American Icons 2
Each July 4th, in honor of our nation's birthday "60 Minutes" showcases a group of our fellow citizens we've profiled over the decades who can be truly called "American Icons."
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Under the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, gays can serve as long as they keep their sexuality hidden. Since the rule came into effect 15 years ago, some 12,000 military men and women have been forced out. But recently the discharges of gay soldiers have dropped dramatically. Lesley Stahl reports on the still controversial policy and growing evidence that some commanders could care less about sexual orientation.
Inventors
Inventors are a breed apart, a special kind of people who imagine what does not yet exist. Here are some of our favorites: Segway inventor Dean Kamen, Forrest Bird who invented the respirator, and Woody Norris, creator of the Air Scooter, amongst others.
Top Guns: Inside the Secret World of the Israeli Air Force
Israel has one of the best air forces in the world, and also one of the most secretive. Correspondent Bob Simon was able to gain unprecedented access to the IAF, Israeli Air Force. In return for access to its planes and personnel, "60 Minutes" had to agree to rigorous censorship. . . we cannot identify the bases we visited, nor the young pilots we interviewed.
Memorial Day: American Heroes
This Memorial Day, we pay tribute to the men and women who have fought and died for our country. We honor the fallen from the plains of Iraq to the jungles of Vietnam, the mountains of Afghanistan to the beaches of Normandy. Here is a roll call of stories from the last 40 years of "60 Minutes."
Mammoni: The Ultimate Mama's Boys
This Mother's Day, we present a classic "60 Minutes" story that explores the bond between mothers and sons. Lesley Stahl traveled to Italy to investigate the phenomena of the Mammoni, aka mama's boys. They may look like Romeos, Casanovas and Latin lovers, but these are Italian men in their 30s and 40s with jobs, girlfriends and disposable income who still live at home, and are waited on by their mothers.
The Pat Tillman Story
Pat Tillman is an American hero. Following the attacks on September 11th, he gave up his NFL career and millions of dollars to join the U.S. Army and fight in the war on terror. When Tillman was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004, his family was first told it was by enemy fire. But the story didn't hold up, and it was soon revealed Tillman was shot accidentally by his fellow soldiers. His mother, Mary, has written a book about her search for answers in her son's death. Katie Couric has the interview.
Antonin Scalia
Appointed by President Reagan to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1986, Antonin Scalia is controversial, combative and unapologetic about his conservative views. Justice Scalia is an "originalist" - he believes his job on the court is to interpret the Constitution according to the original intentions of the men who wrote it more than 200 years ago. Lesley Stahl interviews the justice and his wife Maureen.
Al Gore: Mr. Global Warming
Al Gore has reinvented himself as the P.R. agent for the planet. Now he's launching a new glitzy ad campaign to fight global warming. Correspondent Lesley Stahl gets the details. . . and can't resist asking him about Hillary, Obama, President Bush and whether his days as a presidential candidate are really behind him.
April Fools' Day
This April Fools' Day, the joke's on "60 Minutes." Enjoy a special collection of outtakes from the cutting room floor. Watch Scott Pelley catch a fish, witness Morley Safer do the dumbest interview ever and see Jon Stewart suck up to Steve Kroft. Plus, Bill O'Reilly turns the tables on Mike Wallace.
Iraq War: Saddam's View
We all know how the Iraq war appears to Americans. But little is known about how it was experienced by Saddam Hussein. After his capture, Saddam met every day with FBI Agent George Piro, who was the front man for a team of FBI and CIA analysts who were trying to answer some of the great mysteries of recent history, including what happened to the weapons of mass destruction? On the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war, we hear Saddam's story.
The Ray Gun
It's no longer the stuff of science fiction: the Pentagon has a real-life ray gun! It's officially called the "Active Denial System" and it shoots out a 100,000 watt beam of invisible radio waves which stops a person in their tracks. Correspondent David Martin experiences its stopping power first hand.
Joel Osteen
He's the most popular preacher in America, with his services attended by thousands and seen by more than 7 million viewers around the world on television each week. But just eight years ago, Joel Osteen was virtually unknown, a college dropout working behind the scenes producing his father's television ministry. Byron Pitts has the story.
Sushi: Tuna Troubles
People love to eat tuna. Sushi is the main reason. And the Japanese eat more sushi than anyone else. But there's a problem. The insatiable desire for raw fish is putting tremendous stress on the world's bluefin tuna population. Correspondent Bob Simon takes a look at the troubles with tuna, traveling from a fish market in Tokyo where a single giant bluefin can go for $20,000, to the Mediterranean where age-old fishing customs are vying with up-to-the minute technology.
