The Sixties in the News

The 1960s were one of the most tumultuous periods in American history. Perceptions of race, gender and age changed dramatically, ripping away beliefs that had endured for generations. Newspapers, the primary source of information at the time, broadcasted all of these events, from important national news—such as President Nixon’s efforts to end the Vietnam war—to more light-hearted affairs—such as a topless dancer’s pursuit of the Stanford University student government presidency.

Included in this book are examinations of newspaper articles from 1959 to 1973, to which the author provides background and often an epilogue showing what happened to some of the dramatic players. The subjects of sex, drugs, rock and roll, marriage, politics, entertainment, and more are discussed in both a serious and humorous vein, with the perspective of more than 50 years. For those who lived through the 1960s, this book will bring back memories. For those too young to remember the era, this is an opportunity to learn more about why parents are the way they are.

William J. Ryczek is a finance professional from Wallingford, Connecticut, who writes about early baseball, football, the Yankees and the Mets.

William J. Ryczek
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 313
Bibliographic Info: bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2021
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7986-0
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4126-3
Imprint: McFarland

Introduction 1
1. Thus Spoke Nostradamus: How Well Did Experts Predict the Future? 5
Tomorrow’s World: 20-Hour Week, Factories Manned by Robots, New York
Herald-Tribune, October 9, 1961 6  •  A Forecast of Economic Growth in the United States, New York Times, September 8, 1963 7  •  End of Hunger in U.S. in 3 Years Envisioned, Bridgeport Post-Telegram, January 1, 1970 9  •  College Freshmen Travel in Time, Hartford Courant, September 19, 1971 12  •  Young Entrepreneur Plans Data College, Hartford Courant, February 1, 1972 13
2. Where Are They Now? Figures from the Past 16
Reputed Last Civil War Veteran Dies in Texas After Long Illness, New York Times, December 20, 1959 16  •  Edith Piaf Dead; Cocteau Hears It, Dies, New York Daily News, October 12, 1963 19  •  Silent Film Star Found Penniless in St.
Louis, Hartford Courant, February 22, 1964 21  •  Alan Freed, Disk Jockey,
Dead; Popularized Rock ’n’ Roll Music, New York Times, January 21, 1965 23  •
Father Divine, Cult Leader, Dies; May Have Been 100, New York Daily News,
September 11, 1965 29  •  “Playboy” Manville Dies; Wed 11 Times, Hartford
Courant, October 9, 1967 33  •  James Roosevelt Stabbed During Family
Quarrel, Bridgeport Post and Telegram, May 16, 1969 39  •  Willie Sutton Is Freed After 17 Years in Prison, New York Times, December 25, 1969 41  •
Untitled, Hartford Courant, November 13, 1971 46  •  FDR Son Accused of Murder Plot; Elliott Denies It, Bridgeport Post-Telegram, September 18, 1973 47
3. Where Were They Then? Those Who Later Became Famous 52
Prince’s Nip in a Pub May Bring a Caning, New York Times, June 20, 1963 52  •
Books of the Times; Young Bohemians—Canadian Style, New York Times,
September 12, 1963 54  •  New-Found Stardom Worries Dustin Hoffman, New
York Times, December 30, 1967 56  •  Mitt Romney Marries Ann Davies, New York Times, March 22, 1969 57  •  Peanut Farmer Wins Democratic Runoff in Georgia, Bridgeport Post-Telegram, September 24, 1970 60
4. The Times They Are a Changin’: Culture Shock of the 1960s 63
2 Professors Lose Bias Suit Appeal, New York Times, December 31, 1962 64  •
Tough “Hoss” Manucy Has Solution for St. Augustine: Fire Negro Help, Hartford Courant, June 30, 1964 66  •  Connecticut Boy Loses Appeal to Wear Beatle Bangs to School, New York Times, December 16, 1964 69  •  “Georgie Porgie” Sings, Hartford Courant, December 9, 1965 72  •  ‘Rebel Priest’ Urges Fellows to Form Labor Union, Hartford Courant, February 23, 1966 75  •  Meredith
Injured While on March, Hartford Courant, June 6, 1966 78  •  Curves Have Their Day in Park; 500 at a “Fat-in” Call for Obesity, New York Times, June 5, 1967
