Between the Wars — Season 1, Episode 4: Radio, Racism and Foreign Policy

Episode synopsis

Disillusioned by the horrors of World War I, the U.S. tries to isolate herself from the rest of the world. Strict immigration quotas are imposed and a mistrust of foreigners and minorities ushers in an ugly period of racism and ethnic discrimination. The advent of radio helps to project a standard image of the "good American" but at the same time lets in news of foreign nations.

About Between the Wars

This classic series follows the events that sparked the greatest conflict of the century, capturing the drama, the excitement and the ideological juxtapositions of these crucial years. Former CBS News correspondent and commentator Eric Sevareid, one of the world's most respected figures in journalism, presents this extraordinary series featuring stunning original newsreels, soundtracks, and rare archival footage.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1Versailles: The First Peace
• E2Return to Isolationism
• E3The First SALT Talks
• E5The Great Depression and Foreign Affairs
• E6FDR and Hitler: the Rise to Power
• E7FDR and Hitler: The Dynamics of Power
• E8America in the Pacific: The Clash of Two Cultures
• E9The Recognition of Russia: A Climate of Mutual Distrust
• E10Latin America: Intervention in Our Own Backyard
• E11The Italian-Ethiopian War: Africa in World Affairs
• E12The Spanish Civil War
• E13The Phony War