A trip back in time

A poster at a political forum I frequent started a great thread today that I though would be a good idea to mimic here.Â I wasn’t around when the following events took place, but was curious as to the thoughts of others who were.

What were they like to like to live through? What do you remember? How did you feel?Â What were you doing at the time?

Bay Of Pigs
Cuban Missile Crisis
Assassination of JFK

Also, what were some of your thoughts on Carter’s presidency while he was president? I was alive at the time, but way too young to remember anything.

I eagerly look forward to reading the answers.

22 Responses to "A trip back in time"

Mwalimu Daudi says:

August 5, 2008 at 1:54 am

What were you doing at the time?

Bay Of Pigs

Cuban Missile Crisis

Assassination of JFK

Bay of Pigs – newborn, filling diapers.

Cuban Missile Crisis – toddler, filling diapers.

Assassination of JFK – toddler, filling diapers. I was also the second gunman on the grassy knoll. I was part of the VRWC (TM) who wanted to wage an illegal war for oil in Vietnam. Afterwards I had a bottle of warm milk and took a nap and then filled a diaper.
Sara says:

August 5, 2008 at 3:37 am

Bay of Pigs and Cuban Missile Crisis:

I was in high school and completely oblivious.

Assassination of JFK:

I was a Freshman in college. I walked out of my ivy-covered dorm into a cold Michigan November day, and as I reached the bottom of the steps to the sidewalk, a young man was walking toward me. I don’t remember what he looked like, but I can tell you that he was wearing penny loafers with white socks, khaki pants, and a black wind breaker. He had one of those old transistor radios that were in camel color leather cases pressed to his ear. As we came face to face he said, “The president has been shot.”

I looked at him kind of like who is this nutcase, and said, “what did you say?” He repeated, “the president has been shot.”

I dismissed the whole thing and told him, “I don’t think that’s funny.”

I continued on my way to the Student Union about a block and a half away. When I was halfway there, there was a huge shake the ground, rattle the windows explosion that scared the heck out of me. I ran the rest of the way to the S.U. The campus boiler had blown up.

The power all over campus was out. We sat at the S.U. all huddled up in blankets, candles for light, and a few transistor radios spread around with everyone trying to figure out what had happened. You could hear the soft sounds of tears and sobs from the reading rooms, thru the lobby and in the snack bar. It was eerie, frightening, and I think we all felt that something happened that day that would change our world as we knew it, even if we didn’t understand any of it.

That night, I called home and asked my Mother to give me the adult point of view. What did it all mean? How could this happen in America? I couldn’t get my mind around any of what it meant.

My family were not Kennedy supporters, but in those days, the President was the representative of the United States of America, of all of us, not just his political party.

It was the day that childhood oblivion ended, even though it would be three more years until I was old enough to vote.
benning says:

August 5, 2008 at 7:52 am

Bay of Pigs: I was 5 1/2. I remember nothing!

Cuban Missile Crisis: I turned 7 in early October of 1962. I remember nothing.

JFK Assasination: I was 8. I remember we were sent home early from school. I do remember my parents were angry, concerned, maybe a little scared. Republicans, they had campaigned for Nixon in ’60, and cared little for the Kennedys. But they were very angry that someone had murdered our President. Me? I think whatever fears I may have had were quickly eased by my folks.

Oswald murdered: I was helping (riiight!) my Dad work on building bookshelves in the living room. The TV was on while we worked. Dad and I saw the shooting as it happened on TV. Dad called mom into the room to see what was happening. This scarred my for life. (Nahhhhh) $:-\$ ”

Carter’s Administration: I remember vividly pairing up to go to the gas station. Just in case the cars ran out of gas. You had someone to help you push the car into the station! I remember the video of Carter being followed by a bunny, while canoeing. I remember his sweater. I remember his teeth, and I could do a fair impression of him in school.
steveegg says:

August 5, 2008 at 8:18 am

I’m too young to have first-hand knowledge of the events of the Kennedy administration, but I do vaguely remember the nightmare that was Jimmy Carter. The sweater bit was just cruel (in Wisconsin, one basically doesn’t take off the thick long-sleeved clothing between November and April), and a Marine who grew up at the other end of the subdivision was one of Khomeini’s and Ahmadinejad’s “guests”.
Harley says:

August 5, 2008 at 8:30 am

Kennedy Administration: Not thought of.

