2. The Fabulous Fifties Baby-Boomers Abound

8. The Buck Stops Here DESK SIGN The sign "The Buck Stops Here" that was on President Truman's desk in his White House office was made in the Federal Reformatory at El Reno, Oklahoma. Fred M. Canfil, then United States Marshal for the Western District of Missouri and a friend of Mr. Truman, saw a similar sign while visiting the Reformatory and asked the Warden if a sign like it could be made for President Truman. The sign was made and mailed to President on October 2, 1945. Approximately 2-1/2" x 13" in size and mounted on walnut base, the painted glass sign has the words "I'm From Missouri" on the reverse side. It appeared at different times on his desk until late in his administration. The saying "the buck stops here" derives from the slang expression "pass the buck" which means passing the responsibility on to someone else. The latter expression is said to have originated with the game of poker, in which a marker or counter, frequently in frontier days a knife with a buckhorn handle, was used to indicate the person whose turn it was to deal. If the player did not wish to deal he could pass the responsibility by passing the "buck," as the counter came to be called, to the next player. On more than one occasion President Truman referred to the desk sign in public statements. For example, in an address at the National War College on December 19, 1952 Mr. Truman said, "You know, it's easy for the Monday morning quarterback to say what the coach should have done, after the game is over. But when the decision is up before you -- and on my desk I have a motto which says The Buck Stops Here' -- the decision has to be made." In his farewell address to the American people given in January 1953, President Truman referred to this concept very specifically in asserting that, "The President--whoever he is--has to decide. He can't pass the buck to anybody. No one else can do the deciding for him. That's his job. The sign has been displayed at the Library since 1957.

15. The Current Middle East

29. Letter from Ho Chi Minh to President Harry S. Truman, 02/28/1946.

35. Kilroy was here is an American popular culture expression, often seen in graffiti. Its origins are indistinct, but recognition of it and the distinct doodle of "Kilroy" peeking over a wall is almost ubiquitous in the US. There was one person who led or participated in every combat, training or occupation operation during WWII and the Korean War. This person could always be depended on. GI's began to consider him the "super GI." He was one who always got there first or who was always there when they left. I am, of course, referring to Kilroy Was Here. Somehow, this simple graffiti captured the imagination of GI's everywhere they went. The scribbled cartoon face and words showed up everywhere - worldwide. Stories (some even true) abound. A number of years ago the Philadelphia Inquirer responded to a question about the Kilroy Was Here signs. According to them, they were started by a Quincy MA shipyard inspector named James F. Kilroy. He first chalked the slogan on tank tops and cargo boxes to show they'd been checked. Cargo went everywhere and GIs spread the slogan. The Kilroy slogan soon became a special pal of scared soldiers. To show that an area had been cleared GIs wrote the slogan Kilroy was here. James Kilroy no relation to the original

53. Elvis Elvis Aaron Presley January 8, 1935 - August 16, 1977

60. 50s TV

63. The Howdy-Doody Show Let's see how much you remember! The show took place in Doodyville, a circus town which had both puppet and human inhabitants. The audience of kids was called the Peanut Gallery and there was a huge waiting list for tickets to the show. Everybody wanted to sit in the Peanut Gallery! The show typically had a short film, a song or two and visits by the various residents of Doodyville. Did you know that... Buffalo Bob Smith was one of the first to recognize the potential of television to market products to kids. Welch's Grape Jelly, Wonder Bread, Colgate. Howdy Doody was the first show to ever hit the 2,000 episode mark? Howdy Doody was the first regular network series in color? Howdy Doody had the first theme song to become popular outside of the show? Buffalo Bob Smith died in 1998 of cancer.

66. I Love Lucy

67. I Love Lucy Many networks did not want to cover a sit-com that featured a mixed marriage, so Lucille Ball and her Cuban band-leader, Desi Arnaz, formed Their own production company called Desilu and Produced their own show. It captured the public’s hearts and became a classic. Two of my favorites episodes: The Candy Factory and the Vitameatavegamin commercial.

68. The Andy Griffith Show With Sheriff Andy Taylor, Deputy Barney Fife, Thelma Lou, Gomer, cousin Goober, Opie, Floyd the Barber, Otis the town drunk, and Aunt Bee life was safe and secure in Mayberry.

69. Captain Kangaroo This was my favorite kid show growing up. I watched it every morning before going off to school. He was as gentle as Mister Rogers, but had cartoons, books, and drawing. All of these will be found in other kid shows, but his was one of the first.

70. Ozzie & Harriet Ozzie and Harriet Tidbits For 14 years we watched Ozzie, in his alpaca cardigan and Harriet, with her ever ready pot of coffee and a plate of brownies. Boomers grew up with Ricky and David. When asked if this was a realistic view of family life, the answer is a resounding no. Their idea of a life crisis was having two chairs mistakenly delivered to the house. Speaking of the house at 522 Sycamore Road, Hilldale, the set was an exact replica of their real life home in Hollywood. If you remember all those scenes in the kitchen, that's because up until 1956, Hotpoint, the sponsor, was displaying their products! After that, you probably recall more outdoors scenes. Did you notice the cameras around everyone's necks? Yup, Kodak became the sole sponsor. Ozzie was producer, director and head writer. In short, he had control. Ricky has been bugging his father to let him sing a tune on the show. So on April 10,1957 in "Rick the Drummer" he covered Fat's Domino's "I'm Walkin." The song shot to the top of the charts. Eventually, the boys grew up and married and their real life wives joined the show. David married June and Ricky married Kris Harmon, daughter of Tom and brother to Mark. Ozzie Nelson died in 1975 of cancer, Rick Nelson died 1985 in a plane crash, and Harriet died in 1999 of congestive heart failure.