martin luther king jr. this -- junior. this room was chosen because it was the most insular room in the house, and those phone calls sometimes lasted for hours. so that is the actual phone in which dr. king would receive the president's phone calls that came into this house. things were very volatile. the country was aware of how volatile things were in selma and in the south. so, dr. king and the president kept i don't want to say regular calls, but they did have a direct connection on a semi-frequent basis to discuss what was going on, what would repair the country and exactly what both men needed to keep this country on track and to keep violence down. >> then, we've got to come up with the qualifications of voters. that will answer 70% of your problems. >> that's right. >> if you just clear it out everywhere, make it age and reason-right. no test on what susser said or constitutions, or memorized or anything else. put them in the post office and let the postmaster do it. he stays local and is recommended by congress. i

listening to the black muslims and not martin luther king jr. even though he particularly like martin luther king jr. but was forced to work with him. he didn't want adam clayton powell there, he wanted figures on the cutting edge will he focused tell the truth. not people beholden to their organizations and told the line politically correct that they could offer. he wanted people to tell from their gut what the truth was. so he gathered those folks there. kennedy began and then jerome smith rips into him. he says we ain't here for no pity party and all of the celebration. people are out here dying and i'm tired of all of this madness. then they go back and forth and kennedy is appalled because he uses the word bs on bobby kennedy and bobby kennedy is expecting the negroes to be grateful for what he has done. and they're saying being grateful. sorry, not sorry. so the reality is that this man interposed, interjected serious rhetoric that this white man never heard from black people. he wanted to talk about rage but didn't want to confront rage wh

black america that you're listening to thee black muslims and not martn luther king, jr., even though he didn't particularly like martin luther king, jr. necessarily but was forced to work him h. e didn't want king there, he didn't want whitney young, head of urbanwo league. he wanted figures on the cutting edge who he felt could tell the truth and not who were behold to their organizations, he wanted people to tell from the gut what and kennedy begins and jarome smith rips into him, we are not here for pity party and all this celebration, people are out here tieing and i'm tired of all of this maddens and they go back and forth and kennedy is appalledle because he used the wordis bs on bobby kennedy and bobby kennedy is expecting the negroes to be grateful for what he has done, his brother has done for black americans, we ain't grateful, sorry, not reality is this man interjected some serious rhetoric that this white man never heard about black people. he wanted to talk about rage but didn't want to confront and directed towards him he was, he had a temper, you know, he was a tough sob. , as a result of that, let's sa

martin luther king jr. used so often. he was a photographer here. he worked for "life magazine" at thetime and was embedded in house. he wanted to capture dr. king's emotions as he watched on television president johnson committing to signing the voting rights act. this was the chair dr. king was sitting in, watching that television. president johnson addressed the nation. uncle martin, as i knew him, the world knew him as dr. martin luther king jr., first started coming to this house in the late 1950's early-1960's as a young minister. that's when he met my parents. he was ministering in montgomery, his first church, dexter. and, he would come to selma and selma university which is directly across the street from the house to participate in classes and to give lectures at selma university. so he would come and spend the night here in the early years. during that time, you probably had a 30% african-american population, 70% caucasian population here, and there was some racial tension here. selma was a produc

it is important to see martin luther king jr. ntury at least for western civilization and for the united states, if for nobody else. and if we do not absorb that about king, them would probably not absorb anything about king. it's a mistake to call him as a leader, martin king and rosa parks and i prefer calling what we did in the sanitation strike the rosa parks, martin luther king dimension of the civil rights movement. that is important to understand. because the term civil rights is a political term from at least 1866. and is not the term that many of us in the memphis sanitation strike or the nashville sit in movement or the freedom ride or the mississippi summer or the selma to montgomery march or the danville campaign or the campaign in albany, georgia or the many campaigns that went on in the movement, we use the terms freedom we choose the term justice we use the term equality. we use the term love and compassion and care for ourselves and everyone else. and if we are going to have a 21st-century movement, that reflects w

