I. "The Promise of 1942." Survey of major political and military developments of 1942 which started inauspiciously with the loss of Singapore (peacetime views and evacuation of civilians) and ended encouragingly with success in North Africa and the battle of Stalingrad. "Our sea power saved the situation in the Far East." Outlook for India remains bright in spite of rejection by Nehru, Jinnah and Gandhi of Dominion status offered by Stafford Cripps. International stature of Churchill is suggested by film of the Premier in Washington and in Moscow, with Stalin and Molotov ("these strangely assorted men will understand each other").

II. "The Century of the Common Man." Item suggests that 1942 may be the start of a new social era, in Britain and in the world. Signs of this bright future are already apparent and include declarations by Henry Wallace ("vital to face the aspirations of the common man"), popular recognition of the advantages of an organised economy, admiration for the example of the Red Army where merit not class leads to promotion, publication of Beveridge's Social Security Plan and a general feeling that never again will men be slaves.