David McCullough's heroes of history

From Paris to the Brooklyn Bridge, author David McCullough shows how hard work and creativity shaped America's cultural landscape. Morley Safer reports.

[@bruceschneider4928]

Thank you, Mr. McCullough. Your work is an national treasure.

[@rational-truth]

RIP David McCullough and thank you to his family for supporting his work and sharing him with the rest of us.

[@joshuagordon8590]

As an aspiring history professor, David McCullough is my absolute hero.

[@NotElmerKeith1]

What a guy. We should count ourselves fortunate for this man's work and dedication.

[@richmotroni]

I've had the great pleasure of attending three lectures from Mr. McCullough and three books signed by him.

[@janineharrison5186]

You are a National Treasure! You are so correct! Our fault not teaching history correctly and now it is so one sided. Shame on us!

[@kwebster62]

I came here, because I remembered how thrilled Mr. McCullough was to meet the then 96 year old Olivia De Havilland 8 years ago. I agree with Morley Safer. She WAS the last great actor/actress from the Golden Age of Hollywood. (With all due respect to the late Kirk Douglas). And now she has left us at 104.

[@thomaswallace479]

I agree with both Olivia De Haviland & David McCullough that Paris is a magical place. From kissing my bride many years ago at The Square du Vert-Galant on the tip of the Ile de la Cité to gazing at the glorious flying buttresses in the back of Notre Dame from across the river at a humble little church whose name I can't remember. I have many memories.

[@josefschmeau4682]

He’s absolutely correct , we are spoon feeding stupidly

[@johndanielson3777]

It would be an incredible experience to be an American and study in Paris

[@032319581]

Thank you Mr. McCullough! We do need to revamp history in our schools!

[@Patriot2452]

I'm so glad to hear him say that teachers shouldnt major in education. I'm taking an intro to education class and it is so grueling and monotone. I love history and mccollough is my hero, and I feel that if I love history then I can teach it, without the education major

[@patbiggam8138]

Amen. I had several wonderful teachers throughout primary and high school education in the USA in the 50s and 60s. One that stands out is my 8th grade maths teacher, Mrs Phelps. She LOVED maths and because of her enthusiasm we got caught up in her excitement. We would even stay for an extra hour or so after school to learn new things, like how to use a slide rule.

[@mgunny05]

His narration of Ken Burn’s “Civil War” was superb and point on. RIP my good man.

[@dh3279]

Incredible words of profound wisdom. . . . And what a voice! I could listen to that voice narrate a story all day.

[@kwebster62]

@10:00. I agree with Mr. McCullough. Our high school World History, and Government teacher majored in......History. Not Education. And he knew his stuff!

[@Bayoudigger1977]

Why this video has only 13 comments after 7 years is unsettling. This and the first part of this report is what Americans should see.

[@dsdave07]

I was thinking the same thing. The public's intellectual inventory is almost nil.

[@GH-oi2jf]

Jason S. - He’s not “whitewashing” history, he’s just writing about what he knows and what he wants to write about. Others write about other aspects of history. No one historian can write about everything. You are free to read other histories, and you should. If you can’t find a history of the person or event which interests you, you are free to research it and write it yourself.

[@oconnor1951]

If you read one book by Mr. McCullough's books, you will want to read them all!!!

[@donelmore2540]

I can’t agree more that history is being lost and, more importantly, they are unappreciative of the gifts our past has bestowed upon them! Mr. McCullough can really write.

[@jstinn123]

David McCullough is an incredible person. I really appreciate his work.

[@georgeneuhauser4752]

I've met Mr. McCullough and he was fascinating. He was interested in everything.

[@paulsolon6229]

He is a likable man, nice demeanor, fine mind

[@BGTuyau]

R.I.P. David McCullough. His work lives on ...

[@veganworldpeace2649]

Wow! Fascinating Historian sharing interesting USA History.

[@user-nm1od5bn1j]

The second video of David McCullough's heroes of history is very interesting to see all of these people because I have never heard a single one of them. It is crazy to say that history is written in one single book for schools to understand, and I know there’s a curriculum and standards, but so many things of history have been lost from the general public knowledge because it had not had a spotlight to inform others. It is cool to see them as well. How are people? We’re not just stupid back then because a lot of non-specific people would generally say that back then people were behind in technology, theology, and even science, but looking at it from this video, these people knew and understood the things that we use today. For example, the Golden Gate Bridge, I did not know all that I had gone into this bridge. It seems so numbing to then drive over it every single day, not realizing what all had gone into building the bridge.

[@earldeanpowell]

AMEN!! All four of my adult kids read and have read McCullough.

[@032319581]

I agree! Students are so uninformed. Thank you for your wonderful books!

[@janineharrison5186]

The desecration of our history must horrify Mr. McCollough.

[@captainjack8319]

Because we don't understand history and learn from it we will be doomed.

[@videosareit]

great story

[@donelmore2540]

The connection of this story of the Brooklyn Bridge and my family is funny. My Aunt lived in a beautiful apartment building in San Francisco in which you owned your apartment. One day the Superintendent of the building told me that the designer of the Golden Gate Bridge had lived in that building during the bridge’s construction and had lined his apartment with mirrors so, whatever he was doing, he could glance up and check on the progress of the building of the bridge.

[@captainnima]

Awesome.

[@1m2rich]

Jefferson inspired by architecture in France. They ere inspired by our revolution. Sent us a wonderful General. General Laffette. He fought in 4 battles of importance. Used American frontier tactics instead of standing in military formations. Loved university history classes.

[@user-ku5xo1ph9l]

I worked with a 20 something male who is a dad he told me japan and China are states

[@joezagorski9949]

He’s right about our history teachers. They aren’t teaching history, that’s for sure.

[@perfectallusion6757]

الإحترام سيد كل العلاقات

[@lawanimeshorts]

I mean you know how i got here

[@avecmoi9429]

Teachers now do a lot of child care. It is not heir fault parents do nto teach them manners. I am a college prof and it is easier to teach 150 adults than just a few high schoolers. I am in my 60s. A lot has changed.

[@davidswift7776]

Magnificent indeed David McCullough (narrated Ken Burns Civil War, among many works) Known as “the master of the art of narrative history”, Politically, mostly silent with rare exception: On Trump:...”a monstrous clown with a monstrous ego”.. • well said indeed ! Thanks for the post!

[@acajudi100]

Readers are leaders.

[@donm1612]

Odd side note about 2:32 "...a Paris street scene from 1836" if you listen to that while thinking "1876" beforehand, you will in fact hear it said as "1876". I don't know if that is auditory self-delusion or something else. Not say that too much creed should be given to self-delusion ethos but just a fun example of a snippet of auditory self delusion.

[@lawrencehamilton5959]

Ok black wallsteet

[@Raelspark]

DM said about young people not knowing anything about history --- that it's Not their fault. No, I disagree. It IS there fault. Young people can be very lazy. They can open a book anytime. They can go to a museum. They can visit the library. They can google topic. The can watch a youtube video on a historical subject. No, it IS their fault.

[@carlosmendoza8312]

72K views for David McCullough meanwhile, the Kardashians buying a TV at Walmart gets Millions of views. US is done.

[@syourke3]

Genuine historians don’t talk about “heroes of history”. Only court historians do that. Propagandists.

[@collj86]

Is this guy running in 2016? Biden really suprised me on his knowledge. Seems like he has gotten a little chubby though

[@GH-oi2jf]

collj86 - Biden?

[@82luft49]

@@GH-oi2jf You mean president elect Biden