In this history project we will talk about what happened and what where the trends in and around the Vietnam war. Our blog will show the Watergate scandal, lyrics partaking to the Vietnam war, poetry of the time, and the cartoons and the posters they used to get people to join the military or to protest the war. We also interviewed five people that lived in that time to see what there opinion was of the war and the president.
Interviews with people who have witnessed or have partaken in historical events through the 60s to the 70s.
Liliam Molina
1. Where
were you when JFK was killed? What do you remember about that day and
subsequent days? I was 12 years old in 7th
grade, in Chile. I was at school and they let us go home early because the
President of the United States had been assassinated. As I run home with my
friends, people were crying in the streets. Everyone had radios and televisions
on with the sad news. JFK was really liked in South America, I think mainly,
because he was Catholic.
2. Do you think Oswald acted alone? Everyone back then thought he was part of a conspiracy. They still believe that.
3. What did you think about John Kennedy as a president? I thought he was a good president and I was very sad and could not understand why he was killed. Once I came to the United States, I found out that he was not a very popular president here. He was better liked abroad!
4. Tell me about your reactions to the Cuban missile crisis. Were you afraid? I always thought that it was a made up crisis. In Chile we had a different view of the Soviet Union. I was not afraid that the US and the Soviets would be at war.
5. What do you remember about Lyndon Johnson? I remember two things: him been sworn in as President once JFK was assassinated and that the Vietnam War escalated during his period. Lots of protests against the war.
6. Do you think he was a good President? Why or why not? I don’t think he was a good president because of his involvement in the war.
7. Did you agree with the Vietnam War? No. I have always been a pacifist. I believe that there is always room for dialog.
8. Do you remember anyone from your town or school that was killed or was missing in Vietnam? No but I remember a Vietnam Veteran student of mine. I met him when taught as a Teaching Assistant in the university back East in New York. He had been badly wounded and had reconstructive surgery of most of his left shoulder and face. He was really soft spoken, very quite and distant most of the time. I have always remembered him.
9. Did you ever protest the Vietnam War? Yes. University student here in the USA were very much anti war and there were huge protests against the war and, consequently, against the government for participating in such a war.
10. Did you consider yourself a hawk or a dove? A dove
11. Did your community ever get benefits from LBJ’s Great Society.No
12. Did you ever see any evidence of racism in your Community? No. For the most part I have been lucky to have had lived in open minded and progressive communities.
13. Do you remember the Robert Kennedy assassination? Yes. I was still in Chile and the news impacted the entire world. Robert Kennedy was liked abroad even more than his brother.
14. What type of music did you listen to during the 60s and early 70s? The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, Herman’s Hermits, Bob Dylan, The Shirelles, Pink Floyd, Queen, Jimi Hendrix, etc., and Argentinean and Chilean groups.
15. Did you know people who did drugs during this era? Only people who smoked pot. At that time it was not out of the ordinary to see people smoking pot at outdoor concerts in university campuses.
16. Tell me what you remember about the moon landing in July 1969? I remember the landing very clearly. I can still remember the moment Armstrong descended from the space shuttle. I was still in Chile and I was at my best friend’s house with my boy friend. He later became my husband!
17. What do you remember about the end of the Vietnam War in 1973? Lots of people marching in the streets celebrating the end of the war.
18. What did you think of Richard Nixon? I never liked him specially because he got involved in the overthrowing of a freely elected president in Chile: Salvador Allende Gossens. He also did very crooked things during his government. I believe he should have been impeached. While I was a student in the university, I took a few courses on Political Science and I read some of the transcripts of the White House from his period. He was a very dishonest man.
19. What was your reaction to the Watergate Scandal? I better not get started. The good thing about Watergate is that it brought Nixon down!
20. Did your family ever boycott grapes in 1965? I was not here in 1965. Chilean grapes back then were organically grown
21.What was your overall reaction to this part of US history? (1962–1975) Not a very nice picture abroad due to wars and involvement in other countries’ businesses.