Carter Administration: I was in nursery school/kindergarten. I remember watching the conventions on TV. Loved when they dropped the confetti! Dang, the big three used to do gavel to gavel coverage. Those were the days.
Anthony (Los Angeles) says:

August 5, 2008 at 8:47 am

Well, for the first set, I was only 4 or 5 at the time, so I was too busy watching TV to notice.

For the Carter years, it was just this vague, inescapable feeling of embarrassment.
gunnypink says:

August 5, 2008 at 9:17 am

When JFK was assassinated, I was just finishing up rifle range qualification in Marine Corps boot camp. I remember firing the last of my rounds from the 500 yard line, and scoring high enough to qualify. I then cleared and locked my M-14 and removed from my firing point…I yelled as loud as I could that I had made it…only to have someone yell back “Shut up, the President was just shot!” Somehow they had set up a radio on the firing line and were listening to the news.

Early in 1964 my unit was ordered to pack up, and stand by for transportation to Cuba…we were going to war. But after packing up and spending the night sleeping in the staging area, we were told to stand down,that we were no longer needed.
Great White Rat says:

August 5, 2008 at 9:37 am

Bay of Pigs (1961) and Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) – too young. I was old enough to understand that some really unpleasant things were happening, but not old enough to process the details.

JFK assassination (1963) – This one is more vivid. The school day was interrupted by a PA announcement, and we sat for about two hours while the radio feed of the events was broadcast into every classroom. The most obvious difference from the usual was that aside from a few girls sobbing, there was absolutely none of the usual background chatter or clowning around. Everyone else was somber and silent. After two hours or so, school was dismissed. Spent the rest of that long weekend watching Oswald’s murder and the funeral. It took quite a while before the shock wore off.

Now, as for the Carter administration…where to begin. My thoughts were about what you’d expect, considering that in 1976 I was one of a band of young revolutionaries working against the state GOP establishment to get Ronald Reagan the presidential nomination (and let the record show that the NJ delegation to the convention that year split 50-50 between Reagan and Ford). So I spent the Carter years wondering exactly what he would screw up next, and I was seldom disappointed. The pardon for all the Vietnam draft dodgers as his first act in office. Ignoring national security issues while he worked on the schedule of who would be allowed to use the White House tennis courts. Helping the Ayatollahs take over Iran (which before Carter was a steadfast US ally). The field day comics had when he was attacked by a killer rabbit. Putting on a sweater, telling us to turn down our thermostats, and planning a federal program to barge into homes to make sure we weren’t wasting energy. Going on TV and admonishing us to get over our “inordinate fear of communism” and accept it. Watching the “misery index” go through the roof. And of course flailing around ineptly as the Iranian hostage crisis made him and the US a laughingstock.

If I’ve missed anything, feel free to add to the list.

And I’d expect roughly the same stellar track record from an Obama administration.
CZ says:

August 5, 2008 at 9:48 am

I was in a Catholic grade school getting smacked around by Benedectine Nuns. Me and my buddy, Jimmy, were alternate punching bags. Nuns were humorless and they hated men. We loved making each other laugh so the other would get whacked by any nearby nun. We didn’t keep score buy I know it was a tie.

