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American Experience

How Captions Went from Niche to Necessity | ASL |The Curb Cut Effect

ASL For the first three decades of television, there were no captions of any kind, leaving Deaf viewers unable to fully participate in a medium that shaped culture and conversation. The fight for closed captioning was a battle for access and inclusion. Deaf advocates spent decades pushing broadcasters, lawmakers, and technology companies to make television—and later, the internet—accessible.

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The Presidents
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1:52:37
Part of the award-winning "The Presidents" collection.
The Presidents: Reagan (Part 2)
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1:53:50
Ronald Reagan left the White House one of the most popular presidents of the 20th century.
The Presidents: Reagan (Part 1)
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1:50:17
A biography from American Experience's collection of presidential portraits.
The Presidents: FDR (Part 2)
2:16:40
Part of the award-winning The Presidents collection.
The Presidents: FDR (Part 1)
1:44:52
Part of the award-winning The Presidents collection.
The Presidents: LBJ (Part 2)
1:50:24
Follow LBJ from rural Texas to his ascendancy to the presidency after the assassination of JFK.
The Presidents: LBJ (Part 1)
1:50:37
Part of the award-winning The Presidents collection.
The Presidents: Nixon
2:47:05
Part of the award-winning The Presidents collection.
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