Lessons from the Past, Provide for Action in the Future

A survey of American History since 1940 reveals a narrative clouded with myth and misinformation. The past 70 years of American foreign and domestic policy has brought both triumph and tribulation to a country which found itself involved in global affairs as a matter of principle. The maturation of the American Empire, under the guise of the global hegemon, has provided us with lessons which can help shape our fundamental understanding of past, current and future events. In a time of increasing  global political instability, particularly in the middle east, it is paramount that some of these lessons are revisited. The first lesson which must be understood is how the atomic bomb has shaped American politics, particularly the increasing militarization of her culture and the development of an overpowering military-industrial complex. The second lesson, and perhaps the most important, is that history has known a marginalization of progressive groups, alternatives which could have changed the way history has played out. These lessons attempt to dispel some of the myths of American Empire and lend to the contextualization of the current and future direction of the country. 

Courtesy of Robert Longo

Courtesy of Upa.edu

The atomic bomb helped shape the American political landscape, particularly the Cold War atmosphere which existed after the conclusion of World War II. The cultural ethos that America was the unstoppable, invincible  city on the hill became ingrained in the American persona  This militaristic and colonial like atmosphere was the driving force behind most decisions made through the 1980's. The ripples created by Cold War actions and intervention are still being felt today. Harry Truman set the precedent at the Potsdam conference when he transformed the bomb from an unnecessary tool of destruction into an undeniable bargaining chip. A Soviet Marshal attending the conference, Georgii Konstantinovich Zhukov, reflected upon observing Stalin receiving the news of the U.S. atomic bomb; "It was clear already then that the US Government intended to use the atomic weapon for the purpose of achieving its Imperialist goals from a position of strength in the cold war"(1). This Link offers a rare look at perhaps the exact moment that the United States opened an ominous chapter that was written in the glow of a nuclear explosion, included are firsthand accounts of the major players at the Potsdam conference, including Secretary of State James Byrnes, Winston Churchill and President Truman himself.

Courtesy of History.mil

The significance of the bomb rose in correlation  with the elevation of the Truman Doctrine which officially defined American Foreign policy as a strategy of containing the Soviets and their influence in any part of the world. Truman would soon underline this position when he explicitly threatened the Soviets to pull out of Iran in the wake of WWII under the threat of using the bomb, "It was revealed in a times magazine article by Senator Henry 'Scoop' Jackson that Truman had told the Soviet Ambassador Andrei Gromyko that is the Soviet troops '...weren't out in forty-eight hours, We're going to drop it on you"(2). The school of thought, fathered by the atomic bomb, gave birth to the Truman Doctrine and eventually produced the Domino Theory. Understanding the significance of the development of Domino Theory is important for two reasons. First, it is essential to realize that it is this theory that would motivate decision makers to employ the use of the CIA and other military branches in third world countries like Guatemala, Cuba, Brazil and Chile that dared sway to the left and threaten markets which the U.S. had claimed as part of their free system. Second, Domino Theory illustrates the framework that supported monetary interest and influence that exists within our government. At the time, Vice President Richard Nixon, would cite the rubber and tin industries when he discussed Domino Theory in relation to U.S. involvement in Vietnam, "If Indochina falls, Thailand is put in an almost impossible position. The same is true of Malaya with its rubber and tin. The same is true of Indonesia. If this whole part of Southeast Asia goes under Communist domination or Communist influence, Japan, who trades and must trade with this area in order to exist, must inevitably be oriented towards the Communist regime"(3). The notion that the atomic bomb simply was a tool used to end the war against Japan need be banished in favor a more accurate description. A description which includes the policies developed by the increase in power which the bomb granted to both the United States and Soviet Union. That description much also contain a discussion of the industries and economic influences which polarized policy and policy makers that guided Cold War agendas. Finally it must also include an illustration of the brinkmanship that ensued, the embodiment being the Cuban Missile Crisis which had the potential to me the most devastating event in history. Which leads to perhaps the more important lesson of the two, one which many have taken great lengths to suppressing.

