It was a chilly winter evening in January 1971 when Archie Bunker, a working-class bigot, and his family settled into their favorite armchairs to watch the news. Archie, a 47-year-old dockworker, was a proud but stubborn man who loved to complain about the state of the world. His wife Edith, a sweet and gentle soul, tried to keep the peace, while their daughter Gloria, a sassy and outspoken 18-year-old, often clashed with her father.