While 1964 was the year I was born, the reason I really watched this was because it was a show from "The American Experience"--one of the best television series of the last several decades. Their shows are of extremely high quality and always fascinating--and are well worth your time.
Among the many topics that were covered in this two-hour show were: the murder of three civil rights worker in Mississippi, the Goldwater campaign, the spread of the Vietnam war, the Civil Rights Act of 1964*, feminism and President Johnson and his Great Society. All of this was very interesting but what was sometimes interesting was what wasn't mentioned. So, while movies like "Send Me No Flowers" was mentioned, oddly, "Dr. Strangelove" was not. And, while the presidential campaign was mentioned, oddly, they never mentioned 'the ad'--the very famous ad with a little girl playing in the flowers who dies from a nuclear attack caused, apparently, by Goldwater! Still, I could understand some omissions, as it's impossible to do a perfect job in encapsulating an entire year in only tow hours! Very good.
*By the way, one mistake the show DID make was about the Civil Rights Act. They seemed to say that it was less popular among Republicans and they stood in the way of its adoption. While Goldwater didn't vote for it, Republicans clearly did--at about 80% in both the House and Senate while Democrats voted about 65% in favor of the bill. The retired history teacher in me thought I should point this out in the review.
Among the many topics that were covered in this two-hour show were: the murder of three civil rights worker in Mississippi, the Goldwater campaign, the spread of the Vietnam war, the Civil Rights Act of 1964*, feminism and President Johnson and his Great Society. All of this was very interesting but what was sometimes interesting was what wasn't mentioned. So, while movies like "Send Me No Flowers" was mentioned, oddly, "Dr. Strangelove" was not. And, while the presidential campaign was mentioned, oddly, they never mentioned 'the ad'--the very famous ad with a little girl playing in the flowers who dies from a nuclear attack caused, apparently, by Goldwater! Still, I could understand some omissions, as it's impossible to do a perfect job in encapsulating an entire year in only tow hours! Very good.
*By the way, one mistake the show DID make was about the Civil Rights Act. They seemed to say that it was less popular among Republicans and they stood in the way of its adoption. While Goldwater didn't vote for it, Republicans clearly did--at about 80% in both the House and Senate while Democrats voted about 65% in favor of the bill. The retired history teacher in me thought I should point this out in the review.
