This might be more fun and have some historical coolness to it. I know nothing about the candidates back at that time or the local, state or federal issues. The show ran from 57 to 63. What say you?

Dwight Eisenhower was a known, popular general in WW II. The 50s were generally a euphoric time, everyone happy and relieved that war was over--so DDE was probably a popular president through the 50s. Also a time of general fear of the Soviet Union/Iron Curtain. And I can see Ward and June both voting for him, in '52 and '56.

Richard Nixon, who was DDE's V.P., wasn't what you'd call a charismatic candidate. As opposed to JFK, who was. Today JFK would be considered a conservative Democrat. So I can see both Ward and June voting for him, particularly in light of the lackluster Republican candidate.

In 1964 all bets are off. You have a V.P. who was elevated to President after JFK's assassination, and Barry Goldwater, a Republican, and viewed as somewhat of a crackpot. W&J would probably have played it safe and stayed with Johnson.

However, if you spring forward to 1968, beyond LITB, you have two lackluster candidates, a Nixon reboot, and Hubert Humphrey, Johnson's V.P. The Dem. convention was fraught with riots, and the country was unhappy with the U.S. involvement in Vietnam. W&J both vote in Nixon's column.

Dwight Eisenhower was a known, popular general in WW II. The 50s were generally a euphoric time, everyone happy and relieved that war was over--so DDE was probably a popular president through the 50s. Also a time of general fear of the Soviet Union/Iron Curtain. And I can see Ward and June both voting for him, in '52 and '56.

Richard Nixon, who was DDE's V.P., wasn't what you'd call a charismatic candidate. As opposed to JFK, who was. Today JFK would be considered a conservative Democrat. So I can see both Ward and June voting for him, particularly in light of the lackluster Republican candidate.

In 1964 all bets are off. You have a V.P. who was elevated to President after JFK's assassination, and Barry Goldwater, a Republican, and viewed as somewhat of a crackpot. W&J would probably have played it safe and stayed with Johnson.

However, if you spring forward to 1968, beyond LITB, you have two lackluster candidates, a Nixon reboot, and Hubert Humphrey, Johnson's V.P. The Dem. convention was fraught with riots, and the country was unhappy with the U.S. involvement in Vietnam. W&J both vote in Nixon's column.

I'm with you on every selection, for exactly the reasons you specify. (fwiw)

Worth a lot--and each time, they voted for the winner!

They probably would have been surprised, along with the rest of us, that Johnson decided not to run in 1968. That was probably one of the most shocking political turns-of-events in the 1960s. He was a shrewd politician, and read the Vietnam tealeaves.

If we continue on, the country was generally happy in 1972. So were Ward and June, and voted to re-elect Nixon.

In 1976 the country was extremely unhappy with the Republicans after the Watergate affair, and Nixon's resignation. They were not thrilled with Gerald Ford, who was parodied very well on a new, upstart show, by Chevy Chase--the show, Saturday Night Live. Ward and June really did not like Jimmy Carter (June thought he was a country bumpkin), and also were not thrilled with Ford. Both held their noses and voted for Ford, their first wrong pick in many years.

Nothing that occurred in the Carter years changed W&J's opinion, and like the rest of America, they did not like being lectured to in Carter's famous "malaise" speech. The final blow was the early 1980 operation which failed to end the Iran Hostage Crisis. June was in mourning over Ward's death in 1977. But she, like much of the rest of America, voted to oust Carter, and voted for Ronald Reagan in 1980.

In 1984 June was happy with Ronald Reagan, and joined in his landslide victory over Walter Mondale. Reagan won the electoral votes of 49 states, the biggest landslide of modern times.

I believe there was a little more to LBJ's decision to not seek re-election, but other than that I think you are pretty spot on.

They never stated the Cleavers' political affiliations on the show and I'm not about to lift the lid on that pot by speculating.

