE MAN FOR THE JOB.

HOWARD FINNELL WAS
SOIL SCIENTIST

WHO HAD BEEN RUNNING THE
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

IN GOODWELL,

ABOUT 25 MILES SOUTH OF
CAROLINE HENDERSON'S HOMESTEAD.

FINNELL HAD PIONEERED
NEW TECHNIQUES

TO DOUBLE THE
OF A GOOD CROP

MOISTURE AS POSSIBLE--

USING TERRACES AND PLOWING
ALONG THE LAND'S CONTOUR

TO MINIMIZE RUNOFF,

PLANTING DIFFERENT
TYPES OF CROPS,

USING THE OLD-FASHIONED
PLOW, CALLED A LISTER,

TO MAKE DEEPER ROWS,
RATHER THAN EMPLOYING

THE POPULAR ONE-WAY PLOW
THAT PULVERIZED THE SOIL.

HUGH BENNETT SENT FINNELL
TO DALHART, TEXAS,

WHERE HE SET UP
"OPERATION DUST BOWL"

THAT HIS NEW TECHNIQUES

NOT WANT A CHANGED
CLIMATE," FINNELL SAID.

"MUCH OF THE COULD
STILL PRODUCE CROPS,

IF THE FARMERS WOULD ONLY
CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDES."

THE PRESIDENT HIS
ADMINISTRATION MAY HAVE DECIDED

NOT TO ABANDON THE DUST BOWL,

BUT ANY SOLUTIONS
WOULD TAKE TIME,

FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE,
TIME WAS RUNNING OUT.

YOU GO BROKE
GRADUALLY.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN LIKE
JUMPING OFF OF A CLIFF.

YOU EXHAUST YOUR SAVINGS,
YOU EXHAUST YOUR BORROWINGS,

YOU EXHAUST
YOUR EQUIPMENT,

YOU EXHAUST YOURSELF,
YOU GIVE UP.

THEN YOU'RE STARTING
TO LOOK AT THE WOLVES.

Narrator; CLARENCE BECK'S
FATHER HAD MOVED HIS FAMILY

JUST AS THE 1920s WERE ENDING.

HIS TIMING COULDN'T
HAVE BEEN WORSE.

REPEATED CROP FAILURES,

THE DEPRESSION MEANT
THERE WERE NO JOBS,

THOUGH HE FOUND TEMPORARY
WITH THE

TO KEEP HIS WIFE AND
CHILDREN FROM STARVATION.

LIKE MANY OTHER FAMILIES,

THEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT
MOVING SOMEWHERE ELSE.

PEOPLE DIDN'T LEAVE EARLY

BECAUSE THERE WAS
NO PLACE TO GO.

YOU HAVE NO MONEY, AND YOU

AT LEAST WHERE YOU ARE,
YOU HAVE THE FEEL-AT-HOME-NESS.

Narrator: MEANWHILE,
THE TIMES PLACED A STRAIN

ON THE BECKS' MARRIAGE.

MY MOTHER WOULD HAVE
BEEN A PLAYGIRL, REALLY,

AND MY FATHER'S A DRUDGE.

HE WOULD BE PERFECTLY HAPPY
TO WORK FROM DAWN TILL DUSK.

Narrator: ONE MORNING,

BEFORE CLARENCE'S YOUNGER SISTER
IRENE HEADED FOR SCHOOL,

HER MOTHER TOOK HER ASIDE

Irene Hauer: SHE JUST
SAID, "I WON'T BE HOME

WHEN YOU COME HOME TONIGHT"--
FROM SCHOOL,

"I WON'T BE HOME.
I'M LEAVING."

AND MY MOTHER JUST LEFT.

SO, THAT WAS IT.
DIDN'T CARE.

SHE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT ME
THAT MUCH OR ANYTHING.

Narrator: NOT LONG AFTERWARDS,
THEIR FATHER'S TRACTOR--

THE ONLY POSSIBLE MEANS FOR
HIM TO STAY ON THE LAND--

HE HAD TO MOVE.

CLARENCE WOULD STAY WITH UNCLES
BACK IN CENTRAL KANSAS.

IRENE WASN'T SURE WHAT HER
FATHER HAD IN MIND FOR HER.

AT FIRST I ASKED HIM,
"ARE YOU LEAVING, TOO?"

GOING TO CALIFORNIA."

Narrator: NOT FAR

HARRY FORESTER ALSO
LOST HIS FARM

HE HAD ONCE DREAMED

NOW HE COULD BARELY FEED
HIS 9 CHILDREN.

Louise Forester Briggs:
ONE TIME, HE CAME IN

FROM THE WIND BLOWING
DUST,

THE FLOOR AND SAYING,

"I DON'T KNOW WHATEVER
WILL BECOME OF US."

THAT JUST
FRIGHTENED ME. THAT JUST--

MY HEART JUST
CLUTCHED FROM THAT.

Narrator: WITH HIS FIELDS
RUINED BY DUST

WHAT WAS LEFT
OF HIS LIVESTOCK

FORESTER HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO GIVE UP FARMING.

HIS PLAN WAS TO MOVE HIS LARGE
FAMILY TO GOODWELL, OKLAHOMA,

WITH HIS WIFE'S MOTHER.

HE HAD READ ABOUT A PLACE
WHERE JOBS WERE PLENTIFUL,

WHERE HE COULD

SEND FOR HIS FAMILY.

HE, TOO, WOULD HEAD
TO CALIFORNIA.

IN SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO,
CALVIN CRABILL'S FATHER, JOHN,

Crabill: WE LOST
ALL OUR STOCK.

WE LOST EVERYTHING
IN 6 MONTHS.

WHEN WE
NOTHING LEFT, WE LEFT.

WE NOTHING LEFT.
THERE WAS NO REASON TO STAY.

Narrator: BUT FIRST,

JOHN CRABILL WOULD HAVE
TO SELL HIS HORSES.

Crabill: MY MOTHER AND
OTHERS WHO KNEW HIM SAID

HE WAS NEVER THE SAME AGAIN
THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

HE NEVER WAS THE SAME AGAIN.

HE WOULD BE STARING
OFF INTO SPACE,

THINKING ABOUT HIS STOCK.

Narrator:
IN COUNTY,

DOROTHY KLEFFMAN'S
FATHER THOUGHT

HE COULD HANG ON
TO HIS FARM,

BUT HIS WIFE HAD COME DOWN
WITH THE DUST PNEUMONIA.

Kleffman: I THINK
SHE WOULD HAVE DIED.

HE COULD SEE THAT
SHE WAS FAILING,

HE KNEW HE TO
SOMETHING, YOU KNOW,

BECAUSE THERE WERE
PEOPLE HERE WHO DID DIE.

I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO GO.
THIS WAS MY HOME,

AND EVEN THOUGH WE
HAD THE DUST STORMS

WE WERE IN A DEPRESSION,
GREAT DEPRESSION,

I WOULD LOVED TO HAVE
JUST STAYED RIGHT HERE.

BUT BECAUSE WE TO SAVE
HER LIFE, WE TO MOVE.

Narrator: HER FATHER
AND AN OLDER BROTHER

WOULD TRY TO STAY ON THE FARM,

BUT HE MOVED HIS WIFE
AND YOUNGER CHILDREN,

INCLUDING DOROTHY, NOT TO
CALIFORNIA, BUT EAST,

BROWN WORLD OF THE DUST BOWL.

Kleffman: WHEN
WE GOT DOWN THERE,

WE HAD A GREEN GRASS LAWN.

THEIR LEGS UP SO HIGH--

THEY WERE NOT
USED TO THAT GRASS.

MOTHER RAISED A HUGE
GARDEN DOWN THERE.

THERE WAS ENOUGH RAIN THAT
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WATER IT

LIKE WE DID OUT HERE.

AND SHE WOULD CAN ABOUT

THIS WAS OUR HOME OUT HERE.

Henderson portrayer: SOME OF OUR
NEIGHBORS WITH SMALL CHILDREN,

FEARING THE EFFECTS
UPON THEIR HEALTH,

HAVE LEFT TEMPORARILY
"UNTIL IT RAINS."

OTHERS HAVE
LEFT PERMANENTLY,

THINKING DOUBTLESS THAT
NOTHING COULD BE WORSE.

THUS FAR, WE AND MOST OF
OUR FRIENDS SEEM HELD--

FOR FOR WORSE--
BY MEMORY HOPE.

Narrator: COUNTY,

WHERE CAROLINE HENDERSON HAD
BEEN HOMESTEADING SINCE 1907,

LOST OF ITS
POPULATION IN THE 1930s.

NEARBY CIMARRON COUNTY LOST 32%,

COUNTY, JUST ACROSS
THE LINE IN COLORADO,

MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

HARDEST HIT WAS
MORTON COUNTY, KANSAS,

WHERE EDGAR AND RENA COEN
WERE RAISING THEIR LARGE FAMILY,

NOW DIMINISHED BY
WITH THE DEATH

OF A DAUGHTER AND GRANDSON
FROM DUST PNEUMONIA.

THE COENS WERE DETERMINED
TO STICK IT OUT,

BUT THEIR COUNTY WOULD LOSE
NEARLY HALF OF ITS POPULATION

AND WOULD CLOSE 11 OF
ITS 17 RURAL SCHOOLS

BECAUSE THE DUST ST
REFUSED TO RELENT.

YOU NEVER GOT USED TO THEM.

YOU JUST HATED
EVERY ONE OF THEM

AND YOU KNEW YOU WAS PROBABLY
GONNA LOSE SOME MORE NEIGHBORS.

WE WAS IN SCHOOL THEN,
YOU'D GO TO SCHOOL ONE DAY,

THERE AT SCHOOL,

NEXT DAY,
THEY'D MOVED AWAY.

KIND OF A SAD TIME THAT WAY.

Glover: MY AUNT
AND UNCLE DECIDED

THEY HAD TO GO TO CALIFORNIA

WE ALL WENT OVER
TO SEE THEM OFF,

AND THEY TOOK EVERYTHING
THAT THEY COULD IN THEIR CAR.

THE THING DADDY
TO MY UNCLE JACK WAS,

"DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY
FOR TO GET THERE?"

AND JACK TOLD Him
HOWEVER MUCH HE HAD.

DADDY SAID, "WELL,
I'VE JUST GOT $17 ON ME,

"BUT I WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS

YOU'LL HAVE
ENOUGH MONEY FOR GAS."

Hodges: EVERY DAY, ALL DAY LONG,

THEY OFTEN STOPPED
AND ASKED FOR FOOD.

WE DIDN'T HAVE VERY MUCH,
BUT MY MOTHER THOUGHT

THAN OTHER PEOPLE,

WE WERE
BECAUSE OF THE

THEM SOMETHING.

I STILL REMEMBER IT WAS OFTEN
BREAD AND BUTTER SANDWICHES,

BUT IT WAS SOMETHING.

SHE NEVER, EVER
TURNED ANYBODY DOWN.