. >>> c-span was in memphis, tennessee for events commemorating the 50th anniversary of martin luther king, jr.'s assassination on april 4th, 1968. you'll see remarks by religious and civil rights leaders, including andrew joining and jesse jackson, both of whom were with martin luther king. the commemoration ends with the tolling of a bell exactly 50 years after the assassination. [ crowd noise ] ♪ lord, i done gone lord, i done gone, lord ♪ ♪ i done gone i done gone, it's lonely ♪ ♪ lord, i done gone, lord i done gone, lord, i done gone ♪ ♪ well, i done done what you told me to do ♪ ♪ well, you told me to sing, and i done that too ♪ ♪ i done done what you told me to do ♪ ♪ you told me to sing and i done that too ♪ ♪ well i done done what you told me to do ♪ ♪ talking about lord, i done ♪ lord, i done done, lord, i done done what you told me to do ♪ ♪ lord, you meld toe to preach and i done that too ♪ ♪ well, i done done what you told me to do ♪ ♪ lord, you told me to teach and i done that too ♪ ♪ well, i done done what you told me to do ♪ ♪ talking about lord, i done done ♪ ♪ lord, i done do

of course april 4th, martin luther king jr. was assassinated. the days after martin luther king jr.'s assassination, rioting in chicago, baltimore, washington, d.c., and other cities. on april 11th, president johnson signs the fair housing act. on june 4th, 5th, and 6th, robert kennedy wins the california primary. he's shot after his victory rally. he died the next day, on the 6th. october 16th, that iconic image of olympic athletes tommie smith and john carlos. november 5th, the impact. we'll be talking about that on the movement. we'll talk about all of that in our special series. special phone lines if you want to join the conversation. 202-748-8000. if you're 29 years old and under, for those 30 years old to 60s years old. 202-748-8001. the phone line for those 61 and older, we want to hear from you, your memories of that year, 202-748-8002. kathleen cleaver, we introduced you as well as your position at emory as the former communications secretary for the black panther party. how did you get involved in the black panther party? >> i was in an organization called student nonviole

she was the operator from the white house calling on behalf of president johnson to speak to martin luther king jr.. this room was chosen because it was the most insular room in the house and those phone calls sometimes lasted for hours so that is the actual phone doctor king would receive the president's phone calls that came into this house things to do. things were very volatile. the country was aware of how volatile things were in selma and in the south is the doctor king and the president kept i don't want to say regular calls, but they did have a direct connection on a semi-frequent basis to discuss what was going on. .. >> and then they may have to put them in the post office for the postmaster. they could say he is local and recommended by the congress i don't want to start off with that more than anything else. i don't want to publicize it but i want you to know the outline. >> but you make that statement. >> that was perfect it is good to talk about that. i just don't see how anybody could say that about vietnam. >> the dining room in the jackson museum is very much a foundation for this

including martin luther king jr.'s poor people's campaign, his assassination in memphis, black power, and the kerner commission. are guest speaker is kathleen cleaver and historian peniel joseph. cbs anchor walter cronkite on 1968 announcing martin luther king jr. has been shot and killed. spain that evening, dr. martin luther king, the apostle of nonviolence in the civil rights movement has been shot to death in memphis, tennessee. all news bulletin for a well- dressed young white man running from the same. officers chased and fired on a guard rig both of containing two white men. dr. king was on the balcony of the second floor hotel room when according to a companion, a shot was a -- shot from across the street. the bullet exploded in his face. police keeping a close watch over the nobel peace prize winner were on the scene almost immediately. they rushed the 39-year-old [null] leader to a hospital where he died of a bullet when -- bullet wound to the neck. the mayor reinstated the desk to dawn curfew he imposed on