80  •  Coed Disciplined by College Becomes Dropout at Barnard, New York Times, September 4, 1968 82  •  Writer Changes Sex; Will Wed Negro Man, Bridgeport Post-Telegram, November 21, 1968 84  •  The Name of Model
Agency That They Work for Is Ugly, New York Times, March 7, 1969 89  •
Bishop Pike: A Life Marked by Turmoil and Drama, New York Times, September 7, 1969 90  •  Young Pair Take Lives as Protest Against the War, New York Daily News, October 17, 1969 94  •  Sketches of 4 Seized as Bombing Suspects, New
York Times, November 14, 1969 99  •  Young Millionaire Brody’s Checks Not
Covered by Cash in Bank, Bridgeport Post-Telegram, January 19, 1970 106  •
Hairy Youths Have Right to Jobless Pay, Hartford Courant, May 28, 1970 110  •
Vatican Asking All Priests to Affirm Celibacy Yearly, New York Times, February 10, 1970 111  •  Disappointed, Hartford Courant, January 19, 1971 113  •  Long Hair is Sign of a Sissy, Hartford Courant, May 22, 1973 114
5. Social Issues: Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll 116
Nudie Films—All the Time Volleyball, New York Herald Tribune, Early 1960s, Date Unknown 116  •  Growth of Overt Homosexuality in City Provokes Wide
Concern, New York Times, December 17, 1963 117  •  Narcotics a Growing Problem of Affluent Youth, New York Times, January 4, 1965 120  •  Folk Singer Loses; Shoots Self Dead, Bridgeport Telegram, January 28, 1967 122  •  Nude Model Placed on Probation, Bridgeport Post-Telegram, February 15, 1967 124  •
Nude Model Leaves College Voluntarily, Bridgeport Post-Telegram, March 23, 1967 125  •  Screen: “The Trip” on View at 2 Houses, New York Times, August
24, 1967 127  •  The See-Through Look, New York Times, April 24, 1968 129  •
Nudity Moves into Center Stage, New York Times, April 25, 1968 130  •
Topless Dancer Runs for Stanford Student Body President, Hartford Courant, May 1, 1968 131  •  Miss Moorman in Football Togs Plays in “Mixed Media Opera,”
New York Times, June 11, 1968 134  •  Actresses Talk About Onstage Nudity, New York Times, February 17, 1969 135  •  Art Linkletter Says Daughter Died on LSD, New York Daily News, October 6, 1969 137  •  Addict, 12, Found After 3-Day Spree, New York Times, January 29, 1970 139  •  Ex-Staples Honor
Student Nabbed in N.Y. Drug Haul, Bridgeport Post-Telegram, May 23, 1970
141  •  Gay Liberation, Hartford Courant, October 22, 1970 143  •  Drill for GI Junkies: A Nauseating Shoot-Up, Hartford Courant, November 14, 1970 144  •
73-Year-Old Pot User Asks Legalization of Marijuana, Hartford Courant, October 15, 1971 146
6. As Long as We Both Shall Love: The Evolution of Marriage 148
Reno Ranches: Divorce Havens for Rich, New York Times, October 28, 1963
149  •  Nude Newswoman Covers Wedding in Nudist Camp, Hartford
Courant, May 11, 1964 151  •  Andy Williams Tells How to Stay Married,
Hartford Courant, February 13, 1967 153  •  Broker’s Estranged Family Pickets Dad at Exchange, New York Daily News, March 30, 1967 155  •  Five Women Protest the “Slavery” of Marriage, New York Times, September 24, 1969
158  •  Fired for Living Out of Wedlock, Clerk Sues, Middletown Press, January 7, 1970 160  •  Couples Share Rent, Chores (and Sex), Hartford Courant,
August 2, 1970 161  •  “Do Your Own Thing” Concept Starts Marriage
“Vibrating,” Hartford Courant, February 12, 1971 164  •  $1 Million in Dispute in Bigamist’s Estate, Bridgeport Post-Telegram, December 5, 1971 165  •  Jane Fonda, Tom Hayden Wed in Free-Form Rite, Bridgeport Telegram, January 22, 1973 168
7. You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby: Women in the 1960s 171
The Lonely Turn to Public Dances, New York Times, November 19, 1963 172  •
Women Made to Help Men, Hartford Courant, February 16, 1965 174  •  Teen Girls Ask Hints on How to Win Boys, New York Daily News, Early 1960s, Date Unknown 174  •  Dean of Women Handles Male Students’ Problems, Hartford
Courant, June 15, 1965 175  •  Meter Girls Have It Maid Again After New Shape-up, New York Daily News, September 9, 1965 177  •  Most Beautiful By-Line, Newsday, September 25, 1965 178  •  Bill Allowing Women at Bars Gets Favorable Report from House, Hartford Courant, May 23, 1967 180  •  Miss Shape, Hartford Courant, October 16, 1967 181  •  If She’s a Doctor or a Lawyer, Men Seem Wary, New York Times, June 13, 1969 182  •  Svelte Blonde Is a
