Tyronne
Tash Jayasinghe
Cibbuano
The 1960's and 1970's
February 5th 2008 04:06
A lot of folks have a way of talking about the 1960's as one decade in which things happened, unrelated to the years before, and separate from the 1970's, as if there were a great divinding line between each set of ten years.
But, I was young and I was there, and there was no dividing line, except by those who needed to classify the decades, whether for historical or media clarity.
The reality was different.
In 1960 Nikita Khrushchev was President of the Soviet Union. The pilot of a United States U2 plane was shot down.
President Kruschchev canceled a planned visit to the USSR by President of the Unite States, Dwoght D. Eisenhower. Dwight Eisenhower was a hero from World War II.
Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy had several debates on television, and John F. Kennedy won the election.
There were periodic peace marches and riots across the country over integration of black and white people.
President Kennedy asked what we could do for our country, established the Peace Corps, and then suddenly we were in a stand off with Cuba and the Soviet Union over missiles pointed at the States...
The missiles were withdrawn after tense days pondering the possiblity of nuclear war, there were violent confrontations in alabama over integration, and the soviets began testing nuclear weapons again, breaking an international agreement to not test.
John Glenn, later to be Senator Glenn, circled the globe in a space capsule, and Americans shook their heads in amazement.
Marilyn Monroe died.
A lot of people then, and now, never felt as if they really knew why.
Some teenagers and adults started doing a new dance called the Twist, and some of them probably stood and listened while the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke in Washington, telling folks “I Have A Dream”.
In November 1963 President Kennedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald, who was then shot and killed two days later by Jack Ruby.
While this, and more, was going on, most of us were just trying to live our lives, and keep on track.
So, the next few years blew by; kids going to school, parents working, and a group called the Beatles released a couple of singles, “Please, Please Me" and "From Me To You".
Then they had an lp, and appeared on Ed Sullivan.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Leonid Breznev replaced Nikita Krushchev.
.
The Warren Commission asked Americans to accept its conclusions about a lone gunman in the murder of President Kennedy. And some people did.
A new way to make telephone calls, by touch tone – buttons, (instead of twirling the dial, or for women with polished nails, using a pen or penicil) started showing up.
A hamburger chain, called McDonald's, started to expand nationwide.
There were riots in Watts that left 35 human beings dead, Martin Luther King, Jr. led more marches, and Malcolm X was murdered.
President Johnson authorized the first bomb raids in Vietnam,
The Supreme Court decided in the Miranda case that a police officer must tell the suspect they had rights.
By 1967 the Beatles released Sgt. Pepper's, hundreds of thousands of people were protesting the war, among other things, and we were led into 1968 when Reverend King was murdered. Bobby Kennedy was also murdered in 1968.
In Chicago thugs, apparently employed by govenmental agencies, beat news reporters trying to report on the Democratic National Convention, and protests held outside it.
I believe Dan Rather was one of the victims. CNN
In 1969 President Nixon took office; already 34,000 Americans had died in Viet Nam (and other areas?).
A terrifically funny comedy duo, who had already sold tons of records making folks laugh,called The Smothers Brothers, had a t.v. show cancelled.
Some folks said the show was subversive.
Ted Kennedy, Jack and Bobbie's younger brother, drove a car off a bridge and a young woman named Mary Jo Kopechne drowned. The bridge was called Chappaquidick.
In New Orleans, in 1969 Vice President Agnew said that those who disagreed with him (liberals, intellectuals, radicals), were creating “...[a] spirit of national masochism prevails, encouraged by an effete corps of impudent snobs who characterize themselves as intellectuals.”
While some folks went to a concert at a farm called
Woodstock, Charlie Manson
persuaded some folks to follow him, murder people for him,
and try to start a race riot between white people and black people, by painting horrible words in the blood of the victims.
Senator Fullbright released information that the administration had conducted war activities in Laos, without the permission of the Congress. And a young man named William Calley, a Leutenant
was named as one soldier, along with others of his unit, who may have murdered innocent women and children, more than 400 in Viet Nam.
