The HISTORY Channel Announces New Digital Shortform Series "Command Decisions: Presidents on the Brink" Featuring Doris Kearns Goodwin

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Historian Guides Viewers Through Defining Presidential Decisions That Shaped American History

Sponsored By Ancestry, Episodes Are Available to Stream Now on HISTORY.com and HISTORY's YouTube Channel

First Shortform Series to Premiere Under A+E Global Media's New Digital Division

New York, NY - [September 4, 2025] - The HISTORY Channel today announced the upcoming premiere of a powerful new 6-episode digital series, Command Decisions: Presidents on the Brink, featuring acclaimed presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin. The series is sponsored by Ancestry - the global leader in family history.

Episodes are available to stream now exclusively at www.HISTORY.com and HISTORY's YouTube Channel.

In this original series, Goodwin doesn't simply revisit the past - she transports viewers into the very heart of America's most consequential presidential decisions. Command Decisions: Presidents on the Brink dramatizes the moment when leadership is tested and the course of history hangs in the balance. Each 8 to 10-minute episode immerses viewers alongside a U.S. president grappling with uncertainty, moral dilemmas, and the crushing weight of national responsibility.

"These are not just stories from our past - they are timeless studies in courage, character, and conviction," said Goodwin. "By understanding how past presidents made decisions under extreme pressure, we gain insight into the qualities that define effective leadership - empathy, humility, teamwork, and perseverance. History reminds us that leadership is about growing through adversity, making tough choices, and learning from mistakes."

From the Oval Office to the battlefield, the series explores how qualities like judgment, resilience, and emotional intelligence shaped the trajectory of a nation. It's not just about what happened - it's about the human capacity to think clearly and act boldly when the stakes are highest.

The digital series aligns with HISTORY's commitment to deliver insightful, thought-provoking content that connects the lessons of the past to the challenges of today. With Goodwin's unparalleled storytelling and historical expertise, each episode delivers both urgency and depth in a compelling shortform format. The first three episodes include:

· Episode 1: LBJ Signs the Civil Rights Act (July 2, 1964)

o In the face of fierce resistance from his own party and the segregated South, President Lyndon B. Johnson takes a stand for equality by signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This landmark decision outlawed segregation and employment discrimination, redefining America's moral landscape and cementing LBJ's legacy as a leader of courage and conscience.

· Episode 2: FDR and Churchill Agree to the Atlantic Charter (August 9-12, 1941)

o As the world teeters on the brink of chaos, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill meet in secret to shape a shared vision for peace. Despite American neutrality and strong isolationist pressure, FDR backs the Atlantic Charter - an act of bold leadership that paved the way for Allied unity, the postwar world order, and U.S. global leadership.

· Episode 3: Lincoln Issues the Emancipation Proclamation (September 22, 1862)

o Following the Union's narrow victory at Antietam, President Abraham Lincoln risks everything by issuing the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. In a moment of profound moral clarity, Lincoln reframes the Civil War as a fight for human freedom - challenging political allies, national unity, and his own presidency in the process.

Command Decisions: Presidents on the Brink is produced for HISTORY by A+E Digital in collaboration with Pastimes Productions. Ted Butler serves as executive producer on the project. Jason Buhrmester serves as Head of Creative and Editorial for A+E Digital. The series is sponsored by Ancestry.

About The HISTORY Channel(TM)

The HISTORY Channel(TM) is the premier destination for historical storytelling. From best-in-class documentary events to a signature slate of industry leading nonfiction series and premium fact-based programming, The HISTORY Channel serves as the most trustworthy source of informational entertainment in media. The HISTORY Channel has been named the #1 U.S. TV network in buzz for several consecutive years by YouGov BrandIndex, and a top favorite TV network by Beta Research Corporation. For additional press materials visit the A+E Global Media Press Center at press.aegm.com.

For a deeper dive, visit history.com or follow @history on Instagram, X, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok. The HISTORY Channel(TM) is a division of A+E Global Media (aegm.com), a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation.

About Doris Kearns Goodwin

Doris Kearns Goodwin's work for President Johnson inspired her career as a presidential historian. Her first book was Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream. She followed up with the Pulitzer Prize-winning No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Homefront in World War II. She earned the Lincoln Prize for Team of Rivals, in part the basis for Steven Spielberg's film Lincoln, and the Carnegie Medal for The Bully Pulpit. Her bestselling Leadership: In Turbulent Times was the inspiration for the History Channel(TM) docuseries on Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin Roosevelt, which she executive produced through her production company, Pastimes Productions. In 2024, she published two books: An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s, which debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and her first book for young readers, The Leadership Journey: How Four Kids Became President, which debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. Most recently, she executive produced the eight-part documentary miniseries "Kevin Costner's The West" for the History Channel(TM).

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A+E Global Media(TM), a joint venture of Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst, is an innovative, multiplatform content powerhouse that reaches audiences everywhere and is comprised of some of the most popular and culturally relevant brands in media, including A&E(R), Lifetime(R), The HISTORY Channel(TM), LMN(R), FYI(R), Home.Made.Nation(TM) and VICE TV(R). Our audiences extend to more than 414 million households in 200+ territories and in 40+ languages. With over 70,000 distinct assets available around the world, the company produces best-in-class content across the multiplatform landscape. A+E Global Media boasts full-scale production capabilities with A+E Studios(R) and A+E Factual Studios(TM). A+E Digital encompasses Websites, Apps, social media, short form content, AVOD offerings; and SVOD products A&E Crime Central(TM), HISTORY Vault(R) and Lifetime Movie Club(TM) and 60+ FAST channels from the company's wildly popular library. A+E Global Media is headquartered in the United States, with owned & operated entities in Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and a joint venture in LATAM. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Facebook.

About Ancestry(R)

Ancestry, the global leader in family history, connects everyone with their past so they can discover, preserve, and share their unique family stories. With our unparalleled collection of more than 65 billion records, over 3 million subscribers and over 27 million people in our growing DNA network, customers can discover their family story and gain a new level of understanding about their lives. Over the past 40 years, we've built trusted relationships with millions of people who have chosen us as the platform for discovering, preserving and sharing the most important information about themselves and their families.