Courtesy of JFK Library

The marginalization of progressive groups is a narrative which has developed parallel to, yet in the shadow of, other themes in the course of American history since 1940. Groups which could have changed the landscape of history, people that may have been able to completely avoid scenarios that could have resulted in the annihilation of the human race. Progressive leader and New Deal visionary Henry Wallace is one of these men whom has been lost to the history books. Wallace, the 33rd Vice President was desired by FDR because he wanted "...a champion of freedom and democracy as his running mate"(4), these same traits would later be his downfall. FDR's final campaign for the White House would be the setting for one of the most atrocious American political maneuvers to take ever place, one in which a traditional student of history would never know. Party bosses and conservative members of the Democratic party would block the nomination of Wallace during ceremonies of the 1944 Democratic National Convention and overnight managed to sway a majority vote in favor of Harry Truman. The forces behind the scenes knew much more was at stake during FDR's fourth term, and would not allow Wallace, the champion of "The Century of The Common Man" to assume the presidency when Roosevelt's health would inevitably fail, which happened to be only 80 some days after the convention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhoP6U0RDh4 (Century of The Common Man Speech)

It is not with certainty we can say what may have happened if Wallace become President instead of the easily swayed Truman, though we can say with great probability that the Atomic Bomb may have never been used and perhaps the Cold War may have been avoided.Though this may have been the most egregious example of marginalization, it has not been the only instance, but it is that of a continuing trend. The 1960's saw the tragedy of JFK after he declared war on the CIA, followed closely by the assassination of his brother Robert whom sought to revive social concern and paid particularly close attention to minority voters. Investigations of both murders never found true and fulfilling closure. Vietnam, and American Idealism killed LBJ's Great Society, the sad story can be told best be his own words:

Courtesy of LBJ Library

"I do not want to be the President who built empires, or sought grandeur, or extended dominion. I want to be the President who educated young children... who helped to feed the hungry... who helped the poor to find their own way and who protected the right of every citizen to vote in every election." - LBJ (5)

"Losing the Great Society was a terrible thought, but no so terrible as the thought of being responsible for America's losing a war to the Communist. Nothing could possibly be worse than that." - LBJ (6)

IMDB

Harvey Milk met the same fate as the Kennedy brothers after blazing the trail for the Gay Rights movement. Jimmy Carter was ousted by the rise of the new "Republican Right" after he told America about the problems they didn't want to hear about, he was replaced him with Ronald Reagan who would say no to eliminating Nuclear Arms in favor of further military spending. Mikhail Gorbachev would fall victim to Reagan's legacy, even though Gorbachev was the one to propose disarmament as he wanted to turn his attention to social problems that were causing his union to crumble. Most recently, Vice President Al Gore fell victim to President George Bush in an election decided by a recount and a supreme court decision. Philanthropy and environmental activism was replaced by renewed imperialism in the Middle East. 

Courtesy of http://www.infoimagination.org

Though, the narrative of marginalization has been a sad story thus far, it is important lesson to be taught. This lesson illuminates the fact that progressive alternatives do exist, and that change is possible. No longer can the myth of American Empire cover the true story of our past. The illusion must be dispelled in order to motivate the 'common man'. New generations of American's have become politically apathetic and these lessons are ones that need to be thought if we want to see the same type of change witnessed during the Civil Rights, Gay Rights and Women's Movements. Politics must be humanized again, something that can be done with an examination of those whom have represented change for the greater good.

These two lessons are important because the messages they deliver set up an environment which is conducive to critical thinking. An atmosphere which allows to be critical of the capitalism which has driven our policy for decades. A place where true examinations of history can triumphs over established world view and allow for action.

References

1. Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012), 141

2. Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012), 196

3. Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012), 266

4. Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012), 92

5. Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012), 326

6. Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012), 354

Blowback, A Sad Ending or Ominous Beginning?

If you have been following this blog thus far and you find yourself wondering, why does this matter today, than this post might help clear things up. Though each of my previous blogs had direct consequences and results from the actions which were occurring at the time, today's blog can be identified of the summation of those actions in our current time.

Decades of U.S. involvement in countries around the world had not only ravaged the American reputation, but also drained the coffers. The rise of the conservative party would do nothing to put a damper on looming economic disaster, and even worse, would spawn radical factions of the party whom would drive the U.S. deeper into an ever deepening hole. Even when Democrats briefly wrestled control of the White House from the Republicans, nothing was down to stop the snowball. "...the Clinton administration squandered the promised peace dividend in a new wave of military spending...The greatest pressure for increased military spending came from a single minded group of neoconservatives, spearhead by William Kristol and Robert Kagan, who, in 1997, formed the Project for the New American Century."(1) The PNAC was formed by an A-list of prominent republicans whom had presided over Washington politics for the past decade, and they would soon come to the peak of power when they would be placed into cabinet and secretary positions under George W. These same people would be behind the ignorant insistence of military spending on missile defense, even while red flags were waving a warning in the brewing storm of terrorism fueled by Cold War policies of the United States.

