FREE ESSAY ON TOP EVENTS OF 1968

TOP EVENTS OF 1968

After reading through newspaper articles for the year 1968, I realized that the year was
quite an eventful one. Politically, socially and economically speaking, the country
endured a great deal of influential circumstances. Although the studying of vast articles
from the New York Times succeeded in painting a clear, factual picture of that turbulent
year, I was still eager to discover how incidents affected people growing up in that era.
This fueled my motivation to begin the interviewing process, and to choose participants.
In the end, I decided to interview my father, Mr. John Arthur Bartle, and a friend of my
mother's, Mrs. Linda Pacelli. Although both came from completely different backgrounds,
and both have differing views, their stories and descriptions were equally fascinating.
Since I grew up with both my parents, I assumed that I knew a great deal about my father,
John Bartle. I could not have been more wrong! I had heard stories about his being in the
United States Airforce, but I never knew the governing factors surrounding them. It turns
out that in 1968, my father, age twenty-two, was stationed in Spain. Apparently, he had
enlisted in the Airforce because he was about to be drafted, and he claimed, "There was
no way in hell I was going to Vietnam." He said he had even considered running to Canada.
Much to my surprise, my father revealed that he had been part of the counterculture
during that time, and also vehemently opposed the war. I could not quite picture my
father that way, for today he fits the description of a hard-working, clean-cut, rigid,
white-collared father of three. My father was interesting to interview since he was
overseas for 1968, and learned of all American events second hand.
My interview with Linda Pacelli showed a sharp contrast with that of my father's. Linda,
nineteen years old at the time, was attending St. Lawrence University during the year of
1968. She also worked in New York City during her breaks from school for Seventeen
Magazine as an editor. She was very much aware of current events, and unlike my father,
did not see eye-to-eye with the counterculture or the anti-war movement. She described
1968 as very "trying" time. She told me that people, including herself, began to see that
society as an imperfect institution. Linda proved to be an interesting person to speak
with and to interview, because she was so aware of what was happening around her, and
truly cared about it.
During the 1960's, the Vietnam War gripped the Nation, as well as the world. Specifically
in 1968, the war continued, and many were praying for the end. Linda remembered several
terrible, graphic pictures in the newspapers. She reminisced of being under the
impression that the United States was getting "clobbered, and that we were becoming the
victims of many counterattacks. My father, although reluctant to speak about the war at
all, revealed the same sort of memories as did Linda. He also added information on a more
personal note about friends of his that had been sent over. Both Linda and my father
became upset when asked to recall events from the Vietnam War, and both claimed that
everyone was looking for an end. Linda remembered specifically instances where Johnson
would predict victory, but it never came. This followed closely what I learned about the
war in newspaper articles. Still, it was somewhat eerie to converse with people who lived
during the time the war took place, instead of just hearing about it. According to
articles and popular opinion, it was, "The war that couldn't be won." It was obvious that
it had been a terrifying ordeal for the nation to be involved in, and that it still
affects people today.
The capturing of the intelligence ship, the Pueblo, was another unfortunate event in
1968. My father said that he felt terrible for the guys, because he could "relate to
their situation." Also, he was disturbed by how North Koreans were treating the crew.
Linda knew even more about the situation, because she had read a book by Lloyd Bucher.
This book told the story of the incidents onboard the Pueblo. Linda found the whole
situation both tragic and engaging. She said that the crew, according the book by Bucher,
had been spying. Linda said that this was something that initiated the public to take a
good look at the government, and it's intentions. She, like my father, felt terrible for
the young, American men, for the whole ordeal lasted so long. Linda described the men as
"sitting ducks", and I think she was right in her description of the crew. By reading the
New York Times only, I did not have a clear grasp on what really happened involving the
intelligence ship. After speaking with my father and Linda, I know see how momentous it
really was.
I found that Richard Nixon's entering into the presidential campaign in 1968 to be
significant news of the year. Linda Pacelli agreed with me. She said that she was
surprised that he was "back in the thick of things." She told me about how Nixon was not
as liberal as most politicians during that time, and not so "extreme. Linda claimed that
this pleased many people, like her father, because many were against radical themes like
the anti-war movement, and the counterculture. My father had a different point of view on
the whole situation. He said that at that point, he was not "political," and that he
probably would not have been supportive of him based on the position he was taking at
that time. This showed me that social issues of these times were very closely tied to
political ones, and that opinions on each varied greatly.
