at hyde park, his ancestral home, the guns of west point cadets rang down the final curtain on the man best known around the world as fdr. [gunshots] to measure something of his greatness, we turn black -- we turn back the clock to franklin roosevelt as a young man making his first political campaign, to a time when at only 28 years of age, he was elected new york state senator and brought the republican machine that had ruled that just county for 28 years will stop emerging as a national figure, he served resident wilson as assistant secretary of navy. in 1920, his running mate of ohio, james m cox. fdr at the age of 38 was the youngest vice president joel candidate in history. married to anna eleanor roosevelt, he founded the heart

of his dutch forebears. the vacation cottage on campobello items -- campobello island's after the vice presidency. it was in these same waters that he was first stricken with the dread polio germ that was to paralyze his legs but never his life. called in 1928 to the state capitol in albany, franklin roosevelt was elected governor of new york. with al smith, his old friend, the happy warrior at his side, he threw himself into the fight as a champion for the common man. with james a farley swinging the gavel, the die was cast. a country mired in the more us

depression wanted a new president. called to accept the nomination, his wife and son -- who knew it then, but this was the beginning of an era unparalleled in american history. fdr's appearance in chicago stadium was the beginning of a series of spectacular personal triumphs. his first words were fearless and prophetic. president roosevelt: i am prepared under my constitutional duty to deliver what a stricken world may require. these measures or such other measures as the congress may build out of this experience and wisdom, i shall seek within my constitutional authority to

bring to speed it up. but in the event congress should fail to take one of these two clauses, in the event the national emergency is still critical, i shall not invade the clear force of duty that will then confront me. i shall ask the congress for the one remaining instrument to meet the crisis -- broad, executive power to wage a war against the emergency as great as the power that would be given to me, if we were invaded by foreign foes. [applause] >> fdr's first term was marked by world unrest. men of many nations were again taking up arms for stub our own

national defense was at its lowest ebb. america new flood, famine, drought and the dust bowl. fdr brought farm relief and flood control, water power and giant public works. social security was born, old age insurance became a new responsibility of government. the price of gold was fixed and the american dollar became the soundest in the world. the forgotten man was remembered, the country hailed its leader as a pathfinder. the initials fdr began to stand for progress or national security. the fireside chat became an american institution. the white house secretary staff helped in the process of his radio reports.

the president's talks were masterpieces of sincerity and directness. >> ladies and the president of the united states. president roosevelt: my friends, the american public -- >> with that now familiar salutation, he brought his messages straight to the firesides of the people. he talked with them in their homes about the vital issues of the day. roosevelt never gave up hope in his battle against infantile paralysis. in the healing waters of the white house pools, swimming was his one relaxation, his only exercise. how he organized the great warm springs foundations for the nation's polio victims will forever stand as a living monument to his name. each year on his birthday, all over the land, little children sing his praise.

♪ >> ♪ happy birthday to you happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear president, happy birthday to you ♪ ♪ >> this study of the president is one of the rare personal portraits and a crowded life. for no man in our time or a time perhaps has been called on to make the momentous decisions that have been his. his one goal, his greatest ambition was to lead the nations of the world into a lasting peace. royalty from many nations, the king and queen of england have been guests in his home. with the world's most powerful rulers, he commanded supreme respect. with a keen grasp of international affairs, he

foresaw the many years that would trend the world march. in 1936, he gave the nation's that have been quoted again and again. president roosevelt: i always thought that piece -- peace like charity, begins at home. [applause] and that is why we have the gun at home, here in north, south, and central america. but peace in the western world is not all easy. i have seen war. i have seen war on land and sea. i have seen blood running from the wounded. i have seen children sobbing, i have seen the agony of mothers and wives. i hate war. [applause]

>> 1940 found the nation facing war. voters took the third term issue straight to the poll. with the magic power of fdr shatter all presidents? >> the results are now conclusive, roosevelt wins. >> the nation was jubilant -- fdr had done it again and at hyde park, roosevelt and his family received the well wishes of their neighbors. again, the president addressed the nation. in the presence of nations, fdr ask for broader powers and had ever before it been given to any american president. president roosevelt: the first and fundamental effect is what started as a european war has developed as the nazis always intended it should develop, a war for world domination.

