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A nation that forgets its past can function no better than an individual with amnesia.  

~David McCullough, American historian and author

On the eve of historic American presidential elections, Link TV host Wendy Hanamura invites you to look back at bold election campaigns of the past – campaigns that ultimately proved unsuccessful.  George McGovern’s progressive 1972 campaign sought withdrawal from Vietnam and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, yet ultimately succumbed to Richard Nixon’s political machine in a landslide. What can John McCain, Barack Obama, and American voters learn in looking back at McGovern’s failed presidential bid? Tune in for the broadcast of the film One Bright Shining Moment: The Forgotten Summer of George McGovern.

About the film - One Bright Shining Moment: The Forgotten Summer of George McGovern

This timeless documentary retraces George McGovern's bold grassroots presidential campaign of 1972 - a campaign that fought to the bitter end for peace and justice, a campaign that positioned ideas and people first, and, a campaign crushed in workmanlike fashion by Richard Nixon.

The tragedy of the '72 campaign is this: George McGovern might have been the only candidate to run for President in the 20th century who truly understood what an incredible monument America could be to the human race. The film features interviews with a patchwork of historians, activists, the candidate himself, foot soldiers from his campaign, and others, including Gore Vidal, Gloria Steinem, Warren Beatty, Dick Gregory, Gary Hart, Frank Mankiewicz, Howard Zinn, Jim Bouton, Sen. Jim Abourezk, Rev. Malcolm Boyd, and Ron Kovic.

Narrated by Amy Goodman and featuring an original music score and traditional folk ballads, the story incorporates songs from Leon Russell, Bob Dylan, Robbie Robertson, Donovan, and Elvis Costello.

The ultimate political defeat of the American Century may also be its high watermark. And if so, what does that say about the electoral process, the American government, and more importantly, what does it say about the forces at work on the American people - then and now?

LEARN MORE:
Read about Part 1 of this special.

Visit the distributor First Run Features

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