What qualities make up a world leader? How have the decisions made by our leaders in the past sixty years affected the course of history?

These questions, among others, are considered as Channel 5 commemorates the 60th anniversary of D-Day with a special program entitled "Conversation", hosted by nationally known scholar Clay Jenkinson and featuring presidential historian Michael Beschloss and the University of Nevada's Neal Ferguson.

These three scholars look beyond the oft-accounted specifics of D-Day as well as recent events to focus on moments of decision facing FDR, Churchill, and other Presidents and Prime Ministers over the years. Each guest brings his own depth of knowledge about the principal figures of the past sixty years to the discussion, which takes us behind some of the headlines to explain the pressures that moved the great and would-be-great into action.

Host Clay Jenkinson is a highly respected humanities scholar, nationally recognized for his contributions to public humanities programs. He is an author, lecturer, consultant, and presenter on a range of topics with specific interests in Thomas Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Classical Culture, and terrorism. Jenkinson is closely allied with humanities programs particularly in Nevada and North Dakota where, among other things, he has been integral to the revival of the Chautauqua movement.

Michael Beschloss is an historian specializing in the U.S. presidency and American politics. His books include The Crisis Years: Kennedy and Khrushchev, 1960-1963 (1991); Kennedy and Roosevelt: The Uneasy Alliance (1980); and At the Highest Levels: The Inside Story of the End of the Cold War with co-author Strobe Talbott (1993). His latest book is The Conquerors: Roosevelt, Truman and the Destruction of Hitler's Germany, 1941-1945. He is a regular contributor to public television acclaimed news series The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

Neal Ferguson is a Professor of History at the University of Nevada and is a specialist in 20th century warfare. His humanities background includes Chautauqua performances as Bertrand Russell and John Jacob Astor.