The Genovese Affair: Prologue to 'the Sixties'

This dissertation topic concerns the post-World War II clashes between traditional politico-cultural values and the signs of protest that were emerging in the late 1950s and early 60s America. The Genovese Affair represents a pivotal moment in American history in that Eugene Genovese, a Rutgers University professor, successfully challenged the status quo with his provocative statement, "I do not fear or regret the impending Vietcong victory in Vietnam, I welcome it." Genovese's remark set off a firestorm of controversy on the Rutgers campus, across the State of New Jersey, and throughout the nation. However, the fact that Genovese survived the onslaught of criticism, gave a clear signal that the 1960s would be different from previous decades. Prior to Genovese, college professors who involved themselves in controversial issues often lost their jobs. After the Genovese Affair, more and more college professors, as well as others, would begin to voice criticisms with various aspects of American society in the confident belief that they, like Genovese, would not suffer any consequences for doing so. However, the more troubling outcome of the incident involving James Mellen, a Drew University professor, served as a reminder that conservative forces were still strong in the mid-sixties, and that a vicious clash of ideological perspectives would ensue and would do much to define and shape that important decade in U.S. History.