However; it's a virtual certainty that Beaver's principal Mrs. Rayburn was a staunch Republican since in one late episode when Beaver asked Gilbert if she was mad at him and Gilbert replied 'Mad?! She hasn't been this mad since Angela Valentine came to school in that Jackie Kennedy wig!' :lol:

I guess she would have preferred Angelia to have worn a Mamie Eisenhower pillbox hat.

That Jackie Kennedy wig comment was removed from syndication for years, after JFK was assassinated. I think it first reappeared on the DVD set.

She hasn't been this mad since Angela Valentine came to school in that Jackie Kennedy wig!' :lol:

I guess she would have preferred Angelia to have worn a Mamie Eisenhower pillbox hat.

I don't get this. I was born a week before JFK died. What is the joke?

I think it's just poking fun at people who try to emulate whatever the latest fad is. I don't think it's political. Besides, June had the Jackie 'do in the last season.

Yeah, Mrs. Rayburn was the strict disciplinarian, and she wouldn't stand for the wig any more than she would stand for Beaver and his friends wearing the gory sweatshirts. She probably wouldn't allow anybody's wig.

She'd be on the fence to even allow Halloween costumes in Grant Avenue School.

Agree with that.

Mrs. Rayburn probably just didn't want the fad to get out of hand.

In the 1960s when the Batman TV show was popular among grammar school kids, our principal made a statement over the intercom banning all Batman gear. I remember having to take the bat symbol sticker off my baseball cap.

In our time Mr. and Mrs. Valentine would sue the school.

I believe there was a little more to LBJ's decision to not seek re-election, but other than that I think you are pretty spot on.

He did briefly seek re-election, but things were not looking good in (I think) New Hampshire, so he changed his mind.

Ward died in 1977, according to the Still the Beaver movie.

Good analysis on their characters. I wonder if they would have been more enthusiastic in 1976 had Reagan won the nomination instead of Ford.

He did briefly seek re-election, but things were not looking good in (I think) New Hampshire, so he changed his mind.

Ward died in 1977, according to the Still the Beaver movie.

Good analysis on their characters. I wonder if they would have been more enthusiastic in 1976 had Reagan won the nomination instead of Ford.

I've been thinking about this thread in the back of my mind, and I think Ward would have been a Eugene McCarthy supporter. Wally being draft age and all.

He did briefly seek re-election, but things were not looking good in (I think) New Hampshire, so he changed his mind.

Ward died in 1977, according to the Still the Beaver movie.

Good analysis on their characters. I wonder if they would have been more enthusiastic in 1976 had Reagan won the nomination instead of Ford.

I think in 1976 they would have still been fed up and would have voted for Carter. Reagan would have done better than Ford, but 1980 was Ronald Reagan's time.

Also I changed my post above to show Ward's "correct" year of passing.

I've been thinking about this thread in the back of my mind, and I think Ward would have been a Eugene McCarthy supporter. Wally being draft age and all.

Yeah, but Nixon was running to end the war, too. He could have voted for McCarthy in the primaries or caucuses, whatever Mayfield's state had.

Since Humphrey won the nomination at the chaotic, riot-ridden convention, I think Ward decided to vote for Nixon and June followed suit.

Yeah, but Nixon was running to end the war, too. He could have voted for McCarthy in the primaries or caucuses, whatever Mayfield's state had.

Since Humphrey won the nomination at the chaotic, riot-ridden convention, I think Ward decided to vote for Nixon and June followed suit.

McCarthy to Nixon is a pretty big swing, IMO. I realize that McCarthy did not make it to the general election, but just for discussion, lets frame this with a modern twist.

How many Buttigieg supporters do you think will swing to support Trump if Biden wins the nomination?

Good analogy.

Or, how many Sanders supporters would do that if Biden wins the nomination? They would have reason to be extremely angry Sanders gets screwed again (and I think he will be). My guess is they would take a pass, because Trump would be a lightning rod too far for them. They have TDS--just go over on the Chit-Chat politics board to see that.

