To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Good Five Cent Cigar, let’s take it back 50 years to the week of March 11, 1971.
The early 1970s were a tumultuous and turbulent time in the United States and across the world. The Vietnam War affected many American families while increasing international pressure and stress on politicians and lawmakers. Distrust in the government was rampant, and social justice issues were becoming more apparent to the public as an anti-war movement began to grow.
“In fact, I seriously doubt if we will ever have another war,” President Richard Nixon said in an interview with The New York Times. “This is probably the very last one.”
This sentiment represented the feelings of many Americans, who were tired of the war in Vietnam, and wanted the conflict to end as soon as possible.
On March 8, Joe Frazier defeated his rival Muhammad Ali to preserve the heavyweight title of the world in an earth-shattering 15 round fight, now known as “The Fight of The Century.” The two legends traded blows for 15 rounds until Frazier knocked Ali down late in the final round. Ali recovered, but it wasn’t enough to sway the judges’ to his side.
This fight was more than just a boxing match though, as it represented two sides of America. Ali was a prominent critic of the Vietnam War and had a large following with the left-leaning anti-war movement. His rival, Frazier, became an idol for conservatives across the nation, and his victory solidified Ali as a villain for many pro-war Americans, further dividing the nation.
NASA’s Apollo 14 moon landing was a success from the month prior and the crew of astronauts Stuart Roosa, Edgar Mitchell and Alan Sheppard appeared as a part of a celebratory parade through New York City. Apollo 14 was the third successful trip to the moon for NASA after Apollo 13’s failure to land and represented hope for many Americans. The parade was interrupted multiple times by protests for better welfare programs.
In local news, on March 9, the University of Rhode Island Men’s Basketball team played their final game of a disappointing season with a 78-95 loss at Brown University. The team leader was Steve Rowell, a sophomore at URI, who averaged 17 points and six assists per game on the season. The Rams finished the season with a record of 10-17, going 8-2 in the Yankee Conference.
Across campus, hundreds of students led strikes against the Vietnam War, racial injustice and police brutality starting in the fall of 1970. College campuses across the nation held similar protests and strikes.
On March 11, 1971, Congress approved a bill that lowered the federal voting age from 21 years old to 18 years old. 18-year-olds were being drafted into the war but were unable to vote on policies or politicians to represent them, leading to public outcry. This change allowed representation for many young Americans, an ideal many still hold close to today.
President Richard Nixon also visited the Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI, on March 12, 1971. Nixon was honored as a guest graduation speaker for a class of future naval officers, including his son-in-law, David Eisenhower.