Fifty years ago, Oregon’s Republican governor did something that has never been done before or since: He authorized and encouraged young people to attend a free, drug-fueled rock concert at a state park. The decision might have ended in disaster. Instead, tens of thousands of people attended, successfully drawing anti-war protesters away from President Richard Nixon’s planned visit to Portland.

"Oregon Experience" takes a look back at Vortex 1: The only state-sponsored rock festival in U.S. history.

Content Alert: Partial Nudity.

Read more: How Oregon’s GOP governor teamed up with hippies to throw a festival and prevent clashes in the streets https://www.opb.org/article/2020/08/2...

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