THE GREATEST DRAMA
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Year Published: 1950’
Format: 16mm
Description: This black and white early-1950’s installment of the syndicated television series, "The Greatest Drama" provides a biography of American conservative politician, lawyer, and Ohio Senator Robert Alphonso Taft Sr. (1889-1953), architect of the anti-union Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 that banned closed shops as an amendment to the 1935 Labor Relations Act (TRT: 12:37). The New York City Victory Parade of 1946. Title overlay: "The Greatest Drama" (0:07). Robert Taft stares into the camera. Title overlay: "Mr. Republican" (0:28). The rear of the White House. 27th President William Howard Taft speaks (0:36). W.H. Taft at home and in closeup (0:46). Still photos circa the 1890’s: Robert Taft as a baby, a young boy in a sailor’s suit and cap, in a boy soldier’s uniform with a fixed bayonet, and with his family in a pleated suit, circa his father’s 1908 election to the U.S. presidency (0:57). St. Chrysostom’s Church and the campus of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Robert Taft as a student. Classical architecture of Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The bronze statue of John Harvard by Daniel Chester French during a snowy winter. The Johnston Gates to Harvard Yard (1:15). The MS American Leader merchant cargo ship (Type C1-B). Herbert Hoover. French crowds in front of a boulangerie. A sack of red cross supplies. A girl carries loaves of french bread (1:32). Separate, mismatched, framed photos of Robert Taft and his wife Martha Bowers (1:47). The Taft estate at Sky Haven Farm in Cincinnati, Ohio. Taft smiles and waves from a desk covered with books and documents (1:55). A town hall, dated 1944. Scenes of the 1938 election. Voters, registrars. Curtained voting booths and ballot drop boxes. Taft reads a newspaper, beaming for the camera (2:15). A false mockup of a Daily Tribune headline: "Bob and Martha Win" The White House Lawn. A group of nine elderly men stand around Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who signs a document at his desk (2:36). Taft speaks and makes a show of ripping a document in half at a press conference speech against the New Deal (2:54). The Taft home at 1688 31st St. NW, Washington, D.C. (3:19). Bob and Martha at their dining room table (3:27). Title: "Repubican Convention 1940" over crowded entrance gates. Inside the convention hall (3:44). Wendell Willkie in closeup (4:06). Title: "Republican Convention 1944" over Chicago Stadium. Delegates gather inside "The Madhouse on Madison." Thomas E. Dewey waves from the podium (4:11). Title: "Republican Convention 1948" over Philadelphia City Hall. The convention floor. A baby elephant draped in a banner: "Win With Taft, Senator Bob Is My Boy! Dailey Bros. Circus" (4:38). A young woman sits atop a photo op painting of another elephant endorsing Dewey (4:56). Taft boards a yacht (Hazel Mack, Miami, FLA) while on vacation. A friend hauls in a marlin and Taft poses with it. Golfing with General Omar Bradley (5:04). The United States Capitol and Senate (5:44). Headline: "Labor Reform Bill Wins!" The signing of the Taft-Hartley Act. Shaking hands with Fred A. Hartley Jr. (5:56). Labor organizers march in a demonstration parade, carrying signs calling for repeal of the act. Women handle Taft campaign stickers. Ohio voting booths. Taft on the phone and in Washington following his re-election (6:13). A campaign bus: "Win with Taft." The 1952 campaign trail. Kissing his grandchildren (7:20). Title: "Republican Convention 1952." Dwight D. Eisenhower and signs: "We Like Ike" (8:09). Taft visits and endorses Eisenhower. Eisenhower announces cabinet members at a press conference (9:14). Golfing with the President. Taft on crutches (10:06). Exterior: "The New York Hospital" Headline: "Taft in Coma, Sinking Fast." Mourners at the Capitol. Taft’s casket lies in state (10:43). Taft’s face superimposed over the Capitol. End credits (11:42). This episode of "The Greatest Drama" was written and produced by Michael Sklar and narrated by Raymond Edward Johnson for Movietone General Telecasting.