It is important to understand that the democrats do not have their hands clean in the problems we are now encountering, though it is an easy assumption to make with who has been in control of the country for most of the past 30 years. Most everybody whom is reading this blog today has lived through(or perhaps still living in) the economic depressions or recessions of the 2000's, including the house crisis caused by the unchecked banking practices of the biggest firms in the nation. It is no surprise that Oliver Stone, director of Wall Street - a commentary on the excess spending of the 1980's made a sequel in 2010, this time in response to the shady practices of big banks and Wall Street. You can look back into history and examine some of the policies which helped exacerbate this type of spending, or even peel open the cover of the smooth spoken Obama camp whom helped empower this corporate corruption after they helped sponsor his record breaking campaign fundraising. Some of those whom contributed funds to the campaign were "...Wall Street funders with deep pockets, like Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Skadden Aprs, and Morgan Stanley. Also high on the list of Obama contributors were General Electric and other defense contractors..."(2) So remember, you can thank ALL of Washington for the production of these great films.

IMDB

IMDB

It is hard to fathom the type of corruption which exist today in the upper echelon of American society, but hopefully the foul play and corner cutting which has plagued the American economy does not spell the doom of the nation. "The good news is that we do have the means to restore a high-wage economy. The remedy has several dimensions. All have more to do with the political power to make the right choice than with laws of economics..."(3)

However serious the American economic woes may be, there have been much more explosive repercussions. American involvement, particularly in the middle east, during Cold War crusades lead to ill feelings in the Islamic world. Particularly by Al-Qaeda, "...an extremist organization committed to driving the United States and its allies out of the Muslim world...", lead by Osama bin Laden whom was part of the CIA "netherworld" during the US involvement in Afghanistan when they helped arm and train militants to fight the Soviets. (4) Bin Laden's rallying cry would be to drive the United States out of the Middle East.

 Despite billions of dollars in military spending, America suffered the most devastating attack on her homeland since Pearl Harbor. Though heart wrenching, this was not the first instance of a new Jihad on the west. U.S. military bases, embassies and military institutions had been targeted through out the 90's, as well a first attempt on the World Trade Center in 1993 which saw a truck bomb blow up in the lower levels of the garage. It is particularly worrisome when you combine the knowledge of past acts of terrorism with the consistent denial of the threats presented to President Bush prior to 9/11. As we know, this attack would be drive the United States deeper into the Middle East, so beginning the war on terror. A war which has piled on trillion dollar debts which we will paying down for many generations to come, though the human cost has been and will be incalculable. The first stage saw Afghanistan 'bombed back to the Stone Age' in pursuit of Al-Qaeda and the supportive Taliban.(5) Afghanistan would later become the launching point for a return trip to Iraq. This return trip to Iraq would be the handiwork of the PNAC, the leading members audaciously selling the war with lies and misinformation. Saddam Hussein, once the recipient of U.S. arms and chemical weapons, would not survive his second war with the United States. Though coined as another U.S. victory, thousands of Americans gave their lives in an a region which resented their very existence, "One highly placed U.S. official noted, 'Iraq is now Jihad Stadium, It is the place for fundamentalists to go now, it is their Super Bowl, where you go to stick it to the West... there are an infinite number of potential new players'"(6).

A narrative which was running parallel to the wars unfolding in the desert, were the gross injustices being committed at home and in facilities ran by the United States. Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib would be the poster children for American torture and inhumane treatment. Waterboarding, a World War Era II technique would join the high-tech U.S. arsenal in its war against terror. "The damage done to the United States' international reputation was incalculable. Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., confided  'No position taken has done more damage to the American reputation in the world--ever' than Bush's torture policy."(7 ) At home citizens rights were challenged in the Patriot Act, and the debates over privacy still rage in the media and in congress. Internet users face extra scrutiny after the massive WikiLeaks release in 2011.

We now face the consequences of past and present American Empire every day, most recently the bombings in Boston. Countless shootings and an ever growing number of suicide attacks oversea's often no longer make the front page of the newspaper, and we seem shocked when an event such as Boston occurs, the lessons of the 90's and Al-Qaeda seem lost. It must be recognized that a new atmosphere now exist, one in which the Arab Spring signals a new global attitude, rather than Cold War triumphalism. I hope this blog provided an important history lesson which perhaps may allow you to look into these selected events in a new light, or perhaps more importantly allow you to shine that light on other events in history, or events that have yet to occur.  

