THE GREATEST DRAMA TV SHOW

Year Published: 1940

Description: This black and white 1950’s installment of “The Greatest Drama”, an early non-fiction television show, focuses on the political career of 1940 Republican presidential nominee Wendell Willkie, using newsreel footage and impassioned narration to make a case for Willkie’s “victory in defeat” (TRT 12:41). Willkie was an American lawyer and corporate executive who was the 1940 Republican nominee for President. Willkie favored greater U.S. involvement in WWII to support the British and Free World. The New York City Victory Parade of 1946. Title overlay: “The Greatest Drama” (0:07). Wendell Willkie and his wife wave from an open convertible during a 1940 campaign event (0:28). Willkie dons glasses and speaks into radio microphones for NBC, CBS, Mutual, others (0:42). Sign: “Elwood City Limit.” A white barn in rural Indiana. Cows graze (1:11). Willkie’s childhood home (1:24). Still photographs of Willkie’s parents (1:30). Indiana University in Bloomington. Sign: “Campus Entrance” (1:39). Maxwell Hall (1:46). Title: “1918” over a montage of WWI cannonfire (1:53). Title “1924” over Akron Ohio. Ku Klux Klansmen assemble on a hillside in daylight and beneath a flaming cross at night (2:04). Title “1933” over a New York City skyline. Bustling Manhattan crowds (2:34). Willkie in profile and head-on in closeup (2:48). A Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Dam under construction. Headlines flash: “Willkie Asks Private Distribution of TVA Power” and others over newspaper printers (2:59). Willkie and David E. Lilenthal at the 1939 sale of Commonwealth and Southern (C&S) to TVA Power (3:24). View from a steam powered locomotive. Another engine passes (3:48). Willkie speaks into radio microphones at a press conference. A train driver leans out from his cab. Willkie shakes hands on the campaign trail, wearing a straw boater hat (3:52). A crowded auditorium audience applauds (4:02). Willkie with his wife, Edith Wilk (4:12). The 1940 Republican National Convention (4:21). Ohio Senator Robert Taft with his secretary and in a smiling closeup (4:36). New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey laughs (4:43). Michigan Senator Arthur Vandenberg (4:47). Willkie speaks from behind a podium. The crowd cheers (5:04). Willkie and staff review incoming mail. Willkie flashes a smile (5:21). Franklin Delano Roosevelt at the U.S. Capitol and in closeup. Dissolve to a Nazi Reichsadler (5:28). Adolph Hitler in closeup. German troops march. Wipe to a steam locomotive (5:38). Title: “Chicago” over a campaign event at the Union Stock Yards (5:51). Willkie speaks from atop a bale of hay to press photographers (6:00). Title: “Los Angeles” over Willkie at a campaign event. A banner reads “God Bless America” (6:06). Title “Pontiac, Michigan.” An unsympathetic crowd jeers and boos. Some men wave their arms dismissively (6:17). Title: New York” over Willkie onstage at a single microphone, gripping its stand with both hands. A smiling and applauding audience (6:36). Text over kaleidoscopic newspapers: “Roosevelt Re-elected.” Willkie delivers a respectful concession speech (6:44). Willkie is photographed relaxing in nature, smoking in a riverside lounge chair (7:13). Willkie delivers the “loyal opposition” speech to radio microphones (7:30). Willkie disembarks from a KLM Royal Dutch AirLines plane. London after the Blitz (7:47). Willkie meets King George, Winston Churchill, and U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull (7:58). Wearing a pith helmet in Africa, Willkie meets Italian prisoners of war among British military officers and inspects a tank (8:22). Saint Basil’s Cathedral (8:39). Joseph Stalin laughs, pipe in mouth (8:52). Willkie reviews troops in China. He shakes the hand of General Joseph Stillwell (9:04). Wilkie meets Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling, aka “Madame Chiang” (9:19). Willkie delivers his “one world” speech (9:25). Title: “1944” over the White House. Willkie speaks. Dissolve to a speech at Little White Schoolhouse (9:35). Title: “Wisconsin Turns Thumbs Down On Willkie” over newspapers. On a farm near Rushville, Indiana (10:10). Aerial view of 1940’s Manhattan (10:33). Lenox Hill Hospital (10:50). Police Officers direct pedestrians in front of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. Willkie’s casket is carried to a hearse (11:04). Willkie’s hometown funeral service (11:39). This episode of “The Greatest Drama” was written and produced by Michael Sklar and narrated by Raymond Edward Johnson for Movietone General Telecasting. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Key moments View all 1918 1:54 WILLKIE TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS 3:14 WILLKIE SELLS COMPANY TO TVA 3:21 PONTIAC, MICHIGAN 6:18 NEW YORK 6:32 WISCONSIN TURNS THUMBS DOWN ON WILLKIE 10:10 WILLKIE QUITS RACE 10:13 Musical Director JACK SHAINDLIN 12:25 Transcript Follow along using the transcript. Show transcript PeriscopeFilm 759K subscribers Videos About Support Us on Patreon