. >>> tonight at 8 pm eastern, the 50th anniversary commemoration of the assassination of martin luther king jr.'s part of what you see some watched -- someone who marched with martin luther king 50 years ago. >> i became connected to martin luther king jr. around december 7, 1955. i walked with him in many different places around the country. around the southeastern part of the nation especially. and was according to john lewis, the architect of the nonviolent movement. i want to press hard on the soul force, or nonviolent struggle as a way of accomplishing the united states that is true to the beginning theology and philosophy we hold these truths to be self-evident that all are created equal, that all are endowed by the creator with certain rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. as part of the difficulty in politics, the nation, and the advertising industry, today is that great philosophy that launched the 13 colonies into becoming an independent nation staying in the constitution, we the people of the united states of america in order to establish. that is

martin luther king jr. and the southern christian leadership conference are investigative communist party links beginning in the late 1950s. here are the things that prompt that. martin luther king jr. gait a speech at a social justice leadership training school accused of being a communist training center. here's a billboard that floated around the south. martin luther king jr. at communist training school. it's not a communist training school. spoiler. this billboard accusation is rooted in an accurate history of the communist party supporting civil rights for african-americans, they did it to further the party's interest and we saw it as a great wedge issue. but this is right on this fear that will be spread that the civil rights movement is in fact a communist front being orchestrated by moscow to create social unrest in the united states. martin luther king jr. sent a thank you letter to an ex-city councilman because that person donated blood to king after he was stabbed in 1958. member of the socialist

martin luther king jr.usic was aretha's activism. >> she did it in a way t yt was quie powerful. look at the afro that she adopted. look at theunapologetic embrace of her own city of detroit which was being spurned because it was a black city. >> reporter: when detroit's mayor declared aretha franklin day in 196, dr. martin luther king jr. wasthere, two years later, actress angela davis was held without bond, aretha franklin was ready to pay for her release, black will beill be free, she said, i know you got to disturb the peace when you can't get no peace. civil rhts icon john lewis remembers her support. out.e did her best to help she just wanted to make the movement a♪uccess. ♪ >> reporter: the voice bookending a turbulent history, singing at the memorial for martin luther king jr.,he funeral for rosa parks. ♪ thank you for her quietnger quiet st ♪ >> reporter: later performing at the inauguration of the first african-american president. >> she wasn't just a singer, she tis an active human being who was

we celebrate martin luther king jr.'s birthday, all right? but guess who else's birthday is the same time? robert e. lee. so, the white folks have been celebrating robert e. lee. while you think you're celebrating martin luther king's birthday? uh-huh. that's what i'm talking about. they are actually sending out applications if you want to join the klu klux klan in high school. in churches they pass them out in alabama. that's where i live. that's what i'm talking about. things you have not even seen before. the question is, how do you respond to it is the question. and when you see is it in a larger context of history, it's no mystery. it's when you don't know your history that it becomes a mystery. we've seen this before. now, let's get quickly past that and say, what is the solution? what is our approach? our approach is that we don't have enough active involvement of our young people. remember now we talk about the movement of the '60s. these were young folk. sncc, i was a teenager when i was in sncc. look at the birmingham movement. we ca

martin luther king jr. i however have a few things to say. dr. king's powerful message of fairness and inclusion has always been significantly important in my life. it's led me to be an ardent supporter of our fabulous national civil rights museum here in memphis tennessee. which is run by terry. but throughout my career at federal express which is been decades, i've hit 42 years of work with federal express yesterday. thank you. i think fred smith wouldn't be applauding right now. but i've had the privilege of taking my family with me, they are the joy of my life. we've gone all around the world. canada, we have lived in canada, europe, the middle east. and i've seen many times throughout my travels differences of people's culture their diversity their backgrounds their beliefs and things that they view may be differently than maybe i would view them. but nonetheless i've had a lot of time to spend with them. so diversity and inclusion that i've seen around the rest of the world, quite frankly i wish i could see it more in the united states. it's

