Fortunate Sons

"Fortunate Sons" traces the roots of the American culture wars to a time 50 years ago when the nation was increasingly prosperous and increasingly divided. The question of what America owed the world and its own people was hotly debated as the gap between the generations grew. In 1969 as President Richard Nixon battled a growing anti-war movement, TV shows like "Hee Haw" and "Lawrence Welk" promoted small town values while other shows like "That Girl" and "The Brady Bunch" challenged ideas about what a family and what being female should look like. In the same period John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged "bed-ins for peace" and young TV stars like Marlo Thomas attended anti-war rallies.