this is "nightline." tonight breaking news. president trump vowing to keep american troops in afghanistan. reversal from his campaign promise. >> a hasty withdrawal would create a vacuum that terrorists would instantly see just as happened september 11th. >> and his stern warning to other nations. >> plus we're in the shadow along the path of totality for today's rare and majestic solar eclipse, all across america, the spectacle drawing millions.

>> and total eclipse of the heart ♪ total eclipse of the heart. >> her smash hitle she sings as the cosmic phenomenon reaches its peak. >> and a couple making their own mark. but first night at five.

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good evening, thanks for joining us. we begin with breaking news on the nation's long war in afghanistan. president trump in a primetime address declaring the u.s. must continue the fight. >> the consequences of a rapid exit are both predictable and unacceptable. 9/11, the worst terrorist attack in our history was planned and directed from afghanistan. because that country was ruled by a government that gave comfort and shelter to terrorists. >> and now our chief global affairs analyst joins us. >> tonight the many president taking ownership of america's longest war after months of internal debate, president trump announced his strategy in the war in afghanistan saying will he go after terrorist safe

havens and be defeat isis and taliban saying we will win. he said we will see overwhelming secretary authority to set troop levels and are favoring 4,000 more u.s. troops. but in this speech the president emphasized the role of nato allies several already committed to sending additional force and he called out pakistan for sheltering terrorists saying that must change. but one thing he did not give was a timeline for withdraw. past presidents set time limits for troops. president trump said withdrawal will be conditions-based, can bes on the ground, not timetables guide the strategy, the president said. warning of repeating the same mistakes in iraq of a hasty withdrawal. back to you. >> martha, thanks, much more on gma tomorrow.

for now we turn to the rare phenomenon that sent hordes of americans scrambling for tinted glasses and a good view. it's been 99 years since total eclipse was captured in the u.s. we go to the path of totality with abc's matt gutman. >> there it is. the celestial dance didn't disappoint, great solar eclipse 2017 gracing city after city. >> oh, my god. >> an hour and half of cosmic wonder that captured the nation. >> so happy. so happy i could cry. there we go, there we go. the sun is coming back. it's being regurj stated. there's a star in the sky we can see. oh, beautiful. >> zooming along a 70 mile wide eff rivet of the country is

called path of totality where 100% of the sun was eclipse by the moon, bathing everything in total blackness. >> it's spectacular. look how dark and quiet. it is like being in the eye of a hurricane. >> a total solar eclipse can only occur during a new moon when the moon moves between the earth and sun casting a direct shadow on earth it happens twice every three years but most often on an ocean that's why today's event was so significant. it was the first one to go all the way across the continental u.s. in 38 years. >> this is an abc news special. live coverage of the solar eclipse. >> the date, february 26, 1979, at the abc news desk, the venerable frank reynolds. >> good morning this is a genuine special event the last total eclipse of the sun overt continent this century. >> on looking peering through

what was considered protective eye wear. >> noting in august 21, 2017 will another total eclipse be seen in northern america. >> it is so spooky. the temperature is dropping. excitement is growing. we've just gone completely dark. we have reached totality here. on the oregon coast line. total eclipse of the sun! >> in the small taun of madris oregon the population ballooning nearly 1500% drawing crowds well over 100,000 people spectators and journalists along. >> i'm almost speechless. the crowd here is absolutely ectatic. turn down the lights and see how dark it really is. it's pitch black here. this is the most incredible thing i've ever seen.

[ cheers and applause ] >> for so many this will happen only once in their lifetime. families driving far and wide to witness history. >> you guys drove nine hours. >> this is the second most beautiful thing i've seen in my life. >> is that the first. >> the darkness marching east ward, averaging more than 2800 miles an hour. scientists using every precious 340e789 to study the outer atmosphere. >> because of the contrast between the darkness of the sky and dark sun you get a bright region with ring around the moon so it looks like a diamond ring and then the corona emerged. >> across the path of totality hotels were fully booked. >> couple hundred miles from the nearest airport middle of nowhere and so many people showed up because it's smack-dab in the middle of path of totality. >> some calling it other-worldly

and extraterrestrialestal. >> here they had a cosmic coins against, the 62nd anniversary of a reported alien invasion that happened just about 200 or 300 yards from here. >> celebrities posting their experiences on social media. lady gaga to bill gates, sarah jessica parker not so expertly anywhe narrating their experience. >> the president and melania and son also enjoyed the view through their glasses. on total eclipse of the heart experience on this cruise with her classic bat llot. ♪ total eclipse of the heart ♪ >> totally awesome. >> do it again in 99 years. >> in the music city the sky

went dark. the streets lit up. >> we've been watching everybody else you came all the way from -- >> -- from the uk to come see this event. >> how you feeling? >> amazing. it's a religious experience. >> cosmic experience had some moon struck. >> the sun is slowly being taken out of the shadow. >> that diamond ring in the sky transforming to one on her finger, just moments after the totality the question asked and answered with a yes. and then that kiss. >> you literally had no idea this was coming. >> no idea. >> and then were you able to focus on the eclipse knowing right after the eclipse you had the biggest question of your life to ask someone. >> i was actually really into the eclipse it was so amazing but once it was over my brain switched thinking about when am i going to do this. yeah it got a little nerve waking. >> we were both shaking, and

