The New Frontier: JFK and the Age of Camelot. Mr. Phipps American History

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1 The New Frontier: JFK and the Age of Camelot Mr. Phipps American History

2 Nevada State Standards 7.9 Students will compare and contrast the goals and accomplishments of the domestic policies between President Kennedy and President Johnson by utilizing one of the big 11 social studies skills

3 Part I: The 1960 Election The Election of 1960 marked a major change in the way Americans participated in politics. Politics became a televised event.

4 The New Generation Americans had hope for the future Had gotten through the Depression Had beaten Fascism in Europe and Japan Had rebuilt the world (especially the West) to be democratic Had the best nuclear arsenal in the world Had become more prosperous, lived healthier, and longer than ever

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Long established Massachusetts family, made wealthy from selling alcohol during Prohibition Considered nouveau riche, part of the

6 John Fitzgerald Kennedy Long established Massachusetts family, made wealthy from selling alcohol during Prohibition Considered nouveau riche, part of the newly monied Irish-Catholic, attended private schools, including Harvard Served in U.S. Navy during WWII, earned medals for valor and purple heart (back injuries)

7 Elected to Congress as a Democratic Representative for MA Represented the young Baby-Boomer generation Promoted Liberal ideas: government should work for the people JFK s Politics

10 Richard Milhous Nixon Long established Republican politician from California Pushed for strong political and economic conservatism Small government Traditional morality Tax cuts Strong on Communism

11 Gained experience as McCarthy s righthand man during HUAC trials Chosen as Ike s Vice President Represented the Old Guard conservative Republican Nixon

12 On the radio JFK lost, seemed less experienced with the issues Nixon won, more experienced with issues On the TV Nixon lost, looked sweaty, uncomfortable, and awkward JFK won, looked relaxed, poised, affable and charismatic The Debate

13 The 1960 Election JFK looked relaxed, young, handsome Made for TV, looked groomed, PR ready Nixon looked stiff, uncomfortable, and sweaty First televised debates in history Would be a very close election, decided by a few thousand votes

16 The Issues Kennedy s position: U.S. faced serious issues abroad and at home Needed to spend money to protect and help American interests, especially in Cuba Nixon s position: U.S. was just fine, after 8 years of Eisenhower/Nixon Needed to cut spending, because domestic spending was too expensive

17 Part II: The Age of Camelot JFK brought a distinctive style of leadership, organizing a young, ambitious Cabinet and attempting an overhaul of the inner-cities.

18 JFK won by narrow majority Youngest elected president in American history First Catholic president Assembled youngest Cabinets, many Harvard grads Brother, RFK was Attorney General Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense The Results

21 The New Frontier Bold, new domestic programs Education Welfare Health Care Elderly Assistance Inner-Cities Continue FDR s social action

22 JFK s Problems Small Democratic majority in Congress Barely won the presidency Congress didn t support policies Christian Southern Conservative Democrats didn t like him Battled high inflation Contending in wars in Cuba, Berlin, Russia, and Vietnam Most legislation would NOT pass

23 The Warren Court Protect the citizen, protect the police department, protect the Constitution: Basic civil rights Baker v. Carr: Change voting laws, reapportion election process to be based on population (keep power in cities) Gideon v. Wainwright (1963): can t use evidence illegally gathered Escobedo v. Illinois (1964) and Miranda v. Arizona (1966): the right to remain silent, anything said can be used in a court of law, right to lawyer Engel v. Vitale (1962): No prayer in schools Griswold v. Connecticut (1965): Overturns ban on birth control

26 Part III: JFK s Foreign Policy As a result of the Berlin Wall, Russia s deployment of missiles to Cuba, and the threat of Communism spreading in Vietnam, JFK asked for a flexible response to make America safe.

27 Flexible Response Challenged Eisenhower s idea of massive retaliation Pushed for the use of conventional weaponry and military to combat Communism U.S. couldn t rely on nuclear arsenal to protect itself

28 Alliance for Progress JFK s pledge of support for Latin America Considered a Marshall Plan for brown people $20 billion to support internal improvements Supported education and schools Built hospitals and promote health care Helped distribute land Pros: helped some Cons: much abuse and corruption

The Peace Corps JFK s call for American international volunteerism The commitment: Spend 2 years in developing nations Specialize in education,

30 The Peace Corps JFK s call for American international volunteerism The commitment: Spend 2 years in developing nations Specialize in education, agriculture, irrigation, sewage treatment, or health care Promote democracy and American influence Remains one of the most lasting legacy s of JFK s presidency

31 JFK s promise to be the first to the moon 1962: NASA sends John Glenn, first American in space Used Saturn V rocket to propel out of Earth s orbit 1969: Saturn V rocket launches Apollo 11 First, and only, successful moon landing Neal Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins The Space Race

33 The Bay of Pigs Invasion Considered JFK s first major foreign policy issue Intended to overthrow Fidel Castro, who had become too cozy with Khrushchev Eisenhower, before leaving office, had approved CIA training of Cuban exiles

JFK Starts the Invasion JFK hopes to start a revolution, authorizes invasion Total Failure: 1,400 armed Cubans, called La Brigada Runs aground on a coral reef

34 JFK Starts the Invasion JFK hopes to start a revolution, authorizes invasion Total Failure: 1,400 armed Cubans, called La Brigada Runs aground on a coral reef JFK cancels air support, keep America s involvement secret Castro captured or killed almost all of La Brigada Exposed American covert operations (April 17, 1961)

35 Immediately following the Bay of Pigs fiasco JFK and Khrushchev meet in Berlin to discuss E. German refugees escaping to West Berlin JFK promises to continue support Khrushchev orders the construction of the wall The Berlin Wall (August 1961)