WHEN I WAS
IN THE EIGHTH GRADE,

WE HAD A PRACTICAL

LIVE IN THE DISTRICT?

AND IT WAS 100 PEOPLE.

HOW MANY PEOPLE

AND THEN MY BROTHER GET TO
THE SAME PLACE 10 YEARS LATER.

HOW MANY KIDS IN THE

THE REST OF THEM HAD LEFT.

Narrator: BUT IN THE END,

FOR EVERY FAMILY THAT
LEFT THE DUST BOWL,

3 FAMILIES--75% OF THE
POPULATION--WOULD HANG ON.

Worster: WHY DIDN'T
EVERYBODY LEAVE?

FOR A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE, WELL,

IN THEIR MINDS, THEY HAD
INVESTED THEIR LIVES THERE.

THEY HAD FAMILY
BURIED IN CEMETERIES.

THE PLAINS LAY A HOLD
ON YOUR AFFECTIONS

IF YOU'RE THERE FOR
GENERATION OR TWO,

THEY'RE A GLORIOUS PLACE
TO LIVE AT TIMES.

AND THE SENSE OF FREEDOM THERE

WERE POWERFUL DRAWS
FOR THESE PEOPLE.

Henderson I CANNOT
ACT OR FEEL OR THINK

AS IF THE EXPERIENCES OF OUR

NEVER BEEN, THEY
ALL BOUND UP

WITH THE LITTLE CORNER

OUR CONTINUED
UNITED EFFORTS.

I LOOK BACKWARD
SEE OUR COVERED WAGON

DRAWN UP BY THE
OF THE CABIN

IN THE EARLY LIGHT OF
THAT MAY MORNING LONG AGO,

CAN FEEL AGAIN THE SWEET FRESH
BREATH OF THE UNTRODDEN PRAIRIE

AND RECALL FOR A MOMENT THE
PROUD CONFIDENCE OF OUR YOUTH.

BUT WHEN I TRY TO SEE THE WAGON
THE OLD MODEL-T TRUCK

HEADED IN THE
OPPOSITE DIRECTION,

AWAY FROM OUR HOME
ALL OUR CHERISHED HOPES,

PERHAPS IT IS ONLY BECAUSE

THE DUST IS TOO DENSE
BLINDING.

Worster: MY PARENTS LEFT.

THEY COULDN'T FIND A LIVING
ANYMORE IN RURAL COUNTRYSIDE.

THEIR FARMS WERE DEVASTATED.

NO FUTURE IN THIS.

THEY DECIDED IN THE LATE 1930s
TO FOLLOW THE TREK TO CALIFORNIA

TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD FIND
THERE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES.

THE BIGGEST PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE
WHO MOVED INTO ANOTHER STATE

WERE GOING TO CALIFORNIA.

THERE WERE HUNDREDS HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE

POURING INTO CALIFORNIA.

THEY WEREN'T ALL

AND THEY WEREN'T ALL
FROM THE GREAT PLAINS.

A RIVER OF PEOPLE

FLOWING INTO CALIFORNIA
IN THE 1930s.

PULLING OUT FROM LITTLE

JOINING THIS BRIGADE
GOING OUT ROUTE 686,

STOPPING AT MOTELS,
SLEEPING UNDER BILLBOARDS.

THAT'S THE WAY MY PARENTS
ESSENTIALLY WENT

FROM NEW MEXICO

THEY STOPPED IN NEEDLES,
CALIFORNIA,

AND DIDN'T GET ANY FARTHER.

THAT WAS THE END OF
THE ROAD FOR THEM.

Narrator: THOSE WHO DID LEAVE
THE DUST BOWL FOR CALIFORNIA

WERE JOINING AN EVEN

DISPLACED BY THE DEPRESSION
AND THE AGRICULTURAL CRISIS

THAT EXTENDED FAR BEYOND
THE SOUTHERN PLAINS.

Egan: NOW THE FOLKS
WHO LEFT, THE

THEY WERE CALLED--

WERE LARGELY FROM

THE EASTERN FRINGE
OF THE DUST BOWL.

THEY WERE FROM ARGUABLY NOT
EVEN THE DUST BOWL ITSELF.

THEY WERE FROM MISSOURI.
THEY WERE TENANT FARMERS.

WHEN THE PRICES COLLAPSED
YOU COULDN'T LIVING,

IF YOU WERE A TENANT FARMER,
YOU NOTHING,

BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T
EVEN OWN THE DIRT.

THEY LEFT.

Guthrie: THESE PEOPLE DIDN'T
HAVE BUT ONE THING TO DO,

THAT WAS TO JUST GET OUT
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

THESE PEOPLE JUST GOT UP,
THEY BUNDLED UP

THEIR LITTLE BELONGINGS,
THEY THROWED IN

ONE LITTLE THINGS
THEY THOUGHT THEY'D NEED,

HEARD ABOUT THE
OF CALIFORNIA,

HANDBILLS THEY PASSED OUT

DOWN IN THAT COUNTRY,
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE

A WONDERFUL CHANCE TO
SUCCEED IN CALIFORNIA.

I'M BLOWING DOWN
THIS OLD DUSTY

I'M BLOWING
DOWN THIS OLD DUSTY

§ I'M BLOWING DOWN THIS OLD
DUSTY ROAD, LORD, LORD §

I AIN'T GONNA BE
TREATED THIS WAY

Narrator: BACK IN COLORADO,

WITH THE MONEY FROM SELLING

CALVIN CRABILL'S FATHER
LOADED WHAT HE COULD

INTO THEIR SEDAN AND A
LITTLE TWO-WHEELED TRAILER

JOINED THE STREAM OF
CARS RATTLING DOWN HIGHWAY 66,

WITH HIS 11-YEAR-OLD SON
ASTHMATIC WIFE.

WHEN YOU CAME DOWN THAT
GRADE IN SAN BERNARDINO,

MY MOTHER, SHE WAS SO HAPPY,

YOU SAW THE
GREEN VALLEY THERE--

THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL,
BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.

MY MOTHER THAT DAY PICKED
AN ORANGE, A RIPE ORANGE,

AND ATE IT, AND THAT
WAS SOMETHING FOR HER.

Worster: THE MIGRATION OUT OF
THE GREAT PLAINS IN THE 1930s

MIGRATIONS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

IT DWARFS THE MOVEMENT
ALONG THE OREGON TRAIL

IN THE 19th CENTURY,
THE COVERED WAGON ERA,

AND ROMANTICIZED.

BUT WE'VE FORGOTTEN THIS
MIGRATION OF THE 1930s.

NOBODY CELEBRATES IT.

THERE ARE NO CALIFORNIA

WE'RE ASHAMED
OF IT, BASICALLY,

BECAUSE IT WAS
MIGRATION OF THE DEFEATED.

Narrator: OUT IN OAKLAND,
CALIFORNIA,

HARRY FORESTER, WHO LEFT HIS
FAMILY IN GOODWELL,

A VARIETY OF JOBS,

SOMETIMES MAKING
A DOLLAR A DAY

AND SENDING AS MUCH
OF IT AS POSSIBLE

BACK TO HIS AILING WIFE
CHILDREN.

EVERYTHING HE HELD DEAR

THE SEPARATION FROM HIS FAMILY
MADE HIM MISERABLE,

AND THEN CAME NEWS FROM HOME
THAT ADDED TO HIS WOES--

ONE OF HIS 5 SONS, SLATS,

HAD COME DOWN WITH
DUST PNEUMONIA.

Briggs: MY OLDEST BROTHER
GOT DUST PNEUMONIA,

AND MY DAD DIDN'T KNOW

WHETHER TO COME HOME OR NOT

BECAUSE HE THOUGHT
HE WAS GONNA DIE.

I IMAGINE HE WAS ABSOLUTELY
THE LONELIEST MAN ON THE PLANET.

Narrator: FORESTER DECIDED
HIS FAMILY SHOULD JOIN HIM

IN OAKLAND AS SOON
THEY COULD.

BACK IN GOODWELL, THE FORESTER
CHILDREN MOBILIZED FOR THE MOVE.

THEY ADDED HOOPS TARPS
HAND-BUILT BOX

FOR STORING SERVING FOOD
TO A 1928 CHEVY TRUCK,

CONVERTING IT INTO
MODERN-DAY COVERED WAGON.

BUT MRS. FORESTER'S AGED AND
BLIND MOTHER REFUSED TO LEAVE,

WAS LEFT BEHIND TO CARE FOR HER.

THEY MADE THEIR GOOD-BYES,
BROTHER CLOIS TOOK THE WHEEL

WITH HIS FRAIL MOTHER IN
THE FRONT SEAT NEXT TO HIM.

THEN THE OTHER 7 FORESTER
CHILDREN SCRAMBLED ABOARD,

FOR CALIFORNIA.

Briggs: IT WAS
EXCITING FOR ME

IN A HOPELESS LITTLE HEART.

WE WERE GOING TO CALIFORNIA

HAVE ORANGES
STUFF, YOU KNOW?

AND WE WOULD HAVE FRUIT,
AND WE WOULD LIVE HAPPILY.

AN EXCITING TIME.

I COULDN'T WAIT
TO GET THERE.

Shirley Forester McKenzie:
WE SAT IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

WE'D MOVE AROUND.

THE MATTRESSES WERE ROLLED UP,
AND STUFFED IN THE TRUCK BED,

Briggs: MY FAVORITE
SPOT SEEMED TO BE

OVER THE WHEEL OF THE TRUCK.

WE THE SIDE TARPS ROLLED UP
YOU COULD SEE OUT.

ONE THING I REMEMBER,
I WAS SO GLAD--

WE SAW A WEEPING WILLOW TREE,
I'D NEVER SEEN ONE.

William Forester:
MY BROTHER WAS OBSESSED

WITH THE POTENTIAL THAT
WE MIGHT RUN OUT OF GAS,

SO HE STOPPED AT DAMN

TO TOP OFF THE TANK.

IT WAS ALITTLE
4-BANGER CHEVY,

HE DROVE IT AT ABOUT
MAXIMUM OF 35 MILES AN HOUR,

AND IT TOOK A LONG TIME.

Forester:
HE GOAL IN MIND

THAT WAS TO GET THIS CREW
SAFELY THROUGH.

HE WAS A NERVOUS NELLY
ANYWAY, HE

LOTS OF TRIBULATIONS WHEN
HE HAD TO TAKE THIS JOB--

WELL, BECAUSE IT
WAS A BIG JOB.

HE'S A 21-YEAR-OLD GUY,
HE'S TAKING HIS SICK MOTHER

BUNCH OF ALL
THE WAY TO CALIFORNIA,

ITWASA...
WORRY FOR HIM, I KNOW.

Narrator:
THEY WERE ALL ANXIOUS

ABOUT THEIR MOTHER'S
FRAGILE HEALTH,

WHICH PROMPTED THEM TO
STOP A NUMBER OF TIMES

SHE COULD RECOUP
HER STRENGTH,

OVERTOOK THEM IN NEW MEXICO.