Jim’s dad was the county prosecutor so we both wore his buttons along with JFK’s. I got involved with politics and politicians back in ’62 but we cared about the Beatles more than anything.
Tom TB says:

August 5, 2008 at 10:53 am

Dangit, I’m getting ooold! I was in elementary school at the time, and we had to go out in the hall and crouch down on our knees and elbows in a disaster drill. My father and his neighbor bought a fall-out shelter kit that was the rage of the neighborhood. When it was finally installed 30 feet underground, only my father and his buddy ever spent a night in it. When JFK was murdered, I did what I could to comfort my weeping 6-year old girl next door; I was 7.
Leslie says:

August 5, 2008 at 12:27 pm

Bay of Pigs: Didn’t affect me much one way or the other. Wasn’t paying much attention.

Cuban Missile Crisis: Never panicked. I figured they’d work things out. I didn’t think the USSR had any desire to blow up the world, and I was sure JFK didn’t want to do so either.

Assassination: Had started my first job a few months before. Worked in a retail book store. One of my days off was Friday. Was still living with my mom and dad, of course. I was washing up in the bathroom. My mom’s domestic helper, Jean, who came, two days a week (one day was Friday), was listening to the radio. Suddenly she called out. “Come down here quick. They shot the president!” I’m like, “what, who? The Communists?”

“Must be them!” she called out. Then she got on the phone to call my mom at work. I had came downstairs by then, and Jean said, “your mama wants to talk to you.” So I got on the phone, and she said to stay calm. She said, “I don’t think it’s the Communists. It’s probably some nut.”

Sunday: We are in front of the TV. Reporter is saying, “they’re moving Lee Harvey Oswald now.” My mom (who saw through everything–even figured out those 1950s quiz shows were rigged) goes, “this is stupid why are they . . . ” BLAM “What happened?”

“Umm, I think somebody just shot Oswald.” So it was.

Carter: It is the late 1970s, New York is falling apart. There are lines to fill up for gas that extend down West End Avenue from 110th St. to 96th Street, where there are two gas stations. That’s 1.5 miles. Happily carless, I am walking to work past vendors who are selling coffee, etc. to the stuck motorists. Some guy is selling used paperbacks.

Buchanan’s obviously the worst president we’ve ever had, and Harding comes next. Then, say the historians, comes Grant. But I’d put Carter in ahead of ole Ulysses, I really would.
Lorica says:

August 5, 2008 at 1:38 pm

Buchanan’s obviously the worst president we’ve ever had, and Harding comes next. Then, say the historians, comes Grant. But I’d put Carter in ahead of ole Ulysses, I really would.

I have a friend who whole heartily agrees with you about Carter 3rd from the last.

I was only 6 months old when Kennedy was shot so I am completely clueless as to what was going on. Nowadays, I am convinced that LBJ had a hand in his death, along with the joint chiefs and the Mob, but that is a time for another discussion.

Ahhhh the Carter years. Just a young pup in Jr. High or High School. I remember the stupidity of Carter doing nothing to help the Shah. I remember the foolishness of Carter doing nothing to retrieve our hostages. The craziness of Carter not helping people with gas prices. (seems the more things change, the more they stay the same) I remember the shocked disbelief as my UAW Father told me he was going to vote for Reagan. He was right of course, and I am glad he did. The funniest thing I remember was a SLN skit where Jimmy and Rosalyn were giving a televised “fireside” chat speech, using a stationary bike to power the camera. – Lorica
Severian says:

August 5, 2008 at 2:13 pm

I was a young child during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I remember (I was living on a Strategic Air Command base in Florida) all these Army guys suddenly showing up and the Hawk missile batteries sprouting like wildflowers around the base. I remember watching Kennedy’s funeral on TV, an old B&W Magnavox set with a rounded tube.

I remember Carter, that was the first election I voted in. He came to the university I was attending, when campaigning, and spoke and took questions. I asked him one about the upcoming B1 bomber program, at that time the B52 were older than I was, and I felt we needed force modernization in the midst of the Cold War. He weasel worded an answer but basically said he’d cut it for social programs, which he did. Didn’t vote for him, he acted like a feeble minded fool even back then.
Karmadancer says:

August 5, 2008 at 2:55 pm

Can’t comment on much here except for the Carter (lack of) Administration since I hadn’t been born yet for the others. But did pass this on to my mom, who was most assuredly around for it all. I hope she posts; she’s a terrific writer.