Complete Record:
Transcription
[Music] [Applause] the greatest drama the memorable story of the great among us written by you the people [Music] this chapter mr republican the story of robert a taft [Music] the white house was always familiar to robert alfonso taft his father william howard taft was a great american president and a great leader of the republican party from him perhaps robert taft inherited his talent for politics and staunch republicanism bob taft was a child in the 1890s when papa began climbing the political ladder he dressed accordingly when papa became secretary of war in 1908 a family photo papa had just been elected president young bob at that time was a student at yale university brilliant hard-working and rather shy graduating at the head of his class taft entered harvard law school there too he won highest honors after the first world war he worked in the american relief administration with herbert hoover much of europe was starving food was supplied by the united states under the supervision of hoover and taft he was married by now to martha bowers and they made an ideal couple in 1919 they moved into their new home sky farm near cincinnati ohio then came years of hard work on the farm and in taft's law office but bob taft enjoyed work and success as the lawyer came rapidly entering politics he ran for the united states senate election day in 1938 the voters were accustomed to blood and thunder election auditory would they respond to taft's common sense approach to politics the morning after election bob and martha had campaigned together as a team now the verdict the tests moved to washington where the white house occupant was franklin roosevelt he and his fellow democrats were firmly in the saddle republicans couldn't stop that man the new senator from ohio swiftly became a republican leader ripping into the new deal he accused democrats of dividing the nation of republicans he said republican party insists upon equality of opportunity for all americans regardless of race color or creed in the economic educational political and military life of the nation soon the taft home in washington was an unofficial headquarters for senate republicans with martha's help bob taft outlined republican policy in speech after speech in those manuscripts he set down exactly what he believed his wife might accuse him of lacking tact not honesty [Music] when the republican convention was held in philadelphia bob taft was a strong candidate for republican presidential nomination [Applause] he was frankly eager for the nomination wanted to follow his father into the white house but wendell wilkie was a stronger candidate and he was selected [Applause] 1944 another presidential election year as the delegates gathered in chicago to choose a nominee taft was again among the leading candidates he had strong support among the state delegations but governor tom dewey of new york was there too and he won the nomination [Applause] [Music] the republican convention of 1948 went bob taft in the spirit of do or die he was known now as mr republican but beneath the display of confidence shown by taft was the fear that tom dewey might win again the fear was well justified for the second time tom dewey became the republican standard-bearer [Applause] disappointed and weary bob taft took a vacation from politics he done his best and failed better to forget the bitterness of convention struggles and the hurt of rejection by his party with friends he fished in clearer waters an enthusiastic golfer he played often with general omar bradley bob taft was taking it easy his presidential ambitions were ended [Music] robert taft returned to the senate after his defeat at the 1948 republican convention and redoubled his efforts as a legislator he had co-authored the taft-hartley labor act which was bitterly resisted by organized labor now he secured passage of 28 amendments to the law with those changes taft hoped to satisfy labor's objections his hopes were disappointed the trade union swore to defeat his bid for re-election to the senate mr republican knew the danger in that 1950 senatorial campaign labor was strong in ohio with loyal supporters he prepared for the fight of his political life and campaigned vigorously election day was the climax of one of the greatest battles in ohio politics union men and farmers had been bombarded with pleas to vote against taft he needed a miracle to win and the miracle happened mr republican was re-elected by a huge majority back to washington and congress he went republicans welcomed him back with elation taft's overwhelming victory established him as their supreme spokesman it also revived his ambition to run for president of the united states swinging around the country taft rallied support for the republican national convention of 1952 on every domestic and foreign issue he revealed his opinions frankly and fearlessly he shook hands with friends and admirers until he was arm-weary no detail was overlooked in the struggle for convention delegates in contest after contest he emerged victorious the prospects for success in 1952 looked good a family reunion before going to the republican convention taft didn't lack glamour for his grandchildren with a good luck kiss they sent him off to his severest ordeal mr republicans followers gathered in chicago with 530 pledged votes 604 were needed to win the nomination but at that convention was a great opponent general dwight d eisenhower [Music] height was irresistible he won on the first ballot 280 eisenhower 845. for eisenhower triumph for taft deepest sorrow he was too old to try again for the republican nomination the cheers of the crowd would never be for him [Applause] after the convention bob taft journeyed to eisenhower's home in new york at stake was the unity of the party satisfied that ike would uphold republican ideals taft pledged his support in the election campaign [Applause] he kept that promise faithfully closing ranks with eisenhower for the good of the party he campaigned for ice without him eisenhower might not have reached the white house [Music] when the new president announced his cabinet members not all of them were agreeable to senator taft but on the whole the alliance continued smoothly both men loved golf and it was during a golfing match that taft's last ordeal began he was the president's guest in april 1953 as he teed off taft felt stiffness and pain in his left hip at the time it didn't seem very important some weeks later he was hobbling about on crutches but he shrugged aside all questions about his ailment nothing much he said bravely he concealed the truth it was cancer into a cancer treatment hospital he went in a forlorn effort to halt the spread of the disease but he was beyond health in july 1953 he passed away washington's flags at half-mast and mourners entering the capital where robert taft was brought to lion state man poor man republican and democrat all joined now in mourning for president eisenhower taft's death was a double loss he had admired taft as a man and depended on his leadership in congress [Music] in the capital robert taft had become great there he would always be remembered as mr [Music] republican [Applause] be with us again next week at this time when the greatest drama true film biographies of the great among us again comes your way [Music] you
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