we found out a number of times that the enemy might be operating a series of bunkers. hundred yardsfew away. even opened fire on us. they knew we would be too far away. they had the battlefield prepared. there are parts of the delta where it there was lots of firing positions in it. all the commander has to do is to look over at that bunker complex. any americanif units would come that way. if we came to where they wanted

us, we would come under fire. they would let us go on right on by because we were too far away. they needed us to be in close. that made it very tough for us. did i answer the question? it sounds a the entire area could be a kills him. -- in a kills them. -- kill zone. there are not enough hand grenades to blow up the world. we had to stop doing that after a time. they did it well. thanks very much.

[applause] >> have a good weekend. >> join is every saturday evening as we join students and college classrooms to hear her ranging from the american revolution to 9/11. lectures and history are also available as podcasts. from itunes. you are watching american history tv. 48 hours every weekend on c-span3. all us on twitter at c-span history.

known as the center of the country music industry, this weekend the city's tour explores the history. david talks about this history. >> the civil rights movement was very important in tennessee. they all did the lunch counter protest. they got arrested here and they challenged the system. learn about the properties

history and how it grew into a presidential residence. they talk about the relationship iconen 1960's folk music bob dylan and johnny cash. how with the help of nationals talented musicians, the music helped bridge political differences. changinglot to do with perceptions and bringing a lot of rock 'n roll people here. it didn't really even except country music.

it is sort of a long-haired hippie culture if you will. watch the tour throughout the day. >> i am a history buff and i do enjoy seeing the fabric of our country. i love american history tv. that is probably something i would really enjoy. we traveled to nashville tennessee to explore its history. tennessee was declared a state

in 1876. nashville became the state capital in 1812. it again became the capital in 1826. learn more about nashville all weekend here on american history tv. >> the civil rights rim is a sacred space. it was after the brown decision. the purpose of this space is to engage our community. when you walk in this space, you get the idea of something sacred. it gives the mayor to have an puts nashville into this longer

-- context of civil rights. nashville is viewed differently than other cities in the south. life. no loss of nashville story is unique because it was the only methodical and strategic movement left by students in the community. have been training and nonviolent techniques.

after the brown versus board decision, they decided to desegregate. you had 13 students who enrolled and the experiences were different. this image of this mother walking up. you see this gentleman holding the sign that says god is the author of segregation. you can see that expressions on their faces. school them walking to for the first time. there is a mob behind it. you had the pleasure of interviewing these participants. each story differs.

hestill remembered the -- felt very safe. you can see it from school to school. it was as opposed to going on in little rock. you have these high school students who had already formed their opinions. they knew what they were getting into. the students were first-graders. other southern states that we were doing a good thing. 57 we started desegregating. that would've taken nashville 12

years. fast forward you have the ground to decision. when of the stories that i think isleft out of the narrative that our local catholic school desegregated in 1954. they did not wait for a mandate. where is the public schools it took about three years. one of the interesting things that happened was that you have a group of people who decided that should not desegregated. that effort was led by john casper. he was from new jersey and left his family to come to the south. organize the white citizens council. they were going to stop schools from desegregating. one of the schools was bombed on

the first day on september 9 of 1987. that was the cotton school. one black girl had enrolled at that school. the school was bombed. fortunately no one was hurt and the school continued to open. now there were major acts of terrorism now. that sort of sets the groundwork. so while the country was looking north carolina on

february 1. nashville started a week later but are students have been training. we have a large number of historically black colleges. now tennessee state. hereave students who are and idealistic. in 1959, the student had been ofining under the direction reverend lofton. they thought the south needed a nonviolent leader. what made nashville special in 1960 was that the students trained.

they went through this nonviolent academy as they called it. pointefer to it as a west trading. -- training. believe and mean to they came up with rules. students knew it was against the law to black the entrances so they knew they did not want to break the law. even when the students were being arrested, they were being eaten. -- beat. they had milkshakes thrown in their face. do not strike black or curse is

abused. they believed they were .ollowing a nonviolent lesson this is the path that they chose to take it proved to be effective in 1960. is where the rules of this came up with. downtown right to where we're standing. went there and take their seats. nothing happened the first week. it fits better here is exactly where we're standing, the students marched on this very block. it actually sits on the very block that the students did. we for -- refer to it as a

sacred space. the students were arrested and put in jail and they were given a fine. they had to pay $33 and the students refused to pay the fine. they would put the burden on the city of nashville. they knew what they were doing. that, february has gone by now. ofis easter in the spring 1960. most people shopped downtown nashville. the students organized one of the biggest economic withdrawals. 90% of the african-american community started not to shop downtown. why is one of the reasons it proved to be one of the most effective ways.

another great piece of history is april 19. for those of us who are historians, that takes place. it has been recorded at the same gentleman. he and his wife were home at the same time. they were not injured. able to utilize that bombing to their advantage. without instant message and texting, known cell phones. they mobilized 2000 people that same day.

by the time they get back to the courthouse, the students have called all of the networks. they asked the mayor to meet them downtown. it took the kurdish and dedication of one of the young 'sllege students diane nash ocs asked the mayor of question. she asked the question in front of the country. he mayor went on to say that had to answer as a man and not a politician. scheduledas already to be there. no one knew that the home would be bombed. within two days, the civil rights footprint have been

etched into history. they took what they had learned and moved on to help orchestrate the freedom rides in 1961. they were asked to abandon the rides. nashville students said we must carry this torch. nashville students did not stop in 1960. time major movement of our , nashville students were right there in the forefront. students thatle helped lead all of those major movements of our time.

we are offering civil rights training to our local law enforcement officers. it is just as relevant as it was in 1960. working with our local law enforcement officers we were able to have a conversation. what was nashville doing when the trayvon martin case was happening and. we are asking questions about the law enforcement officers. , this was in the second year. we have worked with hundreds of local law enforcement officers. to talk about a civil society and right.

>> our city stores staff recently traveled to nashville, tennessee to learn about its rich history. learn more at c-span.org/city tour. you are watching american history tv. >> i often say that 50 is the new 50. people are to own their age and we should not be talking about being over 50 as a. of decline. aarp ceo talks about the health thatinancial challenges they face.

she is also author of the book, disrupt aging. when this was in plays, life expectancy was 67 or 68. we need to make meaningful adjustments that allow people to and on a muchity longer. of time. >> i am a history buff, i do enjoy seeing the fabric of our country and how things work.

and with american history tv, it gives you that perspective. each week, we bring you archival films that provide context for today's public affairs issues. president gerald ford spoke at the nationalf smithsonian museum. leading up to the anniversary. reporter:cience suited for space. program, one of 13 produced with m.i.t.. the episode traces evolution of spsu