Iconic America: David Rubenstein and Ken Burns in Conversation 

Soooo Good. If only every American could watch Ken Burns documentaries!!!

The greatest contribution by Ken Burns is the realization that there is no demarcation between great thought and great art. One of our greatest truth seekers of the human forms.

I love this series. Two of my heroes are on that stage. Ken Burns has done amazing work, and David Rubenstein has done wonderful things to preserve our American heritage. To paraphrase Mr. Burns, "Those who do not study history are destined to repeat it." And we see that globally, every day. As for Civics, every Vote is a choice to hire someone to do a job. If voters don't understand the jobs their congresspeople,, senators, President and more, actually do, how can they possibly select good candidates? Thank you both for raising these issues. I only wish more people would say what you Gentlemen have said so articulately. 💚

This is worth a watch alone for David Rubenstein’s monologue near the end… Brilliantly stated case for the importance of studying American history and civic engagement. Bravo!

Ken Burns, 😊love your pbs Documentaries

Thank you for having this great interview and speaking about important concerns and views.😊😊

I majored in history and had a rewarding career as a curator of history. Everyone tried to talk me out of it but I didn't listen. Now what I want to know is when will Ken Burns do a film on Rock and Roll?

I dont think much about WHOs making the docu im watching, except when its a ken burns series! Hes my documentary hero! His shows are always entertaining and soooo well-made, how he makes still-photos seem to move so well! Jazz is my favorite series of his😍😍😍

Excellent discourse.

Let’s go O’s!

Mrs. Gianelli takes her U.S. Citizenship Test -- back in the Old Days. Mrs. Gianelli, who has been in America for 40 years and has raised a very big family, has been constantly urged by her children, and now even her grandchildren, to apply for American citizenship. Finally, in her 60s, she applies and is ready to take the test. She appears in court. The judge sits high up in the bench overlooking the proceedings. The clerk of the court stands to the side, with a hard look on his face, gets ready to administer the questions to the nervous Mrs. Gianelli. Question Number 1: "Who wrote the Declaration of Independence and was the 3rd President of the United States?" Mrs. Gianelli speaks right up, "Thata woulda be Mista Tomas Jeffersoon." The clerk of the court gives her a crossed look, and went on to the second question. 2nd Question: "Who was the President during our great Civil War and kept the nation together?" Mrs. Gianelli responds, "President Abee Lincoon." The clerk, showing some frustration, now looking sternly at her, asks Mrs. Gianelli, "And who was the first President and is called ‘The Father of His Country’?" Mrs. Gianelli, somewhat hesitant, starts, "Georga Washinton...Your honor, my english notta very good butta I wanna tell you datta I want very much to be American citizen anda I love thisa.. " The judge interupts her, leans over the bench and says, "Dont'ta youa a worry. Youa a doin justa fine!"

Will he ever make a COVID pandemic documentary? I have seen his History of Jazz and Baseball Documentaries they are fantastic.

At 39:44 - what a great conversation this all is - I'd recommend reading "Travellers in the Third Reich" for painful insight, topples some icons, like Martin Luther King Sr, for example. Thank you two gentlemen for this and for all your amazing work through the decades.

0:23 his Chelsea NY apartment in 1980(?) Was $275, $1,025 adjusted for inflation (2023). Not a New Yorker but I’d guess apartments now are $4,000 to $5,000.

Where were the clips?

Most important sentiment here: Jefferson’s point: “All experience has shown that mankind is disposed to suffer evils while evils are sufferable.” He’s meaning, says Burns, “that the whole history of the world up to this point (1776) has been under authoritarian rule, and its been very easy for human beings to accept that.” This is the *only* factor that makes American great in the first place. And the one universally ignored in history and civics education.

Very Interesting- ----- And very glad the topic of teach/learning history was raised ....... It's not just a matter of history being taught - the person "teaching" must be scrutinized ---- I'm not referring to all the political issues in the news --------- I'm talking about "factual history" ....... In my own experience - while I was a SENIOR at a BIG 10 University ..... The "professor" spewed non-fact based "stuff" often .... I often asked if "his opinion would be on the test" .... One that sticks out in my memory: "There were no black marines during WWII" .... (there were many, even decorated black marines... - the Montford Point Marines Were ALL Black) ... I was obligated to finish the course if I was to graduate - and I was very proud of the "D" he gave me.

It's hard for me to get past the picture of some white man on top of thousands of buffalo skulls.

You dont have to be a jew to worry about the awful persistence of antisemitism.

I for one am glad he got a better toupee

It is a sad reflection on contemporary society if indeed Muhammad Ali was the most beloved man on the planet when he died. I don’t really care about his politics, and to some degree I agreed with him, but we should not at all lionize such a braggart. It’s a matter of character.

I stopped paying attention to KEN BURNS when I saw photos of him hanging out with Right Wing billionaires at retreats.

I desperately wanted to watch the Burns interview, but the interviewer is just impossible to listen to for more than 10 seconds… I don’t care how much money he has