On the topic of having a short memory, I found an article regarding PNAC member 'Scooter' Libby's felony conviction in regards to his actions of exposing a CIA agents identity in his crusade to push America to war in Iraq. I suppose risking the safety of an American's life and the integrity of CIA operations is a forgivable offense in Washington. It makes you fear for the future. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/28/bob-mcdonnell-scooter-libby_n_2786526.html

1 - 490 Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012)

2 - 551 Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012)

3 - 408 Griffith, R., & Baker, P. (2007). Major problems in american history since 1945: Documents and essays. (3rd ed.). Boston: Wadsworth.

4 - 488 Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012)

5 - 507 Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012)

6 - 530 Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012)

7 - 510 Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012)

Morning in America...a Bloody Dawn.

Reagan's 1984 campaign included a TV ad which boasted that it was morning in America again, implying that Reagan's policy had brought about improvement in economic atmosphere which was allowing citizens to thrive again. Not only did it help entrench Reagan into the oval office for another four years, its helped cement the message that the Republicans were going to continue to maintain moral and political order. They sought to preserve traditional values and help stabilize a country rocked by waves of social change. They did this by implementing a drastic return to privatization and purging democratic institutions as well as those in the republican party that were labeled as too liberal. In an era marked with the rise of the minorities, the republican party was riding a wave of counter culture in order to impose the will of the Reagan administration.

Reagan inherited the oval office in the midst of heightened Cold War tensions. The Carter administration, which had preceded him, had upped military aid for Afghanistan in their battle with the Soviets and failed miserably in handling the Iran crisis and subsequent uprising. Carter and Brzezinkski(National Security Adviser to Carter) basically renewed the Truman Doctrine in regards to the Middle East, "Let our position be absolutely clear: An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interest of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled be any means necessary, including military force."(Carter, 1 ) As backwards as this sounds, Carter only laid the framework which Reagan would drape his evil doings, all while being masked as the victor of the Cold War.

To kick things off, Reagan supported a covert war in which he helped secretly fund the Contra rebels in Nicaragua. He blatantly defied congress and used diverted profits from missile sales to U.S. enemies in Iran. When the Iran-Contra scandal came unraveled he had the audacity to compare savage rebels to the American Founding Fathers, "Reagan's 'moral equivalents' were notorious for torturing, mutilating, and slaughtering civilians. Employing terrorist tactics, the Contras destroyed schools, health care clinics, cooperatives, bridges and power stations and were responsible for the deaths of most of the 30,000 civilians killed in the war." (2) Civilians in nearby El Salvador didn't fair well either when hundreds more civilians were killed by U.S. trained troops, one village of 767 was slaughtered, including 358 children.(3)

The U.S. sought to 'rebuilt' its military ego by invading Grenada after suffering an embarrassing loss of soldiers in a bombing attack in Lebanon, but more so the deflation caused by Vietnam. Though Reagan claimed victory, it came at the price of 29 U.S. soldiers while battling a vastly inferior force. Dick Cheney, a familiar face to us today, championed the cause after the fact when the then congressman, "applauded the United State's new can do image around the world." (4) This attitude has chilling implications as we know how Cheney's story would continue.

Going along with the new elevation of the Truman Doctrine, Reagan and Bush Sr. inserted the United States into the middle of the Iran-Iraq war. Arms were funneling into Iran as special U.S. envoys were sent to Iraq, namely Donald Rumsfeld. His purpose was to assure Iraq that the U.S. was not punishing them for using chemical weapons...how could they after U.S. companies were key in providing strains of anthrax used in Iraq's chemical weapons. (5)

Though these crimes against humanity may been enough to condemn Reagan as one of the most vicious presidents in the history of the United States, his greatest crime may be his failure to compromise and perhaps miss an opportunity to denuclearize the entire world. Failing to see eye to eye with Mikhail Gorbachev, Russia's new visionary leader, cemented America's government as being controlled by a military-industrial complex for decades to come.(6) Giving up Star Wars would prove to be a flaw that would haunt the U.S. through future administrations.

