Conquering Polio | The March of Dimes | 1

Conquering Polio | The March of Dimes | 1

In the summer of 1921, 39-year-old Franklin Delano Roosevelt was on vacation with his family when he developed a fever, muscle aches, and chills. Pain spread to his legs, and soon, he was paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors diagnosed him with polio, which was fast becoming America’s most dreaded infectious disease.

Every summer, polio struck without warning, causing swimming pools and movie theaters to close and panicked parents to keep their children indoors. Polio killed thousands of Americans each year and paralyzed many more. But scientists had no idea how to stop it.

Roosevelt and his friend and colleague Basil O’Connor resolved to change that, launching the March of Dimes, a revolutionary fundraising campaign that galvanized millions of Americans to donate their time and money to the fight against polio.

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Episoder(470)

National Parks - The Great Disaster | 4

National Parks - The Great Disaster | 4

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 18, 1906, the city of San Francisco was torn apart by a huge earthquake–but it was the subsequent fires that did the most damage. As the city sought to r...

5 Sep 201840min

National Parks - Rough Rider | 3

National Parks - Rough Rider | 3

Put out to pasture, thinking his political career over, Theodore Roosevelt was atop a mountain when he heard the news: an assassin’s bullet would likely take President McKinley’s life, and make Roosev...

29 Aug 201837min

National Parks - Calling In The Cavalry | 2

National Parks - Calling In The Cavalry | 2

Yellowstone was our nation’s first national park. Its strange, wondrous landscapes were perfect for exploration - and exploitation. Upon Yellowstone’s discovery by white Americans, two races began: on...

22 Aug 201838min

National Parks - The Business of Nature | 1

National Parks - The Business of Nature | 1

America's greatest National Parks are truly one of our country's greatest treasures. But many beautiful landmarks have ugly histories. Over the next few episodes, we’ll learn how good intentions somet...

15 Aug 201840min

Revolution | Interview with Author Russell Shorto | 7

Revolution | Interview with Author Russell Shorto | 7

We've come to the end of our series on the American Revolution, but we can't say goodbye without saying hello to Russell Shorto. Russell adapted his book, Revolution Song, for this series on American ...

8 Aug 201837min

Revolution | The Populist | 6

Revolution | The Populist | 6

Millions immigrated to the United States after its founding, entranced with the promise of a better life. But the country they found was rough and tumble, less developed than the land they left, and h...

1 Aug 201837min

Revolution | The Free Man | 5

Revolution | The Free Man | 5

The Revolution was fought for freedom, at least in name. Calls for freedom filled the air. No taxation without representation! Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness!The Marquis de Lafayette, who ...

25 Jul 201835min

Revolution | The Independent Woman | 4

Revolution | The Independent Woman | 4

In 1788, the hot gossip in posh British circles was all about France and America. For their friends across the channel, the popular uprising against King Louis XVI seems to be heading toward Revolutio...

18 Jul 201837min

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