Echoes from the Fifties
1.  Red scare.  Fears are real but based on demagoguery.  Relative prosperity prompted by Cold War spending.
2. America is dominant world economy.    Growth of suburbs, the dream of the middle class.  G I. Bill, homes, jobs, baby boom.  Racial divide as whites leave the cities, leading to riots and upheavals. 
3.  Blandness of the 50s.  Conformity in appearance, dress, entertainment, avoidance of social issues, as effect of Red Scare..  Birth of rock & roll as undercurrent of rebellion.  Prevalence of autos after expansion of highways
4.  The Eisenhower presidency.  A national hero.  After election, resolves Korean stalemate.  Continues Cold War atmosphere but extreme elements reduced.  Moves to restrain military budget, warns in farewell speech the the military-industrial complex is a threat to American democracy.
5  Technology advances.  Conquest of polio, TV, relatively prosperous Cold War economy.

Movements of The Sixties
7.  Sharp break from before.  Nixon, epitome of the Cold War warrior loses election to John Kennedy in 1960.  The role of TV and the visual image in the political world.  Distinguishing image from accomplishment, looking back as far as Teddy Roosevelt.   JFK's charisma.  Inspires youth to join the Peace Corp and to enter public service.  The missile gap lie.  The escalation of the Vietnam War.