1. 1968 - Born to be wild

American politics remains dominated by a generation born in the 1940s, a cohort that has held power for decades despite the nation's shifting demographics. The year 1968 serves as the crucible for this generation, marking a transition from the post-war consensus of the "Greatest Generation" to an era defined by deep societal fractures. Vietnam-era disillusionment, the civil rights movement, and the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy shattered the political center, fostering a lasting environment of acrimony and polarization. Figures like Chuck Hagel, Thomas Vallely, and Kit Bokke reflect the radicalization and loss of faith in institutional leadership that defined their youth. This historical trauma continues to shape the current political landscape, where the persistent influence of this generation manifests in a cycle of grievances and ideological battles that mirror the volatility of the late 1960s.