 Nyora kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Mukutanga kwema1970, Downey aive achishingaira mubato rinopesana nehondo kusanganisira Moratorium yekupedza Hondo muVietnam muna Gumiguru 1968 uye kuratidzira muWashington muna Chivabvu 1970 zvichitevera kupinda kweCambodia uye kupfura paKent State. Muchirimo ichocho, Downey akatanga kushandira Seneta George McGovern pachigadziriso chaMcGovern-Hatfield chokugumisa mari yehondo yeVietnam. Somunhu airamba nemhaka yehana yake, Downey akaita basa rinotsiva neAmericans for Indian Opportunity, boka rinotungamirira redzidzo rokuziva kodzero dzevagari vomunyika yeAmerica. Akashanda pamutemo wokudzorera Taos Blue Lake kurudzi rwekare uye paMutemo weDzidzo yeIndia. Munguva yechikoro chemutemo, akashanda pavashandi veMcGovern-Fraser Commission pakudzokororwa kweDemocratic Party musarudzo yemutungamiri wenyika. Dare racho rinowanzorumbidzwa nokutsiva magungano ehurumende nemisangano yemapato nemasarudzo okutanga omutungamiri wenyika kuti asarudze nhume dzegungano renyika. 