Silver Spring, MD — The landmark documentaries The Making of the President: The 1960s debut on home video from Athena on July 5, 2011. The winner of four Emmy® awards, including best documentary and television program of the year, and broadcast in the 1960s on ABC, CBS, and A&E, the three documentaries collected here forever changed the landscape of political journalism by offering a full and in-depth look at the tumultuous presidential campaigns of 1960, 1964, and 1968. The programs are based on the bestselling books by Theodore H. White. His book on the 1960 campaign won the Pulitzer Prize. Produced by the Emmy®-winning and Oscar®-nominated David L. Wolper (Roots, North and South, The Race for Space, LA Confidential), these narratives offer a unique snapshot of an era steeped in political protest and progress. The DVD 3-volume boxed set also includes two rarely seen bonus programs, a 1964 tribute to John F. Kennedy and an intimate look at Lyndon B. Johnson ($59.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

In the 1960s, writer Theodore H. White changed journalism forever by putting the campaign for the White House under a microscope. The first of his bestselling series on presidential elections, The Making of the President, 1960, earned a Pulitzer Prize, stayed on the bestseller list for more than forty weeks, and became a TV documentary that won four Emmys®, including program of the year. This collection brings together three television adaptations of White’s influential books for a full, in-depth account of presidential politics during the tumultuous 1960, 1964, and 1968 elections.

These programs feature White’s insightful scripts and rare film footage that reveal the winners and losers in unguarded, behind-the-scenes moments. All the backroom deals, convention-floor drama, and campaign strategy come alive again in three historic races: Kennedy-Nixon, Johnson-Goldwater, and Humphrey-Nixon-Wallace. From preprimary jockeying to the final vote tally, these spellbinding narratives dissect the inner workings of our democracy and trace the path to power.

Journalist and author Theodore H. White served as China bureau chief for Time and as correspondent and editor for The New Republic, The Reporter, and Colliers. He won numerous writing awards, including a Pulitzer Prize and two Emmys®.

BONUS FEATURES:

• Bonus programs: A Thousand Days: A Tribute to John F. Kennedy (an homage first shown at the ’64 Democratic National Convention), and The March of Time: Seven Days in the Life of the President (an intimate look at Lyndon B. Johnson)
• 16 page viewer’s guide: White essay on Wolper’s documentaries, a biography of White, and articles on each election’s major issues and some quixotic campaigners.
• On the DVD: The Contenders after Their Campaigns: updated biographies on candidates who did not win their party’s nomination, plus more at AthenaLearning.com

Street Date: July 5, 2011
SRP: $59.99
DVD 3-Vol. Boxed Set – 3 programs - Approx. 237 minutes, plus 76 min. bonus - SDH Subtitles

Athena releases provide an authoritative and entertaining learning experience through high quality, informative, non-fiction programming. Athena’s releases include Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth with Bill Moyers, The Genius of Design, Discovering Hamlet, Playing Shakespeare, The Story of Math, Genius of Britain, World War I in Color, and several acclaimed programs from Bill Moyers. Clips are available at www.athenalearning.com. Athena’s DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.