Excerpts from different episodes of "Hard Times: an Oral History of the Great Depression". Concerning The New Deal: Ed Paulsen talks about conflicting feelings regarding the New Deal and how the government seemed more present in daily life. Gardner C. Means explains how the New Deal was created to help save the country. Joe Marcus remembers feeling like his ideas were valued and were making a difference in his government job. John Beecher talks about working in the transient camps.

Excerpts from different episodes of "Hard Times: an Oral History of the Great Depression". A Fairy Tale: Montage of young voices that talk about their parents' stories of surviving the Depression. The March: Jimmy Sheridan talks about what life was like on the rails as part of the Bonus March. Born Losers: Ed Paulsen discusses trying to find work in San Francisco and upon failing, marching to City Hall, which then led to rioting with the police. Hard Travelin': Pauline Kael remembers her mother feeding beggars that came to the back door.

Excerpts from different episodes of "Hard Times: an Oral History of the Great Depression". Bonnie Laboring Boy: Joe Morrison talks about generational differences in laborers. Evelyn Finn talks about trying to unionize at clothing factories. Two Strikes: Jose Yglesias talks about strikes in cigar factories and the lifelong stigmas of strikebreakers. Bob Stinson discusses working at General Motors and the sit-down strike. The Farmer is the Man: Oscar Heline explains farmer's actions in response to farm foreclosures.

Discussing British depression with Will Paynter at Speakers Corner, Hyde Park (part 1) while Studs was in England.

Presenting "Hard Times: an Oral History of the Great Depression" High Life, Sixteen Ton: Chapter 7. Sally Rand talks about the creation of her signature fan dance and predictions for future depressions. Doc Graham discusses his upbringing, Chicago mobs, and Count Victor Lustig. Tony Soma talks about prohibition before and after the 1929 crash. Jerome Zerbe talks about inventing paparazzi photography, spending 2 weeks working in a coal mine, and the New Deal. Buddy Blankenship recalls working 16 hour days in West Virginia coal mines. Mary Owsley remembers life as a coal miner's wife.

Presenting "Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression" Chapter 1: A Fairy Tale. Montage of young voices that talk about their parents' stories of surviving the Depression. The March: Jimmy Sheridan explains the origins of the Bonus March and what life was like on the rails. The Song: Edgar Yipsel (Yip) Harburg talks about writing "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime" while a version by the Weavers plays. Born Losers: Ed Paulsen discusses traveling the country to find work, march riots in San Francisco, and the relief felt as WPA projects and money began to lift burdens.

Presenting "Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression" Chapter 9: God Bless the Child. In this section, interviewees are children that grew up during the Great Depression they talk about their experiences. Jane Yoder and her son Tom Yoder discuss the shame that can accompany poverty and the importance of warmth and food over all else. Bob Leary is a cab driver that talks about his father's lack of self-confidence even when able to find work. Daisy Singer remembers the need to keep up appearances.

Presenting an award-winning summary program of "Hard Times: an oral history of the great depression" series 1971-72: "A gathering of survivors" (part two) with Jim Sheridan, Pauline Kael, Emma Tiller, Frank Czerwonka, Cesar Chavez, William Benton, Sidney Weinberg. Chapter 12.

Studs Terkel discusses the upcoming new play "Of Mice and Men", based on the novel written by John Steinbeck with the starring actors, John Malkovich (Lennie) and Gary Sinise (George). The program begins with the opening excerpt from the play "Of Mice and Men" featuring Terkel (George) and Win Stracke (Lennie) from 1952, which then leads into Malkovich and Sinise's interpretation of the rest of the scene. Folk singer Utah Phillips song "On the Goodnight Loving Trail" is presented as a comparison to themes expressed in "Of Mice and Men".

Presenting "Hard Times: an Oral History of the Great Depression", Chapter 9: Concerning The New Deal. Ed Paulsen talks about conflicting feelings regarding the New Deal and how the government seemed more present in daily life. Hank Oettinger remembers how his town celebrated after the first round of relief checks were received. Gardner C. Means explains how the New Deal was created to help save the country.