History: 1963

Ah, when we were so young and hopeful. The sky was the limit. Families were families and divorces so rare. JFK was president. He had forced the Soviets to take there nuclear missiles out of Cuba in 1962 and then went on to deliver 3 mesmerizing speeches that really gave us hope. The speech at the Berlin wall, the American University speech declaring a time of peace as we inherit our cherished children's future and the speech on civil rights that it is as old as the scriptures that man was equal. American business overseas was so sought after because of the peerage and quality of products. The American youth were signing up in droves tor the Peace Corps and neighbors looked after neighbors. ln June a sad note as Pope John XXII passed away but not after changing 500 years of Catholicism where he was just supposed to be a caretaker pope. Schools in the public sector were respected and students wore decent clothes and no teenager smoked or never heard of drugs and prestige, as an American was so high. Values were high and respected and 2 kids played in the white house that made us say "ah". Life was good and respect was everywhere. NASA was into the beginning of its Gemini program and was on its way of planning to send a man to the moon via the Apollo program. We had military in Vietnam but only as advisors and JFK was getting restless with extending America’s purpose there. Japan and Germany--less than 20 years earlier our arch enemies--and we as a country were rebuilding both countries into economic powers. The media was only reporting the facts and very few talking heads were around. Willy Mays was Americas sports superstar eaming about $100.000.00 a year and saying "why are they giving me so much money when I just love to play the game? Action on equality was beginning to take shape as Americans became aware of negroes not really being free and equal. Sundays in church, apple pie and Chevrolet represented America and its core values were honest. Things seemed so simple then and lite was fun and simple. So many families