2. Do you think Oswald acted alone? Everyone back then thought he was part of a conspiracy. They still believe that.
3. What did you think about John Kennedy as a president? I thought he was a good president and I was very sad and could not understand why he was killed. Once I came to the United States, I found out that he was not a very popular president here. He was better liked abroad!
4. Tell me about your reactions to the Cuban missile crisis. Were you afraid? I always thought that it was a made up crisis. In Chile we had a different view of the Soviet Union. I was not afraid that the US and the Soviets would be at war.
5. What do you remember about Lyndon Johnson? I remember two things: him been sworn in as President once JFK was assassinated and that the Vietnam War escalated during his period. Lots of protests against the war.
6. Do you think he was a good President? Why or why not? I don’t think he was a good president because of his involvement in the war.
7. Did you agree with the Vietnam War? No. I have always been a pacifist. I believe that there is always room for dialog.
8. Do you remember anyone from your town or school that was killed or was missing in Vietnam? No but I remember a Vietnam Veteran student of mine. I met him when taught as a Teaching Assistant in the university back East in New York. He had been badly wounded and had reconstructive surgery of most of his left shoulder and face. He was really soft spoken, very quite and distant most of the time. I have always remembered him.
9. Did you ever protest the Vietnam War? Yes. University student here in the USA were very much anti war and there were huge protests against the war and, consequently, against the government for participating in such a war.
10. Did you consider yourself a hawk or a dove? A dove
11. Did your community ever get benefits from LBJ’s Great Society.No
12. Did you ever see any evidence of racism in your Community? No. For the most part I have been lucky to have had lived in open minded and progressive communities.
13. Do you remember the Robert Kennedy assassination? Yes. I was still in Chile and the news impacted the entire world. Robert Kennedy was liked abroad even more than his brother.
14. What type of music did you listen to during the 60s and early 70s? The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, Herman’s Hermits, Bob Dylan, The Shirelles, Pink Floyd, Queen, Jimi Hendrix, etc., and Argentinean and Chilean groups.
15. Did you know people who did drugs during this era? Only people who smoked pot. At that time it was not out of the ordinary to see people smoking pot at outdoor concerts in university campuses.
16. Tell me what you remember about the moon landing in July 1969? I remember the landing very clearly. I can still remember the moment Armstrong descended from the space shuttle. I was still in Chile and I was at my best friend’s house with my boy friend. He later became my husband!
17. What do you remember about the end of the Vietnam War in 1973? Lots of people marching in the streets celebrating the end of the war.
18. What did you think of Richard Nixon? I never liked him specially because he got involved in the overthrowing of a freely elected president in Chile: Salvador Allende Gossens. He also did very crooked things during his government. I believe he should have been impeached. While I was a student in the university, I took a few courses on Political Science and I read some of the transcripts of the White House from his period. He was a very dishonest man.
19. What was your reaction to the Watergate Scandal? I better not get started. The good thing about Watergate is that it brought Nixon down!
20. Did your family ever boycott grapes in 1965? I was not here in 1965. Chilean grapes back then were organically grown
21.What was your overall reaction to this part of US history? (1962–1975) Not a very nice picture abroad due to wars and involvement in other countries’ businesses.
Marigen Molina
1.What did you think about John Kennedy as a president?
I liked John Kennedy as president, he was one of the
youngest president USA
had I also liked the saying he had for his Inaugural Address which offered a memorable injunction:
"Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your
country."
2.tell me about your reactions to the Cuban missile crisis.
were you afraid?
I was 8, and at that age, I wasn't supposed to cross busy
streets without an older sibling or parent. Our house didn't have a basement,
but my grandmother's house did, only it was on the other side of a busy street
and several blocks beyond that.
Well, I remember that we were all watching TV that night
when the President said that we had photographic proof that there were missiles
on Cuba .
A lot of different things went on, but I wasn't really aware of much of it. I
remember we had a Civil Defense pamphlet with instructions on how to build a
bomb shelter, and I thought it looked cool, but my Dad said we didn't need one.
A few days into the whole thing, we had an air raid drill,
these had been common during the war, but we had never had one that I knew of,
though in our town at noon, the siren blew each day, as a test of the warning
for either tornado or enemy attack.
