Jill Andrews:
What was your experience like in the 60s and 70s?
I was in high school during the early 60's. I lived in a small town in Michigan. We had a lot of fun going to local dances and eating at a drive-in restaurant called White's, a place where all the kids would gather. We lived on a river call the Kawkawlin, an Indian name. We were boating in the summer and ice skating in the winter. By 1970, I was married and had a child who was one year old.
How did the Vietnam war affect you?
Thank God, I was never affected by the Vietnam war. My husband and I were married, and had a small child, so he was never drafted. I did have male classmates, though, who were not so lucky, and were killed in the war.
Did you support the war or were you against it?
I did not support the war. I also, didn't feel that I knew enough about the history and the people of Vietnam. I also questioned the information regarding why we were in the war.
How did you feel about the Watergate Scandal? What did you think about President Nixon?
When this happened in the 70s, I was, like most young people, busy with my life. I was kind of sorry how it turned out for President Nixon, especially when you consider what is happening today. After all, he had ended our involvement in Vietnam, and also had done a number of other good things, such as starting desegregation of schools in the south.
What did you think about President Johnson?
Everybody remembers where they were when President Johnson was sworn in as President. I always thought that President Johnson was a very likable guy, and could work with people to get things done. His Great Society programs were very good, like
Medicare.
George Andrews:
What was your experience like in the 60s and 70s?
I graduated from high school in 1963. So, during high school, I experienced the advent of the Beatles and the maturing of Elvis' rock and roll style. I worked part time, after school, at a grocery store, so I had cash to pay for gas (my brother and I shared a car), and dates. I hung out with my cousin, Sonny, and we double-dated, went to dances, friday night football games, etc. I remember the new McDonald's restaurant (out on Euclid Avenue, near our high school), which opened in about our Sophomore year, about 1961. Hamburgers for 15 cents, with fries and cokes each 10 cents. WOW!! I didn't play organized sports, but my brother and cousin were really into them, so, I always went as a spectator. I took College Prep courses, and had a few honors courses, but bowed out of that program after the Sophomore year, as the workload was kind of tough for me, as I did not study nearly as much as I should have. In my Junior year, my brother and I ran for Student Council (President and Vice President), and we won! Learned about school politics, Roberts Rules of Order, etc. Lots of fun. Had to introduce the school assemblies (to about 2000 students, yikes!!!), but got used to talking in front of groups, after a few times.
Went to Mexico as an exchange student in the summer between my Junior and Senior years - in 1962. What an experience! This was my first airplane ride, from Detroit to Mexico City -- in a four engined propeller aircraft, no less! Noisy, and it took forever!! This was after taking two years of Spanish in high school. But, the Mexicans that I interacted with really talked rapidly, so it took weeks to catch on to the conversations. In my senior year, I ran for Student Council President, and won. The experience of being vice-president the previous year really helped.
I applied for the General Motors Institute co-op program with our home town Chevrolet Division factory. GMI was a five year, bachelor degree granting institution, specializing in various engineering disciplines. The automobile industry was still very strong, and, in the US, mainly GM, Ford and Chrysler. We had just begun to be inundated by the Japanese.
The first two years of college were a good time, but my social activities just about killed my opportunities at a career. Partying and goofing off were excessive, compared to time studying, and I just about flunked out of college. Then, I started dating Jill, and all changed. We got married in my Junior year in college, and began a terrific marriage that has lasted and blossomed.
With the birth of Heather, our daughter, my focus was on family and career. I studied very hard, and got terrific grades at GMI after my sophomore year.
The economy started picking up in the early to mid 1960s. After graduation from GMI, we decided to move to California. We did not have many assets, so the move was easy, but we did it on borrowed money. Youth!!
Our experiences in California, as a young family, living separate from our extended families, were formative and delightful. We missed family, but learned to rely upon one another for support, etc. The late 60's and early 70's, in California, were something to behold. The Vietnam War, the counter culture, environmental activities, the high tech revolution, and other areas were all playing out at the same time.
My focus was strongly centered on my career and work. I worked long hours, and tried to be innovative and creative in my responsibilities as an engineer. Promotions followed, and we thrived. We have had a strong saving ethic, what with our upbringing, and generally lived below our means. We, however, never felt deprived. In the mid-70's I was promoted to a management position back in Detroit, so we moved back to the Midwest, where we were closer to family.
So, (long answer), we had the time of our lives in the 60s and 70s. The world was changing around us, but we learned that is you work very hard, stay focused on the objectives, and take good care of your health, you can prosper and beat the competition.
How did the Vietnam war affect you?
Well, it scared the heck out of me. Before we married, I was eligible for the draft, as lotteries had started. Then, they gave exams for those looking for a deferment, and I remember the exams being like the SATs. I was really worried about being sent to Vietnam. I argued against the war, in speech class at GMI. Then, when my wife became pregnant, I received a deferment, which takes you to the back of the line. Wow, was I relieved. Being a father was far less scary that fighting as a soldier in Viet Nam.
I believed then, and believe now, that we should not have been involved in that war. Take a look at the history, and what has happened since. The "communists" won, and, guess what -- Vietnam did not implode. We trade with and interact with Russia, China, Vietnam, etc. The Communists do not have fangs.
The Vietnam war affected me in a way that made me question the potential ulterior motives of our government. I now believe that we ALWAYS need to handle any armed conflicts as a global presence, cooperating with many other countries, not as a rogue country trying to force our belief or approaches on another.
