American History 11R
Election of 1960 Richard Nixon - Republican VP under Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy - Democrat Senator from Massachusetts War Hero Concerns about Kennedy Young (43 years old) Inexperienced Roman Catholic
Kennedy-Nixon TV Debate September 26, 1960 First televised presidential debate 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 Space Race Exploration of science and space Congress funds massive space program. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launch facilities in Florida mission control in Houston.
New Frontier July 20 th, 1969 Neil Armstrong first man on the moon.
Kennedy Domestic Programs Economic expansion Cutting taxes Holding down prices Economy boomed thorough the 1960s Many domestic programs proposed 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 to assist underdeveloped nations Education, economic, and health programs Alliance for Progress Economic aid for Latin American nations
Kennedy Foreign Policy Bay of Pigs and Cuban Missile Crisis JFK Berlin Visit - Response to Berlin Wall Flexible Response - Challenge Soviet threat Declared "I am a Berliner" Vietnam Quagmire Kennedy continued Eisenhower's policy of support for anticommunist forces in Southeast Asia Prevent "domino effect" nations falling under communist control
Kennedy Legacy Kennedy's assassination November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas Lee Harvey Oswald a pro-castro malcontent Historians have widely differing assessments of presidency
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 Prompt filling of a vice-presidential vacancy.
Due to Vietnam War Powers Act of 1973 President must inform Congress within 48 hours of sending military forces into a hostile area without a declaration of war Troops longer than 60 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 Get things done LBJ pushed through more domestic legislation than any 20th century president except FDR.
Great Society War on poverty Create a Great Society Economic Opportunity Act Numerous programs $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
Crime and Punishment Warren Court Activist, Liberal court Numerous court rulings about Due process of criminals expanded protections Prayer in school - Banned Censorship Limits of communities Reapportionment of voting districts Baker v Carr (1962) One person, one vote
Omnibus Crime Control Act - 1968 Crime - Single most important issue Republican Party Tough on crime Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act Established numerous agencies and programs to help law enforcement and fight crime.