From Camelot to Watergate Chapter 29 HIS 1302

Kennedy John F. Kennedy brought to the White House an image of youth and vigor John F. Kennedy brought to the White House an image of youth and vigor “Best and Brightest” administration “Best and Brightest” administration In reality, neither was true In reality, neither was true

Cuban Missile Crisis Chief task- stop spread of Communism Chief task- stop spread of Communism Departure from Eisenhower’s New Look Departure from Eisenhower’s New Look –Challenge Aggression –Limited reliance on Nuclear Authorized invasion of Cuba – Bay of Pigs (April 1961) Authorized invasion of Cuba – Bay of Pigs (April 1961) Complete fiasco Complete fiasco

Damaged US image and standing, and failed to overthrow Castro Damaged US image and standing, and failed to overthrow Castro Castro allies with USSR Castro allies with USSR June 1961 – Vienna Peace Conference, Khrushchev blusters about retaking West Berlin; August – orders building of the Berlin Wall June 1961 – Vienna Peace Conference, Khrushchev blusters about retaking West Berlin; August – orders building of the Berlin Wall Both sides resumed Nuclear tests Both sides resumed Nuclear tests CIA launches attempts to assassinate Castro CIA launches attempts to assassinate Castro

October 1962 – USSR places Soviet troops and nuclear missiles in Cuba October 1962 – USSR places Soviet troops and nuclear missiles in Cuba Kennedy forces showdown by ordering blockade of all offensive weapons to Cuba Kennedy forces showdown by ordering blockade of all offensive weapons to Cuba Closest to Nuclear war – Khrushchev backs down – “brinkmanship” Closest to Nuclear war – Khrushchev backs down – “brinkmanship” Kennedy’s finest hour, or overreaction? Kennedy’s finest hour, or overreaction? Khrushchev removed in 1965 by hardliners Khrushchev removed in 1965 by hardliners

Vietnam War After Dien Bien Phu (1954), parties agreed to general elections in After Dien Bien Phu (1954), parties agreed to general elections in Cancelled by Ngo Dihn Diem and attempted to build a new nation with US assistance Cancelled by Ngo Dihn Diem and attempted to build a new nation with US assistance Viet Minh formed secret cells in the South, formed Viet Cong Viet Minh formed secret cells in the South, formed Viet Cong

By late 50s, VC had gained strength and become more militant. By late 50s, VC had gained strength and become more militant. May 1959, VC guerrillas began an insurgency; successful May 1959, VC guerrillas began an insurgency; successful Kennedy had supported Diem, now wanted to save face after Bay of Pigs Kennedy had supported Diem, now wanted to save face after Bay of Pigs Expanded involvement in Vietnam Expanded involvement in Vietnam 1963 – 16,000 personnel in Vietnam; 120 soldiers had been killed – 16,000 personnel in Vietnam; 120 soldiers had been killed.

Diem’s regime was faltering Diem’s regime was faltering –Pro-Western –Devoted Catholic –Action against Buddhists –Killed in 1963 Kennedy’s response. Kennedy’s response.

Civil Rights Movement Kennedy approached Civil Rights with caution; political concerns Kennedy approached Civil Rights with caution; political concerns WWII led many Blacks to begin struggle for equality WWII led many Blacks to begin struggle for equality Rosa Parks sparks Montgomery bus boycott; city’s laws found unconstitutional Rosa Parks sparks Montgomery bus boycott; city’s laws found unconstitutional Movement led by Martin Luther King, Jr. Movement led by Martin Luther King, Jr. Inspired action Inspired action

Formed Southern Christian Leadership Conference Formed Southern Christian Leadership Conference Sit-ins throughout the South Sit-ins throughout the South “Freedom Rides” tested regulations “Freedom Rides” tested regulations Broke down legal racial barriers Broke down legal racial barriers Those who were impatient initiated Black nationalism (ex. Nation of Islam) Those who were impatient initiated Black nationalism (ex. Nation of Islam) –Called for self-segregation, rejected nonviolence

1963 – King staged demonstrations in Birmingham – King arrested 1963 – King staged demonstrations in Birmingham – King arrested “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” Brutality in Alabama pushed Kennedy into support of a civil rights bill, which stalled in Congress Brutality in Alabama pushed Kennedy into support of a civil rights bill, which stalled in Congress Resulted in King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Resulted in King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

