This PBS documentary commemorates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Hubert Humphrey (1911-1978), a product of Midwestern America who became a passionate, articulate national figure and unabashed liberal who believed that politics involved perfecting “the art of the possible.” As the young mayor of Minneapolis, Humphrey won fame at the 1948 Democratic convention when he implored delegates to step out of the shadows of states rights into the “bright sunshine of human rights.” Tempered by his experiences in both the Dust Bowl and the Depression, Humphrey quickly progressed to the U.S. Senate, where he became known as the “happy warrior,” a combination preacher and political back slapper who spoke out eloquently against world hunger and the arms race. The film benefits from Humphrey's narration of events (via old interviews and news clips), plus commentary from supporters and a few old adversaries. His championing of civil rights before, during, and after the Kennedy administration plays a prominent part here, along with the trials of serving as vice president under Lyndon Johnson and navigating the treacherous terrain of a nation torn apart by the Vietnam War. Chosen as his party's presidential nominee at the bloody 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago, Humphrey nearly defeated Richard Nixon. A moving portrait of a humane man who never lost his optimism or enthusiasm for American politics, this documentary feels particularly inspiring in this jaded political era. DVD extras include a Bill Moyers interview conducted shortly before Humphrey's death. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)
Hubert H. Humphrey: The Art of the Possible
(2010) 120 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.95 w/PPR). PBS Video. ISBN: 978-1-60883-325-2. Volume 26, Issue 3
Hubert H. Humphrey: The Art of the Possible
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