at the beginning of martin luther king jr.'s career. >> there was almost never martin luther king as we remember him today. he didn't want to be famous. he didn't want to be the leader of a big movement. he thought he would leave the quiet life of a minister as his father and others did. he didn't have ambition to be world famous, but then he got involved in the montgomery alabama bus and that made him a famous figure. he's in new york city at the department store, signing copies of the book. there's a little trouble the night before. he was speaking at a big rally and a black woman started heckling doctor king and she was told by down no one paid any attention although one of his people said you should have a bodyguard before you leave new york. he's at the department store and there's a great photograph that depicts and sitting in a desk with black children and white children, shaking his hand, is the picture of racial harmony that sought to achieve. there's people waiting to buy the book and get it autographed and a woman wa

we will discuss the national civil rights agenda in 1968 from martin luther king jr.'s assassination to the rising power of the black power movement. watch 1968 america in turmoil, wednesday at 8:00 p.m. eastern on american history tv on c-span 3, and all nine programs are available on spotify as a podcast or watch anytime at c-span.org on our 1968 page. >>> c-span, where history unfolds daily. in 1979 c-span was created as a public service by america's cable television companies. and today we continue to bring you unfiltered coverage of congress, the white house, the supreme court and public policy events in washington, d.c. and around the country. c-span is brought to you by your cable or satellite provider. >>> this year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1968 poor people's campaign envisioned by martin luther king jr. to shift the focus of the civil rights movement to economic issues. reverend king was assassinated a few weeks before the campaign got under way in washington, d.c. next from the smithsonian national museum of african-american history and culture, a di

. >>> doctor martin luther king jr. -- dr. martin luther king jr.ed as the top american speech of the 20th century. he put pressure on congress and president kennedy to push civil rights proposals to the lawmaking process because of the power of that speech. time magazine named dr. king the men of the year. >> the time is 6:49. there is a lot going on in our morning commute. >> yeah, there is a lot going on. i am looking at a bunch of commutes that have become very crowded lately in the last half hour. let's take a look at san francisco. everyone always wants to know about this commute. you can see it is going to be a 20 to 25 minute delay if you're at the very end of the line. you can also see the san mateo bridge. traffic is going to be okay, but it is getting busier driving across. all of the commutes are beginning to fill in. this is definitely after the start of school. we started to see more and more of a backup on highway 4. 24 is moderate. if you're driving southbound on 880, traffic is going to be busy. if you look at the south bay commute,

martin luther king jr.espect. and where every person has the opportunity to live up to their god-given potential. and yet, here we are, oh god, 50 years after his apotheosis and the nation seems to have gone backwards. racism racism has again lifted its economic economic injustice still burdens the poor. violence is everywhere. and our leaders still prepare for war. in these challenging and difficult times, we need you, oh god, like never before. let your spirit fall on us. let your spirit fall on this la let let your spirit fall on our leaders and bring them to their senses. in in these days, people are marching and crying out for social change and account people people are disturbed and upset by all they see happening around in in these days, oh god, let the words of your prophet become a reality among us. when he said, let justice roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream. thank you thank you for the life he lived and the legacy he left us. give us the courage to live up to the standard

martin luther king jr., and the southern leadership conference, investigated beginning in the late 1950s. there are the things that prompt that. martin luther king jr. gave a speech at a training school accused of being a communist training center. around the south, right, martin luther king at a communist training school, there he is. this accusation is rooted in inaccurate history of the communist party supporting civil rights of african- americans. they did that, of course, in support of the parties interests. they saw that is a great wedge issue. this is a dispute spread by many segregationists, that the civil rights movement is in fact a communist front orchestrated by moscow to create social unrest in the united states. martin luther king jr. sent a thank you letter to nx city councilman who happened to be a member of the communist party at some point, because that person donated blood to king after he was stabbed in 1968. a member of the social workers party offered to join the naacp at its main office. i don't think got the job. they go on to say that he is a communist party lead

