50 years ago we celebrated the 200th anniversary of the nation’s founding. The Vietnam war was over, Nixon had resigned, the terrible recession was coming to an end although unemployment still hovered around 7.7% and while many cities still had to deal with dire economic conditions, we were confident in the future. And while the 1973 oil crisis still loomed over the national economy, inflation was slowing and median household income was rising. Sharon and I had just returned to the United States after living in Vienna where I served as a scientist on the staff of the International Atomic Energy Agency. I was a newly appointed professor at NYU and we traveled to Washington to party with dear friends working and living in the District. We were joyful. We were hopeful. We were invigorated. We partied. This July 4 we are staying home.