>> c-span takes you on the road to the white house and into the classroom. this year our student cam documentary contest asks students to tell us what issues they want to hear from the presidential candidates. follow c-span's road to the white house coverage and get all the details about our student cam contest at c-span.org. [captions copyright national cable satellite corps.2015] >> next, why nato in? a 1958 big picture episode, theirated by journalist edward r. murrow. the half-hour program looks at

the reasons behind the formation of the north atlantic treaty organization in 1949 and featured diplomatic efforts by general dwight eisenhower to convince 1 nations to fund, equip and staff a nato armed force in order to contain soviet expansion. ♪ >> this is the big picture. an official television report of the united states army, produced for the armed forces and the american people. now to show you part of "the big picture" here is master sergeant steward quaid. >> throughout history, nations have sought through treaties and alliances with other nations, to maintain their security and remain free from attack. but not until the 20th century did the concept of national

security become worldwide and at scope. world wars 1 and 2 and the korean conflict proved beyond any doubt that when one free nation anywhere is threatened by aggression, the safety of all free nations is ultimately at stake. today the united states keanly aware of its strategic role as a leader in the free world as aligned itself with other nations dedicated to the preservation of peace and the welfare of mankind. our big picture cameras today focus on one of the most important of these alliances. as our guest narrator, the distinguished news analyst edward r. murrow tells the story behind nato, the north atlantic treaty organization. >> this is in paris, headquarters of the north atlantic treaty organization. to this building comes

ministers from 15 nations of he atlantic community. they speak different languages, have different cultural backgrounds. the countries they represent vary in vise from very small to very large but here all distinctions fade, all the languages become one, the language of hope. why do these nations align themselves with nato? why nato? and why must this organization continue to exist? let's go back to the beginning f the story. in may 1945, the war in europe ame to an end.

this had been the price of europe's unpreparedness. but in may of 1945, our hard-won peace seemed at last secure. a few days before, allied forces from the west have joined hands with the russians from the east. their statesmen had medical cordially at yalta and pakistan and agreed the countries they occupied should be truly liberated and that freely elected government should be set up as soon as possible. within a few months the countries of western europe and scanned nave yeah were free and independent but for the countries occupied by russia, stalin had other ideas. throughout eastern europe, elections were held. but the russians had placed the communists in key government positions and in the secret police. within a short time the

noncommunist leaders had been liquidated. russia had swallowed up eight european countries without firing another shot, other than those of the execution squads. great britain and the united states protested that these countries had been coerced by threat of force and that russia had broken her treaty but russia ignored the protests. stalin knew the greater part of the allied forces had gone home, leaving their arms to ust in the fields of europe. in the west, man were impatient to be demobilized. the war was finished and they ad other work to do. but the russian has not demobilized and retained

overwhelmingly the largest force in europe. >> the small group of men in the kremlin had long ago dedicated themselves to the spreading of communism by all possible means. they knew that an army can be used not only to fight wars, it can be used to intimidate. to the south lay two more possible victims, greece and turkey. in march 1946, the russians denounced their treaty with turkey. they offered to renew it if the turks would give up part of their territory and allow the russians to establish bases controling the b ombing sforus and the dardinels. the turks refused. in greece, the communist has already started civil war. russia was sending arms to them through the neighboring satellite states to bring

bitterness, despair and death to the greek people. if greece and perhaps turkey were not also to be swallowed up, help had to come from the west. at this crisis in march 1947, president truman asked the united states congress an historic speech to modify its traditional policy of neutrality. >> i believe it must be the policy of the united states to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subrogation by an armed minority or by outside pressures. >> only czech of the countries behind the iron curtain had so far preserved some independence. after the war, the russians had

to reckon with the popularity of president benish and its foreign secretary. they were liberal minded men who believed it was possible to be friends with the communists ithout succumbing to them. but to the communists, gentleness is weakness. and the country prepared to compromise is a weak country. the machinery for taking over countries had now been perfected. the coup in czechoslovakia was efficient. within a week all opposition was suppressed and there was another victory to celebrate, nother victory over freedom. president benish was allowed to retire to his country house. he died there, a broken-hearted man. one morning on the stones under

his bedroom window, yan maserik was found dead. [bells toll] >> truth had ceased to come out of czechoslovakia. the nations of western europe were forced at last to realize they must combine to protect their own liberty. three weeks after the fall of czechoslovakia in march 1948, the brussels treaty was signed by great britain, france, luxembourg and the netherlands. these five countries pledged to help each other in case of an attack. western union, as it was called, was not strong enough to deter the men of the kremlin from their policy of aggression. in august, russia decided on a trumped up excuse to cut off the allied sectors of berlin from the west.

