Once ignored by historians in favor of the tumultuous 1960s and conservative 1980s, the 1970s have taken on an enhanced role in academic history. Our panel provides insights into the decade, illuminating key aspects of the diplomatic, political, and cultural histories of a transitional decade.

In her paper “Henry Kissinger’s Memoirs and the Shaping of History,” Barbara Keys traces the growth of Kissinger’s celebrity reputation after his retirement from public office. She cites the publication of Kissinger’s memoirs as vital to his apotheosis as the leading sage of diplomacy. Using previously untapped sources, Keys finds that the writing and reception of Kissinger’s memoirs – from Kissinger’s access of classified government documents to the serialization of excerpts in Time – were a product of privilege. Kissinger leveraged these advantages to further his celebrity status, which remains to this day.

Yanek Mieczkowski, in his paper “Balanced on a Razor’s Edge: Gerald Ford, Inflation, Recession, and the 1970s Economy,” reexamines President Gerald Ford’s efforts to combat inflation. Mieczkowski demonstrates that Ford’s record against inflation has been underrated by historians who have incorrectly labeled his “Whip Inflation Now [WIN]” program as the mainstay of his anti-inflation strategy. Instead, Ford relied on his extensive knowledge of economics and the Federal budget – and on his veto pen. The end result was a dramatic reduction in inflation. Ironically, though, that achievement came at a political cost to Ford.

In his paper, “A Spirit of Doubt and Contrition: The National Mood at the Opening of the American Bicentennial, 1975,” Joseph Eaton examines debates in the spring of 1975 about how, or even whether, to celebrate the American Bicentennial. Eaton finds that a disposition against holding a national celebration was widespread and traces the efforts of the Ford administration and the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration to counter the inclination against commemoration. As America approaches the Semiquincentennial of the United States in 2026, it might be useful to understand how this previous generation of Americans understood their nation on its two-hundredth anniversary during similarly troubled times.

These papers contribute to the burgeoning field of 1970s history, providing perspective on themes that have a continued relevance for our time – the creation of celebrity through government service; the use of presidential economic policies to fight inflation; and the difficulties of holding a national commemoration during an atmosphere of national decline. Our panel comprises scholars from diverse institutions – two foreign universities, a STEM school, and a major state university. Our research is drawn from different historical approaches yet is linked by a common theme – in finding in the 1970s both the sources of the present and relevant examples for our time.