Changes

Like many of the Magic Kingdom's opening day attractions, the Hall of Presidents started out as an idea for Disneyland. Walt Disney wanted to create an attraction called "One Nation Under God"in the late 1950s.The attraction would have been a film about American greatness and the Constitution. The grand finale of the attraction was going to be life size Audio Anamatronics of all the United States Presidents joining together on stage, and concluding with Abraham Lincoln giving a speech. Technological limitations however, made the show unrealistic and the idea was eventually scrapped.

Although the technology was still underdevelopment, Walt agreed to create a show around an Audio Anamatronic Abraham Lincoln for the 1964 World's Fair. The show Disney created came up with was called "Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln", and was essentially a scaled down version of the "One Nation Under God" show. Instead of focusing on all of the American presidentshowever, Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln narrowed in on only Abraham Lincoln. The film portion of the attraction told his biography and like its predacessor, the show concluded with the Audio Anamatronic Lincoln giving a speech. Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln was a huge success at the World's Fair, and soon after a copy of so Disney decided to move the show was made for attraction to Disneyland. One year after the Worlds Fair, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln opened in Disneyland on Main Street USA. The show was free for guests, and was quite popular.

When planning Walt Disney World, instead of just creating a copy of Great Moments for Mr. Lincoln, Imagineers revisited the idea of the One Nation Under God show. Although they kept the basic premise of the show, now calling it the changed the tame to the "Hall of Presidents". Technology had improved to the point that creating Audio Anamatronic figures for every President was possible, and the Magic Kingdom also had the space available for such a large stage to be created.  When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971 the Hall of Presidents opened with it. The Hall, along with the Country Bear Jamboree and the MIckey Mickey Mouse Revue was one of the three unique (not from Disneyland) attractions on the Magic Kingdom's opening day.

The Hall of Presidents is located in Liberty Square and is housed in a colonial hall. The hall's architecture takes its inspiration from Philadelphia and Boston colonial meeting halls. The building itself is red brick, with a peaked tower serving as its highest point. Above the entrance to the hall, the date 1787 can be read (an obvious reference to the year the Constitution was signed).

The Hall of Presidents presents the story of America through images, music and Audio Anamatronics. The first part of the attraction is a film shown on a 180 degree screen. Following , and sometimes during the film, Audio Anamatronics presidents Presidents give speeches. The climax of attraction comes when Audio Anamatronics of every United States President appear on stage together at the endof the show.

The film began with the Constitutional Convention in 1787. George Washington, the president of the convention and Benjamin Franklin are heard trying to persuade their fellow delegates to sign the Constitution. Although the founders admit that the Constitution is not perfect, all but three eventually sign the document and it is eventually ratified. The scene then changes to the Whiskey Rebellion 1789, where farmers are up in arms over taxes. President George Washington and Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Mifflin are heard arguing over whether or not Washington has the power states agree to use force on the rebels. Washington says that the Supreme Court says he has the authority, and is shown on horseback leading federal troops. The narrator then says that fortunately the riots ended without bloodshed, and that Washington was able to show Americans that the President would use force in order "ensure domestic tranquility"ratify it.

The scene once again shifted, now then changed to South Carolina some 40 years later. The Nullification Crisis is feature and a picture of an angry crowd is shown as a speaker addresses them. The speaker informs the mob thatWhiskey Rebellion 1789, "The Federal Government's Tariff Acts where farmers are hereby declared null, void, up in arms over taxes. President George Washington and no law in Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Mifflin are heard arguing over whether or not Washington has the power to use armed forces to stope the State of South Carolinarebels." The Speaker then Washington says that any use of force by the government will lead to Supreme Court says he has the succession of South Carolina. President Andrew Jacksonauthority, however and is determined shown on horseback leading federal troops towards to keep Pennsylvania. The narrator then said that fortunately the union togetherriots ended without bloodshed, and with the support of Congress puts an end that Washington was able to the Nullification Crisis politically. It is apparent however, show Americans that the Union is President would use force in dangerorder "ensure domestic tranquility".

