1957, potomac river naval command. this 20 minute navy film details the wide variety of activities undertaken by the u.s. navy and the national capital area during the cold war. from shipbuilding and designed andircraft pilot training motion picture production. ♪ >> the landmarks of washington dc are familiar the world over. washington monument, lincoln memorial and jefferson memorial

there are other landmarks in the area about our nation's capital which are also familiar but to more specialized audience. it's 12 miles from the white and here are a few miles to the northeast lies the naval ordnance laboratory. towering over washington suburbs in bethesda, maryland, and the national naval medical center. dc,he south of washington lies the huge naval air test center. the naval air station is located on the east shore of the anacostia river. the naval receiving station is located on the east bank of the river. river stretching out over 125 acres in the heart of navalgton plastic u.s. gun factory. a huge industrial plant of 200 buildings. here is the headquarters of the

potomac river naval command where they coordinate communications, transportation, personnel, distribution, legal matters, instruction and repair, -- nevernd medical closer look at some of the major installations and their missions. block after block of great factories and shops. andly arts, fears, roads, rail lines as well as developing and testing laboratories. for the navy of tomorrow. as a prototype laboratory, the first working models and new guns are built for test. there's a factory for new and a producers

of intricate weapons that require extreme technical skill and know how in many different fields. let's take a quick look at a gun in the making. after paperwork and many departments, planning, engineering, production and inspection, actual work begins. raw materials for into the processing shops. the pattern is made. parts are forged, shaved and treated. machining.ough finish machining, testing, and final assembly. the weapon is now ready for testing at the naval proving ground in virginia. it's 50 miles below washington

on the west shore of the potomac river. these velocity towers or symbol of the accuracy and precision the caceres -- necessary. this is the final step in firing the table from there. the information which will ultimately be recorded will be reduced to ballistic tables that are vital to any problem. it's one of several facilities maintained at dahlgren. the unit's cable of said jesting to altitudes of 50,000 feet and temperatures between 70 degrees below and 125 above zero. is value of such research

understandable in light of our military commitments. these as well as many other activities are indicative of the contributions dahlgren is making to science. the factories located in indian acremaryland the 3000 installation is one of the principal centers for developing and testing propellers. these highly trained scientist working in modern laboratories are constantly improving present propellants and are conducting basic research for the future. before they're finally put into mass production. all propellants are thoroughly tested before being issued to the fleet. they extend from the manufacturer of traditional

gunpowder to control boosters for the navy's latest guided missiles. the naval ordnance laboratory is located in silver spring, maryland. it covers an area just under 900 acres and includes many facilities for research and seismic evaluation. the laboratory serves as a new idea factory for the navy's ordinance and development of new and better weapons. constructed of various material. or in one of the five went tunnels located in the building. no matter where the idea is born , the idea must become a firm plan in the drafting room before development can begin. let's follow the typical development. special material required to .onstruct a prototype weapon arts and assemblies are

assembled and checked out by project engineer. once assembled, the weapon is ready for a series of tests in the environmental facilities in the laboratory. itdetermine the strength subjected to a pressure test and a hydrostatic tank. the vessel can exert pressures of two 1250 pounds per square hence, the equivalent of the pressure one half mile belief -- below the ocean surface. pacific temperatures it can be tested in this temperature controlled room or the temperature can be varied for -100 degrees fahrenheit to plus 200 degrees fahrenheit and the temperature control room that is only 75 feet to the sea water tank where the temperature of the water can be changed from 30 degrees fahrenheit to 100 degrees fahrenheit for testing weapons. this is the deep water tank that

contains one million 500,000 gallons of water and is 107 feet deep. positioned on the submersible platform. reports located on the circumference of the tank, evaluation scientist can observe and study the debt taking action of the mind. will the hydrostatic pressure valve operates at the depth setting? does the line have the proper bootsy -- buoyancy between -- beneath the service? it must be determined by laboratory and simulated before considered ready for fleet use. the naval research laboratory is located in southwest washington. a mission is to carry out

