Election of JFK http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/7j3V72e2_kyFGsioQlc0Ng.aspx

State of the world in 1960 Cuba was in the midst of Revolution and the communist revolutionaries under Fidel Castro seized $700m worth of U.S. owned property Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Madagascar and Zaire declared their independence US was the richest country in the world US was in the midst of the civil rights movement

Khrushchev Nikita Khrushchev is soviet premier bio: had been a protégé of Stalin supported the Great purge – fulfilled “quotas” initiated by Stalin and the politburo to arrest and either execute or imprison (gulag) “enemies of the state” (anyone who may question Stalin) After Stalin's death, he followed Malenkov as premier restructured farming, housing and pushed space program reduced military spending: decided that they could reduce traditional military arms by developing more advanced weapons Visited the US and met with Nixon

Lost in space…. Ussr launches sputnik 1957 First satellite to orbit the earth Us sees ussr as technologically superior and invests money into math and science education Nasa formed 1958: launches first us satellite to successfully orbit earth 1959 ussr sends first man to orbit sun (luna 1) Soviet Luna 2 lands on moon 1960 us launches 1st satellite with a spy camera 1961 Alan shepard is the first American in space

U-2 spy plane: cold war escalates Pilot frances powers flies a plane from turkey over the soviet border Ussr shoots it down and captures pilot

“Powers” struggle U.S. Denies Espionage: Claim it was a NASA unarmed weather plane USSR refuses to accept this USSR stops planned summit in Paris US admits that it was a spy plane: Embarrassment for US Reaffirms distrust between US and USSR Eisenhower tries to justify by stating that, in order to maintain peace, they need to keep an eye on one another Powers is convicted of espionage and sentenced to 3 yrs in prison and 7 yrs of hard labor by the Soviet government 1962- Powers is released in an exchange for a Russian spy captured by the US “Powers” struggle

Uphill battle? Young Lack of experience – especially with foreign affairs Catholic Nixon FACTOR: VP of Eisenhower: US was experiencing a time of prosperity in private sector Nixon vowed to continue American economic growth, leadership and military strength Viewed as more mature and experienced

TV Adds 10 lbs? Of charm… By 1960, 88% if American homes had a TV JFK challenged Nixon to televised debates Eisenhower administration advised against it, but Nixon felt confident An estimated 70m Americans watched the 1st debate (2/3rds of the electorate)

Debate http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QazmVHAO0os http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30kDGU2vmx8

First impressions… Kennedy: Nixon: Visited the studio the day before Scoped out lighting and set Wore a dark suit More on-camera experience Spoke INTO the camera Public thought he was speaking directly to them TV viewers thought he won Image of being young and inexperienced faded Nixon: Had just gotten out of the hospital Wasn’t able to see studio Wore gray suit Sweaty Used traditional debate style and spoke directly to Kennedy, not the camera Radio listeners thought he won Nixon was more relaxed in later debates, but the damage was done

Kennedy Campaign Urban minorities Labor Catholics Democrat Aligned with liberal reforms (FDR, Truman) Targeted: Urban minorities Labor Catholics Endorsed by Martin Luther King, Jr. Risky, but JFK called Coretta King when MLK was jailed Advised against it because may alienate Southern (White) Democrats Black vote was enough to cause him to win in a number of states

JFK: BLUE 303 Electoral Votes 34,220,984 popular votes Nixon: RED 219 Electoral Votes 34,108,157 popular votes

Inauguration: Jan. 20, 1961 35th President of the United States of America is John Fitzgerald Kennedy

—John F. Kennedy, inauguration address, January 1961. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEC1C4p0k3E And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. —John F. Kennedy, inauguration address, January 1961.