Though Reagan stood at the head of the country when the Berlin Wall fell, his legacy is forever disputed by the other choices he made.He was a party to slashing social spending while increasing military spending exponetially and helped groom a class of Washington elite who would steer the ship astray when they took their turn at the helm. I found this 2011 Washington Post opinions piece, which reveals a little about just how little the American people actually knew about the President they heralded as their hero.

Jules Tygiel commented on Reagan's legacy, "...The Soviet Union had disappeared, its communist ideology largely discredited. United States foreign policy operated in a unilateral universe, a dominant military power unchecked by powerful foes, treaty obligations, international law, or entangling alliances, a world where ideology shaped reality rather than the logical opposite. The extremes between not only rich and poor, but rich and middle class, had grown ever wider. Conservatism had replaced liberalism at the core of American political discourse." (7)

We will see that this final triumph over Communism will be overshadowed by the cloud of terrorism and turbulence which followed in its wake. A Bloody Dawn was about to give way to the blazing heat of the sun fueled by the blowback caused by the rise of a conservative driven America.

Courtesy of Hair Pin

1 - 414 Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012)

2 - 431 Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012)

3 - 432 Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012)

4 - 435 Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012)

5 - 439 Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012)

6 - 448 Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012)

7 - 392 Griffith, R., & Baker, P. (2007). Major problems in american history since 1945: Documents and essays. (3rd ed.). Boston: Wadsworth.

Republican Realignment

An era of political and social unrest would be marked by the re-emergence and reinvention of the GOP. New Dealers and Democrats dominated American politics since FDR saved the country in the 30's, though much was now changing. After the failures of Vietnam and the massive domestic social changes such as the civil rights movement, second wave feminist movement, an exploding gay rights movement and sexual revolution, a changing of the guard was about to occur. This change, was more than just a new president, it was a political revolution in which the Republican party would gather its support from those who sought to return to traditional values and restore America back into her rightful place at the top of the podium. Ronald Reagan ,whom many claim as the champion of this revolution, capitalized on the economic failures of the Democratic Carter administration and was installed as the 40th president of the United States of America.

Courtesy

The conservatives of the 1980's propelled Reagan to victory after rallying around the flag of supply side economics and a renewed hard line stance against communism. A "New Right Activist" in 1980 attempted to explain how the new right garnered such renewed strength, they said that by forming a coalition between multiple single interest groups whom supported various conservative issues such as opposition to gun control, compulsory unionism and pro life groups.(1) Though this attempt left out one of the largest bases of power of the 'new' republican power, the religious south. Reagan himself calls out to his power base in his proclamation of a "Spiritual Reawakening", "There's a great spiritual awakening in America  a renewal of the traditional values that have been the bedrock of America's goodness and greatness...There is sin and evil in the world, and we're enjoined by Scripture and the Lord Jesus to oppose it with all our might. Our nation, too, has a legacy of evil with which it must deal..."(2) One can question if this new power base was counter to the social movements of the 60's and 70's.

With a strong foundation in place the Republicans began to dismantle the institutions which Democrats had built. Using spending cuts, tax cuts and regulation they attacked "Democratic strongholds" and managed to wrangle control of the White House for 12 consecutive years.(3) It is important to understand how the republican party that we know today came of age, in order to understand the significance of the legacy that this period has left on the country. Though many celebrate this time, the period was marked with scandal and controversy. Next week we will explore some of these black marks, but I leave you with Oliver Stone and historian Peter Kuznick's remarks on Reagan's legacy:

But what is Reagan's real legacy? One of the most poorly informed and least engaged chief executives in U.S. history, he empowered a right-wing resurgence of hard-line anti-Communist who militarized U.S. foreign policy and rekindled the Cold War. He paid lip service to democracy while arming and supporting repressive dictators. He turned local and regional conflicts in the Middle East and Lat American into Cold War battle ground, unleashing a reign of terror to supress popular movements. He spent enormous sums on the military while cutting social programs for the poor. He sharply reduced taxes on the wealthy, tripling the national debt and transforming the United States from the world's leading creditor in 1981 to its biggest debtor by 1985...And as for his much-vaunted role in ending the Cold War, as we will see, the lion's share of credit goes instead to his Soviet counterpart, Mikhail Gorbachev.

1. 357 Griffith, R., & Baker, P. (2007). Major problems in american history since 1945: Documents and essays. (3rd ed.). Boston: Wadsworth.

2. 360 Griffith, R., & Baker, P. (2007). Major problems in american history since 1945: Documents and essays. (3rd ed.). Boston: Wadsworth.