ains, barges, and road transports were stuck. the united states, britain, and france were responsible for 2.5 million people in berlin. now their food and fuel for their homes and factories could no longer be brought to emthis over land except with armed protection and the risk of war. it seemed that they, too, must be the at the mercy of the russians but the governments of the west did not give way. >> the life of western berlin was maintained by air on a scale never before contemplated in history. each day the prestige of the west rose. after nine anxious months, the

russians lifted the block aid. the policy of standing firm had been vindicated. >> the russian cynical blockade had brought russia to the brink of war and it was clear a strong alliance could deter them from further adventures. in 1949, the north atlantic treat by was signed by belgium, france, italy, portugal, the united kingdom, iceland, canada, and the united states. this union of 12 nations became known as the north atlantic treaty organization, missouri simply, nato. they were sworn to stand together against aggression and attack against one would be an ttack against all.

although the treaty was carefully designed to keep within the letter and spirit of the understand charter, soviet russia claimed it was an attempt at world domination, but while still accusing nato nations of intended aggression, they themselves, frustrated in europe, turned to the far east, to korea. >> the united nations sent an army to korea under a single command, to hold the aggressors at bay. it was almost too late. the lesson for europe was clear. in december 1950, the north atlantic council decided to give to a single commander, general eisenhower, sufficient authority to organize, equip and train an integrated nato

force for the defense of europe. the task before him was unprecedented. though each of the nato countries would see to the supply and support of its own national forces, the supreme commander would be responsible for their coordination into a single national force, a power and responsibility unique in time of peace. as he put it, he would go knocking the a the door of each country and ask, tell me what you're willing to do for the defense of europe. his first call was france where his new headquarters would be situated. he must first discover whether it was mill sterile possible for europe with her strong national traditions to raise a sufficient force to defend them collectively. on january 9, general eisenhower left paris for belgium. 12 nations with eight different

languages and 12 different traditions and ways of life. of each of them, he could ask similar questions. january 10, the netherlands. you were hard hit by the war, hat can you now do for nato? january 11, denmark. for many years, you have maintain a traditional neutrality. how many divisions are you prepared to train? january 12, norway. your mountains require a special form of defense. could every able-bodied man be mobilized if war came? january 15, great britain. you have commonwealth commitments throughout the world but what forces can you contribute for the defense of

europe? january 16, portugal. from your strategic position on the atlantic seaboard, what elp can you give nato? january 18, italy. are you prepared to rebuild your army, navy, and air force up to the limits set by the peace treaty? january 19, luxembourg. you're a small country with a great steel industry. how can you help the armament? january 24, iceland. we know that you have no armed forces but what contribution can you make for the common defense of the west. january 26, canada. europe is grateful for the arms you are already supplying. what forces are you prepared to

send across the at tan lick. in paris, a hotel had been hastily found as a temporary home for the new supreme headquarters allied powers europe. there general gunther was at work, an international staff of officer has to be assembled and a plan prepared for the defense of europe. the task was immense. at that time, shape had at its disposal only 1,800 aircraft, 15 airfields, most of which could not handle jets. and 14 ill equipped divisions. against these forces, russia was known to have at least 175 decisions under arms and 20,000 plain. general eisenhower, when he arrived, asked one of his advisors what the russians needed to march to the challenge? general, he answered, all they

need is shoes. so much for the beginning. yet in spite of the urgency, when general eisenhower and his staff set the plan, they planned for a long haul and they realized if democracy were not to destroy itself by its very efforts for defense, the buildup had to take time. all the plans of the military would come to nat without the overall long term planning of the civilians, the representatives of the nato nations and nato's permanent staff. the future strength of the alliance depended entirely of what the people of the member nations could afford to give and give of their own free will. it meant hard work, sacrifices, and above all, give and take. the difficulties were innumerable, complex, and often seemed impossible. but with the months came results. one by one, the myriad problems of armaments, logistics and supply were overcome. from britain, canada, and the united states arrived divisions

to augment the growing forces of the continent itself. the sorely needed airfields and pipelines to supply them turned from mere blueprints into fact. soon for shape, its temporary hotel home gave way to new headquarters where officers and men of the nato nations worked together smoothly we -- regardless of temperaments and rates of pay. soon, to the 12 flags of the founding nations, more were added. , turkey, and in may 1955 the federal republic of western germany. new allies that brought new strength to nato. as time passed, servants for the alliance came and went, handing on, taking over.

punctuated was with welcomes and farewells. eisenhower to ridgeway, idgeway to grunther to northstadt. because an ideal is stronger than any individual, though the faces changed, the work drove on. it was in a field that results counted and in the field that they were realized. at each successive meeting the ministers of the nato nations could report further progress and a steadily growing unity within the alliance. thanks to the cooperation of 15 nations what had once been merely a document with signatures was becomes the atlantic alliance in fact. steadily the clouds of fear that hung over europe were lifting. vidge lantz and readiness were paying off.

