All in the Family broke ground in its depiction of issues previously considered unsuitable for a U.S. network television comedy, such as racism, antisemitism, infidelity, homosexuality, women's liberation, rape, religion, miscarriages, abortion, breast cancer, the Vietnam War, menopause, and impotence. Through depicting these controversial issues, the series became arguably one of television's most influential comedic programs, as it injected the sitcom format with more dramatic moments and realistic, topical conflicts. The show was an American version of an earlier British show, the BBC sitcom "Till Death Us Do Part", with Archie Bunker modeled after his British counterpart, Alf Garnett. "All in the Family" is
Carroll O. Switzer Carroll O. Switzer Carroll O. Switzer (May 23, 1908 – May 30, 1960) was an unsuccessful candidate for Iowa's governorship who later served as a state court judge and (briefly) as a United States federal judge. Born in Pilot Mound, Iowa, Switzer received an LL.B. from Drake University in 1931. Following graduate work at Northwestern University, he entered private practice in 1932 in Des Moines, Iowa. He was an assistant city solicitor for Des Moines from 1936 to 1938. While serving as Polk County Attorney from 1946 to 1948, he was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Iowa in 1948,