37 The Cuban Missile Crisis (Oct. 12, 1962) American spy plane discovers the construction of missile launching sites in Cuba Khrushchev had offered nuclear missiles to force JFK s concessions in Berlin Began 13 days of an intense stare down

38 Nuclear Chicken JFK pushes for naval blockade Goal: Seize any ships going into/out of Cuba Force the immediate removal of missiles The Problem: A direct attack on Soviets would be an act of war The existence of the missiles were an act of war

39 The Fallout (Oct. 28, 1962) Russia blinks! Russia removes missiles from Cuba U.S. removes missiles from Turkey Quarantine ends, but embargo begins The Problems: Khrushchev forced from office Kremlin begins nuclear expansion U.S. and Russia agree to test ban treaty Establish direct communication link: the red phone

40 Part IV: The Killing of a President November 22, 1963

41 The Arrival in Dallas JFK, LBJ, and families arrive in Dallas for a political rally The families separate for an escorted drive in downtown Dallas Shots fired: JFK shot in the head and the throat Eyewitnesses argue about the number and locations of shots

43 The Plot Thickens The Birth of a Conspiracy Lee Harvey Oswald had connections with Russia and supported the revolution in Cuba Arrested 80 minutes after the assassination Evidence found at the Book Repository, where he shot Kennedy Oswald shot by Jack Ruby, 2 days later

44 The Big Questions Why did Lee Harvey Oswald kill Kennedy? Why did Jack Ruby kill Oswald? Why is there conflicting evidence? Was this part of a larger conspiracy?

46 The Warren Commission Chief Justice Earl Warren starts federal investigation Goal: Prevent speculation about conspiracy Submits report, but remains inconclusive Fuels conspiracy LBJ immediately becomes president

49 The Legacy Devastated the country and shocked the world Seemed to end the dream of innocence of the 1950s Coincided with a broader wave of social change: the Civil Rights Movement, the Feminist Movement, escalation in Vietnam, and the Free- Speech and Anti-War Movements LBJ becomes president and will take a stronger position on Vietnam and Civil Rights

50 JFK Closure Please submit the following in writing: Takeaway: How did the information presented today impact the way you view JFK and America in the 1960s? How should Kennedy s accomplishments be viewed by history? Critique: What information was missing? What could be possible additions to the lesson?

51 Part V: LBJ and the Great Society Taking the presidency after JFK s assassination, LBJ was immediately confronted with an explosion of violence over Civil Rights, the need to engage more troops into Vietnam, and a need to improve conditions throughout American society.

52 Johnson s Background Experience as long-running conservative, Southern Democrat from Texas Known for building coalitions by strong-arm, handshake, drinks, and backslaps Immediately sworn in as president Continued JFK s social and domestic programs

53 Michael Harrington s The Other America Book published in Claimed that despite great wealth, approximately 25% of Americans still lived in poverty. Claimed that there was a culture of Poverty that was both a result and cause. Very influential to liberals (LBJ) in the 1960s.

54 Johnson Wins in 1964

The Great Society LBJ s political experience helped push many bills through Congress Firmly committed to social action Declared a War on Poverty Started Economic Opportunity Act to coordinate

55 The Great Society LBJ s political experience helped push many bills through Congress Firmly committed to social action Declared a War on Poverty Started Economic Opportunity Act to coordinate economic recovery Neighborhood Youth Corp: Helped youth graduate and get jobs Job Corps: Provide job training and placement for inner-cities VISTA (Volunteer Service to America): Domestic Peace Corps

56 Civil Rights Act of 1964 Most comprehensive Civil Rights Bill since Reconstruction. Banned racial discrimination in privately run accommodations for the public theatres, restaurants, hotels, etc. Authorized the attorney general to eliminate segregation in public places schools, hospitals, playgrounds, etc. Forbade discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, and sex.

57 Creating a More Equitable Society Medicare (1965): Comprehensive health coverage for the elderly Medicaid (1965): Comprehensive medical insurance for low-income families

60 Education and Environment Project Head Start (1965): Fund preschool programs for low-income families The Water Quality Act and The Clean Air Act (1965): Increase regulations on industrial pollution

62 The Civil Rights Act of 1964: Banned discrimination of ANY kind The Voting Rights Act of 1965: Ensured voting rights to black Americans Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Barred discrimination based on race OR gender in the workplace Civil Rights

65 The Johnson Treatment Johnson would use whatever means necessary to influence members of Congress to vote his way. His relentless, inyour-face method was referred to as The Johnson Treatment.

68 LBJ & Vietnam When LBJ takes over, America is already committed to supporting South Vietnam both economically and militarily. Johnson has great confidence in U.S. technological superiority and thinks that escalation of the war will defeat the primitive enemy. Gulf of Tonkin incident (1964) Congress gives LBJ unlimited authority to do what he wants in Vietnam.

69 Vietnam and the Downfall of LBJ LBJ s escalation of the Vietnam War proved to be very divisive to U.S. society Hawks v. Doves. An anti-war movement began to arise. The popular chant of protesters became; Hey, hey, LBJ. How many kids did you kill today?

70 Lyndon Johnson s Legacy Provided entitlement funds --out of the federal budget to disadvantaged groups Skyrocketed federal budget, causing stress on programs LBJ distracted by other domestic and foreign policy issues Vietnam Social Protest Anti-War Free Speech Feminism Hippies/Free Drug Movement Civil Rights

71 LBJ s Legacy 1. How should history view LBJ? Write an obituary for President Johnson. 2. LBJ lesson critique: What was missing (besides detail about Vietnam that s next week!) about LBJ?

John F. Kennedy and the New Frontier

John F. Kennedy and the New Frontier The New Generation -Beat the Depression -Beat fascism in Europe and Japan -Rebuilt the world (especially the West) to be democratic -Best nuclear arsenal in the world