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Radio Atlantic

How Has America Changed Since 1968?

Radio Atlantic

The Atlantic

Politics, News, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.9K Ratings

🗓️ 5 January 2018

⏱️ 40 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

As 2018 begins, tensions and tumult in America are high. But before the end of 1968, Conor Friedersdorf reminded us in The Atlantic, "Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy would be assassinated; U.S. troops would suffer their deadliest year yet in Vietnam—and massacre scores of civilians at My Lai; Richard Nixon would be elected president; the Khmer Rouge would form in Cambodia; humans would orbit the moon; Olympic medal winners in Mexico City would raise their fists in a black power salute; President Johnson would sign the Civil Rights Act of 1968; Yale University would announce that it intended to admit women; 2001: A Space Odyssey would premier; and Led Zeppelin would give their first live performance." What does that turbulent year have to tell us in this tumultuous moment? What forgotten history is worth revisiting? And in the past half-century, where has the nation made progress, and where has it struggled? Conor Friedersdorf joins us to discuss these questions with our hosts. If you listen to Radio Atlantic, we value your feedback. Please help us out by answering a quick survey. It should only take a few minutes. Just to go www.theatlantic.com/podcastsurvey. Links – ”1968 and the Making of Modern America” (Conor Friedersdorf, January 1, 2018) – ”Put Your Husband in the Kitchen” (Helen Keller, 1932 Issue) – “Report: Washington” (Elizabeth Drew, April 1968 Issue) – “Americans' Respect for Police Surges” (Gallup, October 24, 2016) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

It was a crazy year.

0:02.0

Over the course of it, America's idea of itself went through a seismic shift,

0:07.0

and it began 50 years ago.

0:09.0

Welcome to 2018.

0:11.0

Let's talk about 1968. This is Radio Atlantic. Happy New Year! I am Matt Thompson, Executive Editor of the Atlantic, here with me in DC.

0:35.8

Hello Jeff?

0:37.8

Jeff, who?

0:38.8

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of the Atlantic.

0:41.6

That Jeff. Hi, I don't know., that Jeff. I don't know.

0:43.0

That was like, I don't know.

0:45.0

Maybe we have first-time listeners who don't know the cast of characters.

0:48.0

He's very well might.

0:49.0

I hope we do.

0:50.0

Over there in New York you have heard the delightful laughter of our esteemed co-host

0:53.2

Alex Wagner. Alex! Good tidings in the New Year. She's so esteemed. She continues to be

0:59.4

esteemed. Always. You are also esteemed Jeff. I just want to say it this time.

1:03.6

Jeff who.

1:04.6

Yeah, exactly.

1:06.6

Exactly.

1:08.8

And joining us from California is Atlantic Staff R Connor Friedersdorf.

1:14.8

Connor, welcome.

1:16.8

Thank you for having me.

...

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