Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today

President Donald  Trump wants Panama to hand back, one of the most important waterways on the planet, the Panama Canal, to the United States and he hasn’t ruled out force if Panama won’t agree. It’s a far cry from 48 years ago when another very different US President - formally gave the Panama canal to the nation of Panama.

This week from the Rear Vision archives - the story of the building of the Panama Canal and a US president who believed that fairness and not force should lie at the heart of the United States dealing with the nations of the world.

President Trump wants to buy or take control of Greenland from Denmark. But Denmark has made very clear, they don’t have the right to sell Greenland because Greenland is owned by the people of Greenland. 

Donald Trump is not the first US president to try and buy Greenland. The story of Greenland and America’s many attempts to gain control of the largest island on the planet.

On 26 January 1788, the ships of the First Fleet started unloading the first of more than a thousand people – convicted criminals, officers, marines, women and children – who would set up camp in what became the city of Sydney.

What happened during the first days, weeks and months of contact between the British who arrived and the Aboriginal people who lived there?

In June 2015 Donald Trump, real estate tycoon and TV personality, announced he was running in the Republican Presidential race. At first many people dismissed him as having no chance but within weeks of nominating, his polling numbers rocketed, and he became the front runner in a field of 17 candidates and the rest as they say is history. This week on Rear Vision we revisit the story of Donald Trump before he became US President.

It’s a truism of peace talks that we’re not negotiating with our friends but rather our enemies. And when most of our enemies have been designated as terrorist and murderers it’s not an easy task. How have violent conflicts ended in the past and are there lessons we can learn from previous peace negotiations.

The assassination attempt on Trump was a shocking mission failure for the Secret Service.  From JFK to Reagan, we examine what the agency’s history and response to past failures.

Joe Biden became the 46 President of the United States. Twice before he ran for the Democrat presidential nomination and both times he lost - but he didn't give up.

Born in 1942 he has spent most of his working life in the US Senate, except for the eight years as Vice President in the Obama administration. What does his record in the Senator, and his previous attempts at the presidency tell us about Joe Biden the man and the politician.

While America was founded on lofty ideas – like democracy, equality and freedom – it’s was also shaped and continues to be shaped by political violence. The history of political violence in America from the time of slavery through to the assassination attempt on Donald trump.

Nancy Pelosi was the Democrat Speaker of the House of Representative, during Donald Trump's first presidency. She was a constant thorn in his side and lead the push to impeachment him.

For over four decades has has been a major player in US politics. And despite having retired from the House is said to have played a key role in getting Joe Biden to step aside last year. So, who is Nancy Pelosi.

Australia starting taxing capital gains in 1986, stamping out a whole lot of tax evasion in the process.So why in 1999 did the Howard government introduce a discount on that tax? And how has that concession impacted investing in property?