At the dawn of the Cold War and the height of McCarthyism, Americans from all walks of life bravely spoke their beliefs on the original This I Believe.

As part of its effort to raise $50,000 by the end of July, This I Believe is offering this documentary on the web and via podcast telling the fascinating history of the series hosted by Edward R. Murrow and featuring excerpts of essays by Helen Keller, Harry Truman, Albert Einstein, Martha Graham and many others.

This documentary also tells the story of how the contemporary series was revised in 2005 and became a powerful educational resource for students and teachers around the globe.

We hope you enjoy this show and will consider a donation to help This I Believe continue to showcase beliefs from citizens around the world.