Profiles in Courage (TV series)

Overview

The series lasts for 26 episodes, each of which features a figure from American history who took an unpopular stand during a critical moment in the nation's history. Seven of the eight senators from Kennedy's book are profiled, with the exception of Mississippi's Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar. Music for the opening and closing theme is arranged by Nelson Riddle, based on the Irish ballad The Boys of Wexford, home of Kennedy's ancestors.

Each episode ends with a recording of Kennedy's voice declaring that, "These stories of past courage can teach... they can offer hope and they can provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself. For this, each man must look into his own soul."

Of the 26 episodes, three teleplays profile women: Episode 2: high school teacher Mary S. McDowell in 1918; Episode 9: Puritan reformer Anne Hutchinson in 1637 (the earliest time frame depicted in any episode); Episode 15: schoolteacher Prudence Crandall in 1832.

Historical background

Episodes

• Starring Sidney Blackmer as Oscar W. Underwood
• and Victor Jory as Charles Carlin "WALDORF–ASTORIA HOTEL 1924" "BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA October, 1924"

Closing narration: "Oscar Wilder Underwood, United States Senator from Alabama, paid a high price for his act of courage — he not only lost the Democratic presidential nomination... but he also lost his renomination for the Senate. He forfeited his political career in fighting the bigotry of the Ku Klux Klan."

• W. J. Bryan. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tol Avery Forney Johnston. .Lamont Johnson Klan Leader. . . . . . . . . . .Paul Genge Joe Larsen. . . . . . . . .Walter Mathews
• Georgia Delegate. .Garry Walberg Younger Delegate . Berkeley Harris Gov. Brandon. .Woodrow Parfrey Owen. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Len Weyland Ed Moore. .Arthur Peterson Jr.
• Lady Supporter. . .Betty Harford Chairman. . . . . .Frederick Downs Colby. . . . . . . . . . .Jason Wingreen Homer Cummings. .Charles Irving Pattangall. . . . . . . . .Robert Cinder McAdoo Man. . . . . .Griffith James
• Reporter. . . . . . . . . . . .Robert Ball Reporter. . . . . . .William Lanteau Reporter. . . . . . . .Frank Killmond Reporter. . . . . . . . . . .Ollie O'Toole Servant. . . . . . . . . . .Chester Jones and Henry Beckman as Graham MacNamee Opening narration: "It was twelve days after America had entered World War One. The country was at once filled with patriotism in its fight for democracy and with outrage against the German aggression. Emotions were running high and, before this year was to end, Mary S. McDowell, a Brooklyn schoolteacher would test her courage against the public pressures of the nation."
• Starring Rosemary Harris as Mary S. McDowell "BROOKLYN April 17, 1917" "BROOKLYN MANUAL TRAINING HIGH SCHOOL" "BROOKLYN MANUAL TRAINING HIGH SCHOOL May 12, 1917"

Closing narration: "The decision was upheld. Mary McDowell risked her career to express freedom of conscience at a time when few were doing so. Six years later, she was reinstated by the Board of Superintendents which admitted it... might have made a mistake. Without anger or bitterness, Mary resumed her duties as a Latin teacher." "The use of this additional story of a courageous American was approved by President Kennedy for this series."

• Also starring Audrey Christie as Mrs. McDowell
• Albert Salmi as Schneider
• Co-starring Ralph Williams as Fred Simpson Frances Sternhagen as Lili Koeller Rae Allen as Miss Darvon
• Katherine Squire as Mrs. Simpson Woodrow Parfrey as Principal Ralson George Mitchell as Mr. Broomell
• Reporter ......... Jason Wingreen Quaker Woman ..... Mary Gregory Mr. Wilson ............. Ken Drake Mrs. Wilson ..... Maggie McCarter Miss Wilkes ............. Jo Helton
• Starring David McCallum "In the early months of seventeen-seventy, British soldiers were stationed in Boston for the first time. Their purpose — to enforce the English revenue laws in the colony. The colonials considered military occupation one of many grievances. Some colonials banded together in rebellious groups, such as the Sons of Liberty. The colonials were further angered by this sign, posted on the night of March fifth, which purported to announce the Redcoats' determination to repulse any opposition. Sometimes this opposition took the form of children's pranks and sometimes it was the harassment of individuals."

