The Stormy 60s Chapter 38
Kennedy s New Frontier Spirit JFK is the youngest President elected; glamorous Cabinet is young; Robert Kennedy. Kennedy inspires idealism New Frontier Peace Corps Kennedy is Harvard educated, glib and personable.
The New Frontier At Home JFK had only a narrow Democratic majority in Congress; hard to get proposals through Congress. Kennedy s disputes with Big Business. Announces project to put a man on the Moon. Costs 24 Billion, but was successful in 1969. The Right Stuff
Rumblings In Europe June 1961 Kennedy meets with Khrushchev in Vienna Berlin Dispute. Berlin Wall. Becomes symbol of Soviet domination and repression of E. Europe
Stubborn French Kennedy European tariff policy. Charles De Gaulle refused to join the Atlantic Community and blocks British application to the Common Market in 1963. Why? French policy toward NATO.
Flexible Response With the end of colonization, the newly independent colonies became a headache as they flared into civil wars. Congo Laos Leads Kennedy to move away from Ike s massive retaliation and to adopt the doctrine of flexible response develop an array of military responses that can be precisely calibrated to the gravity of the crisis. Kennedy increases military spending and bolstered the special forces.
Stepping into the Vietnam Quagmire Corrupt right-wing, pro-us government in South Vietnam. Communists in the south, Viet- Cong, waging guerrilla civil war. Late 1961 Kennedy sharply increases US military advisors. Coup against South Vietnamese leader. Kennedy increases military and economic aid.
Cuban Confrontations Latin American attitude toward the US. Alliance for Progress; doesn t have much effect. Bay of Pigs Plan 4/17/61 invasion at Bay of Pigs. Dismal failure. Kennedy assumes full responsibility.
Cuban Missile Crisis Castro pushed into the arms of the Soviets. Khrushchev starts to install nuclear tipped missiles in Cuba Spy photos reveal the missiles. Kennedy rejects air strike; instead orders a military blockade and demands immediate removal of missiles.
Cuban Missile Crisis What does JFK says an attack from Cuba would mean?. Russian ships and quarantine line. Khrushchev finally blinks when he agreed to a compromise. Details Seems to be a clear US victory
Missile Crisis Fallout Khrushchev forced out of power Kremlin begins an aggressive program of military expansion; New Arms Race Democrats gain in the midterm elections. Kennedy begins to push for arms control and greater communications between Russia and the US. Hotline Ban on above-ground nuclear tests agreed to in 1963 Kennedy urges Americans to live with the Soviets as they are and find a method of peaceful coexistence. Origins of the policy of Détente.
The Struggle For Civil Rights Kennedy moved very slowly on Civil Rights Reasons Blacks impatient Events forced the President s hand. Freedom Riders Kennedy works with SCLC to promote civil rights and to register black voters
Civil Rights Violence Integrating Southern universities. Kennedy forced to send in 3000 troops. Spring 1963 King begins a campaign against discrimination in Birmingham. Police reaction. June 11, 1963 Kennedy responds. Calls for new Civil Rights legislation.
I Have a Dream Medger Evers August 1963, March on Washington and King s I have a Dream Speech. September 1963 bombing of black Birmingham church kills 4 black girls at Sunday School.
THE KILLING OF KENNEDY (students on their own
The LBJ Brand On The Presidency Lyndon Johnson was profane, earthy, vain, idealistic. Master politician; former Senate Majority Leader in the Senate. Political ideology. He hit Washington like a thunder-bolt, seizing hold of the Presidency once the shock of Kennedy s death had abated.
Johnson s Great Society Johnson puts power behind Civil Rights Bill. Civil Rights Act of 1964. Prohibits discrimination in facilities open to the public Strengthened power to end segregation in schools Created federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Prevents both race and gender discrimination. Southern Senators try to kill with a lengthy filibuster. Johnson launches a war on poverty designed to help those not yet getting the benefits of America s vast wealth. Dubbed the Great Society Program. Medicare/Medicade central pillar
Johnson Battles Goldwater In 1964 Johnson is easily nominated in 1964; runs on a very liberal platform. Republicans nominate Senator Barry Goldwater very, very conservative. Strongly anti-red, strongly anti-new Deal. Believes in small national government (Jeffersonian) Wanted American field commanders to have authority to use tactical nukes in the battle field.
Election of 1964 In your heart you know he s right vs. In your gut you know he s nuts Reaction of average voters to Goldwater. Johnson convinces national that Goldwater scary Johnson wins biggest landslide in US history. Solid South?