The Vietnam war made me a bit of a cynic regarding government decisions and approaches. I believe that this is a good thing (cynicism, that is).
Did you support the war or were you against it?
I was against it. This was primarily due to (in my view) the lack of a very clear reason for being there, and a clear overall objective for the fighting.
How did you feel about the Watergate Scandal?
I feel the same was that I did when the news broke. That is, that there is a surprising amount of insecurity among most humans. Some of us have the power to implement things like break ins, or even assassinations or wars. The majority of us need to stick with the law, enforce it, and be sure that those who violate are appropriately punished. It is bizarre that any official in Washington believed that any documents which were found in the Watergate office would have actually made any difference. I am still very mad and disappointed that our elected or appointed officials made the decision to violate the law to achieve personal or political goals. As we see with current events, sometimes, people do not learn from history. We need to be sure that we educate and constrain in order to prevent future ridiculous, illegal events, like Watergate.
What did you think about President Nixon?
I would give Nixon a C+ to a B- and president. He showed good management in some areas, especially in his first term, and got us on the road to recognizing China as a partner. He had a talented staff (Kissinger is an example), and initiated some long ranging positive approaches, like the EPA. However, the issues with his VP (Agnew), and Watergate created a negative cloud over his last years as president.
What did you think about President Johnson?
I would give him a C+ to a B- also. He spearheaded good legislation on civil rights and poverty, much of which has enabled improvement in our country today. A number of his Great Society programs were well founded and live on today. He supported federal funding of public schools, and this made a big difference in their capability. Support of the Space Program and Gun Control were other programs which I support, and think he did a good thing is backing these funding approaches. Johnson let the Vietnam war get out of control, I believe. Far more troops were killed than needed. As I mentioned above, we lost the war, but SO WHAT? The end result is one of peaceful coexistence, and we get along just fine now, as we do with China and Russia and Cambodia and others. Not yet Cuba, though.
Tino Saenz-Diez
What was your life like during the 60s and 70s?
Oh, good lord, child. I was a bore, I was. Contrary to what you may be thinking, it was much more crazy than what those people with the books come to think. People had something going on it seems all the darn time; the movers (He means the protesters), and all those idiots. A bunch of bozos, really. But, I guess it was all for some sort of good cause. The one thing, I gotta tell ya', the prices-- they were so cheap compared to the whole nine yards of today, I'll tell ya. Back then, it didn't take the entire inside of your wallet and maybe even a limb for a freaking tank of gas. I'd go back for that, I'll tell ya'. The schools had better ways of education than they sure do today. I wasn't much of a socialite, and I didn't go out to many of the dances; they just weren't my thing. That's more of my wife, honestly. Crazy old bat.
How did the Vietnam War effect you?
'Nam? I didn't really have much of a worry for it; what happens was to happen, you know? If I was going to be drafted, then so be it. As panicked as I could have been, I told myself not to be because, seriously, it ain't gonna do me anything good. A draft was like a shot at the lottery-- except I wish I could win the lottery instead of the draft; thank god I was never picked.
Did you oppose it or support it?
I felt indifferent, really. All I wanted out of this whole mess is that I didn't want anyone to be really hurt, but what the hell am I doing by thinking that for something like a war?
How did you feel about the Watergate Scandal?
Nixon, admittedly, was not one of my most favorite presidents, and on the account of him doing this, it just made me view lower on him. I can't say I enjoy anything he did for our country.
How did you feel about President Nixon?
That old coot was nothing more than the most paranoid man on the face of the dang planet. I mean, he goes around with a list of people he can't even stand the sight of. He tapped all our damn phones, and he's just a whacko. A real clown. Not a good president.
Louise Saenz-Diez
What was your life during the 60s and 70s like?
Oh. Oh, my god, what a hoot!! I rocked it out like it was no one's freaking business, man! Out and about, and on my bike! I was alive, and free, and hot! It was a riot! Now, I'm just a fat grandmother. But, boy, did we all party. Ahh, I didn't care about all that much about school, or any of my education, but I gotta admit, the schools weren't bad. The dances are what made it a killer show. Not gonna lie, I sort of just played around in with my sports, and what the 'cool kids' were all up to. Was a pretty wicked time, let me tell you what.
How did the Vietnam War effect you?
Me? Care about anything those boy's have to get their hands dirty in? I can't imagine what it would be like, to go out and fight like that. It did worry me, though, because I did know people that were pulled into that draft. Oh, my god, Donny, I remember, he was drafted into it, yeah! That was freaking terrifying. I don't even know how he got out of it. Donny, though... [She began to trail off and talk about Donny, so I cut it here.]
Did you support it or oppose it?
The war? I honestly supported it-- get in and shoot those suckers before they come and sting after us!! I didn't need some freaky stranger coming into our country and threatening our stability. Who the hell knows what that could do to us? I mean, it's bad enough to know where we are, now.'
How do you feel about the Watergate Scandal?
Oh, my god, I loved Nixon. He was just freaking awesome-- Wait, OH, you mean his scandal. Well, in a position with the power he had, I mean, he was bound to do something stupid. You really expect otherwise? I probably would have done the same sort of thing. It's inevitable, almost.
How did you feel about President Nixon?
Really, he was a fantastic President. He did things not a lot of the Presidents managed to do. Admittedly, his first term was probably one of the better ones, but hey, he was good. His policies were killer, I mean-- look what he did for us and China!! He had some of the best relations with the other countries, and nothing can beat that, in my opinion, I mean.
