Civil Rights and Reform in the 1960s (1945-1968) Lesson 4 Kennedy’s Reforms

Civil Rights and Reform in the 1960s (1945-1968) Lesson 4 Kennedy’s Reforms Learning Objectives Discuss the election of 1960. Evaluate Kennedy's domestic policies. Assess the impact of Kennedy's assassination.

SECTION 1: KENNEDY AND THE COLD WAR History of JFK Wealthy family Father instilled passion in his sons Political History Navy in WW2 Elected to House of Rep 1946 Helped by his wealthy father No major accomplishments as HOR Elected Senator in 1952 The Democratic nominee for president in 1960 was a young Massachusetts senator named John Kennedy Roman Catholic Youngest ever at 43yrs He promised to “get America moving again” NEW FRONTIER Followed Containment Policy Used Flexible Response Kennedy had a well-organized campaign and was handsome and charismatic Senator Kennedy, 1958

Kennedy in Camelot The public was infatuated with the Kennedys Jack’s personality, Jackie’s sense of fashion, their two young children Referred to as “Camelot” because they almost seemed like America’s royal family

REPUBLICAN OPPONENT: RICHARD NIXON Vice-President under Eisenhower Republican Better known More experience The candidates agreed on many domestic and foreign policy issues Nixon hoped to ride the coattails of the popular President

TELEVISED DEBATE AFFECTS VOTE On September 26, 1960, Kennedy and Nixon took part in the first televised debate between presidential candidates Kennedy Young, eager, confident Nixon Uneasy, looked ill Radio listeners – Nixon won TV viewers – Kennedy won

JFK: CONFIDENT, AT EASE DURING DEBATES http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/kennedy-nixon-debates

4. Kennedy’s Civil Rights views helped him 4. Kennedy’s Civil Rights views helped him win votes in the south and Midwest

JFK, NIXON REACT DIFFERENTLY TO CIVIL RIGHTS Sit-ins Bus Boycotts Martin Luther King Nixon Took no public stance on Civil Rights JKF MLK arrested for peaceful march Called MLK’s wife Negotiated with the judge to sent MLK free King Kennedy

Kennedy and Domestic Issues New Frontier Improve the economy, education, healthcare and civil rights “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.“ Kennedy wanted to develop America Increase Minimum wage, Social Security, Welfare Congress did not help Kennedy Congress – Republican , Kennedy Democrat

New Frontier Cont’d Equal Pay Act – Equal pay for equal work Wage gap Women + Men Prohibit discrimination in the workplace based on race, color, national origin, gender Economic Prosperity End social problems John Keynes “New economics” Deficit Spending Government spends money +borrows money Increase economic growth Tax Credits Encourage economic growth Middle Class – Lower Taxes Upper Class – Increased Taxes Increase Military Spending (Cold War)

Domestic Priorities Analyze Data Based on the data in the table, how many years did it take for the Equal Pay Act of 1963 to make a significant impact on women's rate of pay as compared to men's?

“New Frontier” Kennedy created the Peace Corp to help developing nations in Africa, Latin America, & Asia You can still volunteer your time to this org. today, tours of duty are approx. 1-2 years The Alliance for Progress was designed to give aid ($) and assistance to our neighbors in the Western Hemisphere… To keep them from going commie like Cuba

“New Frontier” Tried to help the economy by increasing govt. (deficit) spending, raising minimum wage, helping the unemployed But high poverty rates continued to be a problem JFK built up NASA after the Soviets beat us at putting a man in space We sent a crew to moon’s surface in 1969, we went 5 more times Soviets never did…

RACE TO THE MOON Firsts- mostly Soviet (Sputnik, Yuri Gagarin) “Communism is superior” 1962 American-Mercury- Alan Sheppard 1961 John Glen, first to orbit the earth. USA sends more satellites Used for communication Kennedy urged congress to fund space program (NASA) University science programs grow; new industries, technologies arise launch facilities in Cape Canaveral, Florida and a mission control center in Houston, Texas

“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” A MAN ON THE MOON Armstrong Finally, on July 20, 1969, the U.S. would achieve its goal An excited nation watched as U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the moon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwZb2mqId0A “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”

TRAGEDY IN DALLAS On a sunny day on November 22,1963, Air Force One landed in Dallas with JFK and Jackie JFK received warm applause from the crowd that lined the downtown streets of Dallas as he rode in the back seat of an open-air limousine

JFK SHOT TO DEATH As the motorcade approached the Texas Book Depository, shots rang out JFK was shot in the neck and then the head His car was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors frantically tried to revive him President Kennedy was dead (11/22/63)

History Channel: JFK – part 1 - Introduction JFK – part 2 – Mourning JFK – part 3 – Conspiracy theories

Lincoln - Kennedy coincidences 1) Lincoln was elected in 1860, Kennedy in 1960, 100 years apart 2) Both men were deeply involved in civil rights for African Americans. 3) Both men were assassinated on a Friday, in the presence of their wives. 4) Each wife had lost a child while living at the White House. 5) Both men were killed by a bullet that entered the head from behind. 6) Lincoln was killed in Ford's Theater. Kennedy met his death while riding in a Lincoln convertible made by the Ford Motor Company. 7) Both men were succeeded by vice-presidents named Johnson who were southern Democrats and former senators. 8) Andrew Johnson was born in 1808. Lyndon Johnson was born in 1908, exactly one hundred years later. 9) The first name of Lincoln's private secretary was John, the last name of Kennedy's private secretary was Lincoln. 10) John Wilkes Booth was born in 1839 [according to some sources] Lee Harvey Oswald was born in 1939, one hundred years later. 11) Both assassins were Southerners who held extremist views. 12) Both assassins were murdered before they could be brought to trial. 13) Booth shot Lincoln in a theater and fled to a warehouse. Oswald shot Kennedy from a warehouse and fled to a theater. 14) Lincoln and KENNEDY each has 7 letters. 15) ANDREW JOHNSON and LYNDON JOHNSON each has 13 letters. 16) JOHN WlLKES BOOTH and LEE HARVEY OSWALD each has 15 letters. 17) A Lincoln staffer Miss Kennedy told him not to go to the Theater. A Kennedy staffer Miss Lincoln, told him not to go to Dallas.

LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON BECOMES PRESIDENT New President Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson Sworn in on Air force 1 A somber LBJ takes the oath of office aboard Air Force One with the Jackie next to him

LEE HARVEY OSWALD CHARGED; SHOT TO DEATH A 24-year-old Marine with a suspicious past left a palm print on the rifle used to kill JFK He was charged and as a national television audience watched his transfer from one jail to another, nightclub owner Jack Ruby broke through the crowd and shot Oswald to death Jack Ruby, right, shoots Oswald, center, to death 11/24/63

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS Conspiracy? The Warren Commission investigated the assassination and determined that Oswald had indeed acted alone Recent filmmaker Oliver Stone isn’t so sure – his film, “JFK,” is filled with conspiracy theories