[tlb]

>>>I think America was at her peak in 1963

I think a better argument can be made that the turning point was 1960, when an alliance of big city bosses and the Cosa Nostra stole a presidential election putting in place a weak and inexperienced man as president.

When glamor in a politician became more important then competency or integrity. When the Monroe Doctrine still held sway and had not yet been abandoned as the price of de-escalating a nuclear crisis initiated by Soviet leaders relying on the failure of American presidential leadership. And when family dynasties were not the defining characteristic of US presidential politics.

[Agamemnon]

When the Monroe Doctrine still held sway....

Kennedy was already too busy with his own "twist" on what was meant by the Monroe Doctrine.

(BTW twist is just "lisp-synch" for "tryst")