martin luther king jr. ed his i have a terms of challenging americans to have a better society and fight for justice and equality for all. 35 years later, his niece alveda king says his dream is coming true. always a pleasure to see you. >> same year, charles. 55 years we are better. train to get know, one thing i always say is i wish we spent more time celebrating how far we've come rather than debating things in the rearview mirror. we are still debating the things that your uncle fought for. but there are some remnants and this is one thing i do want to ask you because what i see in this country is a lot of young adults, black, white, whatever, who feel like now that the system created to let them down or has let them down. the report out today saying in america 3% of americans have food insecurity, 18% of trouble paying medical bills, 18% on medical care at all. 13% are missing utility bills and the full 10% are missing mortgage payments. so when you say those numbers out, what do you think of particular

martin luther king jr.americans with her music. franklin's success continued throughout the '70s, and as she branched out to work with notable producers such as curtis mayfield and quincy jones. her string of top charting hits during the decade included "call me," "don't play that song for me," "spanish harlem," bridge over troubled waters," just to name a few. in 1985, aretha returned to the top of the charts with a platinum certified album. in 1987, aretha became the first female artist to be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. aretha continued to amass grammy milestones. in 1991, aretha received the recording academy's grammy legend award. in 1993, aretha was invited to sing at the inauguration of bill clinton, and the following year she received both a grammy and lifetime achievement award. in 2003, she released her final studio album "so damn happy." in 2008, she received her 18th grammy award for "never going to break my faith." in 2009, she performed "my country 'tis of thee" at the histori

thursday, martin luther king jr. we'll show a 50th anniversary commemoration from march.nd friday, the world war i centennial ceremony and a look at various as effects of the war from discussion at u.s. army heritage days. >>> this weekend, during our regular american history tv programming, we will take a look at the murder of one of boston's richest men while he was visiting harvard university in 1849. english professor paul collins specialized in 19th century crimes and talks about his book, blood and i have, the 1849 murder that scandalized harvard. saturday night at 8:00 eastern during lectures in history a class by rutgers university professor jefferson decker on the history of the environment movement and laws and litigation regarding natural resources. and sunday night at 8:00, during our weekly look at the presidency, harry truman's russia policy, which became known as the cold war. after he outlined his plan to contain communism during an address to congress in 1947. >>> 70 years ago the soviet union blocked off eastern berlin. in response, the western powers or

a legendary franklin who was very much on the front lines of the civil rights movement and martin luther king jr were very good friends so much so and not a lot of people are aware of this martin luther king jr's famous i have a dream speech that he gave in washington sikh gave in detroit months earlier because the reports father asked and so a reaper grew up you know in her home in her church basement with legendary. community activists who would go on to change the course of you know american history and some of those people included well you jackson who is the legendary gospel singer clip there is. you know james cleveland so on and so forth and so the church in church music script in the baptist church was very influential just started off of course as a classical singer but then by the time she had a teen said her dad i want to do what sam cook sam cook was a good friend of the family who was often at the franklin household in detroit and . music and she wanted amplifier voice a little bit more insular father. manager and daughter that first deal with columbia records and then later atlanti

the assassinations of martin luther king jr. and robert f kennedyare kathleen kennedy townsend and michael cohen, author of "american maelstrom: the 1960 election and the politics of division." we hear from senator robert f. kennedy during his march 16, 1968 presidential campaign announcement. [ music ] >>> i have traveled and i have listened to the young people over nation and felt their anger about the war that they are sent to fight. and about the world they are about to inherit. in private talks and in public, i have tried in vain to alter our course in vietnam before it further saps our spirit and our manpower. four the -- it raises the risk of wider were and further destroys the country and the people it was meant to save. i cannot stand aside from the contest that will decide our nation and its future. and our children's future. the remarkable new hampshire campaign of eugene mccarthy has proven how it deep are the present divisions within our party and with that are country probably clear, my presence in the race would h

. >>> c-span was in memphis, tennessee for events commemorating the 50th anniversary of martin luther king, jr.'s assassination on april 4th, 1968. you'll see remarks by religious and civil rights leaders, including andrew joining and jesse jackson, both of whom were with martin luther king. the commemoration ends with the tolling of a bell exactly 50 years after the assassination.

