The Century, America's Time A New World 3 of 3

Summary

The video script recounts the harrowing hijacking of TWA Flight 847 in 1985, the geopolitical tensions of the era, and the rise of Mikhail Gorbachev in the Soviet Union. It highlights the hijacking ordeal, the Reagan administration's controversial negotiations, and the subsequent shift in US-Soviet relations leading to significant disarmament talks. The script also covers the impact of Gorbachev's reforms, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the global movement towards democracy, marking the end of the Cold War and ushering in a new era.

Takeaways

• 🛫 TWA flight 847 was hijacked by two Muslim extremists in 1985, demanding the release of Shiite prisoners held by Israel.
• 👨‍👩‍👦 Paula Sukeforth, a mother of six, was among the 153 passengers on the hijacked flight.
• 🔫 The hijackers threatened to kill passengers every five minutes, leading to the death of Navy diver Robert Stethen.
• 🤝 President Ronald Reagan negotiated with terrorists, leading to the release of some prisoners in exchange for the hostages.
• 📉 The summer of 1987 was challenging for Reagan's administration, with the Iran-Contra affair and the stock market crash.
• 🇷🇺 Mikhail Gorbachev introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in the Soviet Union, leading to significant political changes.
• ☮️ Gorbachev and Reagan engaged in multiple summits, including Geneva and Reykjavik, discussing nuclear disarmament.
• 🤝 Gorbachev's visit to Washington in 1987 and Reagan's visit to Moscow in 1988 symbolized the thawing of Cold War tensions.
• 🗽 The 1989 Tiananmen Square protests in China, inspired by Gorbachev's reforms, were violently suppressed, but marked a significant moment in Chinese history.
• 🌍 The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 symbolized the end of the Cold War and the beginning of a new era of freedom and democracy in Eastern Europe.

Q & A

What event is described at the beginning of the transcript?

The transcript begins with the description of the hijacking of TWA flight 847 on June 14, 1985, by two Muslim extremists.

What were the demands of the hijackers of TWA flight 847?

The hijackers demanded the release of all Shiite Muslim prisoners held by Israel.

How did President Ronald Reagan respond to the hijacking of TWA flight 847?

President Reagan abandoned his No-Negotiations policy with terrorists and worked out a deal to free some prisoners held in Israeli jails in exchange for the TWA hostages.

What impact did the Iran-Contra affair have on President Reagan's administration?

The Iran-Contra affair led to Congressional hearings that revealed the administration had illegally sold arms to Iran and funneled the profits to the Contras in Nicaragua, causing President Reagan's popularity to plummet.

What significant event took place on October 19, 1987?

On October 19, 1987, known as Black Tuesday, the stock market went into a free-fall, losing 508 points.

Who came to power in the Soviet Union in 1985 and what policies did he introduce?

Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union in 1985 and introduced policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring).

What was the outcome of the summit meetings between Reagan and Gorbachev?

The summit meetings initially failed to result in a comprehensive disarmament agreement due to disagreements over the Strategic Defense Initiative, but they eventually led to a more limited arms reduction treaty.

Describe a notable event during Gorbachev's visit to the United States.

During Gorbachev's visit to the United States, his motorcade stopped on Connecticut Avenue, and he got out to greet the crowd, an action that was well-received by the American public.

What was the significance of the events in Tiananmen Square in 1989?

The events in Tiananmen Square in 1989 involved Chinese students and workers demonstrating for democracy, symbolized by the Goddess of Democracy statue, but the demonstrations were brutally crushed by the Chinese government.

What major event in East Germany symbolized the end of the Cold War?

The breaching of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, symbolized the end of the Cold War and the lifting of the Iron Curtain.

How did the fall of the Berlin Wall affect people around the world?

The fall of the Berlin Wall was seen as a moment of joy and liberation, symbolizing the end of repression and the triumph of freedom and democracy.

What broader historical perspective do some historians hold regarding the end of the 20th century?

Many historians believe that the 20th century effectively ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall and that the 1990s represent the first decade of a new era.