William Forester:
SHE WAS DOWN

BY THE TRAVAILS
OF THE PREVIOUS YEARS,

SHE WAS JUST
IN SHAPE,

SHE WAS VERY FEEBLE
ALL ALONG THE WAY.

INSTEAD OF CAMPING
ONE NIGHT IN NEW MEXICO,

WE USED A LITTLE OF OUR
SCARCE MONEY TO RENT A MOTEL

THAT SHE COULD BE
SLEEPING OUT OF THE DUST.

Narrator: BUT IN EASTERN
ARIZONA, DESPITE HER CONDITION,

SHE INSISTED THAT
CLOIS DETOUR

THROUGH THE PAINTED DESERT
PETRIFIED FOREST,

WHICH SHE ALWAYS
YEARNED TO SEE.

William Forester: MY MOTHER'S
HEALTH GOT WORSE AFTER THAT.

TO JUST STOP AND NOT TRAVEL

THAT SHE COULD HAVE
TIME BEING STILL

RESTING IN COOL,
SHADED PLACE.

Narrator: FARTHER ON, THEY HAD
TO DESCEND TO THE COLORADO RIVER

ON A WINDING UNLIKE
ANYTHING ON THE SOUTHERN PLAINS.

Briggs: BUT I
GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT

WHEN WE HIT THE CALIFORNIA
BORDER DOWN AT NEEDLES.

HA HA HA!

YOU'RE IN THE DESERT,
I FELT, OH...

I JUST WENT,
"OH, MY GOD, NO,"

BECAUSE I WAS
JUST BROKEN-HEARTED

BECAUSE I THOUGHT
THERE'D BE ORANGE GROVES
RIGHT THERE, YOU KNOW.

MOJAVE DESERT AT NIGHT,

THEN TURNED NORTH,
UP THE CENTRAL VALLEY,

AND FINALLY MADE IT TO OAKLAND,

WHERE HARRY FORESTER
HAD RENTED A HOUSE

WAS WAITING ANXIOUSLY
FOR THEM TO ARRIVE.

WE GOT INTO OAKLAND,
WE WENT TO MERRITT

AND WENT UP GRAND AVENUE

AND TURNED RIGHT ON MORAGA
AND WENT UP MORAGA AVENUE.

WE'RE IN THE HILLS NOW,
IN THE OAKLAND HILLS,

FOR SOMEONE LIKE US.

WHEN WE STOPPED IN THE CANYON,

TELEPHONED THAT WE WERE
COMING UP THE ROAD,

WE WERE A MILE
HALF FROM THE HOUSE,

WE STARTED DRIVING,
STARTED HUSTLING,

AND HE RACED DOWN TO
THE BOTTOM OF THE CANYON

THAT HE WAS STANDING
BESIDE THE

WE CAME DRIVING BY
10 MINUTES LATER.

Briggs: AND MY DAD MET US

AT THE CORNER OF PINE HAVEN
HEATHER RIDGE WAY,

HE HOUSE RENTED
ON THE CORNER

JUST UP THE CORNER A WAYS.

I REMEMBER SITTING
IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK

WAITING FOR MY DAD

WHILE HE WAS GREETING
MY BROTHER

AND WHOEVER HAD BEEN
RIDING WITH THEM.

HE WENT AROUND TO THE BACK,

HE TOOK EACH
OF THE IN TURN,

HE GAVE US A HUG,
WE LAUGHED,

IT WAS...

AND THEN HE CAME AROUND BACK

STARTED LIFTING US OUT
ONE AT A TIME

I LOOKED AROUND,
I THOUGHT,

"OH, YES, WE HAVE COME
TO CANAAN LAND."

Narrator: THEN HARRY FORESTER,

WHO HAD ONCE DREAMED OF

HE COULD BESTOW

WITH ONE SQUARE MILE OF
ROLLING OKLAHOMA PRAIRIE,

SHOWED THEM ALL THEIR NEW HOME--
RENTED HOUSE OF 3 ROOMS,

ON A HILL SO STEEP THE BUILDINGS
NEEDED STILTS TO BE LEVEL.

Robert Forester: AND THERE
WERE BIG PINE TREES--

OH, 60-, 70-FOOT,
80-FOOT TALL, BIG TREES,

IT WASN'T
YOU KNOW?

HA HA HA!

TOTO, WE AREN'T
IN ANYMORE.

HA HA HA!

A FAIR-SKINNED,

FRECKLE-FACED, RED-HEADED
YOUNGSTER THAT I WAS,

WHERE THAT HOT WIND

THE MIST AND THE RAIN

THAT WE KIDS WOULD GO OFF

WITHOUT A HAT OR
A COAT OR ANYTHING

FEELING OF THAT MOISTURE ON US.

WE WERE PARCHED, TOO.

Lewis: WEREN'T ANY CROPS.

ENTIRE WHEAT CROP IN ONE WAGON,

Beck: THEY WERE GOOD PEOPLE.

THERE WAS NOTHING ABOUT THE
POPULATION THAT WAS BAD.

TRYING TO MAKE AN HONEST LIVING,

NATURE JUST
WOULDN'T LET THEM DO IT.

SO THERE WERE FAILURES,
AND THERE WERE ALSO PEOPLE

THAT WERE AWFUL HARD

ENDED UP, A DEPRESSION,

THE DUST BOWL
DIDN'T GET THEM ALL.

IT LEFT QUITE A FEW.
BUT IT LEFT THE HARDY ONES.

ABOUT THE DUST, OF COURSE,

THAT WE LAUGHED SO WE
WOULDN'T CRY, I GUESS.

ONE OF THEM WAS, A RANCHER,
BIG DUST STORM,

WALKED OUT TO
SEE ABOUT HIS LAND,

AND HE WAS TRYING TO FIND
THE BARBED-WIRE FENCE

THAT BEEN
COVERED WITH DIRT.

HE SAW THE TOPS OF IT,

THERE WAS THE
COWBOY'S HAT OVER THERE.

HE WALKED OVER
PICKED UP THE COWBOY'S HAT,

AND UNDERNEATH WAS A COWBOY,

AREN'T YOU IN TROUBLE THERE?"

HE'S COVERED WITH DUST.

HE SAID, "WELL, I THINK
I'l GONNA BE OK,

BUT THIS HORSE I'M RIDING
ISIN ALITTLE TROUBLE."

Narrator: BY NOW, THOSE WHO
REMAINED IN THE DUST BOWL

HAD FOUND THAT ONE WAY TO DEAL
WITH WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THEM

WELL, THERE'S
OLD SAYING THERE

THAT ONE OF THE OLD-TIMERS
WAS TELLING THE PEOPLE THAT

THEY'D HAD A CHAIN WRAPPED
AROUND A CORNER POST

AND SAID WHEN THAT CHAIN

THAT WAS GOOD WIND,

BUT WHEN IT WENT TO SNAPPING THE
LINKS OFF, IT WAS DAMN WINDY.

OF COURSE, THAT WASN'T TRUE.

THAT WAS JUST
SAYING. HAI

Narrator: 1936 WOULD
PROVE TO BE AS DRY AS 1935,

IN APRIL, AN OUTSIDER
SHOWED UP IN BOISE CITY.

ARTHUR ROTHSTEIN

THE SON OF JEWISH IMMIGRANTS,

BORN AND RAISED

HE WAS IN NO MAN'S LAND

FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S
RESETTLEMENT ADMINISTRATION.

ROTHSTEIN'S BOSS,
ROY STRYKER,

BELIEVED THAT PICTURES
COULD BE A POWERFUL TOOL

TO SHOW NOT ONLY THE
MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS

THE NATION WAS FACING,

BUT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT
WAS DOING ABOUT THEM.

OVER THE COURSE OF 7 YEARS,
THE AGENCY BECAME

OF THE FARM SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION,

AN UNPRECEDENTED
DOCUMENTARY EFFORT,

EVENTUALLY AMASSING
200,000 IMAGES

OF AMERICA IN THE 1930s,

TAKEN BY A TALENTED
OF PHOTOGRAPHERS,

INCLUDING WALKER EVANS,
RUSSELL LEE,

MARION POST WALCOTT,
JOHN VACHON,

AND DOROTHEA LANGE.

Egan: HE SENT THEM OUT THERE

WITH A VERY SIMPLE SET
OF INSTRUCTIONS--

I WANT TO SEE THEIR EYES.
I WANT TO SEE THEIR FACES.

I WANT TO SEE EMOTION.

I WANT PEOPLE TO LOOK
AT THESE PICTURES

AND NOT SEE ABSTRACTION.

I WANT THEM TO SEE FOLKS
STRUGGLING IN THE LAND.

Narrator: TO
ARRIVING IN

ARTHUR ROTHSTEIN'S
ASSIGNMENT HAD TAKEN HIM

ON A NATIONWIDE TOUR
OF THE DEPRESSION.

HE HAD DOCUMENTED RURAL

TO CREATE SHENANDOAH
NATIONAL

DESPERATE TENANT FARMERS
IN ARKANSAS,

HARD-LUCK RANCHERS IN MONTANA,

SLUM DWELLERS
IN ST. LOUIS.

BUT THE MOST DISTRESSING
SITUATION HE EVER ENCOUNTERED,

HE REMEMBERED LATER,

DRIVING THROUGH
THE DUST BOWL.

"IT WAS LIKE A LANDSCAPE
OF THE MOON," HE SAID,

POPULATED BY
"HARD-WORKING PEOPLE WHO,

"THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR

"AND THE ONLY PLACE THEY

WAS FROM THE GOVERNMENT."

ABOUT 14 MILES SOUTH
OF BOISE CITY,

HE CAME ACROSS COBLE,

DIGGING OUT A FENCE POST
FROM DRIFT.

ROTHSTEIN CHATTED WITH HIM

SNAPPED A FEW PICTURES, WAS
GETTING BACK INTO HIS

WHEN THE WIND
SUDDENLY PICKED UP.

LOOKING BACK, HE SAW THEM
BENDING INTO THE STORM,

POINTED HIS CAMERA AT THEM,
AND CLICKED THE SHUTTER.

THE IMAGE THAT
ROTHSTEIN CAPTURED

TOUCHED EMOTIONAL CHORDS

BECOMING THE ICONIC PICTURE
OF THE DUST BOWL

AND ONE OF THE MOST WIDELY
REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHS

OF THE 20th CENTURY.

IN ADDITION TO HIRING
PHOTOGRAPHERS,

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALSO
UNDERWROTE A DOCUMENTARY FILM,

AND THAT SUMMER IT PREMIERED

AT THE MISSION THEATRE
IN DALHART, TEXAS.

"THE PLOW THAT
BROKE THE PLAINS,"

DIRECTED BY PARE LORENTZ,

THE CAUSES OF THE DUST BOWL

AND WHAT ROOSEVELT'S NEW DEAL

Film
THE GRASSLANDS--

COUNTRY OF
HIGH WINDS SUN,

Narrator: THE FILM PLACED MUCH
OF THE BLAME OF THE DUST BOWL

ON THE ARRIVAL OF THE TRACT
TO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS

AND DESCRIBED HOW

THE SOIL BEHIND A TEAM OF MULES

SUDDENLY BECAME
A MECHANIZED FORCE

ARRAYED AGAINST NATURE ITSELF.

