The 1960s were a turbulent decade, marked by the assas sinations of three major American leaders, the most un- popular war in U.S. history and an enormous upsurge in activism among the youth of the country. While the drug culture, spearheaded by Timothy Leary, was urging the flower children to "tune in; turn on; drop out," organiza- tions such as the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) were urging the youth of America to stand up for their beliefs, and not trust anyone over 30.

It was certainly a divided America. There were those who favored the war in Vietnam-a steadily decreasing number by 1970-and those who were vocally, vocifer- ously against it. In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson had declined to run for president again in part because he did not want to defend further U.S. involvement in Vietnam.