American History 11R
Election of 1960 Richard Nixon, Vice President under Eisenhower, Republican John F. Kennedy, Senator from Massachusetts and War Hero, Democrat. Concerns about Kennedy Young (43 years old), inexperienced, Roman Catholic
Kennedy-Nixon TV Debate September 26, 1960 First televised presidential debate watched by 70 million Americans. Kennedy s success in the debate and youthful appearance helped swing the vote to him.
New Frontier Kennedy Inauguration - Promised a landing on the moon by the end of the decade Reaction to Sputnik - Space Race - Exploration of science and space Congress enacts measures to fund massive space program. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) built launch facilities in Florida and mission control in Houston.
New Frontier July 20 th, 1969 Neil Armstrong first man on the moon.
Kennedy Domestic Programs Promoted economic expansion by cutting taxes and holding down prices. Economy boomed thorough the 1960s Many domestic programs proposed to address civil rights, Medicare, education issues. Very few actually won Congressional approval.
Kennedy Foreign Programs Kennedy - "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Peace Corps - paid volunteers 11 a day to assist underdeveloped nations with education, economic, and health programs Alliance for Progress - economic aid for Latin American nations
Kennedy Foreign Policy Bay of Pigs and Cuban Missile Crisis Berlin Visit -JFK declared "I am a Berliner" to huge crowd in challenge to Soviet presence and response to building of the Berlin Wall Vietnam Quagmire - Kennedy continued Eisenhower's policy of support for anticommunist forces in Southeast Asia to prevent "domino effect" of nations falling under communist control
Kennedy Legacy Kennedy's assassination (November 22, 1963) in Dallas, Texas by Lee Harvey Oswald (a pro- Castro malcontent) ended his presidency, about which historians have widely differing assessments.
25 th Amendment (1967) Provides procedures for fulfilling the duties of the presidency in the event of the removal, death, or resignation of a president Also concerned the prompt filling of a vicepresidential vacancy.
War Powers Act November 1973 Stipulated that the president must inform Congress within 48 hours of sending forces into a hostile area without a declaration of war. Troops there longer than 90 days, must get Congress to approve the actions or declare war.
American History 11R
Johnson Assumes Command Upon Kennedy s death, Lyndon Baines Johnson becomes president.
Johnson s Domestic Policy Former Congressmen, Senator, and master politician Senate majority leader who could get things done. LBJ pushed through more domestic legislation than any 20th century president except FDR.
Great Society Declared a war on poverty and creation of a Great Society. Introduced numerous programs under the Economic Opportunity Act - cost of $1 Billion
Programs VISTA Volunteers in Service to America, was a domestic Peace Corps program. Job Corp Training program for disadvantaged youths to gain the skills necessary for employment. Project Head Start Education program for underprivileged preschoolers. Food Stamp Program Basic food aid to help poor families.
Other Programs Under Johnson Medicare Provided hospital insurance and low-cost medical insurance for almost every American age 65 or older. Medicaid Extended health insurance to welfare recipients. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Money to build 240,000 units of low cost housing and establishing a cabinet level position for housing.
Affirmative Action Attempt to help equalize education and job opportunities for minorities. Government began to promote this in 1960 s Involves making special effort to hire or enroll groups that have suffered discrimination. Many colleges and almost all companies doing business with the government adopted such programs.
Civil Rights Legislation Civil Rights Act of 1964 No discrimination in voting, employment, public accommodations, education Private and Public institutions Voting Rights Act of 1965 Outlawed discriminatory voting practices in south including literacy tests.
Johnson Foreign Policy Vietnam dominated Johnson s Presidency North Vietnam Ho Chi Minh Viet Cong Guerilla war Domino Theory. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Greater American involvement in Vietnam.
Draft Vietnam War at Home African American disproportionate number of troops. Great Society programs suffer lack of funding Opposition to war Students for a Democratic Society Free Speech Movement Campus Activism
1968 Tumultuous Year January -Tet Offensive Showed enemy was not close to defeat despite military claims March - Johnson announces will not seek reelection April - Martin Luther King assassinated June - Robert F. Kennedy assassinated August Democratic Convention in Chicago antiwar protestors and police clash November Richard Nixon elected president
Omnibus Crime Control Act In 1968, crime was identified by Americans in opinion polls as the single most important issue. A new tough on crime was adopted by the Republican Party and eventually became the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. Established numerous agencies and programs to help law enforcement and fight crime.