Outlines

00:00

🔴 TWA Flight 847 Hijacking Incident

The script describes the terrifying hijacking of TWA Flight 847 on June 14, 1985, by two Muslim extremists tied to Ayatollah Khomeini. Passengers, including Paula Sukeforth, a mother of six, endured threats and violence, with Navy diver Robert Stethen becoming the first victim. The ordeal ended with Ronald Reagan negotiating the release of some prisoners in Israeli jails to free the hostages.

05:03

🔵 Gorbachev's Reforms and U.S.-Soviet Relations

The script highlights Mikhail Gorbachev's introduction of glasnost and perestroika in the Soviet Union, leading to greater openness and economic restructuring. His efforts to reduce defense spending resulted in a series of summit meetings with President Reagan, culminating in significant arms reduction treaties and improving U.S.-Soviet relations, marked by Gorbachev's popular visit to Washington and Reagan's reciprocal visit to Moscow.

10:06

🌟 Fall of the Berlin Wall and the End of an Era

The script recounts the historic events of 1989, including the pro-democracy movements in Eastern Europe and the eventual fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9. It emphasizes the emotional impact of these events and their significance in ending the Cold War. The narrator reflects on the sacrifices made to combat communism and suggests that the fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized the end of the 20th century, setting the stage for a new era.

Keywords

💡TWA Flight 847

TWA Flight 847 was a Trans World Airlines flight hijacked on June 14, 1985, by two Muslim extremists with ties to Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran. The hijacking involved taking the plane on a perilous journey from Athens to Algiers and Beirut, with the hijackers demanding the release of Shiite Muslim prisoners held by Israel. This event highlights the theme of terrorism and international crises during the 1980s.

💡Ayatollah Khomeini

Ayatollah Khomeini was the Supreme Leader of Iran and a central figure in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. He is mentioned in the context of the hijackers of TWA Flight 847, who were linked to him, illustrating the influence of Iranian political and religious leadership on global terrorism during that period.

💡Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States, serving from 1981 to 1989. The transcript references several key events during his administration, including his negotiation tactics during the TWA Flight 847 hijacking and his role in the arms negotiations with Mikhail Gorbachev. Reagan's leadership style and policies are central to understanding the political climate of the 1980s.

💡Glasnost

Glasnost, meaning 'openness,' was a policy introduced by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s. It aimed to increase transparency in government institutions and promote freedom of speech. The term is used to describe the significant political changes in the Soviet Union under Gorbachev, which contributed to the eventual end of the Cold War.

💡Perestroika

Perestroika, meaning 'restructuring,' was another reform policy introduced by Gorbachev to revitalize the Soviet economy. The transcript mentions how these economic reforms, despite initial challenges, were part of broader efforts to modernize the Soviet Union and reduce military spending, leading to improved relations with the West.

💡Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was a symbol of the Cold War, dividing East and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989. Its fall in November 1989 marked the end of the division between communist East Germany and democratic West Germany. The transcript describes the emotional scenes as people from both sides of the wall reunited, signifying the collapse of the Iron Curtain and the beginning of a new era.

💡Cold War

The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States, along with their respective allies. Lasting from the end of World War II until the early 1990s, it was marked by political, military, and ideological rivalry. The transcript references several Cold War events, including arms negotiations and the eventual thawing of relations between the superpowers.

💡Iran-Contra Affair

The Iran-Contra Affair was a political scandal during the Reagan administration, involving the secret sale of arms to Iran and the funneling of profits to support Contra rebels in Nicaragua. The scandal damaged Reagan's popularity and highlighted issues of governmental misconduct and illegal activities. The transcript mentions the affair as part of the troubled summer of 1987 for Reagan.

💡Mikhail Gorbachev

Mikhail Gorbachev was the leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. His policies of Glasnost and Perestroika were pivotal in transforming the Soviet Union and easing Cold War tensions. The transcript highlights his role in significant events, including arms reduction treaties with the U.S. and the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union.

💡Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, was the site of pro-democracy protests in 1989, which were brutally suppressed by the Chinese government. The transcript references these demonstrations, drawing parallels to other global movements for democracy and freedom during the late 20th century. The crackdown on protesters is depicted as a significant and tragic event in the struggle for political reform in China.

Highlights

TWA flight 847 was hijacked by two Muslim extremists with ties to Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran.

The hijackers demanded the release of Shiite Muslim prisoners held by Israel.