3. 372 Griffith, R., & Baker, P. (2007). Major problems in american history since 1945: Documents and essays. (3rd ed.). Boston: Wadsworth.

4. 462 Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012), 268

Coming Unraveled

The narrative of this blog has focused on American Empire and U.S. involvement outside of the nation while largely ignoring the on goings of domestic society. This is not because I wish to ignore domestic issues, but because it was a common theme during the period of history between WWI/II and Vietnam. However, by the time Vietnam shook the foundations of the country, America was bursting at the seams with mounting social tensions. Students, their families and veterans cried out against the draft, the civil rights movement was using renewed domestic energy to broadcast their message louder than ever and the women confined to the slumber of domestic homestead duties were awakening. Though all of these issues carry their own very significant weight in the scope of society, I think the issues of women's rights and "second wave feminism" needs the most time in the spot light, because until Betty Friedan's ground breaking book was published in 1963, the plight of women in America was not even dignified with a proper name.

The Book that Sparked a Revolution

This remarkable book has just recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its publication, though many are not even aware of its existence. After  20 years of being told how to be the ideal wives and mothers, this book was a breath of life to the women whom seemed doomed to suffer the eternal stagnation of American womanhood. Friedan wrote, "The problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of American women. It was a strange stirring, a sense of dissatisfaction  a yearning that women suffered in the middle of the twentieth century in the United States... -she was afraid to ask even of herself the silent question - 'Is this all?'" These simple, yet eye opening words, would stoke the fires which would produce some of the most powerful women's rights organizations (and counter movements) which have left lasting impacts on today's society. 

The National Organization for Women was spawned on the back of the success of Friedan's book. As the first president of now she issued their statement of purpose, "The purpose of NOW is to take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all privileges and responsibilities therefor in truly equal partnership with men."(2) With a defined purpose to rally around and a foundation to build off of, the women's movement exploded into the mid to late 60's. Protest and rally's marked the rise of the American women. In one instance, during the Miss America Pageant in 1968, women's liberationists formed picket lines, held a mock pageant parodying the contestants and set up a 'Freedom Trash Can' and "filled it with various 'instruments of torture , high-heeled shoes, bars, girdles, hair curlers, false eyelashes, typing books, and representatives copies of Cosmopolitan, Playboy, and Ladie's Home Journal".(3) This would be one of many instances in which women would forge a new life for themselves in  this country. Some of the most hotly debated issues which this movement spearheaded were pornography, abortion, wages, women's role, political power and many other topics which mirrored the civil rights movement. 

A great portrayal of the traditional domestic role and the 'problem which has no name' can be found in the first season of the television show Mad Men. The first season of the show is a great illustration of life in the 50's and early 60's and eventually the show really begins to illustrate some of its underlying feminist themes. There is a great article about one of the most shocking feminist episodes during season 5 which you can find HERE. 

Photo Credit: Broadway World

The Women's movement would rise alongside the Gay Rights Movement and other revolutionary actions taken by the likes of Friedan and Harvey Milk. Though some of these movements were largely successful, there is still ways to go before true equality is achieved in this country, if ever. Luckily we can thank people such as Betty Friedan for blazing the trial.

1) Pg. 281 - Griffith, R., & Baker, P. (2007). Major problems in american history since 1945: Documents and essays. (3rd ed.). Boston: Wadsworth.

2) Pg. 284 - Griffith, R., & Baker, P. (2007). Major problems in american history since 1945: Documents and essays. (3rd ed.). Boston: Wadsworth.

3) Pg. 298 - Griffith, R., & Baker, P. (2007). Major problems in american history since 1945: Documents and essays. (3rd ed.). Boston: Wadsworth.

What It Was: Vietnam

Last time we looked at what the 60's could have been, but now we have to face the sober reality of what America went through in the era shrouded by the dark cloud of Vietnam. America was in the midst of the Cold War when the next biggest domino in America's crosshairs happened to be Vietnam. With LBJ and Nixon at the helm America began exporting democracy to the jungles of southeast Asia. The war would become a bloody battle of attrition which would take the lives of thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of southeast Asians after you take into account the wide spread destruction in areas outside of Vietnam such as Laos.

