Storyteller Broke From "Normal" In The 1950s. Here Is How & Why

When I was making my television series on the 1960s titled Making Sense Of The Sixties in 1989 my team and I recorded hundreds of informal interviews asking people to remember those days. This speaker is Hendrik Hertzberg, an American journalist best known for his work as senior editor and political commentator for The New Yorker.

The 1950s are often portrayed as a time of conformity, conservatism, and traditional family values. The era is marked by post-World War II prosperity, suburban expansion and the so-called "nuclear family" ideal (a breadwinner father, a homemaker mother, and children). Several aspects of 1950s culture prompted rebellion from young people in the 1960s:

The 1950s are often stereotyped with a focus on consumerism and material success as markers of the "American Dream". This focus on material success and the conventional lifestyle was seen by many 1960s youth as superficial and unsatisfying.

The 1950s were a time of overt racial segregation and well-defined gender roles. The Civil Rights Movement and the Women's Liberation Movement challenged these norms.

The 1950s were characterized by conservative attitudes towards sex. The advent of birth control in the 1960s and changing social attitudes led to the so-called "Sexual Revolution", which pushed back against previous taboos.

The 1950s were marked by the Cold War including fear of nuclear warfare and widespread anti-Communist sentiment. Many young people felt frustrated with what they perceived as irrational fears and warmongering by the establishment.

There was a general questioning and rebellion against the authority of institutions that were seen as representing the older generation - government, schools, churches, and the like.
The rock'n'roll music of the 1950s, symbolized by artists like Elvis Presley, challenged the more sedate pop music of the earlier post-war years.

Several factors led to a spirit of rebellion among young people.
The United States' involvement in the Vietnam War led to widespread protests among young people, particularly those of draft age who faced the possibility of being sent to fight in the war.

Hertzberg describes a counterculture that rejected many of the social norms and conventions of the previous generation. This included shifts in attitudes towards authority, sexual behavior, drug use, and traditional social roles. The growth of movements like feminism, environmentalism, and gay rights also encouraged questioning of established norms and practices.

The post-WWII economic boom meant that many young people in the 1960s were better off economically than their parents had been at their age. This gave them the resources and leisure time to question and challenge societal norms.

The sheer number of young people (the Baby Boomers) meant that youth culture had a big impact on society. The 1960s also saw the rise of rock and roll and other cultural phenomena that galvanized young people and contributed to a sense of generational identity.

Higher education was becoming more accessible, leading to a more informed and politically aware student population. University campuses often became centers for political activism and intellectual challenge to the status quo.

Hertzberg's journalism career started at Harvard, where he served as the president of The Harvard Crimson. After his graduation in 1965, he served in the Navy for three years before moving to New York to work as a reporter for Newsweek.

In 1969, he joined the staff of The New Republic, eventually serving as its editor from 1975 to 1977. He then worked as a speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter from 1979 to 1981. After his stint in the White House, Hertzberg returned to The New Republic as editor, where he stayed until 1985.

In 1992, Hertzberg joined The New Yorker, where he worked as a staff writer focusing on politics and international affairs. He also served as the magazine's executive editor from 1992 to 1995. Hertzberg's pieces for The New Yorker are noted for their insightful and often witty commentary on politics, particularly on American domestic issues.

Hertzberg has won several awards for his work, including the National Magazine Award for Commentary in 2006. He has also published collections of his writings, including "Politics: Observations & Arguments" and "¡Obámanos!: The Rise of a New Political Era".

In addition to his journalism career, Hertzberg has also been a fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and at the American Academy in Berlin.