ABSTRACT

In the mid 1960s things looked pretty good, economically, for the US. There had been

twenty years of prosperity, of near full employment, with little or no inflation. Growth had been rapid, so that the standard of living of a large and expanding middle class had

risen steadily, and a new automobile-centered lifestyle, which became the envy of the

world, blossomed in the suburbs. First, a car in every garage, then, for the prosperous,

two cars-and a radio in each; one television for the house, then two, one color and one

black and white; radios, hi-fis, dishwashers, washer-dryers, blenders, appliances of all sorts became normal equipment, as electronic wizardry advanced by leaps and bounds.