What political affiliation would the Cleavers have back then? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Tankeryanker · 01-24-2020, 01:24 PM

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?

stevea · 01-24-2020, 02:01 PM

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.

GentlemanJim · 01-24-2020, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

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)

stevea · 01-24-2020, 09:17 PM

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.

GentlemanJim · 01-25-2020, 12:59 AM

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.

PracTz · 01-25-2020, 03:09 AM

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!'

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

stevea · 01-25-2020, 10:51 AM

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

Tankeryanker · 01-25-2020, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PracTz

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

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?

TSMIV · 01-25-2020, 01:06 PM

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.

stevea · 01-25-2020, 01:19 PM

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.

MMR · 01-26-2020, 02:19 PM

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.

stevea · 01-26-2020, 06:28 PM

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

someguy23475 · 02-13-2020, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GentlemanJim

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.

GentlemanJim · 02-13-2020, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by someguy23475

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.

stevea · 02-13-2020, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by someguy23475

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.

01-24-2020, 01:24 PM	#1
Tankeryanker Do you like my monkey picture? Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 22, 2014 Posts: 3,058	What political affiliation would the Cleavers have back then? 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?

01-24-2020, 09:17 PM	#4
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 45,444	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.
	Last edited by stevea; 02-13-2020 at 10:14 PM. Reason: corr. of "fact"

01-24-2020, 02:01 PM	#2
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 45,444	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.

01-25-2020, 12:59 AM	#5
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	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.

01-25-2020, 03:09 AM	#6
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	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!' I guess she would have preferred Angelia to have worn a Mamie Eisenhower pillbox hat.

01-25-2020, 10:51 AM	#7
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 45,444	That Jackie Kennedy wig comment was removed from syndication for years, after JFK was assassinated. I think it first reappeared on the DVD set.

01-25-2020, 01:06 PM	#9
TSMIV Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 29, 2018 Location: Arkansas Posts: 696	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.

01-25-2020, 01:19 PM	#10
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 45,444	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.

01-26-2020, 02:19 PM	#11
MMR Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 30, 2013 Location: United States Posts: 113	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.

01-26-2020, 06:28 PM	#12
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 45,444	In our time Mr. and Mrs. Valentine would sue the school.