Complete Record: This black and white 1950’s installment of “The Greatest Drama”, an early non-fiction television show, focuses on the political career of 1940 Republican presidential nominee Wendell Willkie, using newsreel footage and impassioned narration to make a case for Willkie’s “victory in defeat” (TRT 12:41). Willkie was an American lawyer and corporate executive who was the 1940 Republican nominee for President. Willkie favored greater U.S. involvement in WWII to support the British and Free World. The New York City Victory Parade of 1946. Title overlay: “The Greatest Drama” (0:07). Wendell Willkie and his wife wave from an open convertible during a 1940 campaign event (0:28). Willkie dons glasses and speaks into radio microphones for NBC, CBS, Mutual, others (0:42). Sign: “Elwood City Limit.” A white barn in rural Indiana. Cows graze (1:11). Willkie’s childhood home (1:24). Still photographs of Willkie’s parents (1:30). Indiana University in Bloomington. Sign: “Campus Entrance” (1:39). Maxwell Hall (1:46). Title: “1918” over a montage of WWI cannonfire (1:53). Title “1924” over Akron Ohio. Ku Klux Klansmen assemble on a hillside in daylight and beneath a flaming cross at night (2:04). Title “1933” over a New York City skyline. Bustling Manhattan crowds (2:34). Willkie in profile and head-on in closeup (2:48). A Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Dam under construction. Headlines flash: “Willkie Asks Private Distribution of TVA Power” and others over newspaper printers (2:59). Willkie and David E. Lilenthal at the 1939 sale of Commonwealth and Southern (C&S) to TVA Power (3:24). View from a steam powered locomotive. Another engine passes (3:48). Willkie speaks into radio microphones at a press conference. A train driver leans out from his cab. Willkie shakes hands on the campaign trail, wearing a straw boater hat (3:52). A crowded auditorium audience applauds (4:02). Willkie with his wife, Edith Wilk (4:12). The 1940 Republican National Convention (4:21). Ohio Senator Robert Taft with his secretary and in a smiling closeup (4:36). New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey laughs (4:43). Michigan Senator Arthur Vandenberg (4:47). Willkie speaks from behind a podium. The crowd cheers (5:04). Willkie and staff review incoming mail. Willkie flashes a smile (5:21). Franklin Delano Roosevelt at the U.S. Capitol and in closeup. Dissolve to a Nazi Reichsadler (5:28). Adolph Hitler in closeup. German troops march. Wipe to a steam locomotive (5:38). Title: “Chicago” over a campaign event at the Union Stock Yards (5:51). Willkie speaks from atop a bale of hay to press photographers (6:00). Title: “Los Angeles” over Willkie at a campaign event. A banner reads “God Bless America” (6:06). Title “Pontiac, Michigan.” An unsympathetic crowd jeers and boos. Some men wave their arms dismissively (6:17). Title: New York” over Willkie onstage at a single microphone, gripping its stand with both hands. A smiling and applauding audience (6:36). Text over kaleidoscopic newspapers: “Roosevelt Re-elected.” Willkie delivers a respectful concession speech (6:44). Willkie is photographed relaxing in nature, smoking in a riverside lounge chair (7:13). Willkie delivers the “loyal opposition” speech to radio microphones (7:30). Willkie disembarks from a KLM Royal Dutch AirLines plane. London after the Blitz (7:47). Willkie meets King George, Winston Churchill, and U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull (7:58). Wearing a pith helmet in Africa, Willkie meets Italian prisoners of war among British military officers and inspects a tank (8:22). Saint Basil’s Cathedral (8:39). Joseph Stalin laughs, pipe in mouth (8:52). Willkie reviews troops in China. He shakes the hand of General Joseph Stillwell (9:04). Wilkie meets Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling, aka “Madame Chiang” (9:19). Willkie delivers his “one world” speech (9:25). Title: “1944” over the White House. Willkie speaks. Dissolve to a speech at Little White Schoolhouse (9:35). Title: “Wisconsin Turns Thumbs Down On Willkie” over newspapers. On a farm near Rushville, Indiana (10:10). Aerial view of 1940’s Manhattan (10:33). Lenox Hill Hospital (10:50). Police Officers direct pedestrians in front of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. Willkie’s casket is carried to a hearse (11:04). Willkie’s hometown funeral service (11:39). This episode of “The Greatest Drama” was written and produced by Michael Sklar and narrated by Raymond Edward Johnson for Movietone General Telecasting. