Grandpa has passed away, America enters
the war, Olivia develops tuberculosis
and Ben marries Cindy

Michael Learned alternately shares top billing with Ralph Waite for the first 15 episodes until her first departure from the show. Ralph Waite takes over top billing for the last 7 episodes of the season. Ellen Corby returns to the credit list but Will Geer is absent due to his death prior to the start of this season. The children receive their own shared title cards for the first time in the opening sequence.

Length: 53 seconds