We continue our look at Emphasis ’68 with a speech from John Kenneth Galbraith, who is introduced as an “antenna and synthesizer” of economics and social theory.

Galbraith was a prominent economist and author, and he served in important posts under several Democratic presidents, including as U.S. Ambassador to India under Kennedy. At Emphasis ’68, he spoke on the topic “The Impact of Vietnam on American Life.” He discussed the evolution of the U.S.’s foreign policy from WWII up to the Vietnam War –namely, its strategies of dealing with Communism — and called for a change in approach. He also took several questions on current events and public figures.

(Image from the 1969 Corolla yearbook)

Click on the image below to read a brief preview from UA’s student newspaper, The Crimson-White, in its Emphasis ’68 Special:

Go to Acumen to listen to his hour-long speech: part one and part two. The speech concludes very briefly in part three, which is devoted to a half hour session of Question & Answer.

Click on the images below to read the follow-up article from the March 25, 1968, edition of The Crimson-White:

Perhaps even more interesting than the news recap is a letter to the editor from the April 1, 1968 edition of The Crimson-White. In it, Vietnam vet Tim Nall discusses the impact Galbraith’s speech had on his thinking — it didn’t change his views, but it made him think about why he holds them. Click on the images below to read the letter:

This kind of reassessment seems like just what Emphasis was designed for, to get students and others in the UA community to thoughtfully explore the issues of the day.