therefore, with a found consciousness of my responsibility to my countrymen and to my country's cause, i have tonight issued a proclamation that an unlimited national emergency exists and requires the strengthening of our defense to the extreme limit of our national power and authority. >> with the world racing the greatest conflict of all-time, with the rights of all free people in danger, roosevelt met winston churchill on the high seas, gave a pledge to the world -- and the right of all people to choose their own form of government. history of records this meeting as the first of the atlantic charter. ♪

>> december 7, 1941, a day of infamy burned into the pages of american history. [explosions] the president faced a nation united. president roosevelt: i ask that the congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by japan on sunday, december 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the united states and the japanese empire. (music)

♪ >> in 1942, fdr startled the world by meeting churchill in casablanca and gave the axis two words -- unconditional surrender. at quebec, roosevelt was churchill planned the invasion of europe and with the future of civilization in the balance, it is indelibly written in history. fdr wrote a new chapter in international relations, gave assurance to the people of china of aid in their war against japan. but the guiding hand in bringing together the many forces of east and west. such was the man who met stalin for the first time in tehran who gave the world's first promise of complete accord

between the three great powers. that these were called the big three was no empty phrase and franklin roosevelt, steadfast in his convictions, was the biggest of them all. steaming into pearl harbor for the first time since the opera kevork, the commander-in-chief conferred with admiral nimitz and general macarthur. that he took an active heart in the war in the pacific is now apparent. from this conference a mooched -- emerged the blueprint for the conflict in the philippines. fdr began his fourth term in office firm in his belief that men are capable of their own government. no king, no tyrant, no dictator can govern as wisely as they can govern themselves. upon that note, he faced the world's future on the conference table at the altar, made plans to bring together the people of the world in a just and lasting peace will stop history has recorded that first step as the

san francisco conference. in this, his last report to congress and the american people is to be found the text of his life. in the last word of a man grown tired in public service is a heritage for all men everywhere. president roosevelt: i am confident congress and the american people will set the results of this conference as the beginning of our permanent structure of peace. upon which we can begin to build , under god, that better world in which our children and grandchildren, yours and mine, children and grandchildren of the whole world must live -- live.

♪ >> this sunday, jessica stern on the origin of isis and what we need to understand about them. >> there are two aspects of isis and not a very important for the president to understand. their efforts and successes on social media, and the need for us to respond to that, to counter the narrative they are spreading effectively. the other is there apocalyptic narrative. it's impossible for me to know for sure whether they really believe the end times are coming, or whether they are capitalizing on widespread belief in muslim majority

countries that they will witness the end of times. like sunday night at eight eastern and >> congress established the veterans history project is a part over the full life project at the library of congress. it collects oral histories and makes them accessible to the public. up next week hear from senator thomas carper of delaware, a new flight officer. medieval -- na val flight officer. david: we are here with the veterans history program to discuss your them accessible to the public. career in the navy reserve. today is the 14th of september

and we are on capitol hill. thank you for your time. i would like to open up the floor with a question, talking about your youth and your interest in the military and what eventually lead you to the navy rotc program. senator tom carper: my wife says that i never grew up and i hope in a sense that i never do. i grew up in virginia, my dad worked for nationwide insurance. it was in gamble, virginia on the north carolina border. i was in the boy scouts. my father encouraged me to attend and i did scout when i was 12 or so.

the first time i ever sat in an airplane was at the civil air patrol, indicated that took off beside me. off into the wild blue yonder. i was always intrigued with the military, my dad had been a chief petty officer in world war ii and in my family, nobody ever graduated from college that i was aware of. when i was a senior in high school i applied to the air force academy. we did not have a lot of money. i applied truly to be considered. best to late to be considered -- to late to be considered. i was in high school and there were announcements