surprise and disunity among his victims, the strongest weapons in any aggressor's arsenal were no longer available tom. each day found nato stronger, more prepared and more confident. though the strength was not yet what nato would have liked, already the would-be aggressor must count the cost for now the attack should come, the atlantic allies can call their defense not only among convention at weapons but also upon a whole new arsenal. >> yes, now to a would-be aggressor, the costs loomed large indeed. now they would need far more than shoes. nato's strength was such that

by 1955, west could meet east at geneva on equal terms. though any promise of real elief was soon to be dashed. this was hungary in 1956. this was budapest, exhausted by soviet domination and denied their freedom, the people of hungary rose in protest. but without allies, heroism is not enough. this come be us. this is why nato had to exist. the members of the north atlantic treaty organization, gravely concerned over soviet

military power gathered in paris in december of 1957 for a rucial conference. from the united states came president dwight david eisenhower whose presence at this critical time gave the nations of western europe new hope for ike, this was a omecoming. at the headquarters of shape, the military arm of nato, located right outside of paris, the former commander of the north atlantic military forces, now president of nato's most powerful member nations declared his mission before the large crowd which gathered to brief him. >> frankly, i came out here because of a special kind of sickness, one that afflicts the aged and the young. homesickness.

i was homesick to see this home a sector and for his staff, an agency of nato. this home was built by a great number of nations to be the headquarters of that military shield that must always belong o nato so long as there is any menace to the freedom of the western nations. at the w once more, building that housed the western hopes of peace they gathered, the men of goodwill who bore their people's mandate for freedom. this was the first nato meeting teanleded by the heads of the

15 member states. this was a summit conference calling for highest level consultation. basically two critical tasks had to be accomplished to shore up nato and the counteract an intensified soviet propaganda offensive. a major interest of the united states in the nato meeting was the question of integrating into western defense, the intermediate range ballistic missile as a deterrent to the soviets whose long-range missile had for a moment thrown a shadow over the world. the 15 heads of states attending this vital nato

meeting represented 450 million people whose lands covered a total of almost eight million square miles of the earth's surface. differences were to be expected but at one point there was complete agreement, the core of the nato partnership, an attack against one was an attack against all. in order to live in peace together, all were resolved to defend themselves together if necessary. many of the nations of western europe felt that political, not military action, was the answer to the latest soviet threat. others believed nato should be interested as well in broader problems and looked to the united states for support of heir national positions. president eisenhower's words were the high point of the conference. there was no mistaking ike's sincerity and determination as he spoke. >> we have demonstrated a will

for the spreading of the blessings of liberty. within the last 15 years, our nations have freely granted political independence to 20 countries with populations totaling 800 million people. within our societies, we manifest so that all can see the good fruits of freedom. those fruits do not consist of aterialistic monuments which despots have always been able to exhibit. they consist of providing the simple things all men want, the opportunity to think and worship as their conscience and reason dictates, to live in their homes without fear, to draw together in the intimacies of family life, to work in congenial tasks of their own choice, and to enjoy the fruits of their labor. these are the most precious manifestations of freedom. and we have the collective

power to defend and spread that freedom. freedom has not failed us. surely we shall not fail freedom. >> perhaps the chief result of this summit meeting was the expansion of nato into a broader, more realistic alliance, in keeping with the ever increasing complexity of problems facing it, a special responsibility rested on these representatives of the atlantic community. within their lands, freedom,. and within their borders lay 3/4 of the world's institutions of higher learning and the title, deeds and monuments of western culture and civilization. to the men who met at this summit conference of nato, there was no doubt that the north atlantic treaty organization must continue stronger than ever. for the existence of nato is an assurance that each new dawn

breaks over our family of nations at peace, over the countrysides, cities and homes of the community of peace loving people. over londin' and liverpool, paris and marseille, new york and san francisco, montreal and ancouver, over athens, istanbul, rome, lisbon and bonn and , over luxembourg. a bond welding the old world and the new. an assurance that 450 million people remain free to live their lives as they wish to live them. to protect and preserve over vigilance and readiness, these are the aims of the atlantic alliance. an alliance for peace. >> today on the big picture, you've heard the distinguished

news analyst edward r. murrow, tell the story of nato, the north atlantic treaty organization, the united states as a founding member of this vital international body has demonstrated to the world the importance we place on the closest association between the members of the atlantic community. now this is sergeant stewart queen, your host for the big picture. >> the big picture is an official television report for the armed forces and the american people. >> produced by the army pictorial center. presented by the united states army in cooperation with this station. >> this holiday weekend, american history tv on c-span 3 has two days of featured

programming. this afternoon at 1:00, 60 years ago, rosa parks defied a city ordinance for blacks to leave their seats on a city to r white passengers. her stand helped instigate the montgomery bus boycott. we will reflect on the boycott and see what role lawyers played in that protest as we hear from freddie gray, attorney for rosa parks, and bus boycott demonstrators. at 6:00, historian william davis on the little known as acts of the lives and leadership of union general ulysses s. grant and confederate general robert e. lee. sunday afternoon at 4:00 on "reel america," a 1965 progress for a nasa's projects including the space program and the mariner 4 flyby of mars. ust beforeriter -- j

9:00, writer and filmmaker ken burns. american history tv all weekend and on holidays, too, only on c-span3. >> next, on american history tv, former nbc news anchor and author tom brokaw told the stories of the greatest generation, a term he coined and the title of his best-selling 1998 book. mr. brokaw then goes on to discuss big ideas generated by the greatest generation and , including the marshall plan, the civil rights movement, president kennedy's commitment to landing on the moon, and president nixon's opening of china. this was hosted by friends of the national world war ii memorial.