Journey to America, on PBS

People forget, but no president was more supportive of immigration than Ronald Reagan—legal immigration, that is. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and his wife Callista present portraits of notable American [legal] immigrants very much in the Reaganesque tradition in Journey to America with Newt and Callista Gingrich, which airs this Tuesday night on PBS.

It might seem like a blindingly obvious point, but Prof. Susan Hanssen helpfully points out legal immigration is good, because it allows those who follow the law coming here can fully benefit from the rule of law as a recognized member of society. Conversely, illegal immigration is bad for the same reason. Indeed, all of the Gingrichs’ subjects came to America legally, duly taking citizenship over time.

This is quite a starry lineup, including Golden Age movie star Hedy Lamarr, whose contributions as an inventor and scientist are also cogently explained. In fact, the Gingrichs largely cover the same territory as Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story, but with greater economy. As you would expect from the Catholic Gingrichs, their coverage of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American citizen beautified into Sainthood, is also quite strong. It also reminds potential visitors the Cabrini Shrine in upper Manhattan is lovely often overlooked attraction.

Perhaps the most controversial segment focuses on the late Henry Kissinger, reminding viewers the future Secretary of State came to America with his Jewish family, as penniless refugees from National Socialist Germany. It makes you wonder why the hard left likes to smear Kissinger (a diplomat), who happens to be Jewish, as a “war criminal,” instead of Robert McNamara, Dean Rusk, or William Rogers, but not really.

However, some of the best segments chronicle lesser known naturalized Ame4ricans, such as Xi Van Fleet, a survivor of Mao’s Cultural Revolution in China, who has become a grassroots advocate of educational reform in Lowdon County, Virgina. Yet, in terms of underdog stories, it is hard to top Maria Daume, who was literally born in a Russian prison, where she was left orphaned after her single mother died, serving a sentence for who knows what.

There is a good balance to Journey to America. It is also nicely paced. Many PBS viewers will probably dismiss it out of hand due to their political prejudices against the former Speaker, but that would be a short-sighted mistake. There is a lot of good stuff here, presented with a fair degree of insight. Highly recommended for the political and cultural history, Journey to America with Newt and Callista Gingrich airs tomorrow (1/14) on most PBS stations.