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Elvis Presley Singing for Forrest
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Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley was a singer, musician, and actor. Elvis died on August 16, 1977 in a bathroom around 1:30 pm. His fiance at the time was Ginger Alden, who lost Elvis after he said "Okay, I won't" to Ginger telling him not to fall asleep. Elvis' role in Forrest Gump had a huge impact on Forrest, but a small impact on the movie. He sat in Gump's bed and played music for him at the bed and breakfast. -
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Vietnam War Battlefield
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Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was something that Forrest became very passionate about, especially the soldiers that he had to take care of. One thing we talked about in class was how the soldiers acted when they got home from Vietnam. Forrest is dragged off his bed and yelled at by someone who he saved, who believed it was his destiny to die on the battlefield. This is an accurate representation of soldiers who came back to the U.S. much different than before they left. -
George Wallace in Forrest Gump
George Wallace was the 45th governor of Alabama, and had very racist political viewpoints. He had populist viewpoints and was known as a segregationist. At the University of Alabama during Forrest Gump, Wallace blocked black students from entering the school. He was left paralyzed after a incomplete assassination and a failed attempt at presidency. -
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George Wallace Blocking Entrance
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President Kennedy Assasination
President JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963. Forrest meets Kennedy when he is awarded as an All-American football player for the University of Alabama. President Kennedy had little interaction with Forrest besides that night, and then he was assassinated, followed by his brother in 1968. JFK was simply riding through Dallas on the presidential motorcade when he was fatally wounded. -
LBJ honoring Forrest Gump
Typically when hearing LBJ, the first name that comes to mind is Lebron James. Before he was famous, LBJ was the shortened name for President Lyndon B. Johnson. LBJ was the 36th president of the United States and is known for his Great Society. He honored Forrest Gump with the Congressional Medal of Honor and congratulated him on stage. Forrest also showed Johnson his wounded buttock as a symbol of strength. The date below recognizes the day LBJ started his presidency. -
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JFK Assassination
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Ku Klux Klan (Nathan Bedford Forrest)
The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was a white supremacist and hate group who targeted African-Americans. This group targeted African-Americans who were newly freed slaves because they disagreed with freeing them. The leader of the KKK was Nathan Bedford Forrest. Forrest Gump's first name was after this man, although, Forrest did not believe in his morals or ideals. -
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Forrest Gump Relation to KKK
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Forrest and Jenny integrate with Black Panther Party
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Anti-Vietnam War Protests
After the war, Forrest is later brought on stage by anti-war citizens, and forced to talk. Many Americans opposed the war on moral grounds, appalled by the devastation and violence of the war. Others claimed the conflict was a war against Vietnamese independence, or an intervention in a foreign civil war; others opposed it because they felt it lacked clear objectives and appeared to be unwinnable. The people on the bus were clearly anti-war, but respected people who made it home from the war. -
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Forrest Gump shot in the Buttocks (LBJ)
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President Nixon meeting Forrest Gump
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U.S. Landing on the Moon
Forrest Gump attracts all the attention away from the first U.S. landing on the moon with his impressive ping-pong skills. Although the moon landing is much more important, Forrest clearly had the whole crowd watching him. This specific mission to the moon was Apollo 11, and Apollo's fifth mission to the moon. Evidently, the fifth mission to the moon was the first successful one, considering this mission was the first successful one to the moon. The mission was displayed on the TV in the back. -
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Forrest Playing Ping-Pong During Moon Landing
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Black Panthers
A historic moment in the Civil Rights movement was the Black Panthers. The Black Panthers were a violent Civil Rights group that took matters into their own hands instead of waiting around. Jenny brings Forrest to a place where the group is located, where Forrest is interrogated by the all black party. They are upset that Forrest was involved in a war where black soldiers fought and were killed. Forrest and Jenny are kicked out when Forrest beats up another guy who put his hands on Jenny. -
Watergate
Watergate was a huge political scandal in the years 1972-1974. It rooted from the break-in at Watergate on June 17, 1972, which Nixon and his administration continuously tried to
cover up. In Forrest Gump, Nixon invited Forrest to stay at the Watergate Hotel. While Forrest was staying there, he saw people through his window with flashlights
in another part of the complex. This indirectly suggests that Forrest was witnessing the Watergate break-in first-hand. -
Watergate Break-In Video
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President Nixon In Forrest Gump
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President Nixon
Richard Nixon was tried for obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress. He lost all of his political support and eventually resigned. Forrest was invited with the US Ping Pong team to the White House, where he meets President Richard Nixon, who offers him a room to stay in at Watergate Hotel. This led to Forrest seeing and reporting the Watergate break-in. Nixon was one of the most controversial presidents of his time. The date below resembles his resignation. -
AIDS
AIDS plays a very crucial part in Forrest Gump. AIDS stands for Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS harshly affects the immune system and is potentially fatal. Jenny contracted AIDS in Forrest Gump and ended up dying, breaking Forrest into pieces. Although AIDS is very common to treat in 2021, in the '80s, AIDS was mostly unknown and untreatable to a certain extent. -
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Jenny fighting AIDS