Recollections and Reflections

Résumé du livre

¿The Essay Book - Recollections and Reflections - captures in their own words wisdom gained during a lifetime from lessons learned as experienced by 135 members of the Harvard College Class of 1957 during their 80 years. Some lessons are humorous, some tragic, many uplifting and all draw the reader into the author¿s adventure.Born in the Great Depression, and children during World War II, the 1250 member all-male class of 1957 entered the College during the Cold War as Senator Joseph McCarthy held the nation in thrall while the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations searched for Communists among the faculties of Harvard and MIT. Segregation was still legal in many Southern states, and the Civil Rights Movement, just beginning, would affect them profoundly. They graduated four months before the Soviet Union launched Sputnik to herald the opening of the Space Age. Following graduation, many served in the military or other national services before pursuing careers in nearly every aspect of professional and commercial life. For them the early 1960¿s were hopeful years, opening with the election of President John F. Kennedy. An articulate, youthful WW II hero, his message of strength and of a vision for a better future launched national scientific and engineering programs to oppose the threat of Soviet domination of inner and outer space, and encouraged civilian volunteers to reach out to the rest of the world in the Peace Corps. At home Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.¿s compelling biblical appeal to the nation¿s conscience for racial equality, and his dignity in facing violent resistance, voiced their own hopes and dreams. Soon their character and commitment would be tested by the assassinations of JFK, MLK Jr and RFK, the chaos of the Vietnam War years, presidential resignations, the social revolutions and the AIDS pandemic that followed.Tracing the arc of history during their times, their stories and poems read like mini-novels as these diverse classmates describe their participation in the immense changes in science, technology, medicine, law, government, economics, education, politics and the international order over the 60 years since their graduation."