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A resource for students, educators and all lovers of American History
United States Presidents
HFwH offers over 40 presidential videos below. New videos include: the academy award winning documentary - John F. Kennedy: Years of Lightning, Day of Drums, a biography of our 33rd president Harry Truman: A Self-Portrait, and more.
Facts about Presidents
The Presidents
The first 25 U.S. Presidents
Learn a little about each of the first presidents up to William McKinley. It took over 100 years to get from George Washington to the 25th president who took office in 1897.
Presidential Turkeys
An activity which combines the world of U.S. presidents with the world of turkeys. Play Along!
George Washington
Betsy Ross
An early silent rendition of the tradional Betsy Ross story - George Washington commissions Miss Ross to construct a flag from his design.
George Washington: Whiskey Rebellion
An early silent movie depicting George Washington's challenge dealing with tax rebellion during his early presidency.
Invitation to a Nation
George Washington narrates a tour through Mount Vernon, and the city that bears his name, Washington, D.C.
Our Bill of Rights
The debate and drafting of the first 10 amendments to the constitution with President George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton and future presidents - John Adams, and James Madison.
Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson and Monroe
This short film presents the legacy of James Monroe and Thomas Jefferson. It focuses on the contributions of Thomas Jefferson - most notably, Monticello and the University of Virginia.
Marbury v. Madison
In this 1803 case the Supreme Court established its responsibility to review the constitutionality of acts of Congress. Thomas Jefferson ...
The Louisiana Purchase
In 1803 - 20 years after the end of the Revolutionary War - Thomas Jefferson on behalf of the United States pays a total of $15 million dollars for French Lousiana Territory.
United States v. Aaron Burr
The trial of Jefferson's vice president, Aaron Burr was presided over by Chief Justice John Marshall. Strictly adhering to the Constitution, Marshall stepped between Burr and death, and the doors were closed against...
Aaron Burr 
Aaron Burr was a colorful character. He was vice president to Thomas Jefferson but is better known for his duel with Alexander Hamilton and his trial for treason against the United States.
John Quincy Adams
Amistad
Kidnapped Africans caught in the slave trade during the 1840s seized their ship (Amistad) travelling near Cuba. The ship drifted into U.S. waters and was taken into custody. This resulted in an early Supreme Court case where the Africans, wanting their freedom, were defended by none other than former president John Quincy Adams.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
This 1930 biography of Abraham Lincoln is one of the last movies made by early film great D.W. Griffith. It stars Walter Huston as Abraham Lincoln. It gives a good overview of his life, presidency and assasination.
The Face of Lincoln
Professor Merrell Gage describes the life and career of Abraham Lincoln as he sculpts a lifelike bust of the 16th President, making physical changes in the subject's hair, beard and expression to correspond to events in his life.
The Gettysburg Address
Abraham Lincoln delivers his famous Gettysburg Address in this short re-enactment. The night before, instead of speaking to the crowds outside his window, he makes a request that the band play Dixie.
Nor Long Remember
This is a re-enactment of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. It is setup by presenting opinions and commentary by people of the time. Another version of the Gettysburg Address is listed above.
William McKinley
President William McKinley Inauguration
This is the inauguration procession of the 25th President of the USA, William McKinley, the first sitting president to be captured on film. This clip was filmed on March 4, 1897 and follows the procession down Pennsylvania Avenue.
Theodore Roosevelt
President Theodore Roosevelt
A short biography presenting the life and presidency of Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States - featuring rare footage.
President Theodore Roosevelt
The 26th president's journey to the presidency.
William Howard Taft
President William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft served only one term, succeeding Theodore Roosevelt. He went on to serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court until his death in 1930.
Woodrow Wilson
President Woodrow Wilson
President Woodrow Wilson served two terms. His first term concentrated on economic policy while his second term was engulfed with World War I. He is probably best known for helping created the League of Nations and ...
Warren G. Harding
President Warren G. Harding
President number 28, served only 2 years until a heart attack cut his life and presidency short. He and vice president Coolidge won in a landslide victory.
Calvin Coolidege
President Calvin Coolidge
The quiet, reserved president served as vice president, then president after the death of Harding. Coolidge restored confidence in the presidency after the scandals of his predecessors.
President Calvin Coolidge
From 1924, this is the first presidential film with sound recording. From the White House grounds, President Calvin Coolidge speaks about taxes and the cost of running government.
Coolidge White House Reception
Interesting newsreel of President and Mrs. Coolidge (not shown) receiving guests at the White House. The guests include the Army General Staff, former President and then Chief Justice, William Howard Taft.
