Why do people in the United States idealize about the 1950's?

After a discussion in one of my anthropology classes, I have discovered the unfortunate fact that many people hold the 1950’s as a golden-era of societal stability. Why is this true? What about the 1950’s do people want so much to retain? Especially considering the Korean War, the Vietnam War, heavy discrimination, the Cold War, impending death by Nuclear Weapons, rampant sexism, homophobia, etc.