seeing this as an injustice in a nation of means and prosperity martin luther king jr. the southern christian leadership conference and other civil rights activists and organizations knew they had to provide hope and answers to america's poor. so, they wanted to make the u.s. government address some of the economic gaps and gaps in opportunity between the have's and the have not's. so taking their message of economic opportunity nationwide, activists across the country mobilized their communities for a campaign in which the nation of people across every race, age, region and culture would rally in washington, d.c. to protest for an economic bill of rights. unfortunately, king was assassinated before the campaign launched, but the movement continued in his honor. for six weeks between may 12th and june 24th, 1968, thousands of protesters lived on the national mall in an encampment known as resurrection city. so this year the national museum of african-american history and culture marks the 50th anniversary of martin luther king's death with a special exhibition that comm

martin luther king jr. to shift the focus of the civil rights movement to economic issues. reverend king was assassinated a few weeks before the campaign got under way in washington, d.c. next from the smithsonian national museum of african-american history and culture, a discussion on civil unrest and economic conditions leading up to 1968, particularly in detroit, michigan, and newark, new jersey. this is about an hour and 10 minutes. >> and welcome to the national museum of african-american history and culture. my name is aaron bryant and i'm the curator here and i'm also the curator for the exhibition city of hope resurrection city and the poor people's campaign which is actually across the street over at the national museum for american history. it's also part of the reason we are here today to celebrate the life and legacy of dr. clement a. price and to look at issues related to poverty not just in 1968 but perhaps we can talk more about how this poor people's campaign in '68 is so relevant to us toda

so she was already almost destined first start and there her father was also friends with martin luther king jr so grew up basically next to african-american royalty now her childhood wasn't easy though her parents split up pretty early due to her father's philandering her mother died when she was very young and she had two kids by the age of fourteen she then swiftly got married had eventually two divorces her first marriage involves domestic violence and that was actually coming to an end as she came out with her version of respect which became a rallying cry for a lot of women and she saw that that gave a lot of women the courage to stand up for themselves and that eventually also came back and gave her some some kurds as well now that was a cover of notice writing so she's also famous for some of her own music that she wrote herself including the song thank. thank you bob what you saying is you've got to think about consequences if you at all and shut up woman you. know when you. say you. think. there's a reason for not doing that for the film the blues brothers are about to say. that that

she won two grammys for the song and an award from martin luther king, jr.ing of hits followed in the 1960s and 1970s. ♪ [ music ] . . am awards for her signature ded mix of gospel, blues, rock, and pop. >> hopefully, i touch someone in a positive way. >> reporter: in 1987 she became the first female art tis induct inducted -- artist inducted in the rock and roll hall of fame. her two marriages ended in divorce, but she raised four sons and she remained an exuberant presence on stage. ♪ [ music ] . >> reporter: in later years, the honors rolled in. the presidential medal of freedom and a featured roll at president obama's inauguration. she stole the spotlight at the 2014 premier for the movie selma. but in 2017, she appeared frail, singing for elton john's aids foundation. at that point, she had already announced it would be her final year performing in concert. ♪ [ music ] . >> reporter: as word spread that she was gravely ill, aretha franklin's friends and fans called to say a little prayer for the queen of soul. ♪ [ music ] . >> reporter: cbs news. >> and

martin luther king, jr. and the queen gospel, jackson.e, in 1985 by the department of natural resources of the state of michigan. she will later reached a milestone by singing of the first inauguration of president barack obama. aretha's powerful, gospel vocal sound as influenced countless singers across multiple generations and earning her number one position on "rolling stone" magazines list of the greatest singers of all time. aretha lewis franklin was born on march 25, 1942, in memphis tennessee. she was raised in destrotroidet. >> her father served at the baptist church in detroit of michigan. nationally recognized american baptist minister and civil rights activists who marched with martin luther king noticeably in the 1963 detroit walk of freedom. reverend franklin was known as the man with the million dollar voice. one of the first baptist minister to record and distribute his sermons. aretha's mother, barbara, was as gifted pianist and according to her close friend, one of the finest gospel singers in the country, talent-ran and