Kind of off the subject, but Biden's gaffes make me nervous--I have family experience with dementia/Alz. and he has signs--early, but they're there. That's a serious consideration. It happens too often to be dismissed.

But assuming Ward did support McCarthy in the primary, what would he have done in the general? I don't remember Humphrey's position/platform on the war.

Ward and June Cleaver seem awfully conservative to me - but I think Alex and Donna Stone were quietly liberal. The Ricardos liberal. The Andersons conservative (except for Princess).

Good analogy.

But assuming Ward did support McCarthy in the primary, what would he have done in the general? I don't remember Humphrey's position/platform on the war.

This is as good a synopsis as I've been able to find, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_United_States_presidential_election

Looks like HHH tried to distance himself from the Vietnam issue and instead champion the continuation of the war on poverty, milking fears over the recent riots.

Wallace self destructed when he chose a hawk for his running mate, with most of his following defecting to Nixon because they opposed Humphrey's welfare agenda.

Bloomberg could defeat Trump, however IMO the rest of the Dem candidates will just motivate Trumps base, who would otherwise stay home, to go out and vote against them, just like last time.

I wonder if they were a bunch of commies like the so-called Democrats today.

I wonder if they were a bunch of commies like the so-called Democrats today.

Well, in actuality, Kennedy chose Johnson as his running mate so as to have a draw with the conservative southern democrats.

Conservative Democrats used to be a pretty big segment of the public.
Nowadays you almost automatically equate "conservative" with "Republican".

Never really thought about it before, but this "Wallace/LeMay" defection to Nixon might have been the primer towards bleeding conservatives out of the Democratic party, into the foreign camp. "Exo-con" anyone? (as in "Exodus")

I have a vague memory of claimed urgencies (back then) to expand social welfare programs in answer to the big riots......but until I read the above wikipedia article I never really equated those proposals with the 1968 election.

But in hindsight, it makes perfect sense. Lots of people I knew back at the time were legitimately concerned that the fires would keep on burning unless something was done.

And the part about Wallace supporters defecting to Nixon in lieu of Humphrey because of their lack of welfare sympathies makes perfect logical sense. (nicely explaining how so many democrats came to support Nixon)

I don't see Ward and June being a part of that crowd, so I have to suspect they would vote Humphrey in '68. Just my wooden nickel.

I have a vague memory of claimed urgencies (back then) to expand social welfare programs in answer to the big riots......but until I read the above wikipedia article I never really equated those proposals with the 1968 election.

But in hindsight, it makes perfect sense. Lots of people I knew back at the time were legitimately concerned that the fires would keep on burning unless something was done.

Wait, what? People rioted to get handouts? And others gave in? Where can I find out more about this part of American history? What was it called (other than extortion)? This is all new to me

What was it called

It has been popularly called "The Long Hot Summer" of 1967.
which precipitated the Kerner Commission
which Precipitated (among other things) the Civil Rights act of 1968
and the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968

This is probably unfair for me to say, but I believe that the prevailing thought process at the time was "better to have them at home waiting for a check in the mail, than out burning cities"

It has been popularly called "The Long Hot Summer" of 1967.
which precipitated the Kerner Commission
which Precipitated (among other things) the Civil Rights act of 1968
and the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968

Thank you. Here are links if others were as ignorant about this as I was.

https://www.britannica.com/story/the-riots-of-the-long-hot-summer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerner_Commission

I had no idea there were two separate civil rights acts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1968

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housing_and_Urban_Development_Act_of_1968

"The Commission's 1968 report, informally known as the Kerner Report, concluded that the nation was "moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal."
Well, they fixed that, didn't they. It's no longer a black and white country.

All told, there were 159 riots in the USA during the summer of 1967, resulting in 85 deaths, 2,100 injuries, and 11,000 arrests

Good analogy.

