Some 56 years ago, the president of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson, surprised the nation when he said he no longer would seek the presidency.

Those of us who can remember back that far, and better yet, can still pull out misty memories from the back of our brains, know he took the nation by surprise. Just like Grandpa Joe did on Sunday.

If you want to say that in 1968, the LBJ presidency, and today's American nation were unsettled, you would be right.

Then, our beloved nation had gone through a series of urban riots and there were more on the horizon. College campuses were in turmoil as men faced the possibility of being drafted and sent to an unpopular war in Vietnam.

If you want a taste of the mood, stop over some time and I will tune my 12-string and sing you a chorus of Phil Ochs’ anthem, “Draft Dodger Rag.”

On March 12, LBJ won the New Hampshire primary but earned just 48% of the votes. Anti-war Sen. Eugene McCarthy took 42%. Four days later, Robert F. Kennedy jumped into the race. It took LBJ two more weeks to withdraw and the Democratic Party political free-for-all was underway.

For the record, I was just back from Vietnam and just signed on as a rookie reporter for the Indianapolis Star and found myself in the middle of one of the most contentious political seasons in the nation’s history. I’ll tell you about that campaign sometime when we share an adult beverage.

As the 1968 primary season lurched toward the conventions, assassins took center stage. On April 8, a sniper killed anti-war/civil rights leader, the Rev.Martin Luther King, as he was eating some catfish at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. A month later, Robert F. Kennedy was shot and killed as he walked through a hotel kitchen in Los Angeles after winning the California primary. The Democratic convention turned Chicago into a riot zone as protesters clashed with the police.

Do you see a parallel to today?

I do, sort of. Federal law enforcement experts say there is a chance of domestic violence and the recent attempt to assassinate the former president may point towards that picture. I hope not. I was pleased he was not seriously injured.

Grandpa Joe’s Sunday announcement sent the GOP candidate and his minions into DEFCON 3 when the incumbent endorsed his Veep.

No one knows how it all will play out. No one can predict the future, not even the blowhards and windbags on the right and left.

Unlike Gilbert & Sullivan's magician, John Wellington Wells (a dealer in magic and spells), I don’t have access to a prophet ("a very small prophet, who brings him unbounded returns.") I could predict the future, but I would probably be wrong. So will the passionate followers of both sides of the political blanket who will somehow post definitive opinions as soon as they scour the internet for some source to plagiarize.

The Veep's choice of a running mate will be interesting. The Veep's essential job is to be a spare tire in case the boss is out of commission. And, if she is picked as the candidate by Grandpa Joe’s party, will she tap a woman as her candidate for Veep? I am sure there are some old timers, like my late pal, the woodsman, who couldn’t abide being supervised by someone of the other gender. And some younger men feel that way, too. I wonder how they would view an all-female ticket? How would women react?

No kiddies, despite their popularity, the dream team of some of the younger generation (Taylor Swift and Caitlin Clark) is not in the cards.

In any case, when Grandpa Joe withdrew, it became a whole new ball game. The Demo convention is about a month away, and I’ll bet the protesters of all stripes are already packing their bags for Chicago.

So, we are back to square one. The beginning has begun.

The pundits, who get a whole lot more $$$ than I, are gathering their consultants and submissive myrmidons together to craft a new message, as all their old attack ads are now out of date.

While Grandpa Joe and my high school classmates (1959) are now on the sidelines, it is time to let the next generation take over.

And, when I take notice of my aching back and the right knee that creaks so loud I can hear it without charging my hearing aids, it is about time.

Remember, dear readers, almost a year ago, I warned you to fasten your seat belt. For it was, and is, going to be a very bumpy ride.