I went to a boarding (high) school where religion classes were required. Senior year left a lot up to us and I remember we read Father Phil's book! 
And I was certainly living through all those times, of course I was not a fan of Reagan. In the late '80s I visited the USSR with my grandmother and her peace group - she was in North Carolina and they had a "sister town" there. It really was the trip of a lifetime (though initially I was pretty freaked out since I grew up believing the Russians wanted to kill us!), almost all the group were senior citizens, experienced travelers and - I realize now - liberals! I learned a lot from them - and from the Russians we met with - and I have never forgotten. WWII decimated the country and they never wanted it to happen again. There was a lot of hope back then - under Gorbachev- and I feel for them now. And one thing that stuck with me, they did not like Reagan, but were fans of Jimmy Carter! I often wonder what my fellow travelers would think of what's happening now. *sigh*
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