In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced to the world that he would not be running
for office again. He addressed the country with a speech, and reminded the nation that
"Unity is the ultimate strength of the country." Linda recalled watching the speech, and
understanding his point of view. She informed me of how Johnson was concerned about his
health, and did not want to die in office. He was sorry for what had happened in Vietnam,
but he could not run just the same. My father remembered being disappointed that Johnson
decided not to run again, because my father believed that he would end the war. Also, my
father admired his signing of the Civil Rights Act. My father was not a huge fan, but
still favored many of his actions and ideas. I got the impression that at that time, my
father was not a "huge fan" of anyone in office.
Since I was young, I have been taught about the slaying of Martin Luther King in Memphis.
Until I read the newspaper articles though, I had not realized what an impact it had on
the nation. I read of how the nation mourned, and how the President canceled an important
trip to Hawaii to meet with Mrs. King. Linda said that when she heard the news, she was
in History class, and remembered how "horrifying" it was. She said told me of how her
teacher wept through the entire class. Instead of carrying on with that day's lesson, the
class discussed what had happened. I was surprised when my father revealed that he did
not hear the news of Martin Luther King until a week after, and that he could not recall
exactly how he felt about it. He sounded embarrassed that he did not know too much about
it, but I urged him that his position physically and mentally was very interesting to me.
I could not imagine being so far away from home, and so detached from events in one's
country.
The riots occurring in major cities of the United States seemed to be a very cumbersome
affair in 1968 as well. They occurred in Chicago, Detroit, Boston and other major cities.
Linda was aware of the riots happening, but did not recall much else about them. She said
that all she knew was that many African Americans were outraged by the murder, and turned
quite violent. She reminded me that Martin Luther King would not have wanted it that way
since he stood for nonviolence. My father remembered hearing about the riots transpiring
nationally, and also informed me that there were even riots in Syracuse, my home town. I
was shocked to hear that, because I could never picture a riot happening where I come
from. Actually, I found it hard to picture a riot anywhere. It really represented how
influential Martin Luther King was. It must have been a horrifying experience for all
that were involved or those who witnessed.
Possibly one of the most abominable events of 1968 was the assassination of Robert F.
Kennedy. The news of his untimely death stunned and dismayed the country. Linda,
remarkably, was working in New York City at the time of his Funeral at St. Patrick's
Cathedral, and she remembers being stuck in traffic while trying to get to work. She
remembers that is was "all the big news," and that she told me that everyone was
concerned for Jackie Kennedy, for she had already endured so much. My father was
extremely depressed by the news, because he was lucky enough to have met Robert Kennedy
before he was shot. My father proudly told me of how he even walked next to him for
almost twenty minutes. He said that meeting him was one of the highlights of being in the
service. I found myself saddened as well as I browsed through articles, because it seemed
that Robert Kennedy was generally popular among the people, and it was such a terrible
tragedy for the family that had already suffered the cruel loss of a family member a
short time before. 
An exciting part of 1968 was the preparation for Apollo's anticipated voyage to the moon.
During this year, NASA was repeatedly sending test flights in order to be ready for the
predicted launch in 1969. The United States was in fierce competition with the USSR, and
the mission to the moon was a real goal. Both Linda and my father remembered how exciting
the whole thing was. My father, in general, found the entire space program a "neat" one.
I gathered that the mission in the space program was a bright, optimistic spot in a year
of turmoil.
In Columbia University, students were voicing their opinions in a momentous way during
this year. Students picketed and eventually took over the campus in an effort to increase
their "say" in issues involving the campus. Classes were canceled for many days, and the
Situation received a great deal of coverage and attention. Linda was the only one to
remember it, and she claimed that situations like that were transpiring all over college
campuses- even her own. She thought that Columbia was a likely candidate for such
demonstration, because it was known as a "liberal" college. Linda said that most of the
time, progress was made by these protests. This proves that college campuses genuinely
were the place to make changes, and to be heard.
Again, the last episode that I found to be extremely influential in 1968, the teachers'
strikes, was only recalled by Linda. Perhaps this is because She was studying to be a
teacher, and this news interested her. She claimed that these strikes led to the start of
unions in the education system. Newspapers showed, and Linda agreed that these strikes
were initiated to bring teachers increased wages, and more job security. It seemed to me
that teachers were treated somewhat unfairly during this time, and that these strikes led
to better conditions for educators.
After interviewing my father and Linda Pacelli, I realized that oral history is a very
effective method in research. Although reading through newspapers gave me a great deal of
factual information, I truly learned how events affected society through these
interviews. I found that using the differing backgrounds of my subjects allowed me to
understand the diversity of public reactions and opinions of that time period. After
using oral history, I could put myself in the shoes of those who experienced the
memorable year of 1968. I feel that without the use of oral history in a project of this
sort, one will never obtain the necessary quantitative information needed to internalize
events studied. Although I was not a part of the year 1968, I am lucky enough to now
comprehend the impact the year had on society as I know it today.