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The origin of Forrest's name
In the movie Forrest Gump claims that his mother named him after a Civil war hero, Nathan Bedford Forrest. However, this man was actually the person who founded the Klu Klux Klan during the 1800's. -
Forrest's dance to Hound Dog
During a stay in Alabama Elvis Presley stayed at the Gump house. While he was singing the rough version of what would later become Hound Dog, Forrest performed a dance that consists of shaky legs and rapid hip movements. This was later adapted by Elvis, making it his signature move in his claim to fame. -
All-American Football Team meets Pres. JFK
As a successful player at the University of Alabama, Forrest Gump travels with the Collegiate All-American Football Team to meet President John F. Kennedy at the White House in 1963. -
Desegregation of the University of Alabama
The Stand in the Schoolhouse Door was an event in which Alabama Governor George Wallace stood in the door of the University of Alabama on June 11th, 1963 to prevent the entry of two African American students—Vivian Malone and James A. Hood. -
Pres. JFK Assassination
Mortal shooting of John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, as he rode in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. His accused killer was Lee Harvey Oswald never stood trial for murder, because, while being transferred after having been taken into custody, he was shot and killed by Jack Ruby, a distraught Dallas nightclub owner. -
Forrest enlists in the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War takes up a substantial amount of time in Forrest’s life in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Forrest enlisted in the Vietnam War in 1967 with the 47th Infantry Regiment, which is a real United States regiment dating back to World War I. -
Medal of Honor / Meets Pres. Johnson
The Medal of Honor is awarded to Forrest by Lyndon B. Johnson after Gump rescued his fellow soldiers and brought them to the river during the Vietnam War. -
Ping Pong Diplomacy
Forrest was sent by President Richard Nixon to play on the All-American Ping-Pong Team in China. The event became known as “ping-pong diplomacy” due to its instrumental nature in healing the relationship between the U.S. and China. -
Forrest meets John Lennon
Forrest Gump inserts Forrest into the real-life interview on The Dick Cavett Show alongside The Beatles’ John Lennon, editing it in a way that Forrest, John, and Dick’s remarks inspire the lyrics to Lennon’s hit song “Imagine. -
The Watergate scandal
After being commerated by President Richard Nixon, Forrest calls security while seeing men with flashlights searching the office in the Watergate Complex he was staying at, unknowingly reporting the Watergate Scandal. -
Forrest meets The Black Panthers
The Black Panther Party (1966-1982) was a revolutionary black nationalist organization led by Huey P. Newton. It is considered as the most influential black movement organization of the 70’s. -
Hurricane Carmen
During his endevors as BubbaGump, the shirmping company, Hurricane Carmen hit Louisianna. During this time, all other boats got wiped from the shore. All the shrimp landed with Forrest and Dan, making them rich and taking BubbaGump to a new level of franchise. -
HIV/AIDS outbreak
Jenny, who has done hardcore drugs over the years, contracts a virius unknown to doctors. This marks the HIV/AIDS outbreak in the 80's.