Commercial Pilot, New York Times, February 16, 1970 183  •  Sophia Loren Kisses off WLM (Women’s Liberation Movement), The Bridgeport Post, September 25, 1970 185  •  Descendant of Grant Scoffs Lib, Hartford Courant, October 11, 1970 185  •  Liberation Shunned by Women, Hartford Courant, February 11, 1971 187  •  Gals—Here’s Check List; How Do You Measure Up?, Hartford Courant, October 19, 1969 189
8. Mad Dogs and Skyjackers: Crime Keeps Up with the Times 190
Blackmailed for Love & 56G by Father of 8 Babies She Slew, New York Daily News, October 9, 1962 190  •  Had Night Job: Burglary, New York Daily News,
December 31, 1962 192  •  Slaying Ends a Happy Triangle, New York Daily News, October 1963 193  •  Public Flogging Seems Near an End in Delaware, New York Times, February 2, 1964 195  •  Sinatra Witness Tells of Plot Tip, New York Times, February 25, 1964 198  •  Man Sets Up Guillotine to Kill Wife, The
Morning Record (Meriden, CT), October 14, 1965 202  •  500G Bank Suspect Caught in Vegas, New York Daily News, April 1, 1967 203  •  Warhol Gravely
Wounded in Studio; Actress is Held, New York Times, June 4, 1968 205  •
Italian Factions Back Minchiello; Extradition Proceedings Started to Gain
Custody of Minichiello, New York Times, November 3, 1969 209  •  Hijacker Tells of Cuban Imprisonment, New York Times, November 3, 1969 211  •
Cockpit Gun Battle Climaxes $100 Million Skyjack Thriller, Bridgeport Post-
Telegram, June 5, 1970 215  •  Oldest Convict, Hartford Courant, October 30, 1970 217  •  Police Kill TV Assailant in Toronto, Hartford Courant, December 15, 1970 218  •  Hijacker Gives Up at Argentine Field, Hartford Courant,
August 5, 1971 221  •  Bingham’s Mother Waiting for Word, Hartford Courant, August 24, 1971 224  •  Texas Ranger Kills Gangster from Bonnie and Clyde Era, Bridgeport Post-Telegram, October 15, 1971 229  •  Tax Agents Walk Nude in Memphis, Bridgeport Post-Telegram, June 16, 1972 230
9. It’s All About the War: Politics in the Vietnam Era 233
The Klansman, Unknown New York Newspaper, October 16, 1960 233  •
Sen. Goldwater Asks: Must Public Subsidize Shirkers, Illegitimacy? New York
Herald Tribune, Date Unknown 234  •  Poverty Program Now Faces Big Test, New York Times, August 16, 1964 236  •  The U.S. in Vietnam: Why It Is There, New York Times, February 12, 1965 240  •  Agnew Says “Effete Snobs” Incited War Moratorium, New York Times, October 20, 1969 243  •  President Proud to Have Agnew in Administration, New York Times, October 31, 1969 244  •  Text of President Nixon’s Address to Nation on U.S. Policy in the War in Vietnam, New York Times, November 4, 1969 246  •  Agnew Says TV Networks Are Distorting
the News, New York Times, November 14, 1969 251  •  3 Networks Reply to
Agnew Attack, New York Times, November 14, 1969 252  •  Agnew Becomes Duffer for a Day, New York Times, February 8, 1970 253  •  Brother Takes Role in War, Bridgeport Post-Telegram, May 18, 1971 255  •  President’s Cousin Seeks Help, Hartford Courant, June 4, 1971 257
10. From Panty Raids to Anti-War Protests: Student Unrest 261
Negro Students Killed in Riots, Hartford Courant, February 9, 1968 261  •
Trinity Trustees Captive, Hartford Courant, April 23, 1968 263  •  Trinity Strike Ends in Accord, Hartford Courant, April 25, 1968 265  •  Student Anti-War Strike Urged, Hartford Courant, April 25, 1968 266  •  Wesleyan Thinks Things
Over, Hartford Courant, April 26, 1968 269  •  The Negro Student at an
Integrated College: His Problems, Attitudes and Goals, New York Times, June 3,
1968 270  •  Student Protest Flares in Europe, New York Times, June 4, 1968
272  •  Teen-Age Revolt: Is It Deeper Today Than in Past Generations?, New York Times, October 7, 1968 274  •  Student Protest 1969: Less Concerned with War Than with Other Issues, New York Times, January 14, 1970 279
11. It’s All About Me 282
1,000 Antiwar Demonstrators Block Traffic; 6 Held in Sit-in, Hartford Courant, May 13, 1972 282  •  Watkin’s Glen: “The Ultimate Bummer,” Bridgeport Post-
Telegram, July 30, 1973 285
Bibliography 291
Index 295