THE REACTION INSIDE
THE DUST BOWL ITSELF

THEY DIDN'T LIKE SEEING
THEIR LAND OR THEMSELVES

BAD END OF A DRAMA.

Robertson: SOMETIMES
AT THE MOVIES,

THE NEWSREEL SHOWED
THE DUST BOWL,

AND THAT INFURIATED
THE LOCAL BOOSTERS,

"THAT'S BAD PUBLICITY.

WE DON'T NEED THAT
PUBLICITY."

THE BOOSTERS THOUGHT,

WELL, THEY GOT THAT RIGHT,

THEY'RE REALLY TELLING IT,
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO US--

THEY'RE REALLY
TELLING IT RIGHT.

Narrator:
IN THE SUMMER OF 1936,

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT TOOK
4,000-MILE WHISTLE-STOP TOUR

ACROSS THE MIDWEST
AND NORTHERN PLAINS

TO SEE FOR HIMSELF THE EXTENT

OF THE NATION'S
AGRICULTURAL CRISIS.

Franklin
MY FRIENDS,

I HAVE BEEN ON
JOURNEY OF HUSBANDRY.

I TALKED WITH FAMILIES WHO
HAD LOST THEIR WHEAT CROP,

LOST THEIR CORN CROP,
LOST THEIR LIVESTOCK,

LOST THE WATER IN THEIR WELL,

COME THROUGH
TO THE END OF THE SUMMER

WITHOUT ONE DOLLAR

FACING A WINTER
WITHOUT FEED OR FOOD,

Narrator: AT THE SAME TIME,

HUGH BENNETT, THE HEAD OF
THE SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE,

WAS ON HIS OWN FACT-FINDING TOUR

A REPORT TO FDR

ON THE FUTURE
OF THE GREAT PLAINS.

BENNETT'S FIRST STOP
WAS DALHART,

WHERE HOWARD FINNELL

WITH THE FARMERS HE WAS
TRYING TO CONVERT.

EARLIER IN THE

FINNELL HAD PETITIONED SECRETARY
OF AGRICULTURE HENRY WALLACE

FOR $2 MILLION
IN EMERGENCY FUNDS

TO OFFER INCENTIVES

FOR THOSE WHO WOULD
TRY HIS METHOD

OF CONTOUR PLOWING
ON THEIR OWN LAND.

NEARLY 40,000 FARMERS
SIGNED UP

ON 5.5 MILLION ACRES.

Worster: THE ONLY
THAT WAS OUT THERE

THAT WAS EFFECTIVE
WAS THIS ONE,

FINNELL WAS THE POINT
TO TRY TO IT

HAD STILL NOT ADMITTED

THAT IT WAS THEIR FAULT,

"THIS IS ALL NATURE'S DOING.

"LEAVE US ALONE.
THE RAINS WILL COME BACK,

AND WE WILL BE
BACK IN BUSINESS."

Narrator; BENNETT AND
HIS COMMITTEE MOVED ON

WITH THEIR TOUR,
PLANNING TO MEET UP

WITH THE PRESIDENT
IN NORTH DAKOTA

AND GIVE HIM THEIR FINDINGS.

THE FINAL REPORT ESTIMATED

THAT 80% OF THE GREAT PLAINS

POINTED TO
WHAT BENNETT CALLED

OF THE PROBLEM--

"AN ATTEMPT TO IMPOSE UPON THE
REGION A SYSTEM OF AGRICULTURE

TO WHICH THE PLAINS
ARE NOT ADAPTED."

BUT, IT CONCLUDED,

THE NATION "CANNOT AFFORD
TO LET THE FARMER FAIL."

TO LET THAT HAPPEN.

BACK EAST, THERE HAVE BEEN

ALL KINDS OF REPORTS THAT
OUT IN THE DROUGHT AREA

THERE WAS DESPONDENCY,
LACK OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE,

GENERAL
ATMOSPHERE OF GLOOM.

BUT I HUNCH--
IT WAS THE RIGHT ONE--

WHEN 1 GOT OUT HERE,

I'D FIND THAT YOU PEOPLE

[APPLAUSE]

THAT YOU NOT
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY

WHEN THIS COUNTRY
WOULD BE DEPOPULATED,

BUT THAT YOU YOUR CHILDREN
EXPECT TO REMAIN HERE.

[APPLAUSE]

Frantz: TO US,
HE WAS A SAVIOR.

HE JUST...HE GAVE US HOPE
WHERE WE NONE.

I CAN REMEMBER MY DAD SAYING
THAT HE NORMALLY DIDN'T

VOTE DEMOCRAT, BUT HE
THOUGHT HE WOULD THAT TIME,

I THINK HE BECAME
STAUNCH DEMOCRAT THAT.

NO CRACKED EARTH,
NO BLISTERING SUN,

NO BURNING WIND
ARE A PERMANENT MATCH

FOR THE INDOMITABLE AMERICAN

AND THEIR WIVES
AND CHILDREN,

WHO HAVE CARRIED ON
THROUGH DESPERATE DAYS.

HERE'S A LAND THAT GOD HIMSELF

I SHALL NEVER FORGET
THE FIELDS OF WHEAT...

Egan: THE FACT THAT
THE PRESIDENT STILL

GAVE IT HIS ATTENTION--
THAT WAS A VERY BIG

AT A TIME WHEN THEY
FELT SO ABANDONED,

YOU CAN'T UNDERSTATE
THE IMPORTANCE

OF JUST GIVING IT
SOME ATTENTION.

IT WAS THEIR
FATHERS' TASK TO HOMES,

IT IS THEIR TASK
TO KEEP THESE HOMES,

IT IS OUR TASK TO
HELP THEM WIN THEIR FIGHT.

Man: WE'RE CONTINUING WITH

MR. WOODY GUTHRIE'S

FROM TEXAS,
CALIFORNIA.

Guthrie: AS I RAMBLED AROUND
OVER THE COUNTRY

KEPT LOOKING
AT ALL THESE PEOPLE,

SEEING HOW THEY LIVED
OUTSIDE LIKE COYOTES

AROUND IN THE TREES AND TIMBER
AND UNDER THE BRIDGES

AND ALONG ALL THE
RAILROAD TRACKS

AND IN THEIR LITTLE SHACK
HOUSES THAT THEY BUILT

OUT OF CARDBOARD

AND OLD CORRUGATED IRON THAT
THEY GOT OUT OF THE DUMPS--

THAT JUST STRUCK ME
TO WRITE THIS SONG.

I AIN'T GOT NO HOME,
I'M JUST A-ROAMIN' ROUND

Narrator: DURING THE 10 YEARS
OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION,

CALIFORNIA'S POPULATION

HALF OF THE NEWCOMERS CAME
FROM CITIES, NOT FARMS.

ONE IN 8 WERE PROFESSIONALS
OR WHITE-COLLAR WORKERS.

OF THE 315,000 WHO ARRIVED
FROM TEXAS,

AND NEIGHBORING STATES,

ONLY 16,000 WERE FROM
THE DUST BOWL ITSELF.

BUT REGARDLESS OF WHERE

REGARDLESS OF THEIR SKILLS
AND THEIR EDUCATION

AND THEIR INDIVIDUAL REASONS

FOR SEEKING A NEW LIFE
IN A NEW PLACE,

TO MOST CALIFORNIANS--
TO THE NATION AT LARGE--

THEY WERE ALL THE SAME,

AND THEY ALL HAD
THE SAME NAME.

"OKIES." WE WERE
MADE FUN OF,

AND, "YOU TALK FUNNY,"
AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT.

"TALK SOME MORE.
YOU TALK FUNNY."

YOU HATED THAT
BECAUSE IT SET YOU .

Worster: THERE WAS
SIGN IN A MOVIE THEATER

IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY
OF CALIFORNIA

WHICH BASICALLY
"NIGGERS OKIES UPSTAIRS."

THAT IS, YOU CAN'T SIT
DOWN HERE WITH PEOPLE.

THEY WERE
HORRIBLY MISTREATED.

THEY WERE TREATED

TREATED IN THE SOUTH.

SIMILAR TO THE SIGNS

THEY IN DALHART,
TEXAS, THAT SAID,

"BLACK MAN, DON'T LET THE
SUN GO DOWN ON YOU HERE."

SIMILARLY, THERE WERE SIGNS ALL
THROUGHOUT THE CENTRAL VALLEY

SAYING, "OKIE, GO BACK.
WE DON'T WANT YOU."

Narrator: ABOUT A THIRD OF
ALL THE RECENT ARRIVALS,

OF THEM
FORMER SHARECROPPERS

FROM THE COTTON BELT,

ENDED UP IN CALIFORNIA'S
AGRICULTURAL VALLEYS,

RELIED ON MIGRANT LABOR

TO PICK THEIR COTTON,
VEGETABLES, FRUITS.

THEY SETTLED IN DEVELOPMENTS

CALLED "LITTLE
"OKIEVILLES"

OR MOVED WITH THE HARVESTS,

SOMETIMES TRAVELING 700 TO
1,000 MILES IN THE SEASON,

STAYING IN SQUALID ROADSIDE
CAMPS CALLED "JUNGLES"

OR SIMPLY PUTTING UP A TENT

ALONG THE
IN AN UNUSED FIELD.

THEY FOUND
THEMSELVES AT THE MERCY

OF THE CONTRACTORS,
WHO CONSPIRED WITH THE GROWERS

TO DRIVE DOWN THE

Woman: "THEY HAVE THE
SIMPLE AND STURDY VALUES

"OFTEN BEMOANED AS LOST.

"THEY ARE PROUD,
STRONG PEOPLE,

"PATIENT, UNCOMPLAINING,
INTELLIGENT.

"THEY WANT FIRST OF ALL TO

"TO HAVE A HOME
FOR THEIR FAMILIES,

"TO EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN.

"THESE SIMPLE RIGHTS ARE PART
OF THE HERITAGE OF AMERICANS.

"IT IS DIFFICULT
FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND

"THAT NONE OF THEM REMAIN.

"THEIR WHOLE LIVES

"ON ONE INSTINCTIVE PROBLEM--

SANORA BABB.

Narrator: SANORA BABB,
A FORMER REPORTER

WHO GROWN UP IN THE
AROUND NO MAN'S LAND,

HAD FOUND A NEW JOB WITH THE
FARM SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.

WITH HER BOSS, TOM COLLINS,

SHE WENT UP DOWN
THE CENTRAL VALLEY,

INFORMING THE NEWLY ARRIVED
MIGRANTS ABOUT PROGRAMS

TO PROVIDE THEM WITH FOOD

FOR THEIR FAMILIES,
EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN,

AND BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS.