In this incidence, we were all to leave school at a predestination time, to keep things orderly, and go home and stay in our
basements until the all clear. Well, we didn't have a basement, so we all
talked it over, and since my older sister was going to be going from her school
to our grandma's and couldn't come and get me at my school, and my Mom worked
at a hospital, so she had to be there, and my Dad worked in the city, so I had
to cross the busy street by myself and walk from school to my grandma's. We
went over the route several times to make sure I didn't get lost, and to be
absolutely sure I remembered about looking both ways before crossing any
street, but the busy one especially.
On the day of the drill, the siren sounded, and we all filed
out of school and headed for our destinations. I arrived safely, I think I got
to grandma's first, and we all went to the basement for a while, and then
upstairs.
The situation was finally resolved, but I remember my Dad
never forgave the Kennedy’s (Bobby in particular, who was doing 90% of the
negotiating) for what almost happened that October. His reaction was the same
as mine when KAL 007 was shot down and Reagan was talking so tough with the
Russians, because it seemed very likely, actually through most of Reagan's presidency,
that we were going to be dragged into a nuclear war.
3.where were you when JFK was killed? what do you remember
about that day and subsequent days?
I was about 5 at the time, I was getting ready for bed. The
news flash came on the TV,I remember feeling apprehensive and anxious, although
I don't know why, I vividly remember the photos of Jackie cradling JFK in the
back of the car, being shown on screen, I was touched by that scene for a long
while, I knew something significant and momentous had happened but too young to
understand what.
4.Do you think Oswald acted on his own?
I don't think he was smart enough to do it all alone there was more to it than just him.
5.What do you remember about Lyndon Johnson?
Johnson was much loved and greatly hated -- not just liked
and disliked but adored by some and despised by others. Some people remember
him as kind, generous, compassionate, considerate, decent, and devoted to
advancing the well-being of the least advantaged among us. Others describe him
as cruel, dictatorial, grandiose, and even vicious.
6.Do you think he was a good President? Why or why not?
Nope.
7.Did you agree with the Vietnam war?
My friend was talking about it and got me thinking the
Vietnam war was a TERRIBLE idea the Vietnam war was intended to stop the spread
of communism but look around we stopped nothing so all the people that died in
vain for a cause that wasn't stopped was pointless some people believe this
might be offensive but it’s the truth
8.Do you remember anyone from your town or school that was
killed or was missing in Vietnam ?
Nope.
9.Did you ever protest the Vietnam war?
Not me in particular but I saw some people waved signs,
started riots, burned draft cards, and went to Canada. There were also many
songs from that time, such as CSNY's "Ohio " and Rolling Stones' "Painted
Black" that protested the war..
10.Did you consider yourself a hawk or a dove?
I like to see myself as a dove, but I'm more hawkish than
most people. dialectical fetishist: Moderate dove.
11.What type of music did you listen to during the 60s and
early 70s?
Protest Songs and the Drug Culture
In the 1960s music mirrored the tensions of the Vietnam War
era and played an important role in American culture. The verbal content of
rock songs turned toward rebellion, social protest, sex, and, increasingly,
drugs. Many groups, among them Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead, tried
to approximate in music the aural experience of psychedelic drugs, producing
long, repetitive, occasionally exquisite songs with surreal lyrics (known as
"acid rock" or "hard rock").
12.Did you know people who did drugs during this era?
The Beatles and drugs ... to the flower-power era of LSD,
and onto harder drugs.
13. Tell me what you remember about the moon landing in
July, 1969?
I was 10 years old, and it was my sixth grade summer
vacation. I remember watching the ghostly images on the old black and white TV
with my family. I was riveted to the set until I got tired and went to bed
14.What did you think of Richard Nixon?
He was an corrupt opportunist, who only adopted liberal
policies when he saw no alternative, often due to a Democratic Congress. Nixon
took credit for the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency while
privately noting that if he had not taken this liberal step, the Democratic
Congress would have forced more liberal environmental legislation on him.
