The Cars That Made America

Hello, I'm Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Like many Americans, there are few things

that touch my life on a daily basis more than cars.

This evening, along with History,

I'm proud to present to you part three

of the epic story of the most American of machines.

Whether for work or play,

for short drive or a cross country trip,

cars are a vital part of American life.

For some, they're a tool, for others, a statement,

and for a select few, an obsession,

but no matter the role they play,

there's no doubt they've shaped out country

in ways that nothing else has.

This is the story of how the car made America.

- Previously on the Cars That Made America,

in the first half of the 20th century,

the world has seen a drastic change.

The modernization of America driven by the railroad,

oil, and steel is connecting people as never before

and building modern cities,

but nothing helped create the America

we know today more than the car.

These vehicles are responsible for the national road system,

the assembly line,

the middle class,

and the suburbs.

But the 1940s will see an end

to the greatest conflict the world has ever known

and as the nation turns its attention inward,

Americans once again demand innovation

as a new buzz word soon captures their attention:

modernization.

The Big Three react by empowering young designers

to create new visions

as the cars influence on America expands.

As Ford,

Chevrolet,

Dodge,

and Chrysler

give way to Delorean

and Iacocca,

as the innovators that pave the way.

World War II begins with the battle lines drawn

between good, the Allies,

and evil, the Axis.

The Nazis' secret preparation for war

gives them a huge head start on building massive arsenal.

The U.S. knows the Allies must close the gap

if they are to win the war.

They turn to an unlikely partner,

the Big Three for help.

- We'll have 20,000 ready by the end of the month.

Country's in good hands.

- The United States became the arsenal of democracy,

not solely in the United States,

but of Britain, the Soviet Union,

and America's other allies,

and so, Detroit became ground zero for the most astonishing

economic production performance in history.

Just as they had been cranking out millions of cars,

now they crank out millions of weapons and vehicles

- In addition to producing

over 300,000 tanks and trunks,

the Ford Motor Company led by Edsel Ford

promises the government a new B24 bomber every hour.

- Bear in mind that when this decision

was made to build bombers, there was no plan.

So, Henry Ford's son Edsel worked day and night on them

and within 18 months built a brand new bomber plan

and started making bombers.

- But soon after, tragedy strikes at Ford.

With his son Hank on duty in the Navy,

Edsel dies of stomach cancer at age 49.

- Edsel ran Ford Motor Company well.

As a matter of fact, Edsel Ford saved the company

while his father bucked him over and over.

- We need to progress or we'll be left behind.

- If your goal is to convince me,

it's been a pathetic attempt.

We're gonna be late, Henry.

You're never late.

Just a minute.

- After Edsel's death, Henry himself was in a daze

and kept saying, I wanted him to stand up to me,

that's what I wanted all this time, and he never did.

Clara was truly horrified by it all.

She held Henry responsible

because she thought that he treated their son so badly.

Henry really took it hard.

He blamed himself for his death.

He was walkin' along in a fog,

and frankly, for several years, there had been problems

that Henry was getting a little bit of dementia setting it.

- Shortly after his son's death,

Henry Ford steps back in to take control of the company.

- Mr. Henry Ford has asked me to read the following,

"To Whom It May Concern,

"in response to the untimely death of my son, Edsel,

"I will once again assume the role

"of president of the company I founded 40 years ago.

"Effective immediately."

- The next thing you know,

we'll be making Model Ts again.

It'll kill the stock price.

- It was the Model T that built this company,

and don't any of you ever forget it.

- Ford suffered from the characteristics

of what made him successful.

He believed that he knew better than other people.

Great entrepreneurs almost always have this trait,

but there's a fine line

between self-confidence and arrogance.

- Henry Ford was autocratic, dictatorial, selfish,

ruthless, and wanted complete control of his company.

The turmoil at Ford

coupled with the demands of wartime production

make President Franklin Roosevelt very nervous.

Knowing how badly he needs the Big Three to win the war,

he appoints former car maker William Knudsen

general to fix the problem.

Knudsen knows the turmoil at Ford

can only be stopped by a change at the top.

Hank.

- And quickly finds a solution

that he knows Henry will agree to.

Please have a seat.

I have pulled a few strings around here.

Son, you're going home.

Home, sir?

Ford's manufacturing capacity

is too important to the war effort.

- If it's all the same, sir, I'd prefer to serve my country.

- Hank, someone needs to take the reins

from your grandfather and that madman Bennett.

The best way for you to serve your country is at Ford.

- Well, if those are my orders, sir,

I'll do everything I can.

- The government was worried

about the company being in total chaos.

Hank returns home

to pick up where his father left off.

- Your father would've done so many great things,

if only your grandfather hadn't stopped him.

I'm not sure I'm ready.

Of course, you are.

Make this your own, Hank.

There's nothing standing in your way.

- But Henry still isn't ready

to give up control of the company.

As the war ends on August 14th, 1945 with Japan's surrender.

- Two million New Yorkers jammed Times Square.

It's official, it's total victory.

- The Ford Motor Company is in dire straits.

The loss of Ford's wartime contracts

and no plans to modernize,

Henry Ford is voted out by the board,

and replaced by his grandson, Hank, who isn't the only one

looking to be the most powerful man at Ford.

Harry Bennett thought that he

was going to be the president of Ford Motor Company.

And he didn't think much of Henry 2nd.

He didn't think he had any ability.

He didn't think he had any leverage.

- Bennett, Henry Ford's long time enforcer

has been angling for years to take over

and is secretly working to undermine Hank.

- Harry Bennett certainly had people in the factory

that were loyal to him,

and the situation was so fraught for a while

that Henry 2nd and those around him

were carrying guns around with them at work.

- Hank knows that Bennett poses a serious threat

to leadership and turns to an unlikely partner,

Bennett's personal hire, ex-FBI agent John Bogus.

It's long overdue, Hank.

He's destroying your company.

You're the one who has to take action.

Hank, he's got to go.

If not now, when?

I know, I know he does.

Well, you've gotta do it.

I'll be right here, I'll stand right by you.

I'll back you up 100%, but it's got to happen.

- Bogus has been the head of the Detroit sections of the FBI

and ironically, had been hired by Harry Bennett

but turned on Harry Bennett, allied himself with Henry 2nd.

- It's policy to be escorted into my office, Harry,

but the least you could do is knock.

You don't deserve my respect.

You're a child running a billion dollar company

that you've done nothing to build, nothing!

You're fired, Harry.

My father wanted you out for years.

If only he could see you now.

You can't do that.

The old man is still in charge.

- Well, last time I checked, he and I share a last name.

This isn't over.

- As the world recovers from World War II,