ONLY A FEW DAYS AGO,

IN SEARCH OF IMMEDIATE
HELP.

HIS WIFE
BABY 3 DAYS BEFORE

IN AN ABANDONED MILK HOUSE

WHERE THEY HAD TAKEN REFUGE
DURING THE RECENT STORMS.

SINCE THE BIRTH, HIS WIFE,
THEIR OTHER CHILDREN,

HE HIMSELF NOT
EATEN FOR 3 DAYS.

IF HE DID NOT GET SOMETHING
FOR THEM AT ONCE,

SHE AND THE BABY WOULD DIE.

Narrator: WHEN THE
REFUGEES LEARNED

ON THE SOUTHERN PLAINS,

IT HELPED ESTABLISH A TRUST AND

THE GOVERNMENT

THE PHOTOGRAPHER DOROTHEA LANGE
TO COME BACK TO CALIFORNIA

TO DOCUMENT THE DEPLORABLE
CONDITIONS AMONG THE MIGRANTS.

TOM COLLINS THE FSA
USED HER PHOTOS

TO PUSH FOR CREATION OF A
HANDFUL OF GOVERNMENT CAMPS

WITH BETTER SHELTER
AND SANITATION FOR

COLLINS INSISTED THAT
THE CAMPS BE SELF-GOVERNED,

WITH ELECTED COMMITTEES
RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING FROM

SEWING CLUBS AND LIBRARIES

BUT ONLY A LUCKY FEW WERE
ABLE TO FIND SPACE THERE.

AND WHILE THE GROWERS DEPENDED
ON THE MIGRANTS FOR CHEAP LABOR,

THE LOCALS, WHO WERE THEMSELVES
SUFFERING FROM THE DEPRESSION,

DIDN'T APPRECIATE ANYTHING

THAT ENCOURAGED
THE NEWCOMERS TO STAY,

NOR DID THE GROWERS
ONCE THE HARVEST WAS OVER.

Guthrie:
IT TAKES A WORRIED

TO SING A WORRIED SONG

TAKES A WORRIED

TO SING A WORRIED SONG

I'M WORRIED NOW...

Narrator: LIKE
OF THE NEW ARRIVALS,

WOODY GUTHRIE HAD SETTLED IN
ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S CITIES--

BEFORE FINALLY LANDING

HIS OWN SHOW
ON RADIO STATION KFVD.

EACH DAY, HE PERFORMED

OLDER FOLK TUNES HE LEARNED
IN TEXAS,

WHICH REMINDED MANY LISTENERS
IN HIS GROWING AUDIENCE

OF THE HOMES THEY HAD LEFT.

I ASKED THAT JUDGE...

Narrator: BUT THOUGH

WELL-KNOWN
RADIO PERSONALITY,

HE, TOO, FELT THE
STING OF BIGOTRY

AIMED AT ANYONE
CONSIDERED AN "OKIE."

HE BEGAN SPENDING
TIME TRAVELING

PERFORMING FOR FREE
IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY,

WHERE THE TREATMENT OF THE
FARM WORKERS POLITICIZED HIM,

HIS MUSIC,
FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

HOLDING OUT FOR HIGHER WAGES

STARTED A NEWSPAPER
COLUMN, "WOODY SEZ,"

IN THE LEFT-LEANING

"Il AINT A COMMUNIST

"BUT I'VE BEEN IN THE
ALL MY LIFE."

Guthrie: § LOTS OF FOLKS
BACK EAST, THEY SAY

IS LEAVIN' HOME EVERY DAY

BEATIN' A HOT OLD DUSTY WAY

TO THE CALIFORNIA LINE

Narrator: GUTHRIE WAS OFFENDED
THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE

NEARLY PASSED A LAW CLOSING
THE STATE'S BORDERS

TO PEOPLE IT CALLED

"PAUPERS AND PERSONS LIKELY

Guthrie: § NOW, THE POLICE
AT THE OF ENTRY SAY

YOU'RE NUMBER 14,000
FOR TODAY...

Narrator: THEN, WITHOUT
LEGAL AUTHORITY,

THE LOS ANGELES POLICE CHIEF

TO THE MAIN ENTRY POINTS FROM
ARIZONA, NEVADA, AND OREGON.

THEY INTIMIDATED

ANYONE THEY
CONSIDERED "VAGRANTS,"

INCLUDING CLARENCE AND
IRENE BECK'S FATHER SAM,

FROM WHEELESS, OKLAHOMA.

Beck: MY FATHER WAS
A DUST BOWL OKIE.

HE GOT PUT IN JAIL WHEN HE
CROSSED INTO CALIFORNIA

BECAUSE HE DIDN'T

WOULD HAVE GONE
TO JAIL EXCEPT THAT

ONE OF HIS EX-NEIGHBORS IN

AND WAS PREPARED FOR THIS

AND MET HIM, ARRANGED THAT
HE COULD STAY WITH THEM

Narrator: FOR A WHILE,

BECK WAS ALLOWED TO STAY
AT A CHICKEN FARM,

WHERE HE IN EXCHANGE
FOR EGGS TO EAT.

BUT HE FINALLY LANDED A JOB

WITH THE LOS ANGELES
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

AND STARTED A NEW LIFE FOR
HIMSELF AND HIS DAUGHTER.

Hauer: IT'S A FRESH START.

I GUESS THAT'S THE
TO USE--A FRESH START,

IT REALLY WAS.

Narrator: BECK DIED OF
HEART ATTACK IN 1947, AT AGE 54,

SPREADING BLACKTOP
ON A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY.

Beck: HE HAD A TOUGH LIFE.

HE HIS LIFE WAS
THE REASON THAT I SAID,

"GOD, WHAT DO I HAVE

"AND NOT BE A FARMER,
I'LL DO IT.

"I DON'T CARE WHETHER
IT'S BEING A PIMP.

"I DON'T CARE
WHETHER IT'S STEALING.

I'l NOT GONNA FARM,

I'M NOT GOING
TO BE BROKE."

AND THAT'S BEEN
MY DRIVING FORCE.

IT HAS BEEN.

AND I'M NOT A FARMER,
AND I'M NOT BROKE.

I'M NOT A PIMP,
EITHER, THANK GOD.

Guthrie:
I'M A DUST BOWL REFUGEE

Narrator: CALVIN CRABILL'S
FATHER, JOHN,

RESCUED
HIS WIFE FAMILY

FROM THE DUST
OF EASTERN COLORADO,

BUT THE HARD TIMES FOLLOWED
HIM TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

HE MOVED FROM ONE TEMPORARY
JOB TO ANOTHER--

COLORADO COWBOY, FAR FROM
THE PLAINS HE LOVED.

Crabill: MY FATHER

HE WAS A GENTLE, QUIET MAN,

I THINK HE COULD
TAKE IT WELL.

IT MADE ME WITH A CHIP
ON MY SHOULDER

THAT I PROBABLY
CARRY TO THIS DAY,

THAT I THOUGHT I WAS

THE POOREST KID
IN HIGH SCHOOL.

WE RENTED A LITTLE HOUSE
ON THE ALLEY IN BURBANK,

THE HOUSE IN FRONT,
THE PEOPLE MONEY,

THEY WERE
VERY AWARE THAT WE WERE

THE PEOPLE
ON THE BLOCK.

IN THOSE DAYS,
YOU COULD GET SOMETHING

TO PUT ON YOUR LICENSE PLATE

THAT WOULD BE
SOME KIND OF A SLOGAN.

IT "PEACEFUL VALLEY,"

MY FATHER
LIKED THAT PLACE,

HE PUT IT
ON HIS LICENSE PLATE.

THE PEOPLE AT HIS JOB

AND WROTE "PEACEFUL ALLEY"

HE LIVED ON AN ALLEY.

IF YOU'RE DOWN,
THEY PUSH YOU DOWN, FELLA,

THEY PUSH YOU DOWN,

HAPPENED TO HIM,

OVER OVER OVER,
OVER OVER.

HOW BRAVE THEY ALL ARE.

I HAVE NOT HEARD
ONE COMPLAINT.

THEY ALL WANT
HATE TO HAVE HELP.

Narrator: AS SHE MOVED

SANORA BABB KEPT
A NIGHTLY JOURNAL,

WHICH SHE PLANNED TO
TURN INTO A NOVEL,

ABOUT THE PEOPLE SHE HAD MET
AND WHAT THEY HAD GONE THROUGH.

SHE ALSO WROTE DETAILED
FOR HER BOSS TOM COLLINS,

SHARING HER NOTES

WITH A WRITER WORKING
ON A MUCK-RAKING ARTICLE

NAMED JOHN STEINBECK.

WHEN STEINBECK FIRST CAME,

HE HAD TO STOP SEEING THEM
BEFORE THE DAY WAS OUT.

TOM COLLINS SAID HE SAID,

"BY GOD, I CAN'T
STAND ANYMORE.

I'M GOING AWAY AND BLOW
THE LID OFF THIS PLACE."

Narrator: SANORA BABB
WOULD EVENTUALLY SEND

SOME CHAPTERS OF HER NOVEL
TO BENNETT CERF,

PROMINENT EDITOR OF
HOUSE IN NEW YORK CITY,

WHO WAS SO IMPRESSED
HE ASKED HER

TO COME EAST TO TALK ABOUT IT.

BUT BY THE TIME SHE ARRIVED,
IN THE WINTER OF 1939,

STEINBECK HAD COME OUT WITH

HIS OWN PULITZER
PRIZE-WINNING NOVEL,

"THE GRAPES OF WRATH,"

WHICH CHRONICLED THE
TRIBULATIONS OF THE JOAD FAMILY,

TENANT FARMERS WHO HAD
MIGRATED TO CALIFORNIA

FROM THE COTTON FIELDS
OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA--

NOT THE DUST BOWL.

THE MARKET COULDN'T SUPPORT

SECOND NOVEL
ON THE SAME SUBJECT,

AND HER EDITOR ADVISED SANORA
TO PUT HER MANUSCRIPT ASIDE.

IT WAS FINALLY
PUBLISHED IN 2004,

A YEAR BEFORE HER DEATH.

Babb portrayer. YOU, WHO LIVE
IN ANY KIND OF COMFORT

OR CONVENIENCE, DO NOT
KNOW HOW THESE PEOPLE

SURVIVE THESE
THINGS, DO YOU?

THEY WILL ENDURE BECAUSE

THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE
ESCAPE FROM ENDURANCE.

THE REST MUST LIVE.

Henderson THE WORST
STORM THUS FAR IN 1937

OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY
AFTER A SLIGHT SNOWFALL,

DELUSIVE HOPES.

THAT SNOW MELTED
ON A TUESDAY.

WITH A RISING WIND,

AND UNTIL LATE FRIDAY NIGHT,
THERE WAS LITTLE RESPITE.

WE ARE NOW RELUCTANTLY
FEEDING OUR LIVESTOCK

THE SMALL REMAINDER
OF THE CROP OF 1931.

