The Eisenhower Era

While we've come to expect many things out of Disney products, dull scripting is not one of them, yet plodding (but academically solid) narrative is precisely The Eisenhower Era's Achilles' heel. An ambitious look at American social, political, and economic history, circa 1940-1960, the series--which is hosted by Colin Powell--opens with a cursory examination of American isolationism (the man-is-an-island mentality that stayed America's hand during WWII...until the bombing of Pearl Harbor removed all restraints, philosophical or otherwise), followed by a recap of Hitler's aggressive European campaign. This initial episode--The Price of Isolationism--closes with General George Marshall asking a soon-to-be-legendary Dwight D. Eisenhower his thoughts on a battle plan. Stock footage and the aforementioned educational but lifeless narration are combined with clips from a handful of interviewees, including the late Pamela Churchill Harriman. Perhaps the series improves, but based on the opener this is an optional purchase which will only hold the interest of its intended audience of junior high and high school students with strong supplementary instruction. The four 5-tape packages are: "World War II," "The Cold War," "The Eisenhower Presidency (Domestic Policy)," and "The Eisenhower Presidency (Foreign Policy)." Aud: J, H. (R. Pitman)