Tonkin Gulf Resolution Tonkin Gulf incident August 1964. Johnson calls the attack unprovoked. Johnson uses to get Tonkin Gulf resolution Consequences? Gives the president a virtual blank check to use force in Southeast Asia against the North Vietnamese. Gives Johnson discretion to widen the war, which he does after the election.
The Great Society Congress Johnson has 2-1 democratic majority in both houses of Congress. Legislative slate passed by Johnson after the 1964 election was comparable to FDR s 100- days. Sweeping package of social reform and new aid to the poor and down-trodden. Continues the war on poverty Created the Dept. of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. Names the first Black cabinet secretary Robert Weaver Creates national Endowment for the arts.
Legislative Landmarks Four legislative achievements at heart of Great Society: Federal Aid to Education Medicare for the Elderly/Medicaid for the Poor Immigration Reform Voting Rights Act Medicare and Medicaid provide medical insurance at governmental expense for elderly and poor Medicare and Medicaid join social security and unemployment insurance as part of social safety net.
Voting Rights Act In 1964 Voting Rights becomes the main goal of civil rights movement. Freedom Summer of 1964 Voting Rights Act of 1965. Johnson sends in federal officials to oversee voter registration. Over the next 25 years totally transforms the south because blacks are voting.
Black Power Civil Right movement moves north and out of the control of MLK. 1965 Watts riots. New voices advocate confrontation, violence and separatism. Malcolm X Stokely Carmichael Black Panthers. Civil Rights Movement increasingly focuses on economic demands MLK assassinated in 1968; wisest black voice gone.
Vietnam Escalation 1965 Johnson escalates the war Starts bombing and the use of troops on the ground. By end of 1965, 184,000 America troops involved. Believes American escalation will show US resolve and north will back down. Believes in domino theory. US casualties start to mount
600,000 500,000 400,000 U.S. Troops 300,000 200,000 100,000 1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 0
Vietnam Vexations World opinion was turning against the US. Appeared that US was beating up a third-world nation over US zeal to spank communism. Made it harder for US to respond elsewhere. Led to a lot of domestic discontent. Anti-war demonstrations gradually mounted on campuses. Draft resisters flee to Canada, burn draft cards, burn flags
Many blamed Johnson. Major protests in San Francisco, New York and on college campuses. Attitude of Average Americans Economic impact of War. War Protests
Quagmire By late 1960s opposition to the war was hardening. Fullbright hearings. Public feels increasingly misled about the war and ability to win. By 1968 had become the longest and most unpopular foreign war in US history. Government had failed to adequately explain why we were fighting there and/or what was at stake.
Johnson Under Attack Johnson, orders the CIA to spy on American anti-war activists. FBI turns against peace groups Johnson stubbornly continues to assert that victory is just around the corner.
Vietnam Topples Johnson Jan. 1968 Tet offensive. Military demands 200,000 more troops. Johnson challenged from within his party by Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy. New Hampshire Primary Johnson s announcement
1968 Election Chaos Hubert Humphrey front-runner for the democratic nomination. Stance on war? Strong challenge from Robert Kennedy. Stance on war?
Convention Chaos Democratic convention in Chicago in chaos. Democrats were bitter, divided and angry over the death of Kennedy, the war, etc. Mayor Daley and the police. Democrats came off looking like a disorganized, fratricidal mob. Humphrey wins the nomination on the first ballot.
Richard Nixon Republicans nominate Richard Nixon who is running as a conservativemoderate. Platform Which Dems vote for Nixon?
Return of the Dixiecrats George Wallace American Independent Party. Wallace ardently antiintegration Segregation Now, Segregation tomorrow, Segregation forever.
Victory For Nixon Nixon and Humphrey have similar policies on VN. No real choice between the two. As a result, many doves sat out the election because no standard-bearer for their views. Nixon wins by half a percentage point without carrying a single major city and with no coat-tails. Both houses of Congress remain Democratic. Democrats win 95% of the black vote. Nixon wins only 43% of the vote because Wallace had siphoned off votes from both. No mandate. Wallace wins 46 electoral votes from the deep south. Largest third-party electoral vote in American history.
THE OBITUARY OF LYNDON JOHNSON Students on their own
Vietnam, Civil Rights Struggle and materialism undermine faith of youth in government and establishment Values in flux Peace movement Hippie movement Sexual Revolution Cultural Upheaval