Kennedy/Johnson 1 JFK won a very close election to Republican Richard Nixon in 1960, winning by 120,000 votes. JFK followed the Cold War Containment Policy of previous presidents. He increased both conventional and special military forces (Green Berets) in an effort to be able to respond in a variety of ways to military threats-Flexible Response. With Cuba under Communists control with Fidel Castro, the CIA under IKE had trained Cuban exiles for an invasion to re-take Cuba.

Kennedy/Johnson 2 The attack would take place at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba with U.S. air support. When JFK became President, he continued the Bay of Pigs plan in April of 1961, but cancelled U.S. air support. The mission failed and embarrassed the U.S. as militarily weak. 1200 Cuban fighters were captured or killed. The captured were eventually released in exchange for $52 million in food and medical aid to Cuba. JFK also created the Peace Corps-volunteers to assist poor nations in education and healthcare.

Kennedy/Johnson 3 In 1962, U.S. intelligence found that Cuba was installing nuclear missiles which could threaten the U.S.

Kennedy/Johnson 4 JFK addressed the nation on TV and blamed Russian leader Khrushchev for threatening world peace. JFK “Quarantined” or blockaded Cuba with U.S. navy ships and demanded the removal of the missiles. Russian ships began approaching the blockade line and a confrontation seemed imminent. The Cuban Missile Crisis lasted 13 days and was the closest the world has come to nuclear war. In the end, Russia agreed to remove the missiles if the U.S. promised to never invade Cuba and would remove U.S. missiles from Turkey.

Kennedy/Johnson 5 The crisis prompted the JFK and Khrushchev to set up a “hot line” or telephone connection between the White House and the Kremlin in Moscow. In 1963, 36 countries including England, U.S., and Russia signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty which banned above-ground nuclear testing. Yet in Berlin another crisis occurred as Russia demanded the U.S. end its military presence in West Berlin. JFK refused. Russia then began building the Berlin Wall. The Berlin Wall stretched over 100 miles through neighborhoods and even cemetaries.

Kennedy/Johnson 6 It came to symbolize the Iron Curtain and Cold War between Democratic West and Communist East. Russia increased military spending as did the U.S. which also sent 1500 more troops to Berlin. Checkpoint Charlie-one point where officials could pass between East and West Berlin. Alliance For Progress-JFK program to win support from Latin America by providing large amounts of money and aid. It increased goodwill, but was a failure as much of the money went to corrupt politicians in Latin America.

Kennedy/Johnson 7 JFK brought youth and vitality to the White House. He political program promised a New Frontier-economic growth, healthcare, civil rights, space exploration. Many of his programs focused on poverty. Americans nicknamed the Kennedy presidency Camelot. JFK did increase minimum wage from $1 to $1.25. Extended social security benefits. Passed the Equal Pay Act for men and women. Failed to get a tax cut which he felt would boost the economy.

Kennedy/Johnson 8 A conservative Congress often blocked the youthful Kennedy’s proposals and most of his programs were not instituted during his lifetime. JFK did increase deficit spending to stimulate the economy and wanted business tax credits, middle-class tax cuts, and higher taxes on the rich JFK moved slowly on civil rights issues out of fear of political opposition in the South. Only with increased civil rights protests did JFK introduce a civil rights bill in 1963, though it would not pass until after his death.

Kennedy/Johnson 9 With competition from the Soviet Union, JFK proposed a moon landing before the end of the 1960’s and funding for NASA increased. The moon landing would occur in July 1969. In November 1963, JFK went to Dallas to campaign in the South where he lacked large support. He was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. Many believed the assassination was a conspiracy, but investigation by the Warren Commission, headed by Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren, claimed that Oswald was the only gunman. Oswald was killed by a nightclub owner, Jack Ruby while he was in police custody days after JFK was killed.

Kennedy/Johnson 10 JFK’s Vice President, Lyndon Johnson (LBJ) became President. LBJ and Kennedy were completely different in background and personality. JFK chose LBJ as Vice President because LBJ had large political connections in Congress and had served for many years. A Texan with a huge ego and personality, LBJ often would pester and harass politicians until he got what he wanted, known as the Johnson Treatment.

Kennedy/Johnson 11 LBJ continued Kennedy’s programs and secured passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This outlawed discrimination in voting, education, and public accommodations. He established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to fight discrimination in hiring and prohibited sexual discrimination. LBJ secured Kennedy’s tax cut for the middle class.

Kennedy/Johnson 12 LBJ also declared a War on Poverty and spent extensively on job training, education, healthcare and welfare. He created the Economic Opportunity Act which created: Job Corps-train young people for works skills. VISTA-send volunteers into poor communities in the U.S. Project Head Start-fund preschool programs in poor areas.

Kennedy/Johnson 13 In the 1964 election, LBJ called his programs the Great Society and he defeated Republican Barry Goldwater. His Great Society sought to end poverty, racial injustice, and provide opportunity for every child. He created Medicare-healthcare for the elderly. Added $1.3 billion to education under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Medicaid-healthcare for the poor. Passed laws for clean air and water. Created the National Endowment for the Arts and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 which lifted immigration quotas. PBS-educational tv.

Kennedy/Johnson 14 During LBJ’s presidency, the Supreme Court had several important cases under Chief Justice Earl Warren. Westbury v. Sanders-election districts must have equal populations for one-person, one-vote rule. Gideon v. Wainwright-Free legal help to accused persons. Escobedo v. Illinois-Accused have a right to an attorney during questioning. Miranda v. Arizona-Accused must be informed of their rights at time of an arrest.

Kennedy/Johnson 15 Congress passed 181 of 200 bills under LBJ. LBJ continued the Containment Policy of the Cold War. Johnson Doctrine-U.S. would intervene to prevent Communism from spreading to Latin America as well as Southeast Asia. He expanded U.S. role in Vietnam, spending $2.5 billion each month, 18 times what was being spent on the Great Society. It was too much for the economy and the Great Society began failing. LBJ viewed himself as a modern day FDR but Vietnam would devastate his presidency.