The New Frontier

Promise of Progress Kennedy’s “New Frontier” When Kennedy accepted nomination to run for President Americans to be “new pioneers” Explore “uncharted areas of science and space, … unconquered pockets of ignorance and prejudice, unanswered questions of poverty and surplus.”

Difficulties Turning vision into reality Offered to Congress Proposals to provide medical care for elderly Rebuild urban areas Aid education Couldn’t get the votes Same group of conservative congressmen who had blocked Truman’s Fair Deal Kennedy no good at pushing the domestic reforms through Congress

Difficulties Kennedy won the election by a very slim margin Didn’t have popular mandate Clear indication that voters approved of his ideas and plans Politically, played it safe Did persuade Congress Enact measures to boost economy Build national defense Provide international aid Fund MASSIVE space program

Stimulating the economy 1960 – recession Unemployment highest since WWII Criticized Eisenhower administration for not stimulating the economy Lagging behind even the Soviet Union Advisers pushed deficit spending Said it would eventually fix the economy Cut taxes, increase spending Dept of defense 20% budget increase Nuclear missiles & subs Minimum wage  $1.25 an hour

Poverty abroad Peace Corps (Pronounced “CORE” not “CORPSE”) “Kennedy’s Kiddie Korps” Success All ages/background volunteers 1968 – 35,000 volunteers served in 60 nations Alliance for Progress Economic and technical assistance to Latin American countries 1961-1969 $12 billion in Latin America Deter them from being like Castro Some development, not fundamental reforms

Space Race October 4, 1957 – Soviets launch Sputnik April 12, 1961 – Yuri Gagarin 1st human in space Kennedy saw this as a challenge Surpass soviets by sending a man to the moon! In less than a month US put a man in space Later that year a comm. satellite relayed live TV across Atlantic ocean, Maine to Europe.

Space Race NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) began to construct launch facilities Cape Canaveral Houston America’s Pride/Prestige restored July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong stepped on moon Results: Universities expanded science programs Huge federal funding gave rise to new industries & tech.

Addressing Domestic Problems New frontiers/space program well and good Americans suffering at home The Other America Book that profiled the 50 million people in America who survived on less than $1,000 a person. Civil Rights fights

Kennedy Addresses Domestic Problems Kennedy largely silent for first part of term 1963 – “national assault on the causes of poverty” Ordered brother Bobby & Justice Department to investigate racial injustices in the South Presented Congress sweeping civil rights bill Cut taxes more than $10 billion