Film of the Quest's return journey, 8 months after the death of SIr Ernest Shackleton at South Georgia, Antarctica (on January 3, 1922). The expedition has stopped at Ascension Island en route to Antarctica. On 4th August, the expedition's naturalist George Hubert Wilkins, together with Major C. A. Tennyson (Commandant of the Ascension Island Garrison), explores a colony of sooty terns (also known as Wideawakes).
October, 1962, U.S. Air Force U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, tail number 56-6707, of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, lands at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. View of Photographic evidence, brought back by the U-2, showing Soviet missiles being set up in Cuba. President John F. kennedy broadcasts to the nation about the crisis on October 22, 1962, announcing measures being taken by the USA to address the situation. A B-58 Hustler bomber landing. Airmen removing camera from nose of a reconnaissance aircraft. Air Force Sergeant, photo interpreter, reading wet film in a base laboratory. U.S. Naval officers and sailors in Command Center viewing large wall map of the world. U.S. Air Force SAC B-52 bombers taking off. View of United Nations Headquarters building in New York City. On October 25, 1962, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Adlai Stevenson, confronts Soviet Ambassador Valerian Alexandrovich Zorin about missiles in Cuba.He looks at Zorin, and says,"Don't wait for the translation, yes, or no." Zorin smiles as the room fills with laughter. He then responds. View of a Soviet ship bound for Cuba being monitored by a U.S. aircraft overhead. Pilot in cockpit of the aircraft. View from U.S. aircraft flying low past a Soviet ship. Crew in cockpit of the aircraft. Soviet ships turning away. Helicopter flying over sandy beach area of Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. The helicopter parked and Undersecretary of State, Averell Harriman, steps from the helicopter and is later seen with President Kennedy, and Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, at the President's Weekend White House. Harriman reports on the successful negotiation of a limited nuclear test ban treaty. Glimpse of Moscow. U.S. Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, Soviet Foreign Minister,Andrei Gromyko, and British Foreign secretary, Alexander Douglas-Home, are seen signing the document for their respective nations, August 5, 1963.
Eleanor Roosevelt championing Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson II, as Democratic candidate for President, in 1960, in spite of two prior defeats at the polls. She is seen at an intimate gathering speaking with Stevenson and others. After Stevenson fails to gain the nomination, she supports the Democratic candidate, John F. Kennedy (JFK), with whom she is seen. In another scene, Mrs. Roosevelt stands with Kennedy, and Theodore Sorenson, his advisor and speechwriter. She sits with JFK as his political advisers stand behind them. October 31, 1962, Adlai Stevenson is seen informing the public that Mrs. Roosevelt is gravely ill. She dies on November 7, 1962. On November 10th 1962, mourners, including: Laura Delano, Nelson Rockefeller, Adlai Stevenson, former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ralph Bunche,Theodore Sorenson, and Robert Wagner are seen walking across a snowy churchyard in Hyde Park,at her funeral. They are followed by Former President, Harry Truman, with wife, Bess and daughter, Margaret. A moment later, President John F. Kennedy and Mrs. Kennedy arrive, accompanied by Secret Service Agents. A NY State Trooper salutes as they walk past to enter the chapel. Mourners gather around the bier as clergy officiate for the burial at Springwood, in Hyde Park. Closeup shows President Kennedy, Vice-President Lyndon Johnson, and former President Truman standing together. The eulogy by Adlai Stevenson is heard as a montage of Eleanor Roosevelt images is seen. On April 23, 1963, signs Congressional Act, chartering the Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial Foundation. He speaks about it outside the White House.
During U.S. Navy's Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica. A tracked vehicle moves on snow in front of Observation Hill. (This area would become Mcmurdo Station.) A Military Air Transport Service (MATS) C-124C Aircraft taxis down sea-ice runway and turns around to takeoff . It makes makes a long takeoff roll and breaks ground with slow rate of climb, churning up a fog of snow in the process. . Small weasel with small trailer with fire extinguisher on it. Navy R5D Aircraft in the background taxiing for take off. R5D taxis. Yellow fuel truck is seen. R5D makes a jet assisted takeoff. Flame is seen from the JATO bottles under the aircraft during takeoff roll and much trailing smoke, as the aircraft breaks ground with a high rate of climb.
U.S. Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd during Antarctic Expedition in Antarctica. Supplies being unloaded from the an anchored ship. Men walk on the snow. Dog sledges loaded with supplies move on the snow. A Ford airplane (the Floyd Bennett) being lowered to the ice. Several dogs pull it on the snow. Men stay in shelters in the polar region. They work with spades to build houses. Men dine together.
Byrd Expedition Explorers at camp site in Antarctica. Huskies in chains. A man pulls one husky aside. Loaded sledges tied with chains. Huskies lying on the snow. A man retrieves food from a sledge and gives it to each dog. The dogs eat. Man shovels snow into a container outside a tent. He settles the snow, put the container in a heater and shuts the lid. He takes it into a tent. Tents at the camp site. Men emerge from tents and put on their coats. A mild blizzard over the mountains. Man attaches harness to sledge. Dogs covered in snow. A snow mound with a flag. Man packs and settles a sledge. The Expedition's Ford Trimotor airplane flies overhead. Snow covered mountains. Huskies pull the sledge across the terrain.