The Age of Camelot 1960 Election: John F. Kennedy vs. Richard Nixon First televised debate in US History JFK wins Appoints brother- Robert Kennedy to Attorney General of the US “New Frontier” Aid to education Programs to end poverty Tax cuts Raise minimum wage Fund medical for elderly Make cities more livable Many programs were not approved by Congress and failed
The Age of Camelot Economic trouble in the US Boost spending on Defense US increases stockpile of missiles and high tech weapons (nuclear submarines) Major Tax Cuts – Led to growth and investments. Recession ends in 1961
The Age of Camelot Kennedy largely failed on Civil Rights Legislation After becoming president, he didn’t push Civil Rights in Congress Worried about splitting the Democratic Party Proposed no new Civil Rights laws in 1960-1961 After Freedom Riders outrage, he proposed new legislation but southern congressmen blocked it
The Age of Camelot Space Exploration NASA created in 1958 Soviets send first man into space- 1961 Kennedy wants to send a man to the moon John Glenn- first US astronaut to orbit the Earth 1969- First man lands on the moon
The Age of Camelot Foreign Affairs 1959- Fidel Castro becomes dictator of Cuba Establishes close ties to the Soviet Union USSR sends aid, weapons, financial aid Many Cubans fled the communist takeover Bay of Pigs CIA plans an uprising against Castro Ends in total disaster- many people killed Berlin Wall built to stop refugees fleeing East Berlin- 1961 US and allies are outraged
The Age of Camelot Cuban Missile Crisis 1962- US spy planes spot Soviet Union building missiles in Cuba A nuclear weapon could easily strike the US Kennedy announces plan to blockade Cuba US demands all weapons be removed Soviet ships continue toward Cuba Eventually, Soviet ships turn around Soviets agree to remove missiles from Cuba and US agreed to remove missiles from Turkey
The Age of Camelot November 22, 1963 Lee Harvey Oswald assassinates JFK in Dallas, TX Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson becomes president on Air Force One before it leaves Dallas with JFK’s body Oswald is murdered leaving court by Jack Ruby Conspiracy still surrounds JFK’s death