Professor Releases Account of the Sixties
Posted on 04 March 2010
By Staff Writer: Nyki DudaWhen strolling from Fromm Hall down to the freshman dorms, it’s impossible to ignore USF has a distinct cultural and political vibe. From the ever-present didgeridoo-playing bands of Marley fans in Harney Plaza to the Garden Project and service learning requirement, the university frames itself as a tolerant, fun-loving progressive haven.
Bernard von Bothmer, author of the newly released “Framing the Sixties: The Use and Abuse of a Decade from Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush,” would argue USF’s decision to self-identify as 'socially just' is typical of a larger political trend that uses the memory of the 1960s as a framework. Terms like 'liberal' or 'radical' are equated with the counterculture of the 'bad' '60s, the dreamy time of JFK and Camelot with the right wing. And vice-verse, depending on your political persuasion.
von Bothmer, an adjunct professor of US history at USF, filters this tendency through the lens of presidential politics, focusing on the ways former presidents have used the legacy of the sixties for political gain. From Clinton distancing himself from the memory of Lyndon Johnson, to Bush the elder’s determination to "kick" Vietnam syndrome, von Bothmer has painstakingly uncovered stores of documents which highlight what he calls the ‘use and abuse’ of the decade in presidential rhetoric and political advertisements.
According to von Bothmer, he chose to study the '60s through executive politics because the connection between the two has received little academic attention. And with his Kennedy-esque style and East Coast accent, von Bothmer dove into the complex world of presidential politics like he belonged there.
“This is a very unique study which I think explains so much of the politics for the last thirty years. I wrote this book because I wanted to explain present day politics through history,” von Bothmer said.
In his research, von Bothmer spoke to multi-administration heavyweights like James Baker, former Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Treasury to Reagan and Secretary of State to George H.W. Bush. But he also consulted giants of the left (like Noam Chomsky) in an effort to piece together first-hand accounts of post-Vietnam politics. The trouble, he argues, is each interviewee wanted to spin the dramatic events of the decade to advance their political agenda.
“Each was special in its own way, giving different insights into all of the different ways we frame the '60s,” von Bothmer said. “I really felt I was getting the inside story from people who were there and knew and worked for these presidents.”
“Framing the Sixties,” released on Feb. 1, saw its campus debut on Feb. 23. A crowd of students and staff gathered for a reading in UC to hear von Bothmer discuss his work and pick up copies of their own. Von Bothmer’s first book has already received high praise—and not only on-campus.
Tom Brokaw, former anchor of the NBC Nightly News and author of “Boom! Talking About the Sixties,” called the book a “smart, impressively researched account of the decade that far too often is reduced to clichés by the left and the right. This book will be invaluable to anyone eager to know the real story behind […] that tumultuous time.”
Obama-Era politics are not exempt from being reduced to what Brokaw calls “clichés”. von Bothmer stressed that for Obama, it is necessary to keep from being associated with President Johnson, something he has already been careful to avoid. Instead, says the author, he has adopted the tactic of both Clinton and Reagan by “hijacking the JFK comparison” that was made throughout his presidential campaign.
But President Obama is not the only way the 1960s’ will impact the youth of today for von Bothmer. The author also made sure to note that by demonizing the sixties, we also demonize political activity.
“We have to be careful about romanticizing the 60s’, but at the same time, we can’t discount them. Idealism is important—it’s a hope for a better tomorrow and it’s sad that those dreams have disappeared since the end of the sixties.”
He also sees hope in the future, however, and in the memory of those who came out of the culture dominated by what he calls the “silent generation of the 50s’” and broke down barriers in the following decade.
“As a teacher, I stress to my students that democracy can’t function if people are disengaged and so I encourage them to keep reading the paper or keep up with current events. Young people need to know this history and how they’re being manipulated. Don’t let politics on either side of the aisle frame politics for you; learn it for yourself, find out what really went on and what’s going on now.”
von Bothmer will be featured as a contributor on an upcoming panel on the legacy of Howard Zinn, a prominent American author, historian and activist. He will host the panel with fellow history professor Uldis Kruze at 12:30 p.m. on March 30, location forthcoming
For information on how you can purchase “Framing the Sixties,” a list of upcoming appearances and his blog chronicling contemporary uses and abuses of the 1960s, visit www.FramingtheSixties.com.
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