In Search of the Constitution with Bill Moyers
This eleven-part series examines the vitality of our Constitution by listening to people who interpret and teach it, as well as people whose lives have been changed by it. (Each tape is 60 minutes.)
"Contemporary Life v. The Constitution" - This program examines two controversies today that have become tests of the Constitution-the use of mandatory drug testing by companies and the establishment of widely-accessible "dossier" of personal information on computers, which the Supreme Court has ruled are not protected by the Constitution.
"For the People" - This program examines the impact of the Constitution on the lives of American citizens, as seen in three landmark Supreme Court cases - Engel v. Vitale (school prayer), Keyishian v. Board of Regents (academic freedom), and Bowers v. Hardwick (sodomy).
"God and the Constitution" - Dr. Martin Marty, a professor of the history of modern Christianity at the University of Chicago, and Leonard Levy, editor of The Encyclopedia of the American Constitution and a professor of humanities and history at the Claremont Graduate School in California, examine the legality of school prayer. The program also explores the issues of religious symbols on municipal property as well as tax-exempt status for religious institutions.
"In the Beginning" - This program features discussions with three prominent historians about the roots of the Constitution and its impact on our society. Michael Kammen, Pulitzer Prize winner and professor of history at Cornell University, discusses the Constitution's place and role as a symbol in American life; Forrest McDonald, professor of history at the University of Alabama, talks about the intellectual origins of the Constitution; and Dr. Olive Taylor, professor of history at Howard University, discusses African-Americans and others who were not part of the Constitution.
"Justice Harry A. Blackmun: Man of the Middle" - This program provides an in-depth look at the Supreme Court Justice who wrote the majority opinion in Roe v. Wade. Blackmun outlines a typical day in the Supreme Court, explains his own definition of what the court's role is in the life of Americans, and examines the issue of privacy. In addition, Blackmun discusses the emotional and moral challenge of interpreting the Constitution today.
"Justice Lewis F. Powell" - When Lewis Powell Jr. was appointed to the Supreme Court, he appeared to be a true southern conservative. But Powell proved to be his own man, bringing a complex mind to bear on complex issues-from affirmative action to the death penalty. In this program, Powell discusses a variety of issues including Watergate, the Constitution of the former Soviet Union, the death penalty, reverse discrimination, the working of the Court, and corporal punishment.
"Justice Sandra Day O'Connor" - The Supreme Court's first female Justice discusses her role on the Court and the Constitution.
"Mortimer Adler: Teaching the Constitution" - Students at St. John's College in Annapolis, MD, challenge Adler, the noted philosopher, author and educator, on his views about fundamental ideas in the Constitution and their relevance today. Adler discusses Americans' lack of familiarity with the Constitution, the checks and balances provided by the Supreme Court, "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" and legislating morality.
"Mr. Justice Brennan" - Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan Jr. served through seven presidencies and wrote close to 500 majority opinions. Time and again, he argued that the protection of individual freedom is found in judicial enforcement of constitutional rights. In the early 1960s, Brennan's arguments turned the country's political map upside down and changed, forever, the Court's role in political matters.
"Ronald Dworkin: The Meaning of the Constitution" - Ronald Dworkin, an American who is professor of jurisprudence at Oxford University, is regarded as one of the most influential philosophers of law in the English speaking world. His views on the current debate over the meaning of the Constitution make waves on both sides of the Atlantic. In this program, Dworkin shares his ideas on the Constitution and its meaning to Americans today.
"Strictly Speaking" - In this program, former Attorney General Edwin Meese and Judge Robert Bork discuss the "original intent" of the framers of the Constitution, on abortion, Presidential powers and big government. Edwin Meese discusses Presidential power and how Congressional law applies or doesn't apply to the Chief Executive. Robert Bork discusses his conservative jurisprudence and how the Constitution describes the Court's role.
"Contemporary Life v. The Constitution" - This program examines two controversies today that have become tests of the Constitution-the use of mandatory drug testing by companies and the establishment of widely-accessible "dossier" of personal information on computers, which the Supreme Court has ruled are not protected by the Constitution.
"For the People" - This program examines the impact of the Constitution on the lives of American citizens, as seen in three landmark Supreme Court cases - Engel v. Vitale (school prayer), Keyishian v. Board of Regents (academic freedom), and Bowers v. Hardwick (sodomy).
"God and the Constitution" - Dr. Martin Marty, a professor of the history of modern Christianity at the University of Chicago, and Leonard Levy, editor of The Encyclopedia of the American Constitution and a professor of humanities and history at the Claremont Graduate School in California, examine the legality of school prayer. The program also explores the issues of religious symbols on municipal property as well as tax-exempt status for religious institutions.
"In the Beginning" - This program features discussions with three prominent historians about the roots of the Constitution and its impact on our society. Michael Kammen, Pulitzer Prize winner and professor of history at Cornell University, discusses the Constitution's place and role as a symbol in American life; Forrest McDonald, professor of history at the University of Alabama, talks about the intellectual origins of the Constitution; and Dr. Olive Taylor, professor of history at Howard University, discusses African-Americans and others who were not part of the Constitution.
"Justice Harry A. Blackmun: Man of the Middle" - This program provides an in-depth look at the Supreme Court Justice who wrote the majority opinion in Roe v. Wade. Blackmun outlines a typical day in the Supreme Court, explains his own definition of what the court's role is in the life of Americans, and examines the issue of privacy. In addition, Blackmun discusses the emotional and moral challenge of interpreting the Constitution today.
"Justice Lewis F. Powell" - When Lewis Powell Jr. was appointed to the Supreme Court, he appeared to be a true southern conservative. But Powell proved to be his own man, bringing a complex mind to bear on complex issues-from affirmative action to the death penalty. In this program, Powell discusses a variety of issues including Watergate, the Constitution of the former Soviet Union, the death penalty, reverse discrimination, the working of the Court, and corporal punishment.
"Justice Sandra Day O'Connor" - The Supreme Court's first female Justice discusses her role on the Court and the Constitution.
"Mortimer Adler: Teaching the Constitution" - Students at St. John's College in Annapolis, MD, challenge Adler, the noted philosopher, author and educator, on his views about fundamental ideas in the Constitution and their relevance today. Adler discusses Americans' lack of familiarity with the Constitution, the checks and balances provided by the Supreme Court, "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" and legislating morality.
"Mr. Justice Brennan" - Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan Jr. served through seven presidencies and wrote close to 500 majority opinions. Time and again, he argued that the protection of individual freedom is found in judicial enforcement of constitutional rights. In the early 1960s, Brennan's arguments turned the country's political map upside down and changed, forever, the Court's role in political matters.
"Ronald Dworkin: The Meaning of the Constitution" - Ronald Dworkin, an American who is professor of jurisprudence at Oxford University, is regarded as one of the most influential philosophers of law in the English speaking world. His views on the current debate over the meaning of the Constitution make waves on both sides of the Atlantic. In this program, Dworkin shares his ideas on the Constitution and its meaning to Americans today.
"Strictly Speaking" - In this program, former Attorney General Edwin Meese and Judge Robert Bork discuss the "original intent" of the framers of the Constitution, on abortion, Presidential powers and big government. Edwin Meese discusses Presidential power and how Congressional law applies or doesn't apply to the Chief Executive. Robert Bork discusses his conservative jurisprudence and how the Constitution describes the Court's role.