This three-part series chronicles the career and contributions of Secretary of State George Shultz, the key shaper of foreign policy in President Ronald Reagan’s administration.
The first episode introduces George Shultz through the details of his early life: his service as a U.S. Marine, his academic career as a free-market economist at MIT and as dean of the business school at the University of Chicago and his early cabinet posts as secretary of labor and secretary of the treasury under President Nixon.
As he’s sworn in as secretary of state under President Reagan, the war in Lebanon presents a dangerous diplomatic challenge. A second crisis boils over when it’s discovered that the CIA is secretly aiding Nicaraguan Contra rebels.
Through it all, Shultz clings to one goal: to bring Ronald Reagan and the Soviet leaders together for the first time.
This new three-hour documentary series on the life of former Secretary of State George Shultz will present viewers with a rare close-up look at this remarkable man who served his country at the highest level during an unforgettable time. "Turmoil And Triumph: The George Shultz Years" will premiere on PBS Monday, July 12, 2010 (check local listings).