"A disorderly mob was growing in the streets next. Trouble was brewing. John Adams, then a young successful lawyer and a militant foe of the English crown, was to be faced with decisions that could have ended his political career." "JOHN ADAMS HOME March 6, 1770" "SUPERIOR COURT, BOSTON November 27, 1770" "SUPERIOR COURT, BOSTON December 4, 1770"

Closing narration: "John Adams risked his whole career in defending the soldiers. In spite of his unpopular stand, he was elected to the General Court. He became one of the great public figures of America — one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence. He became the second President of the United States."

• Also starring Andrew Prine as Josiah Quincy
• Co-starring Torin Thatcher as Jonathan Sewall Gene Lyons as Sam Adams
• Phyllis Love as Abigail Adams Russell Collins as Dr. Joseph Warren
• Master Appleton.......Scott Lane Montgomery..........John McLiam Samuel Quincy..........Paul Comi Governor Hutchinson...Ben Wright Killroy...............Jeff Cooper Bridgham............Whit Bissell James Forrest..Hedley Mattingly Langford.........Brendan Dillon Clerk of Court..Barry Macollum Dr. Jeffries...........Tom Palmer
• Jared..............Les Brown, Jr. Crosswell..........Julian Burton Mr. Davis, Jr......Barton Heyman Hinkling.........Russell Horton Hemmingway....Robert Sorrells Thayer...............Joe Di Reda Strong.............James Wixted Samuel Gray......Jason Wingreen Foreman...........Ashley Cowan ::Uncredited: Percy Helton as Mr. Wilson, witness testifying at trial "WASHINGTON May 1946"
• Starring Lee Tracy as Senator Robert A. Taft Closing narration: "The storm raised by Senator Taft's speech eventually died down. It did not, after all the uproar, appear to affect the Republican sweep in nineteen-forty-six nor was it, at least openly, an issue in Taft's drive for the presidential nomination in nineteen-forty-eight. Taft's action was characteristic of the man who was labeled a reactionary and who was proud to be a conservative and who showed unhesitating courage in standing against the flow of public opinion for a cause that he believed to be right."
• Also starring David Opatoshu as Max Goldman
• Co-Starring Lou Frizzell as Howard Jensen George Furth as Stanley Sue Randall as Joan Owens
• Featuring Martha Taft ...... Louise Lorimer Tom Smith ........... Steve Ihnat Senator Wilks ...... Eugene Roche Editor ........... Jason Wingreen Reporter ......... Tommy Farrell Reporter .............. Lee Millar Reporter .......... Robert Casper Reporter ......... Frank Behrens
• and Loring Smith as Roger Marsden Opening narration: "This is Frederick Douglass, age twenty-one, newly arrived from Baltimore. Certain things are second nature, even in a strange town — such as stepping down to let a white man pass... perhaps such deference is unnecessary, but Douglass is unsure of Northern ways." "This man, Frederick Douglass, on his way home with a bundle of wood, will soon bring distinction to a name not his own. He would find himself with greater opportunities than he had ever imagined, but first he would have to face great risks, public and personal, as well as the greatest risk — doing damage to the cause he serves.
• Starring Robert Hooks as Frederick Douglass "NEW BEDFORD MASSACHUSETTS 1841"

Closing narration: "Frederick Douglass had to flee to England to escape recapture as a fugitive slave. There, he made speeches for his cause and, eventually, friends in England bought Douglass from his master, Captain Auld of Baltimore. As a freed man, he returned to the United States and served his country in many ways. He recruited Negro soldiers for the Union Army. He was an advisor to President Lincoln and, in eighteen-eighty-nine, he was appointed the United States minister to Haiti."

