Basically, we upped the ante. |
Many people saw [the Apollo landing] as adding to the tradition of Western expansion and the new frontier. There is a strong cultural thread in America seeking exploration and fulfilling man's destiny. |
The federal government was seen as key toward innovation and technological progress, by defining what's essentially civilian, like the space program, as a government endeavor. |
There were racial, economic and social divisions -- strains that were very real and very important. [The moon landing] was the culmination of forces that brought everyone together to pursue a common goal. |