Profiles in Courage is an American historical anthology series that was telecast weekly on NBC from November 8, 1964, to May 9, 1965 (Sundays, 6:30-7:30pm, Eastern). The series was based on the Pulitzer Prize winning 1956 book, Profiles in Courage by U.S. President John F. Kennedy, who had been assassinated the previous November.
The series lasted for 26 episodes, each of which would feature a figure from American history who took an unpopular stand during a critical moment in the nation's history. Seven of the eight senators from Kennedy's book were profiled, with the exception being Mississippi's Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar. Music for the opening and closing theme was arranged by Nelson Riddle, based on the Irish ballad, The Boys of Wexford, home of Kennedy's ancestors.
Each episode ends with a recording of Kennedy's voice declaring that, "These stories of past courage can teach... they can offer hope and they can provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself. For this, each man must look into his own soul."
For the record, among the 26 episodes, three teleplays profiled women — episode 2: high school teacher Mary S. McDowell in 1918, episode 9: Puritan reformer Anne Hutchinson in 1637 (the earliest time frame depicted in any episode) and episode 15: schoolteacher Prudence Crandall in 1832.
The series won two awards; a Peabody Award for Robert Saudek and a Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television.[citation needed]
Episodes of Profiles in Courage on the Internet Archive