Page 46 - Waves Magazine July 2019

W AV ES HIST O R Y

The Summer Of 1969

Changing Of A Nation

At Waves, we strive to focus our history articles strictly on the intense historical
significance of Galveston. From the picturesque architecture that line our streets to
the men and woman whom built (and rebuilt) the foundation of culture, family and
business life on the Island. Sharing the historical data is a way for locals to gain a
deeper connection to Galveston.

However, this month we want to slip away to events that had an impact on the Island’s
culture to some degree while having massive impact on the culture of the entire na-
tion. Everyone knows the 60’s was a revolutionary time in America. But it was the year
1969 that capped off the decade and brought many of its ideas to a crashing end in
some circumstances, while shedding light on others.

The year was 1969. The nation pleaded to give peace a chance. While the Vietnam
War raged in the background, “flower power” reigned at Woodstock. Military conflict
ravaged Southeast Asia, Central America, Northern Ireland, Africa, Czechoslovakia,
the Soviet Union and elsewhere. Human ingenuity took us to the moon for the first
time, while tarnished human nature gave us the Manson Family murders, the Stone-
wall Riots, and the Chappaquiddick drowning.

Man On The Moon who were visiting at the time, and an 18-year- and order was not restored until the de-
old visitor, who was slain as he was departing ployment of New York’s riot police.
On July 16, 1969, the home. Polanski was not present on the night
three astronauts— of the murders, as he was working on a film The Stonewall Riots were followed by
Neil Armstrong, in Europe. Manson, a would-be musician, had several days of demonstrations in New
Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, previously attempted to enter into a recording York and was the impetus for the forma-
and Michael Collins— contract with record producer Terry Melcher, tion of the Gay Liberation Front as well as
blasted off for the who was a previous renter (from May 1966 to other gay, lesbian and bisexual civil rights
moon in Apollo 11. Jan. 1969) of the house along with musician organizations. It’s also regarded by many as
Four days later, Armstrong and Aldrin land- Mark Lindsay and Melcher’s then-girlfriend, history’s first major protest on behalf of
ed on the moon’s surface in a lunar module, actress Candice Bergen. Melcher had snubbed equal rights for homosexuals.
“taking one giant leap for mankind,” and Manson, leaving him disgruntled.
spent three hours walking around, picking
up dirt and rocks, doing experiments and Stonewall Riots Drowning in Chappaquiddick
planting an American flag.
On June 28, 1969, just On July 18, 1969,
Manson Family Murders after 3 a.m., a police raid shortly after leaving
of the Stonewall Inn—a a party on Chap-
gay club located on New paquiddick Island,
On August 8-9, 1969, York City’s Christopher Senator Edward
Charles Manson and Street—turned violent “Ted” Kennedy
his “Manson Family” as patrons and local of Massachu-
undertook a murder sympathizers begin rioting against the police. setts drove his Oldsmobile off a wooden
rampage in California. Although the police were legally justified in bridge into a tide-swept pond. Kenne-
At Manson’s com- raiding the club, which was serving liquor dy escaped the submerged car, but his
mand, his followers
horrifically murdered five people at 10050 without a license among other violations, New passenger, 28-year-old Mary Jo Kopechne,
York’s gay community had grown weary of the
did not. The senator did not report the
Cielo Drive in Los Angeles, the Benedict police department targeting gay clubs, many fatal car accident for 10 hours. Driving
Canyon home of Roman Polanski, includ- of which had already been closed. Soon, the the 28-year-old staff worker home after a
ing the director’s wife, Sharon Tate. They crowd began throwing bottles at the police. The party, Kennedy ignited a scandal with the
murdered Tate, who was eight and a half protest spilled over into the neighboring streets, drowning—people questioned why she
months pregnant, along with three friends
46 | Waves Magazine | July 2019 Issue