This series, commissioned by the BBC’s former Director General Lord Tony Hall, traces Sir Charles Wheeler’s reporting from America that began at the height of the Vietnam war and extended well into the Reagan presidency. The five-part, Grierson nominated series examines Nixon’s treason that resulted in a stolen election in 1968, Johnson’s failed efforts to create a “Great Society”, the Vietnam War, America’s defeat in its war on drugs, and Reagan’s reliance on the advice of a San Francisco astrologer.
Behind The Scenes
Sir Charles Wheeler was the BBC’s longest serving foreign correspondent, and one of the most respected and trusted voices in British television. Knighted by the Queen for work that spanned 65 years, his funeral service in 2008 was conducted at Westminster Abbey. The series, commissioned when Charles reached 75, attempts to reflect the clarity, quality and impact of his reporting.
