PBS program on Jesse Owens

     Sadly, the PBS program revives the old lie about Hitler snubbing Jesse Owens by not shaking his hand after the American had won a gold medal. After greeting German medalists, Hitler had been admonished by leaders of the IOC either to congratulate all winners or none, and not to single out those of his own nation for special treatment. Hitler decided NOT to congratulate any other winners in his box. Owens then won additional medals and soon became a star with the crowds in the Berlin stadium who shouted Ohvens (his name pronounced in German). Leni Riefenstahl, in her superb film of the Olympics, is fair to Owens, and to the Korean who won the marathon, running for Imperial Japan. I think Owens and the other Americans also saw their first television coverage of the sports event.  Some allege that Owens was granted a sum when he appeared in the Landon for President parade in 1936. Owens was snubbed by Democrat Franklin Roosevelt and Democrat Harry Truman. He won later recognition from Republican President Eisenhower. But PBS will not criticize FDR or HST. Better to pretend that Owens was snubbed by Hitler.
     I do not pretend that Hitler was happy about Owens, or any Blacks, winning medals in 1936.  Indeed, he had hoped to change the rules of the Olympics so in future Blacks would not be allowed to compete.  Still, one might hope that PBS could refrain from its Democratic Party partisanship for an hour.