fundamental research and development to increase the combat effectiveness of the navy. 's been arch laboratory pioneer in hundreds of developments. communications, detection and ranging, guided missiles, underwater sound gear and firefighting equipment. the first usable radar screen built in the united states is a monument to nrl is the father of american radar. the atom caused a revolution in the navy. he generated the need for this research and reactor. director facility includes a full reactor, experiment laboratory space and office space. without proper tools, the scientist can be obstructed just like an automobile mechanic. physicist can conduct small particles of matter which

could not otherwise be studied. the expiration of the apparatus spirit using research as one of the most intriguing programs involving scientist since world war ii. these airborne laboratories launched and sands, new mexico, collect data for scientists. radio astronomy is a program for gathering data from outer space. dish is the eye for an elaborate radiotelescope -- telescope. this is the human engineering laboratory where the wrist bonding characteristics of humans are studied and help to improve such things as aircraft control systems. this fits the navy machine to the land. project vanguard is the name assigned to the earth satellite program. here the project director dismantles the schedule -- skill model of the three stage rocket that will be used to launch the satellite and prepares a scale

model of the satellite for full-scale model. project vanguard like the development of the first usable radar screen in the detection of radio waves on mars in september 1956 are examples of research conducted at the u.s. naval research laboratory. the david taylor model basin situated at 12 miles northwest of washington is the largest and most complete model basin in the world. here in the woodworking shops, scale models of ship are produced. largest the world's basin, since models are tested. this weight making machine can simulate the actual sea conditions at schiphol encounter anywhere in the world. models performance during testing in the basin will closely approximate that of the real ship and for lessons learned, changes may be made to designs which will save many

millions of dollars in construction and operating costs. circulating water channel, the largest research facility in the world where water can be circulated as the stationary model. the action of water on a submarine hole in his propulsion efficiency is studied. this atomic submarine models tested long before the novelists was late. here in the laboratory, research and develop a test are performed on aircraft, guided missiles, and airborne equipment. in naval air test center maryland is located 60 mile southeast of washington. the air station is situated on a tract of land at the cool new -- confluence of the patuxent river chesapeake bay. it has three large seaplane basins as well as concrete runways long enough to accommodate our largest aircraft. the air station serves as the base for squadrons of the atlantic league.

primary mission of the air station is testing new aircraft primarily designed for naval use. hangar has been freed of all electrical influence for the test evaluation of electronic equipment and aircraft. is maintainedpult to test aircraft in order to determine their suitability for launching from aircraft carriers. the capabilities of an airplane to accomplish its design purpose . it finally determines its acceptability for naval use. to provide qualified pilots for testing aircraft, the test center maintains a test pilot school. it's highly select school takes

experience sleep allison gives them an intensive, six-month training course that includes academic studies and engineer courses and many hours of practical flight evaluation. on completion of the course, the future test pilots will know how to properly flight test and evaluate new aircraft. the united states naval observatory is located in northwest washington and these buildings are powerful telescopes, cameras and other instruments by which navy scientist obtained celestial information from the heavens necessary for establishing the correct time for preparing -- preparing navigational aids. enable navigators the world over to fix the position of their ships with speed and accuracy. a very important activity in the potomac naval command is located nearby in maryland. , theyre in the world

require using charts from here. dana protection of the world sea lanes is the most important service. let's see how this is done. observe changes in land configuration and hazards are accurately plotted and reported by the most rapid means of communication. in reported data is a guy awaited, plotted, and word is broadcast all over the world. the information is disseminated by radio, teletype, and when necessary, issued by the hydrographic office. the national naval medical center is located proximally one-mile from bethesda, maryland. the site encompasses one of the worlds finest medical centers. the administrative

jurisdiction of the central command. the commanders of veteran of the medical corps. as a general hospital for the diagnosis, treatment, and hospitalization of retired personnel the navy and marine corps and their dependents. this 1300 bed hospital is famous for its outstanding patient care. the hospitals fully equipped with all modern facilities. the hospital carries on an active in vigorous residency training program. one of the hospital's most important jobs is the rehabilitation program. the naval medical school is fundamentally a postgraduate institution. his chief mission is to training of medical officers and hospital .orpsmen of the navy special emphasis is placed upon certain phases of medicine and surgery which are of particular importance and peculiar to the navy.