The Executioner
There are few men alive today with the underworld credentials of John Martorano, and even fewer who are out of prison and walking the streets. For more than a decade, Martorano was the chief executioner for Boston's Winter Hill gang, a loose confederation of Irish and Italian-American gangsters run by James "Whitey" Bulger. Martorano, a former Catholic altar boy and high school football star, became a cool and calculating killer. For years, he was one of the most feared men in Boston, and this is why. . .
Tsunami: The Tale Of The Sea Gypsies
To mark this holiday season, Correspondent Bob Simon tells a miraculous story of survival. When the great tsunami hit on December 26, 2004, millions of people were unprepared and paid a devastating price. This is the story of the sea gypsies who live off the coast of Thailand and Burma. Of all the peoples of the world, they are among the least touched by modern civilization. Amazingly, they survived the tsunami because they knew it was coming.
Charlie Wilson's War
Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts' new movie "Charlie Wilson's War" is based on the work of the legendary late "60 Minutes" producer George Crile. Crile first broke the story of maverick Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson's role in funding the largest covert war in U.S. history, back in 1988 with Correspondent Harry Reasoner. It's a story of a fun-loving Texas Congressman who got the Afghans the weapons they needed to kick the Russians out of their country... inadvertently helping to set the stage for Bin Laden and the Taliban.
Saving The Gorillas
There are fewer than 700 mountain gorillas left on the planet, and their numbers are dropping dramatically. They live in eastern Africa, in a forest that straddles Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda are relatively safe, but those in the Congo are threatened by an ongoing civil war and human encroachment. Anderson Cooper went to Congo, to see what can be done to save the gorillas.
The Assassination of JFK
"60 Minutes" takes a look back at the events surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Also, we take an inside look at how the Secret Service protects our leaders today, including a rare tour of the mock town where agents are trained to deal with assassination attempts. Plus, interviews with three people in JFK's motorcade on November 22, 1963: former Texas Governor John Connally, his wife Nellie and former Secret Service Agent Clint Hill.
Inside Interpol
Interpol is one of the most famous law enforcement agencies on the planet. Yet little is known about the inner workings of this international crime fighting organization. Correspondent Steve Kroft goes "Inside Interpol." You'll also meet the agency's top cop, American Ron Noble.
The Maltese Falcon
What does an incredibly successful venture capitalist do with all his money? If you're Tom Perkins, you spend it. A lot of it. Welcome aboard "The Maltese Falcon" - Perkins' personal mega-sailboat. It just happens to be the biggest, fastest and most high-tech privately-owned sailing vessel on the high seas. Join Lesley Stahl and go along for the ride!
Dracula
Count Dracula is a fictional character, but that hasn't stopped him from becoming the most famous Romanian that never lived. But he is at least partially based on a real historical figure, Vlad the Impaler. Correspondent Morley Safer traveled to Transylvania in search of Dracula. While there he found out why Romania is counting on the Count for tourist dollars.
No Ordinary Spy
Most people have heard the name Valerie Plame. Now, she tells her side of the story: how she worked undercover at the CIA until a newspaper columnist published her name. Plame, and her husband Joseph Wilson, a former U.S. Ambassador, believe her name was leaked in retaliation for his public criticism of the White House over the Iraq War. Katie Couric has the exclusive interview with Valerie Plame Wilson.
Dubai
Dubai is a tiny sheikdom with big dreams. Thanks to a combination of extraordinary wealth and vision, it has transformed itself from desert sand into an international business center and tourist destination. The man behind Dubai's rise is its leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Steve Kroft introduces us to the Sheikh and his desert oasis.
Clarence Thomas
Clarence Thomas has risen from the tiny town of Pin Point, GA all the way to becoming a Supreme Court Justice. He's written a book about his journey, titled "My Grandfather's Son: A Memoir." In it, he describes the challenges he has faced in his life, including accusations of sexual harassment by Anita Hill which arose during his confirmation hearings back in 1991. Steve Kroft has the first ever television interview with Clarence Thomas.
Bill O'Reilly
Who is Bill O'Reilly? Is he a patriot? A blowhard? A braggart? A bully? Well, it turns out, there's a lot more to him than you might expect. Mike Wallace found the man to be full of surprises.
Princess Diana
It's been 10 years since the sudden death of Princess Diana, on August 31st 1997, in an accident caused by her drunken chauffeur Henri Paul. We remember Diana with reports from a special "60 Minutes" on the day of her death, and with Mike Wallace's later interview of Dodi Fayed's former bodyguards Kez Wingfield and Trevor Rees. Rees was in the car with Diana and Dodi and is the only survivor of the crash.
Lou Dobbs
Lou Dobbs became a household name as a business reporter, hosting "Moneyline" on CNN. These days, Dobbs has a different focus: a champion of the middle class and strident opponent of illegal immigration. Lesley Stahl has the interview.
Stop Snitching
If you witnessed a crime, would you help police solve it? For most people, the answer is yes. But in some inner-city communities, helping the police is called "snitching," and it's considered as bad as any crime. Anderson Cooper reports on this disturbing trend and how popular culture is encouraging an attitude that is leaving murders unsolved.