Tragedy in Dallas Kennedy assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963 Kennedy assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963 Lee Harvey Oswald killed before brought to trial by Jack Ruby Lee Harvey Oswald killed before brought to trial by Jack Ruby Controversial and Conspiracy theories Controversial and Conspiracy theories Warren Commission determined that Oswald acted alone Warren Commission determined that Oswald acted alone

LBJ Johnson was a long-term senator from Texas; Senate Democratic leader Johnson was a long-term senator from Texas; Senate Democratic leader Master of manipulation, modeled himself after FDR (social welfare) Master of manipulation, modeled himself after FDR (social welfare) Pushed an expanded version of JFK’s agenda through Congress, which Kennedy had been unable to do. Pushed an expanded version of JFK’s agenda through Congress, which Kennedy had been unable to do.

Great Society LBJ’s domestic agenda LBJ’s domestic agenda –Civil Rights act of 1964 –Declared war on poverty  Intended to give the poor opportunity for improvement –Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 –Medicare Act, Voting Rights Act, Elementary and Secondary Education Act –Many social programs, but failed in their impact

Escalation of Vietnam - Situation deteriorated after Diem’s death - US supported South Vietnam - Buildup in response to VC success - Gulf of Tonkin Resolution justified US buildup - By 1968, 538,000 troops in Vietnam – war never declared

Opposition to War Many opposed involvement Many opposed involvement Objected to S. Vietnam’s repression, cost of war, deaths of civilians, etc Objected to S. Vietnam’s repression, cost of war, deaths of civilians, etc Inflation from war Inflation from war LBJ believed they were defending freedom LBJ believed they were defending freedom Slow to grasp impossibility of success Slow to grasp impossibility of success

Election of 1968 Opposition greatest on College campuses Opposition greatest on College campuses LBJ does not run again LBJ does not run again 1967, Sen. Eugene McCarthy runs of presidency in opposition to war 1967, Sen. Eugene McCarthy runs of presidency in opposition to war Tet Offensive in 1968 brings war to US on televisions, and increase in troops Tet Offensive in 1968 brings war to US on televisions, and increase in troops Robert Kennedy enters the race (d) Robert Kennedy enters the race (d) Kennedy assassinated Kennedy assassinated

Other candidates Other candidates –Richard Nixon –Hubert Humphrey –George Wallace

Nixon - Vietnamization Pledged to end the war on “honorable terms” Pledged to end the war on “honorable terms” Nixon built up Vietnam forces and began to pull American forces out Nixon built up Vietnam forces and began to pull American forces out Had failed to make the Vietnamese able to defend themselves Had failed to make the Vietnamese able to defend themselves Announced on November 3, 1969, a plan to end of American involvement Announced on November 3, 1969, a plan to end of American involvement

Cambodian “Incursion” April 1970, Nixon announced withdrawal of another 150,000 personnel April 1970, Nixon announced withdrawal of another 150,000 personnel Attempt to destroy Communist bases in Cambodia Attempt to destroy Communist bases in Cambodia More protest – Kent State More protest – Kent State Increased troop withdrawal but more bombing Increased troop withdrawal but more bombing

Détente with Communism US began dealing with Russia and China separately US began dealing with Russia and China separately Nixon’s visit to China Nixon’s visit to China SALT 1 – limited strategic arms SALT 1 – limited strategic arms Relaxing of tensions Relaxing of tensions Condition in Vietnam continued to deteriorate Condition in Vietnam continued to deteriorate

Watergate June 17, 1972 – Watergate breakin June 17, 1972 – Watergate breakin March 19, 1973, James McCord testifies that President knew of break-in plans March 19, 1973, James McCord testifies that President knew of break-in plans Nixon denied all involvement Nixon denied all involvement Officials later admitted involvement Officials later admitted involvement Nixon accused of obstructing investigation; refuses to surrender tapes Nixon accused of obstructing investigation; refuses to surrender tapes Calls for impeachement Calls for impeachement

VP Spiro Agnew resigns under accusations of accepting bribes VP Spiro Agnew resigns under accusations of accepting bribes Congress approves Gerald Ford as VP Congress approves Gerald Ford as VP More proceedings continued; near certainty of conviction and removal More proceedings continued; near certainty of conviction and removal Nixon resigns; later pardoned by Ford Nixon resigns; later pardoned by Ford Success: easing of cold war tensions Success: easing of cold war tensions Failures: domestic policy, disillusionment of Johnson’s great society. Failures: domestic policy, disillusionment of Johnson’s great society.