Magnum was the first to portray Vietnam veterans in a positive way at a time when the nation was still dealing with the wounds of the Vietnam War and its impact on American popular culture. Until that moment, I hadn’t realized the real gravity of why the Smithsonian was honoring Magnum. They got it, just like Professor Horace Newcomb got it. It was vindication for me of a hard-fought victory over the objections of the studio and the network.