medical schools tissue bank is pioneered and evaluates new methods in preserving human tissues for grafting purposes. it offers the navy's only graduate school of dentistry, school hospital administration training administrators and all business divisions of naval hospitals. the medical research institute next research exhibiting to the health, safety, and efficiency of naval personnel. contributed heavily to studies on the biological effects of radiation. the naval photographic center is located on the anacostia and naval air station in washington. this moderate and efficient laboratories a center for all raises of navy photography. the motion picture division begins his job with the creating work of planning and writing a

script. oner expert direction, shot a soundstage. here the film is developed, dried and printed. the film is interned over to the editorial division. -- then turned over. the commentary is spoken by an offscreen narrator. and approved at a screening the required number prints are made and the film's release for distribution. still picture division, facilities exist for handling 1008 by 10 prints every hour. these facilities include developers, contact printers and washers and dryers. keeping the navy out in front in the four graphic world is the job of the tested evaluation division. this is the film depository will millions preserve film, record historical events.

is. naval receiving station just crossed the 11th street ridge from the naval grant record. the station performs the usual functions of receiving station. logistic support is provided for virtually all navy enlisted personnel assigned to do -- assigned to the metropolitan area. of mostntain records naval enlisted men stationed in poor countries. the navy school of music is also located on the station. the trains and provides personnel for navy events throughout the world. the receiving station also quarters the u.s. naval ceremonial guard which forms the guard of honor for government functions, military funerals and parades in the washington dc area. the other activities under the purview of the naval command is the deep-sea diving school at the naval gun factory. the explosive ordnance disposal school at indianhead, maryland and the naval communication

systems at cheltenham maryland. in the potomac naval command maintains administrative control of the u.s. navy band, payments for using -- for jews that official functions, in the eyes of the navy, the finest band in the united states. ♪ >> you watching american history tv, 48 hours of programming our american history every weekend on c-span3. follow us on twitter or at c-span history for information on her schedule and to keep up with the latest history news.

>> american history tv is on c-span3 every weekend, featuring tours, archival films, and programs on the presidency. the civil war and more. here's a clip from a recent program. finally midnight, he read out roosevelt statement in which he said he had no wish to be a candidate again. refusal, butuite a . stunned silence in the hall the delegates thought, what exactly does this mean? while they were thinking came a saying weing the hall , we wantevelt roosevelt. this turned out to be the superintendent of chicago deep, loudin a

voice, hidden in the basement, speaking into a microphone through the public address system. thereafter this was known by those who did like roosevelt as the voice from the sewers, only the voice from the sewers would demand that roosevelt be president again. >> you can watch this and other american history programs on her issite where all our video archived. that c-span.org,/history. >> c-span's washington journal live everyday with news and policy issues that impact you. a talkup monday morning, about public policy issues protecting veterans. look at how congressional fund-raising has evolved through the years. willephen rothstein reflect on the political legacy of jfk and the country

commemorates its 100th birthday. washed -- watch monday morning. join the discussion. >> recently american history tv was at the american historical association's annual meeting in denver colorado. we spoke with professors, authors, and graduate students about the research. this interview is about 20 minutes. >> we are with susan r, a bioethics professor at the university of wisconsin. you focus on the area of i/o ethics, organ transplants. how did attitudes about debt change in the united states after world war ii? >> one of the ways in which attitudes changed after world war ii is that there was a growing interest in the united states and response to the increasing costs associated with the funeral industry. great concern about general