Narrator: IN MOST OF THE NATION,
THE DROUGHT ENDED,

BUT FOR CAROLINE HENDERSON
HER NEIGHBORS

WHO STAYED IN THE
HEART OF THE DUST BOWL,

1937 WOULD PROVE TO BE
THE WORST YET.

GUYMON, OKLAHOMA, JUST 30 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF HER HOMESTEAD,

WAS ENGULFED BY
DUST ST! THAT JANUARY,

14 IN FEBRUARY,
THEN 13 IN MARCH,

INCLUDING ONE THAT CLOSED

OFF OF BUILDINGS

A HUNDRED MILES AWAY

ON THE AFTERNOON OF MAY 21,

A LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER
NAMED FRANCIS CRAVER

NOTICED A DUST CLOUD APPEARING

OVER THE DORIC THEATRE
IN DOWNTOWN ELKHART, KANSAS.

HE GRABBED HIS CAMERA AND
CHRONICLED THE STORM'S DESCENT,

WHICH CAUSED THE
HIGH SCHOOL TO CANCEL

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES
PLANNED FOR THAT EVENING.

IN HOOKER, OKLAHOMA, A FURNITURE

SAW ANOTHER WALL
OF DIRT APPROACHING.

HE SCRAMBLED TO THE TOP OF
THE TALLEST BUILDING IN TOWN

AND BEGAN TAKING PICTURES
WITH HIS BROWNIE CAMERA.

DROPPED 3 FEET OF DUST

ON HOOKER THE
SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE.

BY THE END OF JULY, THE NUMBER
OF DESTRUCTIVE ST:

WOULD RISE TO 79;

BY THE END OF
THE TO 110.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE SOUTHERN PLAINS

AND THE SAHARA DESERT,

WAS THAT A LOT OF
"DAMNED FOOLS"

WEREN'T TRYING TO
FARM THE SAHARA.

Williamson:
IF YOU WERE A FARMER,

YOU PLOWED THE GROUND,

YOU PUT SEED IN IT,
IT GREW UP.

YOU DIDN'T EXPECT THIS DIRT
THAT WAS GIVING YOU THIS FOOD

TO TURN ON YOU LIKE THAT
DESTROY YOU LIKE IT DID.

Robert McCoy: THOSE PEOPLE
THAT WAS REAL RELIGIOUS

DRIVE US OFF OF THE LAND.

I NEVER DID BELIEVE THAT,
NEVER DID BELIEVE IT,

AND WE BELIEVED WHATEVER DAD
BELIEVED, YOU KNOW, AS KIDS.

DAD SAID THEY'LL JUST BE
TIMES THAT THEY'LL BE BAD

AND TIMES THAT THEY WON'T.

Frantz: BOTH OF MY PARENTS
WERE VERY, VERY GOOD CHRISTIAN.

NO MATTER WHAT CAME ALONG,
THEY SEEMED TO ACCEPT IT.

THEY BOTH JUST SEEMED LIKE

DOING THE BEST THEY COULD,

THEY DIDN'T WHOLE
LOT OF GRIPING ABOUT IT.

Narrator: AROUND THE HOUSE,
VIRGINIA FRANTZ'S MOTHER

TAKE HER CHILDREN'S MINDS

OFF THE TROUBLES
STARING THEM IN THE FACE.

Frantz: § I'M PRESSING ON
THE UPWARD WAY

NEW HEIGHTS I'M GAINING
EVERY DAY

§ STILL PRAYING AS
I ONWARD BOUND §

IS HIGHER GROUND §

THEN IT WAS...

OH, LIFT ME UP
LET ME STAND

BY FAITH,
ON HEAVEN'S TABLE

HIGHER FAITH
I HAVE FOUND

OH, LIFT ME UP
ON HIGHER GROUND

HA HA! IT'S BEEN

SINCE I'VE HEARD THAT SONG.

I REMEMBER WE HAD THE RADIO,
AND HE'S LISTENING TO IT

TALKING ABOUT A FLOOD
ON THE OHIO

AND HOUSES FLOATING DOWN
AND PEOPLE ON THEM HOUSES.

MY DAD TURNED

"WE'VE GOT IT BETTER HERE
THAN THEY HAVE UP THERE."

SO HE THOUGHT THAT THE DIRT
WAS BETTER THAN THAT WATER.

Narrator: IN APRIL OF 1937,

FARMERS FROM 5 STATES MET
IN GUYMON,

"THE PROBLEM IN THE DUST BOWL
IS ENTIRELY TOO LARGE

"FOR THE REMAINING GOOD FARMERS
TO EVEN ST.

TO COPE WITH," THEY WROTE
THE GOVERNMENT.

"WE MUST HAVE HELP, AND IT'S
IMPERATIVE WE HAVE HELP NOW."

Riney-Kehrberg: I THINK
IT HAS TO BE EXTREME

FOR A GROUP OF FARMERS,

VERY INDEPENDENT-MINDED,
VERY STUBBORN,

'A GROUP THAT ON THE WHOLE
DOESN'T LIKE TO BE MEDDLED WITH

AND MEDDLE WITH US."

BUT AT THIS POINT,

THEY'RE INTO THEIR
SIXTH OF NO INCOME,

THEIR FIFTH OF NO CROPS,

AND THEY'RE SEEING NEIGHBORS'
FIELDS BLOWING INTO THEIR OWN,

THEY'RE SEEING ENORMOUS
CLOUDS OF DIRT IN THE AIR,

THEY DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE TO DO.

AND WHEN YOU DON'T
KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO

YOU'RE
OF LOSING YOUR FARM,

THEN YOU BEGIN TO ASK FOR
RATHER MORE EXTREME MEASURES

THAN YOU WOULD HAVE
ASKED FOR OTHERWISE.

IF ONE
MISHANDLED HIS LAND,

UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.

THOUSAND-ACRE FARM

BLOWING DIRT BADLY

TO DISRUPT THE LIVES
OF EVERYBODY AROUND HIM.

IF THAT FARM OPERATOR
ACTUALLY HAPPENED

TO BE LIVING IN
AMARILLO OR DENVER

THERE WAS NO AUTHORITY TO

Narrator: THE FARMERS WANTED
EVERY LANDOWNER TO BE REQUIRED

TO LEAVE STUBBLE ON
HARVESTED FIELDS,

TO HAVE ABANDONED ACRES
PLANTED WITH COVER CROPS.

TO DO IT, THEY EVEN SUGGESTED
THAT MARTIAL LAW BE DECLARED.

Egan: THEY WANTED THE ABILITY TO
CONDEMN OTHER PEOPLE'S PROPERTY

IF THEY WEREN'T KEEPING IT UP.

TO HOW MOST OF
THESE PEOPLE THOUGHT.

IN SOME COUNTIES,
THEY WERE GRANTED AUTHORITY

TO GO OUT
CONDEMN SOMEONE,

TO SLAP THEM IN JAIL
IF NEED BE,

IF HE WAS LETTING
HIS LAND BLOW AGAIN.

VERY AUTHORITARIAN MEASURE
FOR FOLKS WHO

CONSIDERED THEMSELVES
HIGHLY INDIVIDUALISTIC.

ALL IDEOLOGY GOES OUT
THE WINDOW.

SO HERE IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE

WHO VERY ANTI-STATE,
ANTI-GOVERNMENT,

GOVERNMENT INTERFERING

WITH ANYTHING THEY DID
TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO,

BUT WHO, WHEN THE
CHIPS DOWN,

GOING TO ASK FOR
THE ONLY HELP THEY GET,

AND THAT'S FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

Narrator: EVENTUALLY,

SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
WERE ESTABLISHED,

MEANT TO ENFORCE BETTER FARMING

AT THE SAME TIME,
THE GOVERNMENT WAS BUYING BACK

AS MUCH LAND AS IT COULD
FROM DUSTED-OUT HOMESTEADERS

AND SLOWLY RETURNING IT

GASOLINE FOR THEIR TRACTORS

IF THEY WERE DOING

THEY EVEN RECEIVED PAYMENTS

Worster: "WE HAVE GOT TO BEGIN
TO INDUCE PEOPLE TO PLANT LESS."

YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE
THEIR AWAY FROM THEM.

THEM NOT TO PRODUCE.

FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE GREAT

THEY COULD KEEP THEIR LAND,

THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO GO OUT EVERY
FALL WHEAT AGAIN,

THE GOVERNMENT WOULD
SEND THEM A CHECK,

THIS COULD GO ON,

AND UNTIL BETTER TIMES EMERGED.

Hurt:
NOBODY KNEW WHETHER

OR HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE.

MIGHT BE 50 YEARS,
MIGHT BE 70 YEARS; NOBODY KNEW.

IT'S A TIME PERIOD IN WHICH
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

ENTERED AGRICULTURE AS NEVER
BEFORE, AND IT'S NEVER LEFT.

Narrator: MEANWHILE,
NEAR DALHART,

DUNES THAT HAD ONCE
TOWERED 36 FEET

FINNELL'S EMPLOYEE'S CARS

HAD BEEN TAMED IN 18 MONTHS OF
PAINSTAKING RESTORATION WORK.

THE CONTRAST BETWEEN CONTOURED
FIELDS THAT CAPTURED THE RAIN

AND THOSE FARMED THE

SUCH TANGIBLE RESULTS,

MORE AND MORE FARMERS DECIDED
TO TAKE FINNELL'S ADVICE.

BY THE END OF 1937, DESPITE
THE PERSISTENT DUST STORMS,

THE AMOUNT OF
DANGEROUSLY ERODED

HAD BEEN REDUCED
BY MORE THAN HALF.

IN 1938, THE RAINFALL
EDGED UPWARD--

18 INCHES
IN BOISE CITY--

AND ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF DUST

SOME FARMERS IN NO MAN'S LAND

BROUGHT IN A WHEAT CROP
OF 10 BUSHELS PER ACRE--

NOTHING CLOSE TO A BUMPER CROP,

BUT ALMOST BOUNTIFUL
TO PREVIOUS YEARS.

THE DROUGHT SEEMED
TO BE LOSING ITS GRIP.

WHEN THE WORST
WAS ARGUABLY OVER,

WHEN THEY SEEN THE
BACKHAND OF NATURE,

WHEN THEY'D SEEN MORE YENOM
AND ANGER AND OUTRIGHT EVIL,

THEY CALLED IT,
THAT THE SKY THROWN AT THEM,

THAT ANY HUMAN BEINGS
COULD EVER TAKE,

THEY THOUGHT IT WAS OVER,

CAME ONE
ALMOST BIBLICAL PLAGUE.

MOSTLY WERE CRAWLING,

BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU SCARE THEM,
THEY'D JUMP FLY.

BUT MOST OF THEM
WERE JUST CRAWLING,

JUST LIKE A WHOLE SEA OF THEM.

THEY ATE
EVERYTHING IN SIGHT.

IT IT ALMOST LOOKED LIKE
THE GROUND WAS MOVING,

THEY WOULD GET THAT BIG,

AND THEY WOULD EAT ON
THE BARK OF THE TREES,

AND THEY ATE EVERYTHING

THAT THEY COULD COME
IN CONTACT WITH.