The scene then cuts the next image to appear on the now President screen showed a debate in 1958 rural Illinois between Abraham Lincoln in the White Houseand Stephen Douglas. He is aloneDuring the debate, but says Lincoln said that he knows he needs to protect the Unionslavery is wrong, and "this government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half-free. He continues A house divided against itself cannot stand". Although he was being heckled, he continued on saying that he knows there is a Godif the people do not believe in the words of the Deceleration of Independence, then they should go and that that God hates slaverydestroy it. He says The crowd admits that with Gods help he will end slavery is right, and win although the warnarrator tells us he looses the election, his words were not forgotten.

The narrator scene then cut to the now President Abraham Lincoln in the White House. He is alone, and saysthat he knows he needs to protect the Union. He continues on saying that he knows there is a God, and that that God hates slavery. He says that with Gods help he will end slavery and win the war. Images of the American Civil War then flash on the screen and the narrator said:

As whimsical music playsbegan to play, images from the century following the the Civil War appear appeared on screen. Images Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers, auto racing and nickelodeon movies appear on all flashed before the screenaudiances eyes. The montage of American progress ends finally ended with the Saturn V launching from Cape Canaveral to the moon. This scene concluded the film portion of the attraction.

After the film ended, a curtain behind the screens would rise to reveal all of the Presidents of the United States. A roll call would be taken and a spotlight would shine on each indvidual presidentPresident as they were introduced. Finally, Abraham Lincoln would rise and give a finals final speech.

{{Quotation| This government must be preserved in spite of the acts of any man or set of men. Nowhere in the world is has presented a government of so much liberty and equality. To the humblest and poorest among us are held the highest privileges and positions. What constitutes the bulwark of our liberty and independence? It is not the frowning battlements, or bristling seacoast, our army and navy. These are not our reliance against tyranny. Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in us. Our defense is in the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands everywhere.Destroy this spirit and you have planted the seeds of despotism at your own doors. At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic giant to step the ocean and crush us at a blow? Never. All the armies of Europe, Asia, and Africa combined could not, by force, take a drink from the Ohio or make a track on the Blue Ridge. At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up among us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we ourselves, must be its author and its finisher. As a nation of free men, we must live through all time, or die by suicide. Surely God would not have created such a being as man, with an ability to grasp the infinite to exist only for a day. No. No. Man was made for immortality.}}

In 1993 the Hall of Presidents was overhauled and given a new script. Columbia professor Eric Forner convinced Disney executives including Michael Eisner, that the show did not pay enough attention to slavery and race. When the Hall of Presidents reopened in October of 1993, the attraction had a completely new tone. The film was now narrated by poet Maya Angelo, but once again began with the Constitutional Convention. Now however, instead of arguing about whether or not to ratify the Constitution, delegates could be heard arguing about slavery and whether or not to include it in the new country.

When the Hall of Presidents reopened in October of 1993, the attraction had a completely new tone. The film was now narrated by poet Maya Angelo, and once again began with the Constitutional Convention. Now however, instead of arguing about whether or not to ratify the Constitution, delegates could be heard arguing about slavery and whether or not to include it in the new country.  The Whiskey Rebellion scene that had once followed the Constitutional Convention was removed from the new film. Instead next came the film jumped straight to the Nullification Crisis, where once again the issue of slavery was interjected. Now the South Carolina crowd who supported nullification also voiced their approval of slavery.

Another change however was done to the post Civil War scene. Instead of focusing on American technological achievements after the Civil War, the film instead focused on the civil rights struggles of women, immigrants and African Americans. The film concludes concluded with the narrator saying "We the people should mean all the people". The film ended just as its predecessor did , with the launch of the Saturn 5.

With the Inauguration of Barrack Obama, the Hall of Presidents once again went under another a major changerenovation. The tone was once again shiftedaway from American inequality, and it now focused on the Presidents relationship with "we the people".