I grew up in suburban Detroit and didn’t grace the world until just after JFK’s assassination. But that also means I was well aware for Carter’s term. Then as now, he hadn’t met a dictator he didn’t like. And I remember all too well the effects price controls — many of which had been started towards the end of Nixon’s administration but yet continued and in many cases enhanced during Carter’s term. From an old poot to the younger crowd, don’t fall for it, it never works.
Jo Graham says:

August 5, 2008 at 3:00 pm

I was just too young for the bay of pigs, cuban crisis and the JFK shooting but I do remember the Carter days, I was in junior high and high school. I remember watching on TV the face of this president and wondering if everything he was saying was true or just lies to try to make the people feel better about the situations we were facing then. I was not very political then and I really hated waiting in lines for gas. That was hard on my mom. Now when I look back I remember even though it was tough people did not stop working or traveling they just worked around it, or so it seemed to me. They talked and complained about it but life went on.
Severian says:

August 5, 2008 at 5:45 pm

Speaking of gas lines, I remember both energy crises. I remember the difference, in the first one, you could get gas, but there were lines and prices were high (relatively of course). In the 2nd one, caused by Carter’s idiotic rationing policies, you just flat couldn’t get gas period on many days. That, more than anything else, made an impression on me about how the government, particularly liberal policies, can make a bad situation into a terrible one, while patting themselves on the back for “fixing” things.
Roy Lofquist says:

August 5, 2008 at 7:38 pm

January 20, 1961 I was at the U.S. Army induction center in Los Angeles. I and the other recruits took our oaths simultaneously with JFK – TV set in the corner of the room.

Bay of Pigs: I was attending electronics school at Ft. Monmouth, N.J. Not much excitement amongst the Army peeps.

Missile Crisis: I was in Peshawar, Pakistan. It’s been in the news of late. There are things that happened that are still highly classified. The thermite grenades were unpacked and set on top of the classified machinery. The situation was far more dangerous than most realize.

Assassination: Incirlik AFB, Adana, Turkey. Our unit had to dig out our Class-A’s, packed away for a couple of years, for a brief memorial formation. We watched a convoy of four nuclear device transporters heading for the hot pad.

A note on Carter: In 1976 Carter appeared on the very popular show “I’ve Got a Secret”. He stumped the panel then revealed his secret: “My name is Jimmy Carter and I’m running for President of the United States”. My wife and I chuckled. I still remember it very clearly.
OldTexan says:

August 5, 2008 at 9:32 pm

Bay of Pigs, I was in high school and kind of aware that JFK had chickened out and left guys on the beach. This was my first clue of how screwed up things were. Later I was stationed at the same place with older cousin who was Special Forces and I was filled in on how really stupid JFK had been.

Cuban Missile crisis, I was in high school and keeping track of things We had missile silos around our small town and two SAC bases not too far away so we knew military was on a high alert. Later I found out that JFK and Khrushchev had pulled a lot of self serving high drama out of the situation.

JFK Assassination, like Sara above I was a freshman in college in Missouri. We had ROTC every Friday afternoon and we were all in uniform in the ROTC building when an officer came in and told us that our Commander-in-Chief had been shot and killed. We did not know who that was until it was explained that he was the President of the USA. We got out early an went bowling and drank beer.

I watched Jimmy ‘Peanut Man’ Carter tear apart our National Intelligence ability and through people under the bus all around the world. I was MI for four years in the Army and had some idea about how bad our US capabilities were being compromised. Jimmy Peanut cut the legs out from under the energy industry with him ‘windfall profits tax’. And of course he bought in totally to the concept that the Shah of Iran was the worst evil in the world and he enabled the Khomeini to take of Iran and I did not see how that was really any improvement. What a knob Carter was. But that is just my opinion.