• Also Starring Claudia McNeil as Mrs. Haines Harry Townes as Will Coffin
• Alfred Ryder as William Lloyd Garrison Hari Rhodes as Nathan Johnson
• And Also starring Frederick O'Neal as Mr. Haines Richard Rust as Wendell Phillips
• Co-Starring James Edwards as Ruggles Mittie Lawrence as Anna Douglass
• Featuring Mrs. Everett ......... Lillian Bronson Mrs. Johnson .............. Isabelle Cooley Dock Boss .......... Ray Teal Willie ......... Joel Fluellen Billings .............. Jack Doner Storekeeper .......... Arthur Peterson Opening narration: "The contemporary called Daniel Webster a living lie — because no man on Earth could be so great as he looked. Certainly, his striking appearance was half the secret of his power — he convinced all who looked upon his face that he was one born to rule men. There can be no mistaking he was a great man — he looked like one, he talked like one and he insisted he was one. Ever since his first speech in Congress, attacking the War of 1812, Webster riveted the House of Representatives as no freshman had ever held it before. He was the outstanding orator of all time — whether at a picnic, as an advocate before the Supreme Court or... in the Senate. Webster first was elected to the Senate in eighteen-twenty-seven. He soon became a strong voice against the institution of slavery, characterizing it as... one of the greatest evils, both moral and political. He presented petitions for the abolition of the slave trade in the District of Columbia, he served as Secretary of State and returned to his seat in the Senate to face the crisis of impending Civil War. When the moment came to test his greatness, Daniel Webster had to risk everything that he held dear." "WASHINGTON, D.C. 1850"
• Starring Martin Gabel Closing narration: "Daniel Webster suffered many abuses for his stand for the Union and his own political ambitions were thwarted. But, the fact that Secession did not occur until ten years later, is due in great part to him. He helped the country understand and accept Henry Clay's Compromise."
• Also starring Martine Bartlett as Caroline Webster Sandy Kenyon as Fletcher Webster
• Co-starring Robert F. Simon as Henry Clay Malcolm Atterbury as Timothy Felson Carl Benton Reid as John C. Calhoun
• Slave Dealer .... Woodrow Parfrey Emerson .......... Booth Colman Senator Seward .... Morris Ankrum Garrison ............. G. B. Atwater
• Klinger ............. John Holland John Greenleaf Whittier .. Ken Drake Rev. Theodore Parker ... David Bond Senator Walker ....... Tyler McVey Millard Fillmore .......... Jim Boles Slave ............ Robert Murphy (episode title does not appear on-screen) Opening narration: "During nineteen-fifteen, Europe was at war. German U-boats were sinking British passenger ships. The Lusitania was sunk with two thousand people aboard, including one hundred and twenty four American citizens. The United States was neutral and enjoying a prosperous peacetime. In December of nineteen-fifteen, President Woodrow Wilson married Edith Galt. On his return to the White House, he not only had to face the problems of the foreign crisis, but he was to create a domestic crisis that was to last for months." "Woodrow Wilson — former economist, former president of Princeton University and, for the preceding three years, President of the United States — must fill a vacancy in the Supreme Court. His choice would indeed produce a shockwave throughout the nation."

"The White House kitchen"

• Starring Whit Bissell as Woodrow Wilson "THE DETROIT FREE PRESS on the appointment of Louis Brandeis January 29, 1916..." "..THE BOSTON TRANSCRIPT.." "..HARVARD UNIVERSITY President A. Lawrence Lowell.." "BOSTON, May 1916" "On May twentieth, nineteen sixteen, President Wilson was aboard a train for Charlotte, North Carolina. On the same train was Wilson's friend Josephus Daniels, assigned to talk to Lee Overman, a crucial member of the Senate committee voting on the Brandeis appointment."

"Shortly after Wilson's return from Charlotte, the second crucial member of the Senate committee, Senator James O'Gorman paid a surprise call to the White House office."

"One man held the deciding vote in the Senate committee — Senator Shields of Tennessee."

"May 24, 1916"

"On June first, the Senate voted on the committee's recommendation to confirm the nomination by a vote of forty-seven to twenty-two.

Closing narration: "On Monday, June fifth, nineteen-sixteen, Louis Dembitz Brandeis appeared for the first time on the bench of the United States Supreme Court as an associate justice. The record of his service in that court is public and distinguished, bearing on every hope that his friends expressed throughout the long fight to confirm his appointment. The hero of Justice Brandeis' elevation to that bench was the twenty-eighth President of the United States Woodrow Wilson who had risked his career, his administration and his re-election — first to summon forward a great jurist and then to support him when every force — friendly and hostile — was bent on making Wilson retreat. Woodrow Wilson's refusal to retreat was an act for which every American — every person who loves justice — may be proud."

• Also Starring John McMartin as Tumulty
• William Daniels as Attorney General Gregory
• Special Guest Appearance Paul Stewart as Louis D. Brandeis
• Co-Starring Philip Ober as George Anderson John Hoyt as Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Oliver McGowan as Senator Overman
• Featuring Irish Cook ....... Keith McConnell French Cook ..... Maurice Marsac Swedish Cook ...... Robert Easton Mrs. Jaffray ............. Reta Shaw Waiter .............. Nick Stewart
• Sen. Hoke Smith ... Donald Foster Senator Shields ......... Ken Drake Josephus Daniels ...... Duke Farley Governor Stuart ... Robert Carson Senator Culberson ....... John Rust Reporter ........... William Phipps Stock Exchange Executive . Vic Perrin Clerk of Court ....... Don Dillaway
• And Peter Whitney as Senator O'Gorman

Awards

The series won two awards; a Peabody Award for Robert Saudek and a Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television.

References