David Brown
David Brown
He liked him as president and respected him. He considered
that John F. Kennedy and his family was portrayed made them the iconic American
family. He also believed how well JFK handled the Cuban Missile Crisis and used
his skill in diplomacy and reason to dismantle the situation.
2.Do you remember anyone from your town or school that was
killed or was missing in Vietnam ?
He was in Junior high and was protesting the Vietnam war
although he never thought of himself as a dove he stilled disagreed with the
war. He recalls back about his friend who was a door gunner for the helicopters
in the Vietnam war and was killed in it. One of his other friends became
traumatized after firing and killing a Vietcong at close range which left him
mentally unstable and scarred.
3.What did you think of Richard Nixon?
He was a democrat at the time along with his mother and he
voted for Nixon when he was running for presidency. He then later discovered
about the Watergate Scandal and heard the transcripts and was shocked on how
horrible and racist and cruel Nixon was. He was glad to see him impeached and
step down as president.
4.what was your reaction to the Watergate Scandal?
He believed that the Watergate Scandal weaken the outlook
the government had to people and made it difficult for the people to trust the
government because of the smoke and mirrors that was going on and how
unbelievable it was.
Rene Mancilla
1.What did you think about John Kennedy as a president?
He was a devoted
President, always worry about worrying
about the American public and their needs and would try to use his power to
help them.
2.tell me about your reactions to the Cuban missile crisis.
were you afraid?
The Crisis of October.
Yes of course I was afraid for the later consequences because people were
talking about negative things the was
going to happen and also the news were not to positive either and not specific
and not clear if we were safe or not.
3.where were you when JFK was killed? what do you remember
about that day and subsequent days?
I was in my house in
Valparaiso,Chile.I remember the most the
expression the my mother had it in her face she look sad and worry, and
I also remember the military salute the
President’s son did to his father on his funeral.
4.Do you think Oswald acted on his own?
No I don’t think so.
It was a conspiracy of a mafia and I think the person who knows about it is still alive but even if he
tells the truth the rest of the world won’t believe it.
5.What do you remember about Lyndon Johnson?
He was irresponsible
for continuing the Vietnam war and costing American lives to fight communism
just to protect democracy.
6.Do you think he was a good President? Why or why not?
Maybe it was some
time ago but he had the support of the American
people on his side. He was increasing his political popularity especially after
passing the civil rights laws and increasing the economic growth in the economy
and decreasing poverty but that went down hill after the Vietnam war.
7.Did you agree with the Vietnam war?
No , I did not agree
with it. Because all wars make the nation decline in progress.
8.Do you remember anyone from your town or school that was
killed or was missing in
No. I don’t remember
anyone because I was living in
south America, Chile .
9.Did you ever protest the Vietnam war?
No I didn't.
10.Did you consider yourself a hawk or a dove?
I was a dove because
I did not support the war.
Evelyn Molina
1.What did you think about John Kennedy as a president?
I think he was a
very good president. He was a nice human being.
2.tell me about your reactions to the Cuban missile crisis.
were you afraid?
Yes , because Fidel
Castro was known around the world one as a cruel dictator and treated his
people poorly.
3.where were you when JFK was killed? what do you remember
about that day and subsequent days? I was 6 years old and I was watching the
news with my mother since I was just a little girl when I saw my mom reaction I
start crying like her because I thought that he was also my president of my country.
I also remember that the rest of the world was sad horrible news of his death.
4.Do you think Oswald acted on his own?
No I don’t think so
I believe it was a combination of the
mafia and there was a conspiracy behind it.
5.What do you remember about Lyndon Johnson?
I remember that he
was the president who started the Vietnam War because he was trying to prevent
the spread of communism in Vietnam
6.Do you think he was a good President? Why or why not?
I think he was very
drastic and I didn't think the he was one of the best.
7.Did you agree with the Vietnam war?
No .!!Absolutely
not!! I think it was a waste of time
100%.
8.Do you remember the Robert Kennedy assassination?
Yes I remember that day !!It was another sad day for United States of America
Bob Kennedy was a very dear person and a good politician.
