AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, THE: ABRAHAM AND MARY LINCOLN: A HOUSE DIVIDED {PARTS 1 AND 2 OF 6} (TV)
Summary
Hours one and two of six. One in this documentary series narrated by David McCullough that uses archival photographs, interviews with experts, and the written words of Abraham and Mary Lincoln to construct a dual biography of the backwoods politician and his aristocratic wife. McCullough begins with a brief look at Abraham Lincoln's early life in Kentucky, with comments by area descendants Milburn Howard, Jr., Judy Osbourne, and Lois Wimsett, as well as historians David Herbert Donald and Charles B. Strozier. They speak about Nancy, Abraham Lincoln's intellectual mother, and Thomas, his simple, uneducated father; both were opposed to slavery. The documentary goes on to describe the family's move to Indiana, Nancy's early death, and the resulting lifelong sorrow for Lincoln. Strozier and fellow historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, biographer Jean Harvey Baker, and Todd family friend Mary Genevieve Murphy talk about Mary Todd Lincoln's early years -- her birth into a prosperous Kentucky family and her own mother's death, followed by her rebellion against her stepmother, Elizabeth Humphries. Humphries is contrasted with Lincoln's kind and gentle stepmother, Sarah Bush Johnston, who encourages his thirst for knowledge and has a civilizing influence on him. Murphy, Goodwin, and historian Margaret Washington discuss Mary Todd's choice to side with her father in denouncing slavery, describing her as intellectually well ahead of other girls of her class and period. Goodwin, Strozier, and Donald examine Lincoln's move to Illinois to break with his ignorant past and humble origins and his first, unsuccessful run for the State Legislature. Biographer Linda Levitt Turner describes Mary Todd's move to Springfield, Illinois, and her vivacious nature, enjoyment of lively political debate, and fits of depression, while Judge Frank J. Williams, chair of the Lincoln Forum, extols the future president's popularity as a storyteller and speaker. McCullough continues with an account of Lincoln's legal studies and successful bid for a Congressional seat, and biographer Douglas L. Wilson outlines the effect of the death of his first love. Turner discusses the coming together of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd, an unlikely couple united by their love of politics; Strozier recounts Lincoln's breaking off of the engagement for a long period before the two actually wed. Part two begins as the Lincolns settle in Springfield, Illinois, and begin a family. Williams and historian Mark E. Neely, Jr. comment on Abraham Lincoln's love of trial law and his perfection of storytelling on the local court circuit. Donald examines Lincoln's mostly ineffective term in Congress and the grief that the Lincolns feel over the death of their son Edward. Abraham Lincoln becomes a successful lawyer, viewers learn, but his passion is politics, and he is outraged over the Fugitive Slave Law. Meanwhile, Mary Todd Lincoln's behavior becomes more erratic as her husband spends less time at home. Historians Donald, Goodwin, and Donald L. Miller discuss Lincoln's series of debates with Stephen A. Douglas over the slavery issue on the Kansas/Nebraska Bill in their bid for the Senate and describe Lincoln's alliance with the Republican party following his defeat. They suggest that Lincoln's popularity stems from his moderate positions; Washington reviews Lincoln's non-committal stance on the issue of racial equality. Historian David E. Long describes the overwhelming response to Abraham Lincoln's campaign in the Republican presidential primary, and Turner looks at Mary Lincoln's role as a political advisor. Historian James M. McPherson comments on the perceived danger of Southern secession should a Republican be elected President in 1860, and he ends the presentation with a portent of disaster as Lincoln wins the election. Continues with T:59697.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: February 19, 2001 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:49:04
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:59695
- GENRE: Public Affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: U S - History; U S - Presidents; Marriage
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1988-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- For "The American Experience":
- Margaret Drain … Executive Producer
- Susan Mottau … Coordinating Producer
- Mark Samuels … Senior Producer
- Charles Kuskin … Theme Music by, Series Theme by
- Michael Bacon … Music (Misc. Credits), Series Theme Adaptation by
- For "Abraham and Mary Lincoln":
- Allyson Luchak … Senior Producer
- David Grubin … Producer, Director, Writer
- Amanda Pollak … Producer, Field Producer
- Sarah Colt … Associate Producer
- Lesley Norman … Production (Misc.), Production Executive
- Annie Dycus … Researcher
- Katy Mostoller … Researcher
- Dave Auburn … Researcher
- Geoffrey C. Ward … Writer
- Muchael Bacon … Music by
- David McCullough … Host, Narrator
- David Morse … Cast, Abraham Lincoln, Voice
- Holly Hunter … Cast, Mary Lincoln, Voice
- Jean Harvey Baker
- David Herbert Donald
- Stephen A. Douglas
- Doris Kearns Goodwin
- Milburn Howard
- Elizabeth Humphries
- Sarah Bush Johnston
- Abraham Lincoln
- Edward Lincoln
- Mary Todd Lincoln
- Nancy Lincoln
- Thomas Lincoln
- David E. Long
- James M. McPherson
- Donald L. Miller
- Mary Genevieve Murphy
- Mark E. Neely, Jr.
- Judy Osbourne
- Charles B. Strozier
- Linda Levitt Turner
- Margaret Washington
- Frank J. Williams
- Douglas L. Wilson
- Lois Wimsett