Like the previous incarnations of the Hall of Presidents, the current version once gain starts with the shadows of Americans repeating the Deceleration of Independence. Morgan Freeman, who is the new narrator of the film, then shifts the scene back to American Revolution. Scenes of Valley Forge, and America winning Independence are shown. The narrator then says, that from the beginning the dream of a government by "We the people" was already facing a threat. Images then depict the colonies as bankrupt, and soldiers as unpaid. Some American veterans can be heard calling for an end to Democracy and for George Washington to be crowned king. Washington then speaks, saying that he believes in the Democracy that he fought for, and after hearing his words, the unrest amongest the solders is quelled.

The Nullification Crisis scene has been altered Moving forward through history, the narrator then begins to discuss how, in the new version of mid 19th centuary, slavery had begun to tear the Hall of Presidentscountry apart. Instead of focusing on nullification He states that a new President was needed to rise to the scene know talks about President Andrew Jacksonchallenge. The narrator says that Jackson was not an aristocrat as previous presidents had beenLincoln-Douglas debates are once again shown, instead he was and Lincoln gives his "one of usHouse Divided"speech. A new An image shows 20,000 Americans descending on Jackson's inauguration. As a women staff member of the White House comments that if they had not put free punch on the lawnLincoln being elected in 1860 follows, commoners would still be in as the White House. The new scene focuses on narrator talks about how we needed a leader who could hold the President Jackson's relationship with the people country together even as opposed to the Nullification Crisisit was seemingly falling apart.

Moving forward through history, the narrator then begins to discuss how slavery had begun to tear the country apart and a new President was needed to rise to the challenge. The Lincoln-Douglas debates are once again shown, and Lincoln gives his "House Divided" speech. An image of Lincoln being elected in 1860 follows, as the narrator talks about how we needed a leader who could hold the country together. The next image to appear on screen shows Abraham Lincoln alone, and talking to himself. He says:

The next scene shows the beginning of the Civil War and at Fort Sumteris then shown. The Civil War is depicted through images of Union and Confederate soldiers, while cannons boom in the background. The narrator then tells guests that after 500,000 Americans had died, America needed meaning to come from all the tragedy.At this point, the film screen rises to show and an Audio Anamatronic Abraham Lincoln giving the Gettysburg Addresses.

The After his speech, the narrator says that with the Civil War over, America was united at last. Images of the Continental Railroad, and the Western Frontier are shown as America grows , and moves West. Teddy Roosevelt then appears on the screen, as and the narrator comments that although he was born an aristocrat, Roosevelt fought for the working class. He was the one who refused to call the Executive Mansion by its name, instead calling it a "White House". The next president mentioned is Franklin Delenor Roosevelt, who is called upon to the lead the nation through its darkest hours since the Civil War. The Depression and the Stock Market Crash of 1929 are depicted, followed by WWII. The narrator says that when America's confidence was shaken, FDR was their to reassure us. A fireside chat is then heard with FDR saying:

The next President who is shown is John F. Kennedy 16 years later. A video clip of Kennedy giving a speech is shown:

The narrator then film says that Kennedy inspired Americans were inspired into new civic activism, as an images of Martin Luther King Jr. appear on the screen. Then The images then change a large picture of the Lincoln Monument appears as the narrator gives a short speech.

Finally , the narrator gives one final speech as the Space Shuttle Columbia is shown launching for the fist time.

As the narrator is finishing, the curtain video screen on the main stage rises, revealing Audio Anamatronics of every United States President. A Presidential roll call is then taken, where each President is introducedand spotlighted. After the roll call George Washington begins to speak:

After Washington is finished, Barrack Obama begins to recite the oath Oath of the President.

Barrack Obama is then introduced by the narrator. President Obama and he then gives the final speech of the attraction:

* Other than the White House, the Hall of Presidents in Walt Disney World is the only other place where the Presidential Seal can be used.  * In fact, it took an act of Congress to allow Disney to use the seal.