thursday american history tv continues with a look at the life of martin luther king jr.nniversary commemoration from march. and friday the world war i centennial ceremony. this weekend during our regular american history tv programming we'll take a look at the murder of one of boston's richest men while he was visiting harvard university in 1849. english professor paul collins specializes in 19th century crimes and he talks about his latest book blood and ivy, the 1849 murder that scandalized harvard. then saturday night at 8:00 eastern during lectures and history a class by rutgers university professor on the history of the environmental movement and laws and litigation regarding natural resources. and sunday night at 8:00 during our weekly look at at the presidency harry truman's russia policy which became known as the cold war after he outlined his plan to contain communism during an address to congress in 1947. >>> this sunday on oral histories we continue our series on women in congress. >> my service in the agriculture committee. finally their acceptance of me and

martin luther king jr.'s funeral. and in her last "e.t."view, she told us she wanted to be remembered for her music and her humanitarian work. >> before you can be a great or a good anything else, you've got to be a good person. >> an astounding 112 of aretha's songs hit the charts. to her, they were all like family. >> they're like your children. you love them all. >> but one song in particular, "respect," became her signature. >> something we all need. something that you've got to have it, respect. >> we were with her in 1997 when she recorded an update of the song. >> i didn't think over a long period of time it would still stand the testing of time the way that it has. >> "respect" was written and recorded by r&b otis redding. but when she recorded it, she added the famous refrain. >> around detroit this was a famous refrain, "sock it to me." they came along and did sock it to me and never gave me a dime. ♪ like a natural woman >> franklin covered lots of classics over the years like "a natural woman" and "bridge over troubled waters."

. >>> c-span was in memphis tennessee for events commemorating the 50th anniversary of martin luther king jr.'s assassination on april 4, 1968. that is the outdoor ceremony from the national civil rights museum plaza in front of the motel where the reverend king was shot. you will see remarks by religious and civil rights leaders including andrew young and jesse jackson. both of whom were with martin luther king. nearly 3 our commemoration and with the tolling of the bill is exactly 50 years after the assassination. >>>

thursday american history tv continues with the look at martin luther king jr. we're show a 50th anniversary commemoration from march. and friday the world war i centennial ceremony and a look at various aspects of the war from discussions at u.s. army heritage days. >>> this weekend on american history tv during reel america, our weekly look at historical films. the 1943 war department film "why we fight: divide and conquer" explaining the causes of world war ii. reel america saturday night at 10:00 and sunday afternoon at 4:00 eastern. saturday night at 11:00 eastern, historian explains the psychological trauma and symptoms experienced by world war i. and sunday, desegregation of the u.s. military. author ron james and retired colonel norma jean bradford discuss what led to harry truman's order. desegregating the u.s. military and its impact on african-americans. that's sunday evening at 6:30 and 10:30 eastern on american history tv. every weekend here on c-span3. >>> saturday morning at 10:30 eastern book tv is live at the mississippi book festival for their

martin luther king, jr. assassinated in member 'tis, tennessee. and then hubert humphrey announcing he is enter. and then robert f. kennedy assassinated. richard nixon accepting the nomination in august of that year. late another august, hubert humphrey accepting the democratic nomination in chicago amidst the riots. richard nixon is electioned president on november 5th, 1968. we want to welcome barbara perry was the director of presidential studies of the university of virginia's miller center and then pat buchanan who was worked on the campaign of richard nixon. where were you that? >> i was in richard nixon's campaign. we were having an argument. nixon was moving towards a more doggish position when we got word from cbs that lyndon johnson had asked for him sunday night. with nixon going to wisconsin the next day, he told me, pat, i want you to be at la guardia, the private terminal. he was making an appearance out there. brief me on what johnson said before the press gets to me. so i was sitting in the limousine on the tarmac at la guardia and