Herbert Hoover
President Herbert Hoover
President Herbert Hoover, one of the most unpopular presidents. On his watch was the great stock market crash of 1929. His failures to pull the country out of the depression paved the way for the election of Roosevelt.
Franklin Roosevelt
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
President Roosevelt helped lead the U.S. out of the great depression and through most of World War II until his death in 1945, not long after his re-election to his 4th term.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt Inauguration
President-elect Roosevelt's arrival at the White House to take President Hoover to the Capitol for the Inaugural ceremony, and the historic ride of the celebrated pair down Pennsylvania Avenue, with a Congressional escort.
Franklin Roosevelt - New Deal Fireside Chats
In these clips of Franklin D. Roosevelt's Fireside Chats, the president discusses economic policy and the New Deal - Roosevelt's government funded program to relieve unemployed citizens during the great depression.
Franklin Roosevelt Signs Social Security Act
President Roosevelt and Congress changed the way government's interact with society with this "New Deal" policy. The Social Security Act was created to help support a portion of society, specifically the elderly...
Franklin Roosevelt Seeks 4th Term 
Newsreel announcement of Franklin Roosevelt's unprecedented bid for a fourth term as president of the United States.
Harry S. Truman
President Harry S. Truman
After the death of Roosevelt, Truman was thrust into the presidency during the climax of World War 2, to drop the atomic bomb on Japan. Somewhat unpopular when he left office, history has rethought his role in history.
President Harry S. Truman - Assasination Attempt
It is not widely remembered today that there was an assasination attempt on the life of president Truman. President Truman was living at Blair House while the White House was undergoing reconstruction. Two...
Truman Presidential Library Opens
Truman's presidential library is unveiled. In attendance are former president Herber Hoover, Eleanor Roosevelt, Chief Justice Earl Warren, Lyndon Johnson and more.
Harry S. Truman - Biography
The life and presidency of Harry S. Truman produced by the Smithsonian. The Buck Stops Here. Perhaps this phrase, greeting visitors as they entered the oval office during his administration, best sums up the character....
President Harry S. Truman
Brilliant color footage takes us through the journey of Harry S. Truman from boyhood to presidency. This film's purpose was to bolster confidence in this president who was thrust into office upon the death of F.D.R.
Dwight Eisenhower
President Dwight Eisenhower
This is an overview of the Eisenhower's career leading up to his presidency.
General Dwight D. Eisenhower
5-Star Genderal Dwight David Eisenhower was Supreme Commander of allied forces during World War II. This documentary follows his early years through his military career.
Eisenhower Signs Bill: Alaska Statehood
President Eisenhower signs the proclamation to add the 49th star to the U.S. Flag.
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy Inauguration
President John F. Kennedy is sworn in on January 23, 1961 along with Vice President Johnson. Included is Kennedy's inaugural address, parade and celebrations.
John F. Kennedy Speech
This is an exerpt of a rare color documentary of President John F. Kennedy giving a speech after reviewing the naval forces. It includes rare color footage of Kennedy boarding both Marine One and Airforce One.
John Kennedy: Years of Lightning, Day of Drums
This biography presents the thousand days of John F. Kennedy's presidency, from his inauguration in 1961 to his tragic death on November 22, 1963. Emphasizing Kennedy's and America's hopes for his term as...
The Cuban Missile Crisis
This newsreel presents what has been come to be known as the Cuban Missile Crisis, or the October Crisis. In the midst of the cold war, the U.S. discovered that the Soviet Union was placing strategc missiles in Cuba...
The Warren Report: Kennedy Assasination
The Warren Report, named after Chief Justice Earl Warren, was the official government investigation into the Kennedy assasination. This CBS presentation highlights the official findings and adds interviews and recreations...
Lyndon Johnson
Lyndon Johnson - State of the Union Address - 1964
This is an interesting presentation of the preparation and delivery of a State of the Union address as given by President Lyndon Johnson.
Lyndon Johnson - Inauguration - 1965
The 1965 inanuguration ceremonies of Lyndon Baines Johnson.
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon - Watergate Address
President Richard Nixon addresses the nation and defends himself against charges of his involvement with the breakin of the Watergate hotel and subsequent coverup.
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
A quick overview of the presidency of Jimmy Carter from a leadership perspective
- from Lessons in Leadership series.
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
A quick overview of the presidency of Ronald Reagan from a leadership perspective
- from Lessons in Leadership series.
Barack Obama
Barack Obama Inauguration
On January 20, 2009 President Barack Obama was sworn in as 44th President of the United States and delivered his Inaugural Address. President Obama is the first African-American president in U.S. History.
The White House
The White House
Take a tour of the White House as it looked after the extensive renovation during the Truman Administration. Also included is a history of the structure up until its reopening in 1952.