Love In The 21st Century
Love, always a complicated business, has only gotten more so in the 21st century. 60 MINUTES shows you what singles are doing today to find that special someone. It's a brave new world with high-tech services on the internet and wild parties that will make your head spin.
Child Prodigies
They're Gifted...They're Talented...They're Whiz Kids. Meet seven of the most amazing youngsters 60 Minutes has profiled. From a pint-sized Mozart to a prepubescent tennis star. . . they've all achieved way beyond their years.
Fatal1ty
In the world of competitive video gaming, Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendell could be considered Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan. He's traveled the globe, won several world championships, and made more money than most twenty-somethings will see in a lifetime. Steve Kroft meets Fatal1ty and gets a sense of what it's like being America's most famous "cyber-athlete."
American Icons
To celebrate America's birthday, "60 Minutes" presents eight men and women we have profiled over the years, who can truly be called American Icons.
Some of Mike's Favorite Stories
Mike Wallace has been a "60 Minutes" correspondent since the show premiered on September 24, 1968. When asked to choose some of his favorite interviews from 39 years on the broadcast, it's no surprise he selected three of the most controversial: his 1998 interview with Dr. Jack Kevorkian, his talk in 1979 with actress Vanessa Redgrave and Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whom Wallace interviewed in 2006.
Fathers, Sons And Brothers
Since the start of the Iraq war in March of 2003, more than 400,000 National Guardsman have been called to active duty. Some have seen action on the front lines. Such is the case for the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry, of the Iowa National Guard. Scott Pelley has been following the stories of these soldiers and their families since August of 2005, when they were called to serve in Iraq.
One Laptop Per Child
Nicholas Negroponte has a simple idea which could change the world. The founder of MIT's legendary Media Lab wants to provide low-cost laptop computers to as many children as possible in every developing nation. The ambitious project is called "One Laptop per Child" but Negroponte finds himself facing an unexpected challenge. Lesley Stahl has the story.
The $50,000,000 Mystery
Teri Horton paid $5 for a painting at a thrift shop. Today, she thinks it could be worth $50 million. Why? Because she believes it was painted by abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock. The only problem is, she can't prove it. . . at least by the standards of the art world. Anderson Cooper has the story of one determined and feisty woman's 15-year crusade to solve an art history mystery.
Abu Ghraib: Exposing The Scandal
It's been three years since 60 MINUTES II broke the story of the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal. The pictures from Abu Ghraib shocked the nation and the world. Joe Darby is the whistleblower who first reported the abuse to the Army. This is his story: a story of bravery, honor and despair.
Innocent
The case against the three accused Duke University lacrosse players ended almost as dramatically as it began, as North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper dropped all charges and declared them "innocent." Cooper was especially critical of D.A. Mike Nifong, calling him a "rogue" prosecutor. Lesley Stahl speaks with A.G. Cooper and has exclusive interviews with Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and David Evans.
Living Large: Real Estate Dreams
Spring has sprung, and the real estate industry is hoping for a big comeback. But one fact is indisputable: over the last three decades, the average size of the American home has grown. More and more Americans are now living large. Morley Safer takes a look.
Jihad.com
Afghanistan and Iraq are half a world away from the United States, but the most important front in the war on terror may just be a mouse click away. Correspondent Scott Pelly takes an in-depth look at the world of Jihad online, including how ordinary Americans are fighting back.
Extraordinary Elephants
Correspondent Bob Simon is wild about elephants. He's been known to travel halfway around the world to do a story about his favorite members of the animal kingdom. Here are two of his favorite pachyderm stories: an amazing elephant orphanage in Kenya and the tale behind the boom in elephant art, that's right, elephant art.
Dog Nut
Everyone knows "The Simpsons," but you might not know how much the cartoon series has helped stray dogs and people in need. Sam Simon, one of the show's co-creators, has spent millions on a foundation which trains abandoned dogs to become service animals. It's a good deed that even Bart might appreciate! Morley Safer has the story.
Dissension In The Ranks
To many in America's armed forces, these men and women are doing the unthinkable: Active-duty soldiers, sailors and Marines speaking out against the ongoing conflict in Iraq. They've signed on to what's called "An Appeal for Redress" - and they say it's time for U.S. troops to come home. Lara Logan has the story.
The Duke Case Part II
Lesley Stahl interviews the parents of the three accused Duke lacrosse team players, as well as the forensic expert who changed the course of the case when he testified that he and District Attorney Michael Nifong knew, but did not report, crucial DNA evidence that could help exonerate the defendants.
The Duke Rape Case
In exclusive interviews with Ed Bradley, the three indicted Duke lacrosse players give their version of events the night of the alleged rape, as does the other dancer present that night.
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