FROM HERE, THEY LEFT ON,
AND WHAT I UNDERSTAND,

SOMEWHERES IN
THEY GREW WINGS,

THEY ALL TOOK FLIGHT,

THEY
THEY SHADED THE SUN

BECAUSE THEY WERE
ALL TOGETHER.

Narrator: FARMERS HOOKED UP
SLEDS TO THEIR TRACTORS

AND DRAGGED THEM

TRAPPING GRASSHOPPERS
IN VATS OF KEROSENE.

SOME TRIED CRUSHING THEM
UNDER ROLLERS.

THEIR NATIONAL GUARDS

TO SPREAD POISON,

MOLASSES OIL,
ALONG THE ROADSIDES.

HOW MUCH MORE OUT

WHEN THEY'RE NOW
POURING STRYCHNINE

ON WHAT HAD BEEN THE

TO KILL GRASSHOPPERS WHO

BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING
ELSE LEFT TO LIVE?

THAT ITSELF, BY THE TIME
THEY WERE POURING POISON

ON THE THAT
BEEN KILLED BY THEM,

I THINK THEY HAD GONE
SO FAR DOWN THE ROAD

IN ALTERING THIS

THAT IT WAS ALMOST
BEYOND

Robertson: ALL THE
DEMOCRATS WERE EXCITED.

THERE WERE PEOPLE IN AMARILLO
WHO DID NOT LIKE ROOSEVELT,

THEY WERE USUALLY
THE WEALTHY PEOPLE.

I KNOW ONE OF THEM WAS--
ONE OF THE RICH MEN I HEARD SAY,

"THIS SOCIALISTIC REGIME
IS NOT AMERICAN.

IT'S ANTI-AMERICAN."

THOSE OF US WHO
WERE, YOU KNOW,

APPRECIATED THE PROGRAMS
THAT ROOSEVELT STARTED.

Narrator: ON JULY 11, 1938,

TRAIN BEARING THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES

PULLED INTO THE STATION
AT AMARILLO, TEXAS,

IN THE DUST BOWL.

IN HONOR OF THE
PRESIDENTS VISIT,

ORGANIZERS HAD ASSEMBLED
WHAT THEY CLAIMED TO BE

THE WORLD'S LARGEST MARCHING
BAND: 3,000 PEOPLE--

ANYONE, THEY SAID,
BETWEEN THE AGES OF

ESTIMATED CROWD OF 200,000--

TIMES THE POPULATION
OF THE CITY ITSELF--

TURNED OUT,
LINING THE 3-MILE ROUTE

OF ROOSEVELT'S MOTORCADE
TO ELLWOOD

"PEOPLE WHO ARE IGNORANT
AND PEOPLE WHO THINK

ONLY IN TERMS OF THE MOMENT,"
THE PRESIDENT SAID,

"SCOFF AT OUR EFFORTS SAY,

"OH, LET THE NEXT GENERATION
TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.

"IF PEOPLE OUT IN THE DRY
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY

CANNOT LIVE THERE,
LET THEM MOVE OUT."

Egan: AND THEN THE MOST
AMAZING THING HAPPENS.

REMEMBER, THE DROUGHT HAS

THESE CLOUDS COME
OUT OF NOWHERE.

IT'S A JULY DAY.
IT'S HOT SEASON.

CLOUDS BUNCH, IT RAINS.

IT'S AN OLD-FASHIONED
GULLY-WASHER.

AND THE RAIN COMES OFF OF
ROOSEVELT, AND HE CONTINUES.

HE'S GOT HIS CLAMPED
KNEES UP THERE,

AND HE CONTINUES

"I'M NEVER GONNA DESERT YOU."

Narrator: "I THINK THIS
LITTLE SHOWER WE HAVE HAD,"

THE PRESIDENT BEAMED,
"IS A MIGHTY GOOD OMEN."

Robertson: AND WE HAD
BEEN WISHING FOR RAIN,

PRAYING FOR RAIN, AND IT
RAINED THE DAY HE CAME.

IT RAINED. SO HE TOOK
CREDIT FOR THAT.

Narrator: A SNOWSTORM IN
EARLY 1939 BROUGHT HOPE,

WHICH GREW WHEN THE
SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE

ANNOUNCED THAT, THANKS TO
BETTER FARMING PRACTICES,

CONDITION IN 7 YEARS.

BY THE END OF THE

THE DUST BOWL HAD SHRUNK

I DON'T KNOW

WE'D GET A LITTLE RAIN
LITTLE RAIN.

THE THING I REMEMBER,
THAT WHEN IT FIRST STARTED,

THE SUNFLOWERS

THEY WERE IN OUR PASTURE

WHEN WE WENT TO GET
OUR MILK COWS IN,

WHICH WE DID ON HORSEBACK--

YOU TO HUNT THEM
BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T SEE THEM--

AND THE SUNFLOWERS WOULD
BE UP ABOVE OUR HEAD.

Narrator: IN FOLLETT, TEXAS,

TRIXIE TRAVIS BROWN'S FATHER
HAD BEEN TRYING FOR YEARS

TO PERSUADE HIS WIFE TO PULL UP
STAKES MOVE TO IDAHO.

Trixie Travis Brown:
MY MOTHER WAS VERY RELUCTANT

BECAUSE ALL OF HER FAMILY~--
YOU KNOW, WE HAD,

PROBABLY 50 PEOPLE
OF THE 437 IN FOLLETT

WERE ALL RELATIVES.

MY FATHER, HE EVEN HAD THE
LAND PICKED OUT IN IDAHO.

HE HAD THE MAP OUT.

MOTHER JUST KEPT
HOLDING OUT.

Narrator: THEN, SLOWLY,
THINGS BEGAN IMPROVING.

Brown: WE BEGAN TO GO OUT
ON A REGULAR BASIS.

MOTHER AND DAD LIKED

MOTHER GOT OUT WITH
ALL THE IN THE HOUSE

THAT SHE WOULD SAY,
"GEORGE, LET'S TAKE

OUT TO LOOK AT THE WHEAT."

SEE HOW HIGH IT WAS
TO US CHILDREN.

WE'D ST. THERE,

AND THEY'D SORT OF MEASURE
THE HEIGHT OF THE WHEAT.

THEN WHEN IT BEGAN
TO REALLY DEVELOP,

BE A REALLY GOOD WHEAT CROP.

THE WENT INTO A DRAWER,

THE TO IDAHO
WAS CANCELLED.

White: NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW

WHAT IT MEANT TO YOU
TO HAVE IT RAIN.

EVEN TO THIS DAY,
WE RAIN THE OTHER DAY,

AND I THOUGHT WHEN IT WAS
RAINING HOW NICE THIS WAS,

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WHAT WE
PRAYED, WHAT WE YEARNED FOR

WAS THE RAIN THAT CAME THAT
WOULD SOAK INTO THE GROUND

LET US RAISE A CROP
EVENTUALLY STOP THE DUST.

Floyd Coen: WELL, WHEN IT
DID START RAINING,

WE'D GO OUT IN THE RAIN
AND HOLD OUR HANDS UP

LET THAT HIT
OUR OUR FACE

WORSHIPPED THAT RAIN

Glover: IT JUST SEEMED HAPPIER
EVERYWHERE YOU WENT--

EVERYBODY, NOT JUST MY FOLKS.

WHEN WE'D GO TO THE
NEIGHBORS EITHER SIDE,

THE THRASHERS
OR THE FREEMANS,

WE ALWAYS FELT LIKE
THINGS GETTING

I REMEMBER THE FIRST YEAR

THAT WE PROBABLY GOOD CROP
THE DIRTY THIRTIES,

WE GOT STUCK IN THE FIELD

DADDY DIDN'T
EVEN GRIPE ABOUT IT,

WE WERE HAVING RAIN.

Narrator: AT HIS FARM
IN THE PANHANDLE,

DOROTHY KLEFFMAN'S FATHER

TO BRING HIS WIFE
CHILDREN BACK FROM ARKANSAS.

THEY HAVE A SAYING HERE

THAT IF YOU OUTA
OF BOOTS HERE IN THE PANHANDLE,

YOU'LL COME BACK,
WHEN WE DID COME BACK,

THE LAND HAD BEEN RECOVERED.

THEY HAD LEARNED HOW
TO TERRACE THE LAND.

I REMEMBER MY
WHEAT CROP,

I THINK IN 1940, THAT WAS
A GOOD WHEAT CROP.

WE THOUGHT,
WE'RE BACK.

Henderson portrayer:
DECEMBER 13, 1944.

WE FOR ONCE
SUPER-ABUNDANCE OF RAIN

WHEAT WAS A FAIR CROP.

BETWEEN RAINS.

WE HAVE AMPLE PASTURAGE
WITH THE INCREASED RAINFALL,

AND CATTLE HAVE DONE
REASONABLY WELL.

AND WE HAD A NICE GARDEN,

WITH MOST OF OUR WINTER'S
LIVING ST AWAY.

Narrator: JUST AS IT
YEARS EARLIER,

A WAR IN EUROPE
AND THE RETURN

OF A RELATIVELY WET
WEATHER CYCLE

BROUGHT PROSPERITY
TO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS.

AND HARVESTS WERE BOUNTIFUL.

Henderson portrayer:
MAY 1945,

MOST OF THE MATERIALS FOR
PIPING WATER INTO THE HOUSE,

WITH A SINK IN THE KITCHEN

AND INDOOR TOILET
IN THE BATHROOM.

BUT WE NEED A SUPERMAN
TO DO THE

WE HAVE BOTH WORN DOWN FAST

DURING THE YEARS OF EXTREME
DESOLATION SINCE 1931.

EVERY SMALL ACCOMPLISHMENT
NOW SEEMS TO DEMAND

GREATER OUTPUT
OF ENERGY RESOLUTION

THAN IN THE YEARS
THAT ARE GONE.

Narrator:
CAROLINE HENDERSON WAS GRATEFUL

FOR BETTER WEATHER
AND HIGHER PRICES,

BUT SHE HER HUSBAND WILL
WERE NOW NEARING 70.

SHE SUFFERED FROM ASTHMA,
HE HAD A HEART CONDITION,

AND NEITHER OF THEM COULD FORGET

OF THE DUST BOWL.

Henderson
IT IS GOOD TO REMEMBER

THAT THE LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE
RECOGNIZE NO FAVORITES

AND CHERISH NO HOSTILITY
OR SMALL VINDICTIVENESS;

THAT BEFORE SUN RAIN,
ST WINDS,

KIND BENEFICENCE,

WE ALL STAND UPON
ONE COMMON LEVEL.

Narrator: IN THE FIRST
5 YEARS OF THE 1940s,

DEVOTED TO WHEAT EXPANDED
BY NEARLY 3 MILLION ACRES.

THE SPECULATORS AND
SUITCASE FARMERS RETURNED.

