What Did Clint and Chrysler Mean by ‘Half Time in America’?

On Superbowl Sunday, Clint Eastwood appeared in a two-minute ad that has been dubbed “Half Time in America.” Sponsored by the Chrysler car company, it shows a Detroit that escaped the jaws of defeat to become a model for American recovery. Eastwood’s narration goes on to suggest that America is in similarly dire straits:  “This country can’t be knocked out with one punch. We get right back up again and when we do the world is gonna hear the roar of our engines. It’s half time America, and our second half is about to begin.” To hear more about our nation’s metaphorical match is James Warren, Chicago columnist for our partner The New York Times, Chicago news cooperative, and is a correspondent for The Atlantic.