Both JFK & Carter should be toss ups for that worst presidents of the 20th Century. I was so sorry that JFK was killed and then martyred. I wonder how the 60’s would have turned out if he had just faded out of sight?
Tango says:

August 5, 2008 at 11:06 pm

Bay of Pigs – 1st Grade
Cuban Missile Crisis – 2nd Grade

JFK hit – 3rd grade. I remember there were three tv stations in those days. Every one of them played nothing but endless loops of JFK for DAYS. Drove me nuts. There was literally nothing on the tube but that. The worst was Jon-Jon saluting the casket. Then later when Ruby whacked Oswald it seemed to start all over again.

The Jimmy Carter era is much more vivid. I had been released from active duty near the end of 1974. By spring of ’75 we were all being treated on tv to the evacuation of Saigon. There was the payoff in living color for all the dirty, dangerous jobs my shipmates and I (and countless others in uniform) had been tasked with over the years. How many of you remember the Mayaguez Incident? That whole spring was like one bad dream.

In November ’76 our war weary nation opted for Jimmy C instead of Gerry Ford. Payback for Watergate? Or retaliation for the Nixon pardon? Who knows. It soon became clear that the man from Plains, GA had great deficiencies when it came to domestic economics and foreign policy. Prices for almost everything soared to record levels, along with unemployment. Jimmy’s answers? A national 55mph speed limit. Put on another sweater in lieu of being able to afford heat for your home. Punitive taxes (windfall profits tax) on domestic energy producers.

The Kremlin absolutely LOVED ole Jimmy. He cut a series of deals with them they had NO intention of honoring, and didn’t. All while Carter (with a cooperative Dem congress) effectively gutted our military (particularly our Navy).

Carter’s greatest political failure (in my view) was his full court press to get rid of the Shah of Iran. The Shah had been a trusted ally of the US for many years and was a stabilizing force in the region. Carter instead enabled the installation of the Khomeini regime, whose atrocities made the Shah look like a Boy Scout. And so began the Age of the Terrorist….

Ironically, it would be the Khomeini zealots that would (effectively) cost Carter re-election in 1980.

By then, the misery index had achieved record levels. Americans, weary of their impotent president, turned the reins over to a new leader, RONALDUS MAXIMUS.
opeck says:

August 5, 2008 at 11:30 pm

I don’t remember the Bay of Pigs. I do remember the Cuban Missle Crisis because my cousin was in the Navy aboard one of the ships in the blockade. My aunt said that his ship was carrying the body bags for the marines that would be killed in the invasion. So I got the feeling this was serious. I would have been in the 5th grade.

I was in the 6th grade when President Kennedy was killed. Remember thinking “this can’t happen”.

Now Jimmy Carter, I remember. I was working a bank at the time. I remember the Prime rate hit 21%, inflation was in double digits, I think as high as 12% and unemployment was about 10%. I also remember a joke that was going around. “The Emperor Caliglia made his horse a Roman Senator, Jimmy Carter made half a horse a UN Ambassador.”

I just got promoted at the bank to my dream job, internal auditor, when he gave the malaise speech. The economy which was in recession took a nose dive and I lost my job in April of 1980. I took great pleasure in helping him loose his job in November.
Jack Deth says:

August 6, 2008 at 9:22 am

Hi, ST:

Bay Of Pigs: I was just a six year old kid and really didn’t know what was going on until much later.

Cuban Missile Crisis: Grade school. Kept wondering why Mom and Dad had the TV on all the tmes and the news was always on.

JFK Assassination: Again in grade school. Nuns brought a TV in and we were let out of school early. Very depressing weekend. Never changed my mind that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone shooter.

Jack.
Severian says:

August 6, 2008 at 12:05 pm

Hey Jack, good to see you back. We know where all the Trancers are now, all you have to do is go to an Obama rally. Target rich environment eh?

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