However, over the coming decade, John Steinbeck's popularity declined. This was partly because his works seemed affiliated with socialism and communism, which was the subject of nightmares during the Red Scare (winters). At that time, his book, The Grapes of Wrath, was even frequently banned because of its themes (Winters). It was not until the sixties, when he wrote about his travels around the country, that his popularity enjoyed a resurgence and he received the paperback book of the year award in 1964 for his book Travels with Charley: In Search of America (Winters). He also received the Nobel Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (Winters). Towards the end of his life, Steinbeck entered the political world, serving as a presidential advisor and writing in support of the Vietnam War (Winters). His political affiliation did not last long due to a heart attack which took his life on December 20, 1968 (Winters). He was buried in his childhood home in Salinas, California.