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Elvis Presley
As Forest was younger he had to wear braces on his legs. As a result of this he walked a little funny. So one day he met a man that was staying at his house that was a singer. Forest then started to dance and Elvis used that dance for his hit song "Groundhog". -
Protest Songs
Throughout the entire film there were many protest songs as they pertain to certain subjects. Protest songs were a non violent way to voice your opinion at things you don't agree with. Many bands during the mid to late 60's wearing coming out with popular protests songs that people could relate to. There are many bands still today that come out with protests song but are criticized about it. -
Alabama School Integration
Forest attends the university of Alabama and plays football there. In the Film you see the riots in front of the school as they tried to integrate the school. As James A. Hood is walking into school he drops some book and Forest with no regard to what people thought picked up the books and gave them to him because he thought of everyone as equal. -
Kennedy shooting
For a brief moment in the Film Forest talks about JFK being shot in his car. This comes after Forest meeting the President for the first time after being named an All-American football player. They show the footage of JFK being shot. Roberts Death is also mention but that came at a later time but still very sad. -
Forest Enter Vietnam
Forest enlists in the Military and is sent to Vietnam. He was recognized for saving multiple comrades and while in the process being injured himself. He is awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions but later tries to tell the American public that Vietnam was a horrible place that didn't allow for everyone to come home safely. -
DC protests
Protesters march in the DC to protest the US's involvement in Vietnam. Forest later gets pulled on stage by accident and gives a speech to the activists that no one knows what he said but was later revealed as being negative towards the conditions in Vietnam. Forest was also not treated well when he came back from Vietnam due to his involvement in the war. -
Black Panthers
The Black Panthers are a violent protest group. Jenny is a member of the Black Panthers and when Forrest arrives he confronts one of the leaders for abusing Jenny. The panthers are also very Anti war so when Forrest arrives with a uniform on he is treated badly. -
Moon Landing
In the movie the Moon landing is on the Screen behind Forrest while everybody is watching him play ping pong. This was very important to the space race and the Cold war with the USSR but wasn't to important for the Militants to pay close attention. -
Wallace Shooting
Governor George Wallace of Alabama was trying to block the two African Americans from entering the University in 1963. Later there was an attempt made on his life but was not successful. This attempted assassination left him palatalized. -
Watergate Scandal
After meeting with President Nixon for being on the US ping pong team, Nixon offers Gump a room at the Watergate hotel. Later that night Forrest is in his room when he notices men breaking into a room in the hotel but does not know as to why they are there. Later Nixon is shown resigning from office due to his unconfirmed involvement in the Scandal.