crying. >> from a proposal to an outright wedding. while tens of millions of americans looked up at the sky. >> who gives this woman to be wed. >> in st. joseph, missouri right in the path of totality. >> on this very special day we'll get to say we witnessed one of the great cosmic events of the century. >> all eyes were on sam antha ad cameron. she once dreamt of being an astronaut. >> i went from being a kid to space, space, space. so she knew today would be the day. every guest given special eclipse viewing glasses, decorates, no brainer, heavenly touches guys a spacey-motif. >> it should look really cool braid. >> mr. and mrs. kume. >> couldn't be happier right

now. >> and despite the cloud cover they held hands as totality approached. and darkness ascended. the couple already planning for the next total eclipse which will be visible in certain parts of america in 2024. forethe great american eclipse for 2017 ending in before going out to sea. >> may all of the world have peace and abc will bring you next eclipse 38 years from now. >> we certainly didn't know we'd be the ones to keep his promise but have been honored to share this great american eclipse with all you have at home. >> now america looks forward to the next great nationwide eclipse, hopefully i'll see you there in 2045. for nightline, i'm matt gutman

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♪ you know, today's total solar eclipse brought crowds of over 100,000 astronomy fans to parts of the country that only see few hundred people, the result, massive jams and windfall. not to mention a lot of fun. abc's david wright. >> today america stood still,

spell bound by a cosmic pot of dough and easy to see how for some people once in a lifetime is not enough. >> suddenly you realize this is happening, this is real. >> people feel the hair standing on the back of their neck. >> you are standing in the shadow of the moon, people write pom poems. >> cue the pink floyd music. >> one of the classics, eclipse. ♪ everything under the sun ♪ >> it's like a little kid watching his mother disappear. that's scary. you know it should be there. luckily it comes back. but because it's so unnationurai think the experience is one you can't replicate in any other way. >> people get hooked on eclipses. >> this is my eleventh solar clippers. >> this is number 12 for me.

>> they call themselves umbrphiles. eclipse-chasers. galavanting around the world. >> look at the ruby red color. >> chasing the moon's shadow. >> never gets old for you. >> no. i will be chasing for the rest of my life. i absolutely know it. >> she doesn't just chase eclipses, she helps other communities to prepare for people like her. >> really try not to be on the roads of you can zblx we caught up with her in torington, wyoming they approached this day with mixture of excitement and dread. >> it's a huge deal. i don't think there's anything to compare it to. >> the local h & r block transformed into pop up eclipse store selling t-shirts, tote bags and glasses. >> i imagine you're thrilled it wasn't april 15th. >> exactly if it was we wouldn't be selling t-shirts. >> it's been more than a senceny

since the last total eclipse in wyoming, it was a very big deal too. david baron chronicles that in his best seller. >> the experience was the same, scientists knew it was coming. >> the path of that eclipse went right through the american frontier, the american wild west and among the scientists who went out to witness is a young inventor named thomas edison who came back with a new idea. >> if he didn't go to wyoming to see the total eclipse he probably wouldn't have been the first person to come out with the successful light bubblb. >> and four decades later, einstein's relativity theory came from watching stores. >> giving the strongest evidence

gravity was bending light. >> that was crucial to showing theory of relativity. >> in another small town in wyoming they wonder how they will get through it. >> we are in glendo. >> population? >> 200. >> plus 100,000 eclipse viewers? >> yes. >> wow. >> the town has a 1-1 ratio port potties to people. no hotels here. visitors all watching. >> farmers are charging $20 to park in their field. >> they're the center of the universe. >> that's right. >> for two minutes. >> for 2:28 we're the center of the universe. >> and oh, what a 2:28 it was. david baron says more than anything this is a moment of wonder. the closest thing on earth to space travel. >> there's a certain amount of sadness it was over.

was so brief and so beautiful. >> he was in jackson, wyoming, catching it from a mountain top 10,000 feet up. >> it's that feeling of being in the presence of something much larger than yourself that humbles you. >> the path of this total eclipse cut right through those rural red states within driving distance of big blue metro areas like denver and chicago. >> this is a shared moment for all of us as americans for something that's not a natural disaster, not a school shooting, not an election we're fight being, but something we can all get excited about. i think it's important for the nation to have this moment of unity. >> a polarized nation sharing something awesome. today we all looked up in wonder. in glendo, wyoming.

>> up next, remembering jerry lewis, celebrating the life and works of the legendary king of comedy. >> abc news "nightline" brought to you by -- this this this is my body of proof. proof of less joint pain and clearer skin. this is my body of proof that i can take on psoriatic arthritis with humira. humira works by targeting and helping to block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to both joint and

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finally tonight we celebrate a comedy legend who brought joy and hope to many. >> jerry lewis could get a laugh without speaking a word. ♪ >> jerry lewis was the zany clown, dean martin, sophisticate. ♪ >> most americans know him for the role he took later in life. ♪ even though you're not so wealthy, you can make somebody healthy ♪ ♪ >> those labor day tele thons raised more than $2 billion for muscular drks ystrophy.

>> when asked how he's remembered he told abc. >> i don't care what they write i'm not going to know about it. >> he will be remembered as a comic legend. >> fine i will just take these off. i didn't realize you're not supposed to, there's nowhere really, is there some place i can put these. >> would you like me to put these in a locker for you. >> i would certainly appreciate it, you're very kind. >> heaven got a whole lot funnier. thanks f