Powerful and largely unflattering images of a reactionary Irish American community were fixed in the news and popular culture during the turbulent passage from the late 1960s through to the late 1970s. Those images of right-wing pundits and reactionary mayors carry through to the present day. In fact, Irish Americans were very well represented on both liberal and reactionary sides of politics and culture. Berkeley-based historian Tony Bucher will try to make sense of both sides of the political and cultural drama of this age and the unique role of Irish Americans of both reactionary and progressive bent in an era of profound change.
