Biographies - Icons of History

From humble beginnings, Abaraham Lincoln rose to become the 16th President of the United States. Elected amidst of the crisis and ensuing trauma of a Civil War, he overcame a myriad of daunting challenges to become one of our greatest Presidents, best known for the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address and his tragic assassination.

One of the original Foundering Fathers, Franklin was noted for his discoveries, writings, ingenuity, and diversity of interests. His clever writings and proverbs are widely quoted this day. An architect of the American Revolution, despite never holding national elective office, he was a leader of the Enlightenment, and recognized and revered across Europe, the United States and around the globe.

Born in Birmingham in a middle class neighborhood, Condoleezza Rice became a woman to inspire all people. In late 2000 she became the first African American woman to be appointed the National Security Advisor to President George W. Bush and four years later was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of State. But these are just a few of the many remarkable things she has achieved.

Ted Kennedy was a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts for nearly five decades. Born into one of the most powerful and legendary political families in American history, he first joined the Senate in 1962 to fill the seat left when his brother John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States. He was re-elected eight times, making him the third longest serving Senators.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only man elected 4 times as President of the United States. Crippled by polio, he led a stricken nation through the dark days of the Great Depression and World War II with an eternal optimism that lifted the spirits of millions, and the "New Deal" which offered hope for the the future.

Washington proved his worth on the field of battle during the French and Indian War. When the Revolutionary War began, George Washington was elected Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. After six long years of battle, America won her independence from Britain, and Washington was unanimously chosen to lead the new nation as it's first president.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the 35th. President of the United States. This program chronicles his life as he grew from a sickly child to a war hero, best-selling author, and finally one of the 20th Centuries most transformative politicians. He fought for civil rights, inspired the U.S. space program and provided decisive leadership and courage during the tense days of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Nearly 70 years-old, Ronald Reagan was the oldest person ever elected president. After a movie career in Hollywood, Reagan went into politics and was elected Governor of California. Running on a conservative platform, he was twice elected President of the United States. Dubbed "Great Communicator," Reagan's policies help end the Cold War with the Soviet Union.

Twice elected vice-president under Eisenhower, Richard M. Nixon then lost the 1960 presidential election to John F. Kennedy. Nixon re-emerged and won the presidency in 1968 and again in 1972. His administration de-escalated the war in Vietnam and established relations with China. However, due to the Watergate scandal, he was the first president to ever resign from office.

Prior to becoming the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt had been a mayor, a governor, the Secretary of the Navy, a rancher and a war hero. As President, he used his "bully pulpit" and the mass media to garner support for his progressive agenda. He was able to champion worker's rights and advocate for the conservation of millions of acres of public lands.

Bill Clinton became the 42nd President of the United States in 1993, and the first Democrat to serve two terms since FDR. After graduating from Georgetown and attending Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, he became the youngest person ever elected as Governor of Arkansas, As President, his policies created one of the strongest economies in history while improving international relations.