leigh martinez is live at martin luther king jr. elementary school to explain why students are coming back to school a week earlier this year. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. it is a little bit earlier than it was last year. shortening up their summer vacation. at the elementary school level at martin luther king jr. elementary these kids are going to get some fun. they are going to get a free gift they will have a backpack giveaway. there is also going to be some free rides. was vargo is here and they will have their carriage out. they're going to give kids a free ride. -- wells fargo is here and they will have their carriage out. they're going to give kids a free ride. kids and teachers are headed back to the classroom a week earlier than last year. despite budget cuts oakland unified school district says it has a 70% graduation rate and has partnered with local colleges and area businesses to give high school students higher education coursework and internship opportunities to help them plan for a career. on friday we sp

martin luther king jr.ur memories. >> i remember aretha just doing what she could do best, to tell the story through music, through song. she had the capacity, the ability to make you feel better, when sometimes you were feeling down. she was so wonderful, so gifted. i saw her on so many occasions in atlanta, in washington, in new york, in detroit, in other places around the country. and i will never forget on one occasion, i will never forget, it was august 1967, dr. king was having a convention in atlanta. and aretha would perform. she got happy and just kept singing, she wouldn't stop singing. dr. king wanted a staff person to go and tell aretha, we have to end the program. and that was the last performance that dr. king witnessed of aretha. he loved aretha, he loved her father, reverend c.l. franklin. they both were very supportive of him, and of the movement. i remember on occasion, coming out of jail in selma or other places in the south, and we would have quarter and we would get one of these machine

thursday, american history tv continues with a look at the life of martin luther king jr. we'll show a 50th anniversary commemoration from march, and friday, the world war i centennial ceremony. this weekend on american history tv during "reel america," our weekly look at a historical films, the 1943 war department film "why we fight: divide & conquer" explaining the causes of world war ii. "reel america,". and saturday night at 11:00 eastern, historian rachel lewandowski explains the psychological trauma and symptoms experienced by world war i soldiers and the lessons psychiatrists learned at the time. and sunday, desegregation of the u.s. military. author ron james and retired colonel norma jean bradford discuss what led to the executive order desegregating the u.s. military and its impact on african-americans. that's sunday evening at 6:30 and 10:30 eastern on american history tv every weekend here on c-span3. >>> sunday night on afterwords. retired lieutenant colonel kate germano on gender bias in the military. she's interviewed by todd south. >> if a female marine is

announcer: this year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1968 poor people's campaign, envisioned by martin luther king jr shift up the focus of the civil rights movement economic issues. reverend king was assassinated a few weeks before the campaign got underway in washington, d.c. next from the smithsonian , national museum of african american history and culture, a discussion on civil unrest and economic conditions leading up to 1968, particularly in detroit, michigan and newark, new jersey. this is about an hour and 10 minutes. aaron: good afternoon. welcome to the national museum of african american history and culture. my name is erin bryant -- aaron bryant. i am a curator here, and also the curator for the exhibition "city of hope." it is across the street over at the national museum for american history. it is also part of the reason we are here today, to celebrate the life and legacy of dr. clement a. price, and look at the issues related to poverty, not just from 1968, but perhaps we can talk more about how this poor

reporter: it was franklin's voice that was the sound track to so many cultural milestones from martin luther king jrpresident obama's inauguration. twice divorced and a mother off four, franklin was fiercely protective of her privacy. in later years preferring to spend most of her time at kenne centeras special. franklin brought the house down, later calling it one of the best nights of her life and reminding the world she will always be the queen. >> i love what i do and i just wouldn't be doing anything else. i thought what would i have done? ♪ >> what a life. thank you, lester, for that report. >> and there's perhaps no better way to honor the queen of soul than with her music. her music quickly dominated the charts. fellow musicians, fans and beyond are sharing what she meant to them from detroit and around it world. in detroit with the reaction. >> reporter: good morning, philip. of course she was born in 19 -- in memphis. but detroit was her home and they loved her right back. they're unmourning but they're red a to celebrate her life. inside walks, from open doors at windows, her soulful soun