America's 250th anniversary has arrived, and at the national level, the narrative is dominated by President Donald Trump's personal celebration. The White House has organized headline-grabbing events, including a UFC fight on the South Lawn, a failed concert series replaced by a Trump rally, and a record-setting fireworks display delayed until after Trump's potentially 11 pm speech on the Mall. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called artists who declined to perform "libtards," and the Great American State Fair has underperformed.
However, Trump's vision does not have to define the entire country's celebration. According to historian MJ Rymsza-Pawlowska of American University, author of History Comes Alive: Public History and Popular Culture in the 1970s, the 1976 bicentennial under President Richard Nixon also faced turmoil but ultimately succeeded through grassroots, local initiatives. In a June interview with Today, Explained co-host Noel King, Rymsza-Pawlowska detailed how the bicentennial evolved from a politicized federal plan to a decentralized celebration shaped by citizens.
The 1976 Bicentennial: A Parallel to Today
Rymsza-Pawlowska noted that the mood in 1976 was "not dissimilar" to today's climate, with Nixon resigning amid scandal, the Vietnam War ending, and widespread social movements. Planning began in 1966 under President Lyndon Johnson, who envisioned an international exposition showcasing his Great Society programs. Philadelphia won the bid, but Nixon, taking office in 1968, sought to make the bicentennial his own.
Nixon stocked the American Revolutionary Bicentennial Commission with political allies and proposed a celebratory World's Fair. However, opposition emerged from groups like the People's Bicentennial Commission, which advocated for a reflective commemoration acknowledging America's diverse experiences and problems, including civil rights, women's rights, and Native American rights. The American Indian Movement argued that the history was one of colonialism, not freedom for all.
Nixon's Shift to Grassroots Celebrations
Unlike today's administration, the Nixon administration listened to critics. Facing Watergate and other crises, Nixon abandoned his original plan. In a 1974 speech, he declared: "The bicentennial is not going to be invented in Washington, printed in triplicate by the government printing office, mailed to you by the US Postal Service, and filed away in your public library. Instead, we shall seek to trigger a chain reaction of tens of thousands of individual celebrations, large and small, planned in and carried out by citizens in every part of America."
The new American Revolutionary Bicentennial Administration dispersed funding to hyperlocal groups and individuals. This grassroots approach resulted in a "very '70s take on commemoration," according to Rymsza-Pawlowska, with local museums, libraries, and community organizations creating exhibits and events that reflected their own experiences.
Lessons for the 250th Anniversary
Rymsza-Pawlowska sees parallels today, with local projects already emerging. In Washington, DC, the public library is hosting an exhibit on Washingtonians' contributions to America. The organization Made By Us features "talk-back walls" where people share visions for the next 250 years. She emphasizes that the capacity built during the bicentennial persists: "Your local museum probably got a new exhibit. Your library probably videotaped a bunch of people talking about what the commemoration means to them. That ethos is still there."
Despite the politicized national narrative, Rymsza-Pawlowska believes that meaningful celebrations are happening at the local level. "There's stuff; you just have to look for it," she said, suggesting that citizens can shape the 250th anniversary into a more inclusive and reflective commemoration, just as they did in 1976.