9.What type of music did you listen to during the 60s and
early 70s?
Whatever my older brothers and sisters would play but when I
got older it was mostly disco.
Political Cartoons
In this cartoon it shows the morale of the US soldiers in
Vietnam. They were told the war was
going good and they were going to win.
Their attitudes towards the war started out very supportive. The war ended with very few troops supporting
the war. That is what the political
cartoon is saying.
The second cartoon shows some of the atrocities of the
Vietnam War. There is a magazine talking
about civilians getting hit by napalm.
It also shows President Nixon yelling at a hippie. This cartoon is strictly antiwar like many of
the cartoons in the time period.
This cartoon shows Nixon during the Watergate scandal. Then it has the word water board. It shows the statue of liberty getting
tortured. This cartoon is saying that
Nixon broke the trust of the country. He
was as corrupt as they get. He lied to
the whole of America.
The last cartoon shows a soldier stuck in mud. It has the word quagmire written
underneath. It is saying that the war in
Vietnam is a black hole. It was very
long and hard to get out of. This
cartoon is antiwar.
Civil Rights Poems
Racism
Another day of
segregation,
Police use force and
intimidation,
Problems plague our
nation,
With all this
discrimination.
Separated
Separate water,
Schools, churches and
buses too,
Let’s join together.
1960’s America
People try to change
the ways of America,
The movement is a
slow one at snail’s pace,
Martyrs and heroes
try to drive it forward,
Maybe one day things
will change,
But not today.
People
Some people are
passionate racists,
Other people just
follow,
Some people try to
stop it,
Those who do nothing
are surely hollow,
It might sound crazy,
It might be hard to
swallow,
But when the mob
mentality takes over,
It’s best not to cry
and wallow,
Because they swarm
like insects.
Equality
We are all equal,
White, black, red and
yellow too,
Racism ends now.
Waist deep in the big and muddy
"Waist deep in the Big Muddy/And the big fool says to push on."
Masters of war
"You that never done nothin'/But build to destroy
You play with my world/Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand/And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther/When the fast bullets fly"
I ain't marchen any more
"It's always the old to lead us to the war
Always the young to fall
Now look at all we've won with the saber and the gun
Tell me, is it worth it all"
for what its worth
"There's battle lines being drawn/Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds/Getting so much resistance from behind"
light my fire
"You know that it would be untrue;/You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you;/Girl, we couldn't get much higher"
Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Great
Society” was an excellent move on his part when he became president
after John F. Kennedy’s assassination. It helped countless Americans who were
in poverty and turmoil. People who were in rural parts of America
suffered from poverty and lack of any education which resulted with the
increase of lower class civilians. LBJ was able to be more of a liberal and
help those who were in need of assistance and he delivered. I believe he made a
good choice to initiate the “Great
Society” plan to help disadvantaged Americans.
His goal was do try and decrease the poverty of Americans
who didn't get any education or had any jobs to support their families. He
approved several laws such as the Head
Start which was to help teach literacy to unprivileged children and
have them start attending preschool. LBJ then passed the Volunteers In Service To America which was volunteer
teachers who helped teach illiterate and uneducated children and teens in the
impoverished parts of America .
LBJ was also focused on unemployment so he passed the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to
give people jobs in those area too. The act allowed for job corps. To be built
up which gave people vocational training to become employed.
Looking back at Lyndon B. Johnson’s “Great Society” most have had mixed opinions about it.
Several believed it was an absolute failure and didn't help the economy but
instead worsen it. While others believe it helped out many and decreased
poverty and illiteracy in America .
Both sides have their opinions on the outcome of the “Great Society” if it was good or bad. When it comes down to
it LBJ’s decision didn't remove poverty entirely but it did lower the
percentage of unemployment and poverty to a more manageable level and he also
helped Americans who were uneducated or illiterate become more intellectual and
acquire new jobs because of the education they received so when it comes down
to it the “Great Society” was
a huge success.
