Scott Michels

WILLIAM REILLY: Fifty years ago, we embarked as a country on a major commitment that required the cooperation of everybody. It was just thought, this is America. We shouldn’t have to live with bad air. We can do better than this. TEXT ON SCREEN: Los Angeles, 1950s ARCHIVAL (U.C.L.A. FILM ARCHIVE, 9-16-55): Los Angeles suffers the worst blanket of smog in its history. The giant California city is shrouded by the ugly mist, dangerous to health and traffic.

TEXT ON SCREEN: March 4, 2025 ARCHIVAL (THE WHITE HOUSE, 3-4-25): PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: To further enhance our national security, my administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we’ve already started doing it. NARRATION: President Trump has aggressively reasserted U.S. influence in Latin America with the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. But since taking office, he’s also been threatening to take control of the Panama Canal.

ARCHIVAL (CBS NEWS, 10-20-73): NEWS REPORT: In breathtaking succession tonight, the following historic events occurred. ARCHIVAL (NBC NEWS, 10-20-73): NEWS REPORT: The president has fired the special Watergate prosecutor, Archibald Cox, and Mr. Nixon has directed that agents of the F.B.I. seal off the offices of the special prosecutor, the former attorney general and the former deputy attorney general, and we’ve never heard anything like that before.