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Key moments View all 1918 1:54 WILLKIE TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS 3:14 WILLKIE SELLS COMPANY TO TVA 3:21 PONTIAC, MICHIGAN 6:18 NEW YORK 6:32 WISCONSIN TURNS THUMBS DOWN ON WILLKIE 10:10 WILLKIE QUITS RACE 10:13 Musical Director JACK SHAINDLIN 12:25 Transcript Follow along using the transcript. Show transcript PeriscopeFilm 759K subscribers Videos About Support Us on Patreon

Transcription

[Music] [Applause] the greatest drama the memorable story of the great among us written by you the people [Music] this chapter of perfect loyalty the story of wendell wilkie it was 1940 wendell wilkie republican candidate for president was making his acceptance speech no man is so wise has to perceive what the future holds or to lay out a plan for it no man can guarantee to maintain peace peace is not something that a nation can achieve by itself the hard unvarnished truth loyalty to principle even though it might cost him the presidency ever since childhood in elwood indiana that had been wendell wilkie's way the town was a farming community where people talked straight and demanded straight answers it was the same at home both of wilkie's parents were lawyers his mother was a strong woman from her and from his father he learned the importance of success and integrity [Music] indiana university was wilkie's alma mater and the scene of his first crusade he refused to join campus fraternities feeling they were undemocratic and led a fight to have them abolished 1918 and another crusade on the day the united states entered the first world war wilkie gave up his new law practice and became a lieutenant of artillery [Music] in 1924 wilkie was a prominent young lawyer in akron ohio supporting al smith the democratic candidate for president he incurred the anger of the ku klux klan the clan was powerful an ambitious young lawyer might well have sidestepped the issue but wilkie was loyal to his principles he fought the hooded bigots and helped to smash them in ohio [Music] 1933 wilkie was now a new yorker president of the huge electric power company the tall buildings and crowded streets were a far cry from little elwood indiana but your door was always open and behind that friendly grin was a great fighting spirit you proved it in one of the bitter controversies of the time electricity produced by the new tva dams would put the government into competition with your power company seeing this as a threat to the entire american system of free enterprise you fought back the idea was turned down your testimony was rejected the court sidestepped the issue it was sell or be destroyed the sale took place in 1939 david lillianthal director of the tva represented the government the tva's original offer for your company had begun far too low your long fight had forced the price up 30 million dollars it was a victory in defeat the fight had dramatized the encroachment of the government [Music] traveling about you became the spokesman for millions who felt the government had gone too far in its attacks on business you were mentioned as a candidate for the republican presidential nomination in 1940 at first you scoffed but you changed your mind you wanted to lead a people's crusade against the new deal despite the personal sacrifice your wife was with you you'd be an independent candidate no trucking with politicians but observers at the convention didn't believe you rated a chance you had no political background no machine not even a floor manager and you face the most powerful opposition [Music] [Applause] [Music] senator robert taft was there eager for the nomination and well organized so was governor joey of new york and senator vandenberg of michigan but on your side where the people of force far more powerful than political machines [Applause] their pressure could not be resisted you won the nomination you called all republicans to serve in the great crusade to defeat franklin d roosevelt on the new deal a hard struggle was ahead wendell wilkie had risen high candidate for president of the united states franklin roosevelt his opponent had great popularity and a vast well-organized political machine the nazi drive for world conquest was a factor in roosevelt's favor the voters might well fear to change presidents of this dangerous moment in history confident nevertheless wilkie stumped