“This documentary special recalls the childhood years of Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota and acclaimed novelist James Baldwin, in two separate segments. As they reminisce about their experiences as children, actual footage and dramatic re-creations depict scenes that parallel the memories they describe. Both Humphrey and Baldwin focus on the importance of their fathers’ influence on them while they were growing up and talk about their childhood aspirations. They each describe the moment in their lives when they left their childhood years behind — for Humphrey the Great Depression, and for Baldwin his father’s death. In the first portion, “Hubert Humphrey’s South Dakota,” Humphrey offers a portrait of his happy childhood in the small town of Doland. He describes the family home; typical meals; his favorite activities; his family’s religious activities; his schooling; and accompanying his father, a local druggist, when he delivered medicine to farmers and vaccinated their animals. He also shares anecdotes about a controversial incident in the town involving a large power company that planned to take over a local plant; and memories of a childhood illness that almost cost him his life. Included are clips from a silent Western film starring William S. Hart, and archival footage of the Depression era. The second portion of the program, “James Baldwin’s Harlem,” provides a striking contrast to Humphrey’s depiction of his own seemingly idyllic childhood. Baldwin describes his unhappy childhood in which reading books and writing served as his refuge from his bitter, cruel father and the fear of becoming trapped in Harlem. He recalls the Harlem of his youth, his feelings of worthlessness and fear, and his hatred of white people; describes how his father’s own hatred and bitterness shaped his young worldview; relates some childhood anecdotes; and talks about religion, school, the origins of his writing career, and the first time he saw live theater, which was a positive experience for him. Commercials deleted.”