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online – The Movement and the “Madman”: Lessons from the anti-Vietnam War movement

November 14, 2022 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

The Movement and the “Madman”,  a new film in production, tells for the first time on screen the story of one of the most dramatic and consequential showdowns in American history between a protest movement and a president.

We’ll screen a 36-minute excerpt from the film, and then hold a discussion with Robert Levering, the executive producer of the film, and Steve Talbot, the director and an Emmy Award-winning producer-director who worked with PBS’s Frontline for 20 years. Both were participants in the 1969 protests.

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The Movement and the “Madman” shows how two antiwar protests in the fall of 1969 — the largest the country had ever seen — caused President Nixon to cancel what he called his “madman” plans for a massive escalation of the U.S. war in Vietnam, including his
threats to use nuclear weapons. At the time, protestors had no idea
what they had prevented and how many lives they had saved.

Told as a “political thriller,” the film is a David-and-Goliath tale that will engage viewers in a “you-are-there” experience with insider accounts from movement leaders and Nixon officials, commentary by historians, and illustrated with dynamic archival footage.

A Story Not Yet Told

The Movement and the “Madman” is a story about war, the threat of nuclear conflict, a leader posturing as a madman, and a movement that rises up in opposition. It sheds new light on a critical period in our nation’s history and underscores the role nonviolent protest can play in our democracy, even when the achievements are not immediately apparent.

The film is a deeply researched project told by a variety of voices providing multiple perspectives. It is based on 30 in-depth interviews with movement organizers, historians, members of Congress, and administration officials, including three men who worked directly with Kissinger on Nixon’s “madman” plans. Their stories provide a rare inside account.

This story feels particularly relevant in a time when autocracy threatens democracy, war rages in Ukraine, and we face an impending climate catastrophe.

For an overview of the film, view the 11-minute preview reel on our website, where you’ll also find more background on the film and film team:

https://www.movementandthemadman.com/preview

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Details

Date:
November 14, 2022
Time:
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm