No More Miss America – Atlantic City Protest – 1968

By the end of the 1960s the feminist movement had become increasingly outspoken in its beliefs. Central to their argument against society was the effects of gender stereotyping. Society’s response to women based on their appearance and “feminine” qualities was sharply condemned as being patronizing and as a way to subjugate women.

The annual Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City epitomized everything the feminist movement objected to in chauvinistic American society. In 1968, the feminist group New York Radical Women launched a militant protest against the event. Bearing “freedom ashcans” in which to dump various symbols of the oppression of women, New   York Radical Women were barred from the convention hall, but staged a protest outside. The demonstration, however, attracted national media attention and elevated the cause of radical feminism. Protestors distributed the following handout stating their position to the media and spectators on the Atlantic City boardwalk.

-  The American Experience: The History and Culture of the United States through Speeches, Letters, Essays, Articles, Poems, Songs, and Stories, edited by Erik Bruun and Jay Crosby.

no more miss america

Click on link to download full document. The document contains the full text of the pamphlet distributed in protest at the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1968.

Sesame Street – Children’s Television Programming – ABC’s with Bert and Ernie (1968)

In 1968, the Children’s Television Workshop in New York City changed children’s television. Prior to Sesame Street, children’s television consisted of either pure entertainment or pure education. Rarely, did the two concepts intersect. But Sesame Street introduced a new way to entertain and educate children at the same time.

Employing Muppet – puppets – developed by Jim Henson, a cast of human characters and entertaining skits, Sesame Street captivated children and taught some of the basics of early education. The show not only was enormously popular in its own right, but it also changed the way many childrens television programming was done.

Two of the most popular characters in the show were the Muppets – Bert and Ernie. Their delightful relationship both provided direct instruction and served as a model of how two characters with some eccentricities can get along. The following Bert and Ernie skit, Ernie’s Short Story: The Best Story Ever Written, is an example of the way Sesame Street could bring life to the ABCs of eduction.

- The American Experience: The History and Culture of the United States through Speeches, Letters, Essays, Articles, Poems, Songs, and Stories, by Erik Bruun and Jay Crosby.

Robert Kennedy announces the Death of Martin Luther King (1968)

 On April 4, 1968, the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated by James Earl Ray – a white man. That same evening Robert F. Kennedy was scheduled to speak to an audience in a black neighborhood. Kennedy delivered the news of King’s death to the crowd.

The brother of the assassinated president, Robert Kennedy spoke, without notes, of his own sadness over King’s death as well the anguish and hopes for the country. Two months later Kennedy, too, would be assassinated in a California hotel having just won the California democratic primary.

kennedy announces mlk death

Click on link to download full text. This document contains the Robert F. Kennedy announcement of Martin Luther King’s assassination ( 1968).

Black Panthers Party Platform (1964)

The Black Panther Party was the most well-known militant black political organization to emerge from the increasingly politicized Black Power movement of the 1960s. Aiming to elevate conditions for black Americans, the Black Panthers engaged in both community-building enterprises and vigorous advocacy efforts. Most of the public focus centered on its more radical, and later illegal, activities which eventually undermined the organization.

This October 1966 manifesto reflected the increasing frustration of black Americans at the lack of progress in overcoming racial prejudice, despite the progress being made in the courtroom and with the civil rights reforms. Using the words of the Declaration of Independence, the party tried to demonstrate the hypocrisy of American democracy.

black panther party platform 1964

Click on the link to download the full document. The document contains the full text of the 1964 platform of the Black Panther Party.

Extremism is the defense of Liberty is No Vice ( Barry Goldwater’s Republican nomination speech) – 1964

In 1964, the conservative wing of the Republican Party successfully nominated Arizona senator Barry Goldwater for president in favor of the “eastern establishment” moderates such as New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller and Pennsylvania Governor William Scranton. Attempting to buck the national trend to turn toward government and legislation to solve society’s problems. Goldwater was crushed in a landslide by Lyndon B. Johnson.

Nevertheless, Goldwater’s acceptance speech at the Republican convention and his subsequent campaign laid down the roots for the conservative movement that would eventually sweep Ronald Reagan into the White House in 1980.

barry goldwater acceptance speech 1964

Click on link to download full text of “Mr. Conservative” Barry Goldwater’s 1964 Republican presidential nomination speech.

Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society Speech – May 22, 1964

Upon becoming President, Johnson pushed forward sweeping social legislation to achieve his goal of creating the “Great Society.” Many of the proposals had been initiated by Kennedy. Sentiment after the assassination helped propel Congressional approval of the measures. But the legislation was more an extension of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. Johnson, who had grown up poor in rural Texas, looked upon Roosevelt as a hero and was determined to continue his legacy.

Johnson described his vision for the Great Society in a commencement address at the University of Michigan on May 22, 1964.

The American Experience: The History and Culture of the United States through Speeches, Letters, Essays, Articles, Poems, Songs, and Stories, edited by Erik Bruun and Jay Crosby.

LBJ Great Society Speech 1964

Click on link to download the full text of LBJ’s Great Society speech delivered at the commencement address at the University of Michigan on May 22, 1964.

” Segregation Now ” Inauguration Speech – Alabama Governor George Wallace, January 14, 1963 (video)

Alabama Governor George Wallace was one of several white Southern Democratic politicians who bitterly fought against the federal government’s attempts to integrate the South. In 1962, after being sworn in as governor of Alabama. Wallace openly defied the Supreme Court’s orders to eliminate state segregation policies, proclaiming them to be inconsistent with Christianity and American freedom.

Wallace’s forceful words and actions to support his racist position earned him a leading role in hte anit-integration movement in the South that would lead to runs for the presidency in 1968 and 1972, when he was paralyzed by a would-be assassin’s bullet. Years later, Wallace apologized fo rhis racist beliefs.

The American Experience: The History and Culture of the United States through Speeches, Letters, Essays, Articles, Poems, Songs, and Stories, edited by Erik Bruun and Jay Crosby.