The War Drags On: Protest Music of the Sixties

In 1956 the U.S. military assumed responsibility from the French for training South Vietnamese forces. In 1962 Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield reported to JFK that President Diem had wasted $2 billion of American military aid. When U.S. troop levels reached 200,000 in 1965, the questions, teach-ins and protests began across the country. Music played a key part in the historical narrative of the war in Vietnam. This class will review some of the significant singer-song writers and the songs that not only told the story of the war, but moved the hearts and minds of the American public. Included in the class study will be songs by Phil Ochs, Donovan, Pete Seeger, Byrds, Tom Paxton, Country Joe McDonald, Flying Burrito Brothers, John Fogerty and others. As always, class comments and participation are encouraged. After all, we all lived through it.