Watergate scandal
On June 17, 1972, five men were arrested for wire tapping
the democratic national headquarters at the Watergate hotel. these men were
trying to find any information on the democratic party that would make them
look bad and get Nixon re-elected. the five men who were charged with burglary.
Nixon denied any involvement with the burglars. G. Gordon Liddy and Howard Hunt
were former FBI and CIA agents that were working for Nixon’s committee. they
were in charge with the planning of the burglary. this incident was not
isolated from the public. Nixon had a lot of incriminating evidence against
him. he was almost charged with obstruction of justice. Carl Burnsten and Bob
Woodward were the two reporters that uncovered the committee’s "hush
fund". Alexander Butterfield was
questioned about the Watergate scandal and told the senate committee about Nixon’s
secret tapes. June 23 1974 the supreme court ordered Nixon to release the
unaltered tapes. the house of representatives wrote the articles of impeachment
to impeach Nixon from his presidency. August 9, 1974 Nixon resigns from presidency.
He was the first to ever resign. Gerald Ford the vice president was sworn into
the presidency. he pardoned Nixon because he felt that the country needed to
move on. 1978 the federal intelligence surveillance act was put into order.
Historical lessons of the 60s-70s
The legacies left behind by our elders who have witnessed
the civil rights movement, the Vietnam war, the counterculture, and the trust
and integrity of our government for example Watergate can give us great
knowledge on not to repeat these mistakes ever again. The Civil Rights movement
taught us that no matter the color of someone’s skin, their personal beliefs,
or their sexual preference we can’t judge them for being different. They
suffered abuse and discrimination by the white majority of America and this
continued for generations upon generations until our government finally decided
to help these people who had to suffer the hatred of white people and religious
people who considered them unholy or not of equal rights. Thankfully the
government passed laws to give black people more rights and to have them
integrated with white society to help ease the racism and discrimination of
others. Although this lasted for several more years things have calmed down
there is still old traditions being kept up and we’ll never be free until every
person can live in peace with our being judged or attacked for their
difference.
Another legacy we should remember was the effect on how the
Vietnam war effected our country and brought up a counterculture that disagreed
with the war and how our trust in the government was weaken. The Vietnam was
showed us that we shouldn't have to battle every single thing that went against
our own ideals because this war led to thousands of soldiers being killed or
severely injured and unable to return to a normal life. What made this war so
unpopular was that most soldiers were forced to enter the military and fight
against their will because most Americans disagreed with the idea of fighting Vietnam . The
soldiers would return home and they weren't thanked or congratulated for their
service they were frown upon or disrespected which led to them being unpopular
which then led to addictions like drugs and alcohol. This led to a
counterculture who opposed the government and the required service to fight in
the Vietnam war. These groups consisted of people who experimented with drugs
that affected your psychological state and they listen to anti-war songs or
protest the government. They despised a lot of the things the government did
and they were mostly the peaceful freedom fighters although there were a few
who didn't follow these methods and got to aggressive and would commit riots or
other violent things because everyone wasn't always organized.
Speaking of organized the government had one major issue to
deal with and that was the Watergate scandal. The Watergate incident shambled
the peoples belief in a trustworthy government because of the actions that
President Nixon committed. With his attempt to sabotage the Democratic party in
the up coming election and the attempt to cover it up and erase any involvement
in it was a foolish move on his part. Everyone found out and with this shocking
truth people started having difficulty to trust our government. This caused a
huge uproar because of the Watergate scandal and ever since then people have
had a lot of trouble trusting our government and because of this we don’t have
that equal ground to stand upon with our government. This would be much of a
problem if our government became more open with us but still today we hear
about congressmen or governors and even presidents being caught doing something
wrong or illegal and they still can’t come clean about it which would make the
situation a lot easier to manage but they still don’t.
Sited Sources
Members in the group who contributed to this project
Diego Mascia - interview the five people born before 1959, Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society, History lessons of the the Vietnam war, Watergate, Civil Rights movement, and Counterculture
Pearce Imfeld - Introduction, 5 lyric songs from 60s and 70s, and Watergate timeline
Arvin Izad - 5 poems, 3 political cartoons, work cited, credit to the workers
