America in crisis, according to Pete Seeger, 48 years ago

In 1972, folk singer Pete Seeger performed at UW-L, and also spoke with people on campus about his concerns for society.  Seeger said the U.S. was in Vietnam ‘deeper than ever,’ and he was worried that Democrats running for president didn’t want to end the war.  Seeger warned that war, the environment, and other conditions could destroy Americans, and he worried that the oceans might be ruined within 10 to 20 years.  But he also said that America is ‘a great country.’  

Co-ed dorms would become a reality in the UW system.  The Board of Regents approved a plan to let men and women stay in the same dorms, as long as they were in separate wings of a building, or on separate floors.   

The Democratic nominee for president had to find a new running mate. Less than three weeks after being nominated for vice president, Senator Tom Eagleton of Missouri withdrew from the ticket, after media reports that he had been treated for depression. Senator George McGovern, the presidential nominee, chose Sargent Shriver to take Eagleton’s place.

In the summertime, TV networks tried out new shows, with old and new performers.  CBS gave short summer series to comedians like John Byner and David Steinberg.  Bobby Darin got an NBC show.  And ABC featured a show with British comedian Marty Feldman…and the ‘Ken Berry Wow Show,’ which had a cast including Teri Garr and Steve Martin, in 1972, yesterday in La Crosse.