1964

The Oscar W. Underwood Story
Profiles in Courage (NBC)
hour-long drama
Lamont Johnson, director
Mickey Mccardle, Assistant Director

The Oscar W. Underwood Story was the debut installment of Profiles in Courage, which was developed from President John F. Kennedy's 1956 Pulitzer Prize-winning book about actual political figures who faced extraordinary challenges. The first U.S. senator to be officially designated as floor leader—as distinct from conference chairman—was Oscar Underwood of Alabama, chosen by the Democratic senators in 1920. Sidney Blakmer portrayed Underwood and Victor Jory co-starred in the production that brought director Johnson his first DGA award.