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Elvis's Dance
Presley was invited over to Forrest's house when Forrest was still in leg braces. He said he liked when he played the guitar and did a "dance" for him. Elvis liked the dance so much that a few years later Forrest saw him on television performing his "dance" that Elvis later became famous for. -
The KKK
Forrest talks about how his father was in the KKK, a racial group that did horrible things to African Americans. They were responsible for the murder of Emmett Till, a teenage boy visiting the state of Mississippi, sparking the start of the Civil Rights movement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqW4WkPxJ5Y -
Integration of The University of Alabama
Forrest experiences racial problems when President Kennedy called for the integration of his college. Govenor of Alabama, George Wallace, spoke at the event, with a lost and confused Forrest in the background.
http://runforrestrun.umwblogs.org/civil-rights/ -
Meeting President JFK
Forrest went to the white house to be awarded a award for his performance at the University of Alabama. He was recognized as an All-American by President Kennedy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSEdBNslGOk -
The President's Assassination
We talked about the assassination of President Kennedy in class. Forrest remembered his assassination later on in the movie, even including his brother being killed as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB7Cv4AOx7E -
The Vietnam War
Forest joined the Vietnam war along with a good friend of his from home. It was the most controversial war of the 20th century, lasting from 1955-1975. He saved some of his fellow men from dying in the war including his lieutenant, who explained his family coming from a long line of wars from the Civil war to the American Revolution. -
Hippies and Black Panthers
When Forest Returns home, thanks to the protests from the hippies, he's awarded the medal of honor at the Washington Monument and gets into trouble with the Black Panthers Jenny was in acquaintances with, a racial power group for African Americans, her being apart of many American countercultures at the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXEyppt_GLM -
Landing on the Moon
The time of the Space Race, America's accomplishments come rushing in. A montage of these accomplishments also shows off the first man landing on the moon, Niel Armstrong in 1969.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMINSD7MmT4 -
Ping Pong in China
After Rehab from the War, Forest becomes indulged in Ping Pong and even becomes a world known figure after winning at a championship in China -
Meeting a Beetle
On the Dick Carret show, Forest meets a member of The Beatles, John Lennon, in December and later talks of his murder that was shortly after their meeting. -
Stay at the Watergate
President Nixon offered Forest a stay at the Watergate Hotel and he witnessed the scandal going on, so he played a part in the biggest presidential scandal of President Nixon in 1974.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9rfEVWA2Ig -
Apple Investment
Although we never talked about it, in this moment of history, Forrest was offered to invest his money into the apple company which he declined. Lieutenant Dan ended up taking the deal and if Forrest would've taken it then, it would make him a billionaire now.
