political references? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

eyeliner · 01-07-2015, 12:23 AM

In "Water, Anyone?" a neighbor worries that Beaver's behavior is the kind of thing that leads to Communism.

President Eisenhower is mentioned several times in "Beaver's Hero."

Are there other references to politics or political figures on the show?

Zinc2 · 01-07-2015, 11:23 PM

I can think of a few.

On the show's contempory side:
1. Gilbert mentions a Jackie Kennedy wig (Beaver on TV).
2. Eddie says to Wally he thinks sometimes his dad would rather see Khrushchev than him (Eddie Spends the Night).
3. Ward feels like a U2 plane when listening at the top of the stairs during Wally's party (Party Spoiler).

Historically:
1. Beaver paints Paul Revere and Penny does a poster of George Washington (Beaver's Poster).
2. Beaver studies facts about Thomas Jefferson (Beaver's IQ).

eyeliner · 01-08-2015, 01:41 AM

Interesting, thanks!!

MMR · 01-09-2015, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zinc2

2. Eddie says to Wally he thinks sometimes his dad would rather see Khrushchev than him (Eddie Spends the Night).

Eddie also suggests to Wally that if they don't stick together, they'll lose the "cold war" with the adults.

eyeliner · 01-23-2015, 12:38 AM

In "Beaver and Kenneth," June warns Beaver that he shouldn't do anything that would upset God.

Beaver: "I wouldn't want to do anything to hurt God, he's got enough trouble with the Russians and all" lol!

tdr · 01-23-2015, 05:23 PM

I don't remember the episode or the circumstances, but they are at the dinner table and Ward says something like "know how Joe Kennedy felt when his first son went to Washington." Believe me, though, I remember that because I am a detractor, not a fan, of the Kennedys. And it's ambiguous, because the "first of his sons" was Joseph Jr., who was killed flying a special mission in WWII, so he was not the one who vicariously stuffed old Joe's vaulting ambition to the president.

eyeliner · 01-23-2015, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdr

I don't remember the episode or the circumstances, but they are at the dinner table and Ward says something like "know how Joe Kennedy felt when his first son went to Washington." Believe me, though, I remember that because I am a detractor, not a fan, of the Kennedys. And it's ambiguous, because the "first of his sons" was Joseph Jr., who was killed flying a special mission in WWII, so he was not the one who vicariously stuffed old Joe's vaulting ambition to the president.

Wow, I would love to find that ep. It's interesting that the show ended 5 months before President Kennedy was assassinated. It's hard to imagine what the show would have been like in a post-JFK world.

Scrabjan1 · 01-24-2015, 01:48 PM

That episode when Ward mentions Joe Kennedy and how he felt when his son went to Washington was Beaver's Prep School. Ward and June are in the den and June is misty eyed about Beaver going away and Ward mentions Old Joe. Right Joe wanted his first son, Joe, Jr., to be president who was like his yes man compared to his skinny, sickly John who became a war hero.

In Beaver's Good Deed Wally is listening to his transistor radio and says every now and again they play some news. "That's how Lumpy found out about Cuba."

01-07-2015, 12:23 AM	#1
eyeliner Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 06, 2015 Location: NYC Posts: 7	political references? In "Water, Anyone?" a neighbor worries that Beaver's behavior is the kind of thing that leads to Communism. President Eisenhower is mentioned several times in "Beaver's Hero." Are there other references to politics or political figures on the show?

01-07-2015, 11:23 PM	#2
Zinc2 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 17, 2013 Location: Minnesota Posts: 175	I can think of a few. On the show's contempory side: 1. Gilbert mentions a Jackie Kennedy wig (Beaver on TV). 2. Eddie says to Wally he thinks sometimes his dad would rather see Khrushchev than him (Eddie Spends the Night). 3. Ward feels like a U2 plane when listening at the top of the stairs during Wally's party (Party Spoiler). Historically: 1. Beaver paints Paul Revere and Penny does a poster of George Washington (Beaver's Poster). 2. Beaver studies facts about Thomas Jefferson (Beaver's IQ).

01-08-2015, 01:41 AM	#3
eyeliner Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 06, 2015 Location: NYC Posts: 7	Interesting, thanks!!

01-23-2015, 12:38 AM	#5
eyeliner Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 06, 2015 Location: NYC Posts: 7	In "Beaver and Kenneth," June warns Beaver that he shouldn't do anything that would upset God. Beaver: "I wouldn't want to do anything to hurt God, he's got enough trouble with the Russians and all" lol!

01-23-2015, 05:23 PM	#6
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	I don't remember the episode or the circumstances, but they are at the dinner table and Ward says something like "know how Joe Kennedy felt when his first son went to Washington." Believe me, though, I remember that because I am a detractor, not a fan, of the Kennedys. And it's ambiguous, because the "first of his sons" was Joseph Jr., who was killed flying a special mission in WWII, so he was not the one who vicariously stuffed old Joe's vaulting ambition to the president.

01-24-2015, 01:48 PM	#8
Scrabjan1 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 27, 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,521	That episode when Ward mentions Joe Kennedy and how he felt when his son went to Washington was Beaver's Prep School. Ward and June are in the den and June is misty eyed about Beaver going away and Ward mentions Old Joe. Right Joe wanted his first son, Joe, Jr., to be president who was like his yes man compared to his skinny, sickly John who became a war hero. In Beaver's Good Deed Wally is listening to his transistor radio and says every now and again they play some news. "That's how Lumpy found out about Cuba."