THE QUEST FOR PEACE SERIES

This series of interviews, conducted between 1983 and 1985, was completed prior to the effects of glasnost and perestroika, and provide an overview of issues involved in seeking peace in the nuclear age during the Cold War of the early 1980s. Many of the issues raised in the interviews, however, address human kinds’ unmet challenges in achieving peace during any age.

“The Quest for Peace series challenges viewers to determine personal roles in furthering the cause of lasting peace. Awesome in breadth and scope… reflective, lively, and controversial, always thought provoking…”
— Carole B. Bernard, Psychologist

The men and women who participated in the series come from diverse backgrounds and occupations including a variety of academic disciplines: education, economics, history, sociology, psychology, philosophy, biology, law, chemistry, physics, medicine, political science, and religion. Their views on nuclear and peace issues are multifaceted and often controversial but all guests share a common denominator of deep concern about the complex issues of national security, nuclear weaponry, and relations between people and nations. The Quest for Peace series, which comprises 31 interviews in eight topical groupings, addresses concerns which range from the global to the deeply personal; it addresses the question of human survival.

 

Major elements in this introductory series served as a PBS Tele-course and were broadcast on 400 cable and PBS stations in 47 states, and on the Catholic Television Broadcast System of America.

 

DEFINING THE PROBLEM

 

The Urgency of the Problem
Helen Caldicott, 1984

Helen Caldicott The Urgency of the Problem Transcript

 

 

The Challenge to Change
Norman Cousins, 1984

Norman Cousins The Challenge to Change Transcript

 

 

Illusions about Nuclear Weapons
Noel Gayler, 1985

Noel Gayler Illusions about Nuclear Weapons Transcript

 

 

The Greatest Moral Problem Ever to Face Mankind
Theodore Hesburgh, 1984

Theodore M. Hesburgh The Greatest Moral Problem Ever to Face Mankind Transcript

 

A World of Clear and Present Danger
Eugene V. Rostow, 1985

Eugene V. Rostow A World Of Clear And Present Danger Transcript

 

 

THE EFFECTS OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

 

The Biological Effects of Nuclear War
Paul Ehrlich, 1984

Paul R. Ehrlich The Biological Effects of Nuclear War Transcript

 

 

Medical Implications of Nuclear War
H. Jack Geiger, 1984

Jack Geiger Medical Implications of Nuclear War Transcript

 

 

Effects of Nuclear Weapons on the Atmosphere
F. Sherwood Rowland, 1985

Sherwood F. Rowland – Effects of Nuclear Weapons on the Atmosphere Transcript

 

 

THE NUCLEAR EQUATION

Nuclear Weapons Are Here to Stay
Richard L. Garwin, 1984

Richard L. Garwin Nuclear Weapons Are Here to Stay Transcript

 

 

Fundamental Truths About the Nuclear Arms Race

John P. Holdren, 1984

John P. Holdren Fundamental Truths About the Nuclear Arms Race Transcript

 

 

The Consensus Between the United States and the Soviet Union
Michael May, 1984

Michael May The Consensus Between the United States and the Soviet Union Transcript

 

STRIVING FOR NATIONAL SECURITY

 

Nuclear Weapons Are Most Dangerous to Their Possessors
William E. Colby, 1984

William E. Colby Nuclear Weapons Are Most Dangerous to Their Possessors Transcript

 

 

The Essentials of National Security
James R. Schlesinger, 1984

James R. Schlesinger The Essentials of National Security Transcript

 

 

National Security and the Nuclear Dilemma
Richard Smoke, 1984

Richard Smoke National Security and the Nuclear Dilemma Transcript

UNDERSTANDING SOVIET PERSPECTIVES AND BEHAVIOR

 

Understanding the United States-Soviet Relationship
Helmut Sonnenfeldt, 1984

Helmut Sonnenfeldt – Understanding the United States Soviet Relationship Transcript

 

 

Understanding Soviet Perspectives and Behavior
Robert C. Tucker, 1984

Robert Tucker Understanding Soviet Perspective Transcript

 

 

ARMS CONTROL, PEACE, AND REDUCING THE RISKS OF NUCLEAR WAR

 

Preserving Freedom and Maintaining Peace
Donald M. Rumsfeld, 1985

Donald Rumsfeld Preserving Freedom and Maintaining Peace Transcript

 

 

Arms Control Is an Unnatural Act
Paul Warnke, 1984

Paul C. Warnke Arms Control Is an Unnatural Act Transcript

SOCIETY’S INSTITUTIONS AND THE HUMAN CONDITION

 

 

Peace Is Possible, But Not Inevitable
Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, 1984

Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Peace Is Possible, But Not Inevitable Transcript

 

 

Intelligence in the Service of Love and Kindness
Kenneth B. Clark, 1984

Kenneth B Clark Intelligence in the Service of Love and Kindness Transcript

 

 

The Drift to War
Laura Nader, 1984

Laura Nader The Drift to War Transcript

 

 

Religion, Politics, and the Lessons of History
David Saperstein, 1985

David N. Saperstein Religion, Politics, and the Lessons of History Transcript

 

 

The Problem Is Us
Sheila Tobias, 1984

Sheila Tobias The Problem Is Us Transcript

 

 

PERSPECTIVES ON THE ROAD TO PEACE

 

The Peace Seeker and the Role of Government
Julian Bond, 1984

Julian Bond The Peace Seeker and the Role of Government Transcript

 

 

The Hope for Education
Ernest L. Boyer, 1984

Ernest L. Boyer The Hope for Education Transcript

 

 

The Conflict Between Peace and Power
Norman Cousins, 1984

Norman Cousins The Conflict between Peace and Power Transcript

 

 

 

The Ashes of Capitalism and the Ashes of Communism
John Kenneth Galbraith, 1984

John Kenneth Gailbraith The Ashes of Capitalism and the Ashes of Communism Transcript

 

 

Peace in a Worldwide Community
Theodore Hesburgh, 1984

Theodore M Hesburgh Peace in a Worldwide Community Transcript

 

 

Forsaking Vengeance and Retaliation
Karl Menninger, 1984

Karl Menninger Forsaking Vengeance and Retaliation Transcript

 

 

The True Problem: Mankind Against War
Herbert Scoville, Jr., 1984

Herbert Scoville Jr. The True Problem: Mankind Against War Transcript

 

 

Preserving Liberty Without Blowing Up the World
Brent Scowcroft, 1985

Brent Scowcroft Preserving Liberty Without Blowing Up the World Transcript