Or, how many Sanders supporters would do that if Biden wins the nomination? They would have reason to be extremely angry Sanders gets screwed again (and I think he will be). My guess is they would take a pass, because Trump would be a lightning rod too far for them. They have TDS--just go over on the Chit-Chat politics board to see that.

Kind of off the subject, but Biden's gaffes make me nervous--I have family experience with dementia/Alz. and he has signs--early, but they're there. That's a serious consideration. It happens too often to be dismissed.

But assuming Ward did support McCarthy in the primary, what would he have done in the general? I don't remember Humphrey's position/platform on the war.

Sanders people would go Green Party or one of the socialist parties if on the ballot in their state. He was a presidential elector for one of them back in the 80s.

It has been popularly called "The Long Hot Summer" of 1967.
which precipitated the Kerner Commission
which Precipitated (among other things) the Civil Rights act of 1968
and the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968



The Atlanta riots in 1906, the Omaha and Chicago riots in 1919, and The volatile Tulsa Oklahoma Race Riot, in 1921, are all US riots that are seldom talked about. Do you think they might have been the backdrop for decades of seething anger and frustration, with the result being the Long Hot Summer of 1967?

Good analogy.
Kind of off the subject, but Biden's gaffes make me nervous--I have family experience with dementia/Alz. and he has signs--early, but they're there. That's a serious consideration. It happens too often to be dismissed.


Joe Biden has had a speech impairment, since childhood. I understand, he was quite the stutterer. Now, his stuttering is fairly undetectable, maybe, that's what you're seeing.

The Atlanta riots in 1906, the Omaha and Chicago riots in 1919, and The volatile Tulsa Oklahoma Race Riot, in 1921, are all US riots that are seldom talked about. Do you think they might have been the backdrop for decades of seething anger and frustration, with the result being the Long Hot Summer of 1967?

So many riots, so little time.

I wonder why they do not teach this stuff in school?

Joe Biden has had a speech impairment, since childhood. I understand, he was quite the stutterer. Now, his stuttering is fairly undetectable, maybe, that's what you're seeing.

Possibly. I never knew that.

The Atlanta riots in 1906, the Omaha and Chicago riots in 1919, and The volatile Tulsa Oklahoma Race Riot, in 1921, are all US riots that are seldom talked about. Do you think they might have been the backdrop for decades of seething anger and frustration, with the result being the Long Hot Summer of 1967?

Without a doubt that is true. And don't forget the Watts riot of 1965..

I believe there were a lot of agitators who did their very best to use the Watts riot as a template for "what must be done" that culminated in the 1967 riots.

The 1960s were an incredible period of transformation in this country's being. I have very few regrets in my life, but one of them is that I was not 10 years older so that I could experience the 60s with the perspective of an adult, instead of that of a child.

There is a saying that claims "most of the significant things that are attributed as having happened in the 60s, actually happened in the 70s" ....and to an extent that was true. Many of us who grew up in that time period were trying our best to continue carrying the torch.

As an aside, I moved to Los Angeles in the immediate wake of the Rodney King riot, and was there for the subsequent unrest that surrounded the trial of the accused assailants of the Reginald Denny beating. Surreal to watch citizenry trying to upset the criminal justice system with threats of violence unless a verdict to their approval is obtained.

Depressing just living in a potential war zone that you have to call "home". You look carefully at every stranger who approaches you. The biggest challenge I found was in separating stereotypes from survival instinct.....often there was quite a blur.

Even then there were people who had been through the '65 riots who dismissed the Rodney King riots as "recess".

So many riots, so little time.

I wonder why they do not teach this stuff in school?

Did you know that right now at this very second, there is a huge public protest going on up in Canada? Has been so for the last 3 weeks.

Rail traffic at a standstill from blockades erected by protesters blocking major corridors. Many bridges between the USA and Canada have been shut down at times. Up to this point it has been peaceful, but most of Canada is fermenting contempt for a government they see as lacking the courage to step up and do something.

And yet down here in the States you hear barely a mention. Wonder why?