their primary aim, assassinate hitler. dedrick bonhoffer was a leader in the cause. sat down with eric matasis to discuss his life and fate. >> bonhoffer is the ultimate role model for christians today. >> reporter: bonhoffer grew up in an educated and artistic family in germany. his father was a distinguished brain chemist, and his brother worked with albert einstein to split the adam. bonhoffer told the field of theology. and while doing post-graduate studies in new york, he was surprised by what he found, or, rather, what he didn't find. >> in new york they preach about virtually everything, but only one thing was not addressed or addressed so rarely, i've yet been able to hear it, namely the gospel of jesus christ, the cross, sin, forgiveness, death, and life. >> 80 years ago he wrote those words about the state of mainstream protestantism in new york city. >> reporter: while he didn't find sound theology in most of the churches in new york, he was inspired when he went to abissinian baptist church in harlem. >> everything about it touched his heart and moved him

he even saw hitler's private retreat, called the eagle's nest, in the final days of the war. >>> 50 years after president john f. kennedy was assassinatedchusetts is selling items belonging to him. all of them were found in the home of david powers, a special assist tap the and long-time aide to president kennedy. he was a very good friend of the president and was with him from 1946 until the tragic day in 1963. rice university historian professor douglas brinkley joins me from austin, texas. thanks so much for being here. a lot of people are at the auction today. even after so many years, such high demand for all those items, what is it about these items that people want a part of? >> it's a great treasure trove of material. dave powers was the adviser to john f. kennedy with him everywhere, almost like a brother answered ended up saving all sorts of items, so i was utterly fascinated by this and i deal with a lot of auction houses on presidential memorabilia, being a presidential historian. i have never seen anything quite like the number of different significant mementos coming out of this collection. >> which one really jumped out t