the country appealing for votes first stop chicago true to his resolve to make this a people's crusade he encouraged small contributions he talked simply and the crowd responded to his appeal los angeles thousands turned out to hear wilkie attack the new deal scarcity program the growing power of the federal government and the evils of the third term pontiac michigan roosevelt territory the crowd was hostile hoodlums hissed and threw eggs violence in a presidential election for the first time in many years the campaign was becoming bitter new york city and the final speech wendell wilkie had faced every issue honestly now the decision was in the hands of the voters defeat seemed impossible it came as a stunning blow overcoming disappointment you appealed for national unity we have elected franklin roosevelt president he is your president he is my president we all owe him the respect to which that office is entitled we give him that respect duty done you would take a well-earned rest in peaceful surroundings you mapped out a new course for the republicans the role of the loyal opposition in this perilous time the nation's welfare must come before the welfare of the party your program would be submitted in the nationwide radio speech the speech aroused the fury of isolationism professional politicians the idea of bipartisanship was new but it was consistent with your guiding principle loyalty to the truth as you saw it as leader of the loyal opposition you flew to england which was then undergoing the terrors of the german blitz in london you met and admired king george another man of great courage prime minister winston churchill arriving home you reported to secretary of state cordell hull that england would not yield a year later the united states was at war with the access with hull's assistance you arranged a tour of the war fronts in africa you talked with italian prisoners of war the germans were driving toward the suez canal could they be stopped general montgomery the allied commander promised they would be halted he had the tanks and guns to do it on across the middle east to the soviet union you were impressed with russian strength you wanted to meet stalin and the kremlin arranged a state banquet in your honor the russian leader was cordial optimistically you believe that the gulf between communism and democracy could be bridged by friendly contacts between russia and the west next stop china still carrying on after 10 years of war against japan you reviewed chinese troops with general stillwell you discussed the difficulties of war in the far east in chongqing you encouraged chung and madam chang to fight on [Music] the tour resulted in your famous concept of one world reporting to the american people you planted the seeds of the united nations 1944 another presidential election again wilkie refused to make deals to get the republican nomination he wanted southern support at the same time he denounced race discrimination he called for increased taxes always unpopular so that gi's would not have to carry the burden for the rest of their lives the showdown came in wisconsin wilkie stumped the state but the republican party organization was against him the people were confused the result disaster he failed to win a single convention delegate and resigned from the race deeply discouraged he went to his farms near rushville indiana in the calm routine of farm life he relaxed and found an opportunity to think he began to make plans he would go back to new york fight for his ideas during that campaign summer of 1944 wendell wilkie became the conscience of both parties endlessly prodding the candidates to state their principles clearly in september a heart attack put him in a hospital the years of political strain had left him exhausted the doctors advised rest then another heart attack and from this one he did not recover he was 52 when the end came solemnly the people gathered outside the church where he lay mourning him as they would have mourned the passing of a president for wendell wilkie had changed the thinking of the nation made us international minded he had set an example of humanity and integrity in politics but wilkie's last resting place would not be in new york from the indiana prairie he had come and there in the heartland of america was where he belonged they took him back to rushville in death he was larger than life-size to millions he was the great defender of the american way the great believer in one world to his ideals wendell wilkie had always been loyal [Applause] [Music] [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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