Judy Garland, who once was Dorothy in Oz died, possibly of a drug overdose.
The years were passing by, and a lot of us were wondering if we would ever see Kansas, or home, again...
The next year the Chicago Seven
were found not guilty of starting the riots at the Chicago Democratic Convention, but Angela Davis was indicted on murder & conspiracy charge.
Two priests, who were brothers, Fathers Berrigan,
urged young people to burn their draft cards, and J. Edgar Hoover said they were plotting to kidnap Henry Kissinger and blow up a building. Canadian Broadcasting
A new decade, 1970, but things kept happening.
Four students were killed at Kent State University while protesting the invasion of Cabodia.
The Apollo 13 crew had said “Houston, we've got a problem.” Thankfully, they returned home safe.
Janis Joplin died at the age of 27. so did Jimi Hendrix.
Mary Tyler Moore starred in a situation comedy following her popular acting in The Dick VanDyke show. Shockingly, she was a single woman.
CBS decided that the idea of her being a divorcee was still too controversial.
In 1971 the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18. And Jim Morrison died at 27.
In 1972 President Nixon traveled to China, George Wallace was shot, and John was married to Yoko. The INS was trying to deport him.
Five suspects were arrested for trying to record conversations at the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate. Attorney General John Mitchell resigned but Richard Nixon was elected President for a second term. The bombing of Viet Nam continued, but Henry Kissinger said peace was at hand. J. Edgar Hoover died at 77 years of age.
Former President Lydon Johnson passed away. Henry Kissinger became Secretary of State. Liddy and McCord were convicted in the Watergate burglary. H.R. Haldeman, John Erlichman, and John Dean joined them.
Eighteen and a half minutes of a tape recording in the President's office accidently disappeared, and the President said he was not a crook.
In 1974 Richard Nixon resigned from office, eliminating the need for impeachment. He was pardoned by his new Vice President, Garald Ford, who said, “The long national nightmare is over.”
Well, it was, sort of.
As Jerry Garcia once said, "What a long strange trip it's been”.
That wasn't all of it. Not the exact beginning or ending, and not everything in between....
But, for some of us, that was the background against which we lived our lives....And since then, it hasn't been too shabby
But, I was young and I was there, and there was no dividing line, except by those who needed to classify the decades, whether for historical or media clarity.
The reality was different.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Nikita Krushchev
President Kruschchev canceled a planned visit to the USSR by President of the Unite States, Dwoght D. Eisenhower. Dwight Eisenhower was a hero from World War II.
John F. Kennedy
Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy had several debates on television, and John F. Kennedy won the election.
There were periodic peace marches and riots across the country over integration of black and white people.
Civil Rights For All Americans
President Kennedy asked what we could do for our country, established the Peace Corps, and then suddenly we were in a stand off with Cuba and the Soviet Union over missiles pointed at the States...
Cuban Missile Crisis
The missiles were withdrawn after tense days pondering the possiblity of nuclear war, there were violent confrontations in alabama over integration, and the soviets began testing nuclear weapons again, breaking an international agreement to not test.
John Glenn, later to be Senator Glenn, circled the globe in a space capsule, and Americans shook their heads in amazement.
John Glenn entering the capsule
Marilyn Monroe
A lot of people then, and now, never felt as if they really knew why.
Some teenagers and adults started doing a new dance called the Twist, and some of them probably stood and listened while the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke in Washington, telling folks “I Have A Dream”.
Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.
In November 1963 President Kennedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald, who was then shot and killed two days later by Jack Ruby.
Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald
While this, and more, was going on, most of us were just trying to live our lives, and keep on track.
The Beatles Please
So, the next few years blew by; kids going to school, parents working, and a group called the Beatles released a couple of singles, “Please, Please Me" and "From Me To You".
