In October 1925, crowd gathered to watch the Pulitzer Trophy air races at Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York. VIPs arrive in various automobiles. Army Air Service Curtiss R3C-1 airplane is pushed onto the field. Air Service Chief, General Patrick , speaks with Lieutenant Cyrus Bettis as Lieutenant James Doolittle listens. A Navy crew works on their entry in the race, similar to the Army Air Service airplane. Navy Lieutenant Al Williams seen with a pipe upside down in his mouth. Lieutenant Bettis taxis out for takeoff in his airplane number 43. Then Navy Lt. Williams proceeds to take off in his aircraft, number 40. Lt. Bettis breaks ground and begins to fly the closed course, coming very close to the ground at times. He lands and climbs out of the cockpit, surrounded by spectators and officials who are convinced he has won, registering a speed of 249 miles per hour. Navy Lt. Williams lands shortly thereafter having averaged 242 miles per hour. He is greeted by several spectators, including a young woman. Two weeks later, the U.S. Army was represented by Lieutenant Jimmy Doolittle, who flew the Curtis R3C-1, again, but this time fitted with floats, at the Schneider Cup Seaplane Race in Baltimore, Maryland. He shakes hands with a young woman, just before the race. The Navy also entered with a similar seaplane, shown being pushed into the water. The British entry, a Glouster-Mapier IIIA is seen (replacing the Supermarine-Napier S.4, that was damaged). The Italian Macci M.33 is seen on a dock with engine running. The float planes taxi out over the Chesapeake bay waters to takeoff position. Doolittle is the first to take off and to return, logging an average speed of 232 miles per hour. He is seen smiling after the race.
A deserted factory building. Sign 'For Sale' on one of the Unemployed men on bread lines during the Great Depression. Crowds gather as politicians and agitators hold outdoor rallies. Signs of various employment agencies over store fronts where men are gathered seeking work. Job seekers sitting on sidewalks outside possible workplaces. Men sleeping on lawn in public park. Police arrest agitators. President Franklin D Roosevelt speaks about the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Copy of the bill (S.598) establishing the CCC. Newspaper headlines passage of "Labor Army Bill." Another reads: "House Votes Reforestation Plan to Give 250,000 Jobs..." Employment news in various newspapers and magazines. A man talks on phone. Men queued up, in 1935, to join the CCC. A woman stops to converse with some of them. CCC recruits, supervised by U.S. Army personnel, line up to receive clothing and equipment, before starting several weeks of Army boot camp. They board trucks and vans. The Army sets up a mess line on a sidewalk where recruits eat before boarding a large double-decker bus. Recruits wave from several other buses as they depart for their respective training camps. Audio is present in some brief portions only in the second half of the clip.
Film opens showing a huge crowd gathered in New York’s Madison Square Garden for a rally in support of the American Red Cross, during World War 2. Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady welcomes and introduces Princess Martha of Norway. The audience applauds. Scene then shifts for Red Cross activities on the home front. Two Red Cross women remove items from a station wagon in preparation for a local Blood drive. A panel truck parked next to them is marked: “American Red Cross Blood Donor Service.” More Red Cross volunteer women remove items from the panel truck to set up the blood donor activity. View of many persons in beds at a blood donor center. Nurses and Red Cross volunteers working at the center with donors. One of the donors is an active duty sailor in uniform. Complete change of scene to California, where Hollywood stars are seen involved in a war bond drive. Closeup of several, including Irene Dunn, Ronald Coleman, Hedy Lamarr, and Greer Garson. Glimpse of crowd at the bond drive.
Audio only. 'This I Believe', Radio network program hosted by Edward Murrow. Essay on General Manager of Palace Hotel in San Francisco, Edmond Rieder. He speaks that he was drawn to hotel and hospitality business because he likes people and it gives him opportunity to meet interesting people of different nationalities. Further he shares his experiences while working for a hotel industry. He says that all people are fundamentally good and that only misunderstanding and distrust sow the seed of trouble which when coupled with fear, leads to misery. He speaks about going through tough times in life and finding solace in reorientation in his family, where he learned a new true meaning of love, respect and faith. He adds that the strongest dissensions came only from suspicion and lack of understanding of the facts involved, and could easily be overcome by sincere cooperation. He likes people and this is what he believes.
(Audio only). Reporter John Charles Daly reports on US, British and German advance in Europe during World War II. News about Allied forces advancing to Berlin, Russian troops in Austria and war in Pacific. U.S. troops advance on Western Front, French troops in France and Allied Armies in Germany. Correspondent Burnett Winston reports from Supreme Allied Headquarters in Paris. British troops advance across Rhine, U.S. troops under command of General Bernard Montgomery advance. British troops enter into Holland.
(Audio only). Radio reporter John Charles Daly reports on World War II in Europe. News about Allied forces advance towards Berlin, Soviet Army across Hungary and in Slovakia. Generalissimo Joseph Stalin announces Soviet troops guarding Moravian Gap. Correspondent from Washington DC reports on San Francisco Conference.
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