Unprecedented Digital Archive: A Deep Dive into Presidential History
Welcome to an immersive exploration of Presidential history. It’s 2025, and the Archive of Public Broadcasting (AAPB) continues to serve as a rich source of historical content. A key highlight is New Hampshire Public Radio’s digital collection of interviews and speeches by presidential candidates from 1995-2007, now available online in a curated, free presentation. This unique collection, combined with other significant presidential campaign content from the AAPB, offers a comprehensive view of the evolution of democracy and the changing landscape of issues that have shaped our nation.
A Treasure Trove of Historical Content
The AAPB, a collaboration between the Library of Congress and the WGBH Educational Foundation, preserves and makes accessible significant public television and radio programs spanning over six decades. The “Voices of Democracy” presentation features historical interviews, panel discussions, speeches, and debates among presidential candidates from 1961 to 2008.
Presidential Elections: A Reflective Lens
These materials document the evolution of issues and presidential candidates’ positions on important election topics—from the economy, education, and civil rights to foreign policy, the environment, and election reform. They also document public broadcasting’s coverage of the electoral process, voter rights, and campaign analysis.
New Hampshire Public Radio: A Rich Source
A centerpiece of the presentation is the new content from New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR). “We are fortunate to live at the epicenter of the political universe every four years. It is from this vantage that we are able to capture and keep some of the most memorable and historic moments in the past 37 years of our democracy,” offered Betsy Gardella, president and CEO of NHPR.
Accessible Online Reading Room
In October 2023, AAPB officially launched its Online Reading Room, which now features over 2.5 million inventory records and more than 11,500 audiovisual streaming files of historical content dating back to the 1940s, from public media stations the country.
Join us in this journey through history, accessible to anyone with an internet connection. More information is available at americanarchive.org.
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