Paula Sukeforth, a mother of six, was one of the 153 passengers onboard TWA flight 847.

The hijackers threatened to kill a passenger every five minutes if their demands were not met.

The flight was forced to land in Beirut after a terrifying journey from Athens to Algiers.

Navy diver Robert Stethen was the first victim of the hijackers.

Ronald Reagan abandoned his No-Negotiations policy with terrorists to secure the release of the hostages.

The summer of 1987 saw the Reagan administration embroiled in the Iran-Contra affair.

President Reagan's popularity plummeted after the revelation of the illegal arms sales to Iran.

Black Tuesday in October 1987 saw the stock market lose 508 points.

Mikhail Gorbachev introduced glasnost, or openness, in the Soviet Union, allowing for freedom of speech.

The Reykjavik summit in October 1986 saw Reagan and Gorbachev nearly agree to eliminate all nuclear weapons.

Gorbachev's visit to Washington and his charismatic public interactions made him very popular in America.

In 1989, the Berlin Wall was breached, marking the end of the Iron Curtain and the Cold War.

The fall of the Berlin Wall led to a reassessment of the sacrifices made during the Vietnam and Korean Wars.

Transcripts

The Russians and these other countries

but the world remains a dangerous place

On June the fourteenth 1985 ,TWA flight 847 took off from Athens

in Greece on its way to Rome

A few minutes into the flight, I look up and

there are people walking down the aisle, yelling

head down, no talk and

I...

didn't know what was happening really

the flight was hijacked by two Muslim extremists with ties to the Ayatollah

Khomeini in Iran

Their latest demand is that all

Shiite Muslim prisoners being held by Israel be released

and I'm watching this and all of a sudden my brother walked in the door

he came downstairs in he said, mom is on that plane

Paula Sukeforth, the mother of six, was one of the 153 people onboard

most of them Americans

they were going to kill someone every five minutes if their

demands were not met

the hijackers forced the plane on a frightening odyssey from Athens to Algiers

and back to the darkened airport in Beirut where the plane was refused

permission to land

We have pulled a hand grenade and he is ready to blow up the aircraft

if he has to

I repeat, we must land at Beirut

You have no permission to land Beirut - the airport is closed

I expected that we were gonna crash, so this is how it was going to end

when things looked absolutely hopeless

the runway at Beirut was finally cleared but the crisis was far from over

847 they are threatening to kill the passengers, they are threatening to kill the passengers

(shots)

their first victim was Navy diver, Robert Stethen

I just can picture the body coming out the door

and landing on the tarmac

and then

thinking, Oh God! They're actually

killing people

I wrote my name and address and telephone number on my stomach

just in case I'm was found dead somewhere

Unwilling to risk more American lives Ronald Reagan,

abandoned his own No-Negotiations policy with terrorists

and worked out a deal to free some prisoners held in Israeli jails

in exchange for the TWA hostages.

I didn't expect the United States to

negotiate. In hindsight, I'm glad they did!

I never thought I would see her again and there she was

It was wonderful

Summer of 1987 was not a good one for the Reagan administration

Congressional hearings that summer revealed that the administration had

illegally sold arms

to Ayatollah Khomeini's Iran and funnel the profits to the Contras in Nicaragua

For the first time

President Reagan's popularity plummeted and then, on October the nineteenth,

Black Tuesday, the stock market went into free-fall losing 508 points

and moral Empires, too, came tumbling down when several

televangelists were charged with financial crimes or

personal sins ....suddenly it seemed that

not all was well in the United States

In the Soviet Union, on the other hand, there was a whole new sense of optimism

After a succession of old man and old style rule which had left the Soviet Union

in deep stagnation, a vigorous new leader Mikhail Gorbachev came to

power in 1985

Gorbachev soon began to make changes in a country long

ruled by repression and fear-

He instituted, glasnost, or openness, and suddenly

there was freedom of speech

It was discussion, openly, and I was right in the middle -

it was something - absolutely incredible

Alexander's Zhurbin was a composer

who had a studio in Moscow's Pushkin Square

At the time it was a center of political discussion- thousands of people

One said that Gorbachev is terrible,

he is scoundrel, and I said, No, he is a great man- we have to support him

(speaking Russian)

It was times when you know, all the hopes

are open, you know, we just were absolutely

overwhelmed

but Gorbachev's attempt to restructure the Soviet economy

Peristroika, did little to shorten lines for the paltry number of available consumer goods

Soviet hopes for material progress

demanded cutbacks in their defense spending and this led to a series of

summit meetings with President Reagan

the first one was in Geneva in 1985

the next one was at Reykjavik in Iceland.

