Chapter 13, The Pubic Years Summary and Analysis

1957 ranked as the happiest year on record in America, according to the Gallup Organization. However, African Americans were still excluded from many places and some were killed just for trying to vote. The Soviets now had an intercontinental missile and they launched the first satellite into space. Americans were also having to confront some of their choices as research showed that cigarettes caused cancer and juvenile crime rose.

In Des Moines, the 1950s exited as chain stores and restaurants came in. Dutch elm disease killed the town's elm trees. Some older houses were torn down to make way for hotels. The first shopping mall opened in 1959, making people abandon the downtown area. Bill started at Callanan Junior High School.

It was at Callanan that Bill met Stephen Katz. Doug Willoughby decided to take over the...