AN ACRE DURING THE DUST BOWL

SOMETIMES 100 DOLLARS AN ACRE.

EVEN SOME OF
THE MOST MARGINAL

WERE PUT BACK
INTO PRODUCTION.

"THE SAME PROCESS,"
HOWARD FINNELL WARNED,

"IS STARTING AGAIN
IN THE VERY SAME PLACE."

"Il ALWAYS
I WAS THE ONLY ONE

WHO COULD REMEMBER
THOSE DREADFUL DAYS,"

CAROLINE CONFIDED
TO A FRIEND, ADDING,

"PEOPLE HAVE SIMPLY ASSUMED
IT COULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN."

THEN, IN THE EARLY 1950s,

WHEN THE WET CYCLE ENDED
DROUGHT REPLACED IT,

PICKED UP ONCE MORE.

BUT THE DAMAGE
TO THE WAS MITIGATED

HAD CONTINUED USING

HOWARD FINNELL'S
CONSERVATION PRACTICES,

AND BECAUSE NEARLY 4 MILLION
ACRES HAD BEEN PURCHASED

BY THE GOVERNMENT
DURING THE DUST BOWL

AND PERMANENTLY RESTORED

THE SOIL DIDN'T BLOW AS MUCH.

HAD BEEN LEARNED.

WE WANT IT NOW,

IF IT IF IT MAKES MONEY
NOW, IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

BUT IT ISN'T NECESSARILY
IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

IF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING ARE
GOING TO MESS UP THE FUTURE,

DON'T DEAL ON THE MOMENT.

TAKE THE LONG-TERM
LOOK AT THINGS.

Egan: I THINK THAT THE MOST
BASIC LESSON WAS, BE HUMBLE.

RESPECT THE LAND ITSELF.

LISTEN TO WHAT
IT'S TRYING TO TELL YOU.

IF THE WIND BLOWS 60, 70 MILES
AN HOUR FOR 50% OF THE YEAR,

ONE THING IS GROWING THERE,

DON'T TRY TO PUT THINGS IN PLACE
THERE THAT DON'T BELONG THERE.

LISTEN TO THE LAND ITSELF.

Narrator: BUT NOW, INSTEAD OF
LOOKING TO THE SKIES FOR RAIN,

FARMERS BEGAN
LOOKING BENEATH THE SOIL,

WHERE THEY BELIEVED A MORE
RELIABLE--AND IRRESISTIBLE--

COULD BE FOUND--

THE VAST OGALLALA AQUIFER,
AN UNDERGROUND RESERVOIR

STRETCHING FROM
NEBRASKA TO NORTH TEXAS,

FILLED WITH WATER THAT HAD
SEEPED DOWN FOR CENTURIES

AFTER THE LAST ICE AGE.

COULD PUMP THE ANCIENT WATER UP,

IRRIGATE THEIR LAND,
GROW OTHER CROPS,

LIKE FEED
FOR CATTLE PIGS,

WHICH REQUIRE EVEN MORE
MOISTURE THAN WHEAT.

Charles Shaw:
THE ONLY THING

THAT'S HOLDING
THAT GROUND TOGETHER

IS THAT IRRIGATION WATER
THAT COMES OUT OF THE

THE IS ABOUT
100 FEET DEEP ON THE AVERAGE.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT
YEARS OF WATER LEFT

UNDER THESE 8 STATES OR THE
PORTIONS OF THESE 8 STATES,

AND IT'S DISAPPEARING.

IT'S GONNA BE
GONE IN 20 YEARS.

IF YOU LOSE THE WATER,
YOU'RE GONNA LOSE THE LAND.

AND THAT'S IT IN A NUTSHELL.

Lewis: MY FOLKS PUT IN ONE
OF THE FIRST IRRIGATION WELLS,

WE THOUGHT
IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.

THE BEGINNING OF A BAD IDEA.

HAVING IRRIGATION WATER
PERMITTED US TO DO SOME THINGS

THAT WEREN'T GOOD
FOR THE LONG TERM.

SOME OF THESE DAYS...
I'LL BE GONE,

BUT SOMEBODY IS GONNA
BE OUT OF WATER.

FOLKS ARE GONNA HAVE TROUBLE
GETTING ENOUGH DRINKING WATER,

THEY'LL LOOK BACK SAY,

"AND TO THINK BACK THERE
IN THE FIFTIES AND SIXTIES,

THEY USED UP OUR DRINKING
WATER TO RAISE HOG FEED."

Worster: I THINK THE DUST BOWL
HAPPEN AGAIN--

MOST EMPHATICALLY

IT BECOME
CREEPING SAHARA.

THE SAHARA DESERT, A FEW
THOUSAND YEARS AGO,

WE KNOW THAT IT'S POSSIBLE

TO TURN FROM SAVANNAH
TOA ST DESERT,

AND THERE'S NO REASON TO
THINK THAT IT CAN'T HAPPEN

IN THE MIDDLE
OF NORTH AMERICA.

Henderson portrayer:
AUGUST 1, 1965.

ANOTHER HOT
DESOLATE DAY.

WE BOTH QUITE WEAKENED
BY OUR STRUGGLES,

EITHER WITH ASTHMA
DESPERATE COUGH,

I BELIEVE LARGELY THE RESULT
OF WORKING WITH THE DUSTY WHEAT.

WE REASON TO HOPE FOR
GOOD RAIN FOR THE FEED CROP,

JUST NOW IN NEED
OF ENCOURAGEMENT,

BUT THE MOISTURE WAS CUT OFF
WITH ONLY A LIGHT SHOWER.

Narrator: ON HER HOMESTEAD
IN NO MAN'S LAND,

CAROLINE HENDERSON
CARRIED ON WITHOUT RESORTING

TO IRRIGATION WATER FROM
THE OGALLALA AQUIFER.

IT HAD BEEN NEARLY 60 YEARS
SINCE SHE FIRST ARRIVED,

FULL OF DREAMS OF
FARMING HER OWN LAND

AND PROSPERING FROM ITS BOUNTY.

IN THOSE 60 YEARS,

SHE AND WILL HAD SEEN
ONLY 10 BUMPER CROPS--

AND OFTENTIMES,

FEELINGS OF FAILURE

THEY APPROACHED
THE AGE OF 80,

THEY WERE STILL
USING THE FARM EQUIPMENT

THEY HAD PURCHASED
IN THE 1920s BECAUSE

CAROLINE REFUSED TO BORROW MONEY
FOR MACHINERY.

BUT THEY WERE FREE OF DEBT,

THEIR DAUGHTER HAD BECOME

GIVEN THEM A GRANDSON
WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE.

IN HER OLD AGE, CAROLINE

TO TURN HER LAND OVER TO
A FARM MANAGEMENT COMPANY--

MONEY-GATHERING CORPORATION,"

SHE CALLED THEM,
"WITH NO POSSIBLE INTEREST

IN THIS SMALL BIT
OF THE GOOD EARTH."

IN 1965, WITH BOTH
OF THEM IN HEALTH,

SHE FINALLY AGREED

TO LIVE WITH THEIR DAUGHTER.

THEY RETURNED TO
NO MAN'S

FOR A FINAL VISIT.

WILL DIED 3 DAYS LATER.

CAROLINE JOINED HIM--

CALLED "THE WESTERN GATE"--

WITHIN A FEW MONTHS.

THE HOMESTEAD WAS
PLACED IN TRUST,

ON THE CONDITION THAT IT
NEVER BE PLOWED AGAIN.

Henderson TO
THE GROUND AS WELL AS WE MAY,

TO SOW OUR SEEDS,
TO CULTIVATE CARE FOR--

THAT IS OUR PART.

YET HOW DIFFICULT IT IS
FOR SOME OF US TO LEARN

THAT THE RESULTS
WE MUST LEAVE

TO THE GREAT SILENT
UNSEEN FORCES OF NATURE,

WHETHER THE CROP BE
CHARACTER.

CAROLINE HENDERSON.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
FRIENDS OF NCI]

THAT OLD DUST ST
KILLED MY BABY

BUT IT CAN'T KILL ME, LORD,
IT CAN'T KILL ME

THAT OLD DUST STORM,
WELL, IT KILLED MY FAMILY

BUT IT CAN'T KILL ME, LORD,
IT CAN'T KILL ME

THAT OLD LANDLORD,
HE GOT MY HOMESTEAD

BUT HE CAN'T GET ME, LORD,
HE CAN'T GET ME

THAT OLD DRY SPELL
KILLED MY CROP, BOYS

BUT IT CAN'T KILL ME, LORD,
IT CAN'T KILL ME

§ THAT OLD TRACTOR

BUT IT CAN'T GET ME, LORD,
IT CAN'T GET ME

§ THAT OLD TRACTOR
RUN MY HOUSE DOWN §

§ BUT IT CAN'T GET ME DOWN,
AND IT CAN'T GET ME §

THAT OLD PAWN SHOP
GOT MY FURNITURE

BUT IT CAN'T GET ME, LORD,
IT CAN'T GET ME

THAT OLD HIGHWAY,
IT'S GOT MY RELATIVES

BUT IT CAN'T GET ME, LORD,
IT CAN'T GET ME

THAT OLD DUST MITE
KILLED MY WHEAT, BOYS

BUT IT CAN'T KILL ME, LORD,
IT CAN'T KILL ME

§ I HAVE WEATHERED

BUT IT CAN'T GET ME, BOYS,
IT CAN'T KILL ME

THAT OLD DUST STORM,
WELL, IT BLOWED MY BARN DOWN

§ BUT IT CAN'T BLOW ME DOWN,
AND IT CAN'T BLOW ME DOWN §

THAT OLD WIND MIGHT
BLOW THIS DOWN

BUT IT CAN'T BLOW ME DOWN,
IT CAN'T KILL ME

THAT OLD DUST ST
KILLED MY BABY

BUT IT CAN'T KILL ME, LORD,
IT CAN'T KILL ME

Narrator: HISTORY, AS SEEN
THROUGH THE EYES OF KEN BURNS,

IS JUST
COLLECTION OF STORIES

ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED
IN THE .

IT'S A CHANCE FOR US ALL

TO REFLECT ON HOW TO BUILD
A STRONGER TOMORROW.

WE SHARE IN HIS VISION,

WE'RE PROUD
TO SUPPORT HIS EFFORTS.

Announcer; FUNDING FOR
THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY:

MEMBERS OF
THE ANGELS SOCIETY,

DEDICATED TO HELPING KEN BURNS
TELL AMERICA'S STORIES,

INCLUDING THE HAMEL
FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST,

ROBERT
BEVERLY GRAPPONE;

THE ARTHUR VINING DAVIS
FOUNDATIONS,

DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING
AMERICA'S FUTURE

THROUGH EDUCATION;

THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT
FOR THE HUMANITIES,

EXPLORING THE HUMAN ENDEAVOR;

THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION;

THE WALLACE GENETIC FOUNDATION;

THE CORPORATION
FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING

AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS
TO YOUR PBS STATION

FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.