They didn't seem "worse" to me at the time. I was 13 in 1968, and my big loves were (1) science and (2) music.
In science, we had the amazing accomplishments of the space program, as well as burgeoning computer technology and lots of other exciting things going on.
In music, we had the radio. The most amazing musical talents ever were available instantly to any kid with a transistor radio. Plus, wonderful music at my school (regular band and jazz band). To me, it seemed like an amazing show, with moon rockets for fireworks.
For my parents, and the parents of my friends, it was another story all together.
I know two people who had older brothers and sisters take off for who-knows-where, in one case out the bedroom window in the middle of the night.
My father was in Vietnam that year, and again in 1971-72.
Horowitz’s point was that what he calls “neo-Communists,” such as Tom Hayden, took over leadership of the Democrat party at that time. Obama is from the same red-diaper lineage.