10. THE SIXTIES
A DECADE OF TURBULENCE The decade opened positively, with high prospects for the future...at least it seemed so for the American white middle class. That was all I knew. For us, it promised to be a sunny time. President John Kennedy's inaugural speech in January 1961 set the tone. It began with the declaration, "...the torch has been passed to a new generation," and it concluded with "ask not what your country can do for you---ask what you can do for your country." Now, it appeared, young people could, and would, make a difference. The Peace Corps came into being. Involvement and commitment was the spirit of the time. It seemed to be a call to action for the young. But on October 22, 1962 clouds were gathering. Kennedy announced that a Russian ship carrying missiles capable of striking the United States was headed for Cuba. The American government declared a high seas blockade around Cuba to keep that ship from reaching its destination. This w