                                              HAMBURGER HILL IMDB
One of my favorite movies which attempts to illustrate what life was like in Vietnam during this time is Hamburger Hill. One of the most remarkable features of this movie is that is attempts to delivers a rather ambiguous message that is less altered by political opinion than some of the other famous movies about the era. However, with its peak into Vietnam it sheds some light on racial relations and some of the prevailing attitudes of the time. There is also a scene that takes place on a muddy hill which gives the movie its namesake that portrays the futility of the war as the soldiers continuously try to climb the muddy hill just to slide back down once they gain any ground.

Though this may have seemed like another battle to keep the domino's from falling, this time American Empire had made a grave mistake, they were mistaking a people whom wanted to fight for their independence for a Russian communist ally and potential enemy. Ho Chi Minh wrote during the Vietnamese declaration of independence in 1945, "We hold truths that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness...Viet Nam has the right to be free and independent and, in fact, has become free and independent. The people of Viet Nam decide to mobilise all their spiritual and material forces and to sacrifice their lives and property in order to safeguard their right of Liberty and Independence."(1)
This should have been enough to make America understand that this would be a different war than those fought in the past, that this conflict was not about communism, but about a people fighting for their freedom after years of repression, much like America had once done in 1776. However, this particular quote has ominous meaning for two additional reasons during this period in American history, 1) America was forcing democracy into a nation that neither wanted nor needed it and 2) was ignoring those same 'unalienable' rights to their own people domestically. 

I think the Vietnam era was so grim not only because of the unnecessary war that was raging in Asia, but because of the massive backlash and demonstrations(both violent and non) that were taking place at home in regards to the draft, students, civil rights and treatment of veterans(and particularly the efforts that were going towards stifling these movements).  It would seem that the American century which followed in the wake of World War II dominance was coming to an end and Vietnam was the catalyst for change at home. Perhaps though the war could never be classified as good, it can be classified as helpful since it allowed Americans to question what their government was doing, and gave the people of the United States a chance to reevaluate their lives at home. The years during and in the wake of Vietnam would bring about the height of the civil rights movement and pave the way for sexual revolution. 

1) 325 - Griffith, R., & Baker, P. (2007). Major problems in american history since 1945: Documents and essays. (3rd ed.). Boston: Wadsworth.

LBJ: What Could Have Been

"I do not want to be the President who built empires, or sought grandeur, or extended dominion. I want to be the President who educated young children... who helped to feed the hungry... who helped the poor to find their own way and who protected the right of every citizen to vote in every election." - LBJ¹ 

Lyndon B. Johnson, the Senate Majority Leader whom I mentioned last week, is now the President in 1963 after the tragic assassination of JFK. After losing Wallace and now JFK, it would seem from the quote above, that the United States might have had another great progressive hope that could vastly alter the landscape of U.S. politics. However, the soul of the nation would again be trumped by empire when Johnson became obsessed with Communism abroad. The Great Society would take a backseat to a 'Great Blunder' of Vietnam.

I found these two pictures to be very representative of the soft and hard aspects of Johnson's presidency  Often portrayed as a hardliner, it is important that the Great Society does not go unnoticed.  Both are courtesy of the LBJ Library.

While having to deal with a complicated situation inherited by decades of CIA Intervention and foreign policy making built on Domino Theory, LBJ sought to promote his 'vision' for the soul of America, "The great society rest on abundance and liberty for all. It demands an end to poverty and racial injustice, to which we are totally committed to in our time."² This vision included the war on poverty, civil rights and other domestic issues such as alcoholism. Some of the pieces of legislation that were passed under Johnson that continue to affect our lives today such as, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and 1968, The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and The Social Security Act of 1965. These sweeping changes can only be a grim reminder of what could have been had the war in Vietnam not crushed funding for domestic programs, but also the mind, body and spirit of Johnson himself. It is depressing to think what could have been if this great line of progressive outlook starting with Wallace would have not been replaced by the American quest to suppress threats to its hegemony around the world. LBJ would eventually choose to not run for a second term in office and his resignation and flawed American policy making would lead the U.S. down a path which would include fatal mistakes made by Nixon, Reagan and eventually the blow-back related to their actions.

LBJ calls it quits: LBJ Library

"Losing the Great Society was a terrible thought, but no so terrible as the thought of being responsible for America's losing a war to the Communist. Nothing could possibly be worse than that." - LBJ³ 

1. Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012), 326

2. http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/jan-4-1965-lyndon-johnson-outlines-great-society-plans/

3. Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick, The Untold History of The United States (New York: Gallery Books, 2012), 354