Then they had an lp, and appeared on Ed Sullivan.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Leonid Breznev replaced Nikita Krushchev.
Leonid Brezhnev
The Warren Commission asked Americans to accept its conclusions about a lone gunman in the murder of President Kennedy. And some people did.
The Warren Commission
A new way to make telephone calls, by touch tone – buttons, (instead of twirling the dial, or for women with polished nails, using a pen or penicil) started showing up.
A hamburger chain, called McDonald's, started to expand nationwide.
There were riots in Watts that left 35 human beings dead, Martin Luther King, Jr. led more marches, and Malcolm X was murdered.
Malcolm X
President Johnson authorized the first bomb raids in Vietnam,
Bombing Viet Nam
Miranda and Constitutional Rights
The Beatles
By 1967 the Beatles released Sgt. Pepper's, hundreds of thousands of people were protesting the war, among other things, and we were led into 1968 when Reverend King was murdered. Bobby Kennedy was also murdered in 1968.
Robert Kennedy
In Chicago thugs, apparently employed by govenmental agencies, beat news reporters trying to report on the Democratic National Convention, and protests held outside it.
Dan Rather Democratic National Convention
In 1969 President Nixon took office; already 34,000 Americans had died in Viet Nam (and other areas?).
A terrifically funny comedy duo, who had already sold tons of records making folks laugh,called The Smothers Brothers, had a t.v. show cancelled.
The Smothers Brothers
Ted Kennedy
Ted Kennedy, Jack and Bobbie's younger brother, drove a car off a bridge and a young woman named Mary Jo Kopechne drowned. The bridge was called Chappaquidick.
Mary Jo
In New Orleans, in 1969 Vice President Agnew said that those who disagreed with him (liberals, intellectuals, radicals), were creating “...[a] spirit of national masochism prevails, encouraged by an effete corps of impudent snobs who characterize themselves as intellectuals.”
While some folks went to a concert at a farm called
Woodstock
Charles Manson
Sharon Tate
Senator Fullbright released information that the administration had conducted war activities in Laos, without the permission of the Congress. And a young man named William Calley, a Leutenant
William Calley
Judy Garland with Toto
Judy Garland, who once was Dorothy in Oz died, possibly of a drug overdose.
The years were passing by, and a lot of us were wondering if we would ever see Kansas, or home, again...
The next year the Chicago Seven
Orignally the Chicago 8
Angela Davis
Two priests, who were brothers, Fathers Berrigan,
Fathers Berrigan
A new decade, 1970, but things kept happening.
Kent State
The Apollo 13 crew had said “Houston, we've got a problem.” Thankfully, they returned home safe.
Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin died at the age of 27. so did Jimi Hendrix.
Jimi Hendrix
Mary Tyler Moore starred in a situation comedy following her popular acting in The Dick VanDyke show. Shockingly, she was a single woman.
Mary Tyler Moore statue
Jim Morrison
In 1971 the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18. And Jim Morrison died at 27.
In 1972 President Nixon traveled to China, George Wallace was shot, and John was married to Yoko. The INS was trying to deport him.
Five suspects were arrested for trying to record conversations at the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate. Attorney General John Mitchell resigned but Richard Nixon was elected President for a second term. The bombing of Viet Nam continued, but Henry Kissinger said peace was at hand. J. Edgar Hoover died at 77 years of age.
Former President Lydon Johnson passed away. Henry Kissinger became Secretary of State. Liddy and McCord were convicted in the Watergate burglary. H.R. Haldeman, John Erlichman, and John Dean joined them.
In 1974 Richard Nixon resigned from office, eliminating the need for impeachment. He was pardoned by his new Vice President, Garald Ford, who said, “The long national nightmare is over.”
Well, it was, sort of.
As Jerry Garcia once said, "What a long strange trip it's been”.
That wasn't all of it. Not the exact beginning or ending, and not everything in between....
But, for some of us, that was the background against which we lived our lives....And since then, it hasn't been too shabby
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