Age of Confusion
With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, the 1972 Presidential election comes down to an epic duel between two charismatic politicians.
info_outline Episode 19: Come to JesusAge of Confusion
An explosive political showdown begins for the 1972 Republican Presidential nomination, as the sharks circle to finish off George Romney's wounded administration.
info_outline Episode 18: The Atlanta DoctorAge of Confusion
Lawrence McEnery, an Atlanta physician and activist in the John Birch Society, begins his meteoric political career after a chance meeting with Ronald Reagan in 1968.
info_outline Episode 17: SummitAge of Confusion
President Romney tries to come to terms with the Soviets in a high-stakes summit meeting with Shelepin. Are the Russians sincere, or is it another trick?
info_outline Episode 16: War ScareAge of Confusion
The Soviets make an all-out bid to take over West Berlin, pushing the world closer to the brink of nuclear war than it has ever been before.
info_outline Bonus Episode: Mid-Season 2 Recap and ExplainerAge of Confusion
Here is a recap of Episodes 11-15 and some commentary on the real history that it's based on.
info_outline Episode 15: China Bleeds RedAge of Confusion
In 1966, Communist China undergoes a political and cultural upheaval as the aging Mao Zedong seeks to ensure his continued relevance, with disastrous results.
info_outline Episode 14: The New PurgesAge of Confusion
Following the example of his mentor Stalin, new Soviet leader Alexander Shelepin ruthlessly purges the Russian government, military and Communist Party.
info_outline Episode 13: Age of AquariusAge of Confusion
The worlds of music, pop culture and religion in America undergo profound changes in the transition from the hopeful 1960s to the cynical '70s.
info_outline Episode 12: Blood in the SandAge of Confusion
The Middle East erupts in violence between Israel and the Arab states, setting up a tense confrontation between the Cold War superpowers.
info_outlineAs Kennedy’s re-election campaign gets going in earnest, three main challengers on the Republican side duel each other, with varying degrees of commitment, for the nomination to oppose him. Each of them—Rockefeller, Goldwater and Lodge—is hobbled by a different problem that makes them unattractive to a crucial segment of the Republican party they need to win. Meanwhile, Kennedy’s serious health issues begin to impinge on the campaign, and civil rights leaders, disillusioned by his lack of leadership on advancing their goals, fall out with one another, with some wondering if traditional politics has reached the limits of its effectiveness.
Length: 21:31
Next Episode: April 11, 2021