On a weekend in October 1986, the leaders got down to the serious

business of disarmament.

And they were negotiating frankly

their both sides are gonna give up all

their nuclear weapons - all their nuclear weapons

President Reagan's Director of Communications was

Patrick Buchanan

I just couldn't believe that a decision of this magnitude was being made by

two men on a Sunday afternoon

It's late in the afternoon and they had taken a break, so I got right out there and I wanted

to see exactly how he looked

He looked as tough as any customer I have seen

Gorbachev told Reagan, we're gonna do the deal, but you gotta give up SDI

the Soviets had spent a trillion dollars

building the greatest land-based missile

force on earth and here was Ronald Reagan who was developing a system

it was gonna turn into junk and they believed he could do it

Ronald Reagan slammed down to his hand on table got up and left

No

That was the end of the summit, but not of good relations

between the two leaders

(music)

A year later Mr. Gorbachev came to Washington,

sidestepping the issue of the strategic defense initiative

the leaders assigned a more limited arms reduction treaty

Mister Gorbachev was very popular

in America

Gorbachev's motorcade came around the corner on Connecticut Avenue

and suddenly the motorcade stopped

and then the door opened and Gorbachev got out and began working the crowd

along Connecticut Avenue like an American politician

people around me were rapt- I remember a young woman

looking out through the crowd and smiling on her face and she said

God bless you Mister Gorbachev

I couldn't believe - it was

great he came out to meet us all like that- that was very special and he didn't have

to do it, but he did it - I'm very surprised and pleased

What do you think of Gorbachev - the guy is that PR genius

jumping out of the car like that Who got to shake his hand?

I did, yeah

Six months later, President Reagan went to Moscow

There was a sense that

this long nightmare of with the threat of nuclear holocaust the

the Cold War somehow that that was coming to an end

And we find ourselves standing like this

We meant to change a nation and instead

we changed a world

1989 was a momentous year

first in China, where just at about the time

when Mikhail Gorbachev was paying a visit, Chinese students

occupied their country's most important square

What I'm seeing on television cannot be happening

Chinese students marching into Tiananmen Square

carrying a large plastered goddess of democracy

very similar to the statue of Liberty

In the heart of the largest communist country in the world

the American symbol of freedom towered over demonstrations for democracy

There clearly was a historic significant event

I had a feeling that wasn't gonna last very long

And it did not

on June the fourth the demonstrations were crushed

hundreds of people were killed- but what the students

and workers had attempted would change China

forever

All over Eastern Europe that summer, democracy movements were gathering strength

Poland was gearing up for free elections- it was happening in Hungary and

Czechoslovakia and behind the walls in East Germany there were pro-democracy

demonstrations

people were demanding change

On Nov. the ninth, the East German government finally gave in to the pressure

You wanted to see what's really behind the wall

What have they been hiding over there?

and it's just people on the other side waiting to see loved ones

the Berlin Wall was breached- the iron curtain had been lifted

the hopes for freedom kindled by Gorbachev's reforms in the Soviet Union

prove mightier than walls

We were crying

watching them tear down this thing that had haunted them for so long

and I'm thinking, what joy - you could just feel it coming through the television's from these people

I thought - that's what it's all about

conquering your ghosts

having gone into more to prevent the spread of communism

and now, a decade and a half later, the wall comes down

it causes you to stop - it caused me to stop and think

wow - this sacrifice that people made

58,000 in Vietnam - I don't know the statistics from Korea

I think they made a contribution

it would be too heartbreaking to think they didn't

Many historians actually believe that the 20th century ending with the fall of

the Berlin Wall

and that the nineties represent the first decade have a new era

why don't you judge for yourself when we take a look at the century's

last decade - that's the next episode

of the Century- American Time - Thank you for joining us, I'm Peter Jennings