Exploring the influence of the baby boomer generation on US politics, focusing on the tumultuous year of 1968. Discusses the impact of the Vietnam War, generational activism, and key historical events. Reflects on the lasting legacy of the 1940s-born individuals in shaping American society and politics.
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Quick takeaways
The baby boomer generation's politics were shaped by a turbulent era of economic downturn and social upheaval.
The 1968 US political landscape was marked by the Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movement, and assassinations, shaping future politics.
Deep dives
The Grip of Power
Since Bill Clinton in 1992, every U.S. President has been a white man born in the 1940s, except Obama. This generation born in the post-war prosperity era saw leaps in technology, and social progress. Yet, their political legacy is marred by accusations of damaging democracy.
1968 - A Year of Upheaval
1968 was pivotal with the Vietnam War shaping American consciousness. Chuck Hagel's voluntary decision for Vietnam symbolized a conflicted generation. Thomas Vallely's enlistment echoed ideals, clashing with harsh realities of the war's strategic futility.
Civil Rights and Identity
The Civil Rights Movement forced Americans, like Fry Gilliard, to confront racial injustices. George Wallace's segregation stance deepened divisions. Martin Luther King's assassination amplified tensions, leading to violence and urban unrest in places like Wilmington.
Political Turmoil and Shift
Robert Kennedy's assassination in '68 underscored the turmoil. Nixon's promise of stability contrasted with the chaos of the Democratic Convention. Wallace and Nixon's rise signaled a shift from the established political consensus, shaping the future political landscape.
Why are two old, unpopular men the main candidates for the world’s most demanding job? It’s the question John Prideaux, The Economist’s US editor, gets asked the most. And the answer lies in the peculiar politics of the baby boomers.
The generation born in the 1940s grew up in a land of endless growth and possibility, ruled by a confident, moderate elite. But just as they were embarking on adult life, all that started to come apart. The economy faltered, and the post-war consensus came under pressure from two sides: from the radical right, who hated government moves on civil rights – and from the ‘New Left’, as boomers rebelled against their parents' generation and its war in Vietnam.
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