Archie represented the struggles of the blue-collar working man against the social changes in America. He loved his country and was socially conservative -- in the extreme.

ARCHIE: “What about John Wayne? And before you say anything, lemme warn you –- when you’re talking about ‘The Duke,’ you ain’t just talking about an actor; you’re talking about the spirit that made America great.”

MICHAEL: “Are you kidding?”

His opinions on subjects like race and women's equality were always good for an argument with his liberal daughter and even more liberal son-in-law.

MICHAEL: “Good. I can mail my letter today and it’ll get to Washington by Monday.”

EDITH (Jean Stapleton): “Washington – Are you writing to Washington?

GLORIA (Sally Ann Struthers): “That’s right. Michael wrote the president.”

ARCHIE: “Write to the president, about what?”

GLORIA: “All the things we’ve been talking about – the pollution of our air, the pollution of our water, the way us housewives have no protection from foods without nutrition, how they make products with harmful things in ‘em. Like you saw what happened to Michael from that shirt.”

ARCHIE: “You, Michael Stivic, Meathead, you have the nerve to write to the president of the United States about your rash?”