John F. Kennedy Administration

Election of 1960 Republicans nominated Richard Nixon to run for President As Vice President, he had gained a reputation as a statesman. He stood up to Khruschev in the “Kitchen Debate.” He was 47 years old and an excellent campaigner.

Election of 1960 The Democrats nominated John F. Kennedy, a youthful 43 year old Senator from Massachusetts Major Obstacles 1. Youth 2. No Catholic had ever been elected President of the US.

Election of 1960 JFK was helped by the televised Presidential Debate. He seemed vigorous and comfortable, while Nixon appeared to be pale and tense.

Election of 1960

Domestic Issues JFK was tremendously popular to many Americans. His wife, Jackie, and young family, seemed to symbolize the turning over the country to a new generation. The press loved his witty press conferences. He chose his younger brother, Robert, to be his Attorney General.

The New Frontier JFK called for: Increased Federal Aid to education Federal support of health care (especially for the elderly) Urban Renewal Civil Rights Increase in Minimum Wage Major Tax Cuts JFK had difficulty getting his programs passed by Congress Small margin of victory in 1960 Also, while Congress was controlled by Democrats, many of these were Conservative Southern Democrats who had little interest in JFK’s liberal policies.

The Peace Corps Established to send college graduates to undeveloped countries to try to bring education, irrigation, power development, and other technical aid to these peoples

Bay of Pigs Invasion This CIA planned invasion of Cuba by Cuban refugees failed.

Cuban Missile Crisis U-2 Spy Planes brought back pictures of nuclear missile bases being built in Cuba by the USSR

Cuban Missile Crisis Threat to the US These missiles could reach the US in a matter of minutes

Quarantine of Cuba

Security Council

“Waiting for Someone to Blink”

JFK Assassination

JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas.

Johnson Sworn In

Oswald and Ruby

Lincoln and Kennedy Parallels Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in Abraham Lincoln was elected President in John F. Kennedy was elected President in The names Lincoln and Kennedy each contain seven letters. Both were particularly concerned with civil rights. Both their wives lost their children while living in the White House. Both Presidents were shot on a Friday. Both were shot in the head. Both were shot in the presence of their wives. The Secretary of each President warned them not to go to the theater and to Dallas, respectively. Lincoln's Secretary was named Kennedy Kennedy's Secretary was named Lincoln. Both were assassinated by Southerners. Both were succeeded by Southerners. Both successors were named Johnson. Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in Both assassins were known by their three names. Both names comprise fifteen letters. Booth ran from the theater and was captured in a warehouse. Oswald ran from the warehouse and was captured in a theater. To cap it all off, Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.

Lyndon B. Johnson’s Administration

LBJ was an excellent politician and had been a devoted follower of FDR’s New Deal.

Goals for LBJ Johnson attempted to accomplish 3 things during his administration 1. Space Program 2. Fight Communism in Southeast Asia 3. The Great Society

LBJ and Congress

Civil Rights Act of 1964 LBJ got Congress to pass an expanded version of Kennedy’s civil rights bill.

1964 Election LBJ defeated Republican candidate Barry Goldwater by a landslide, taking 61% of the popular vote! The election also led to a Democratically controlled Congress.

War on Poverty/Great Society Formation of the Office of Economic Opportunity which included Job Corps and Head Start Medicare Medicaid Elementary and Secondary Education Act Department of Transportation and Department of Housing and Urban Development Increased funding for public housing and crime prevention

Criticisms of LBJ Policies Massive centralized welfare state Some say it was inefficient and very costly Difficult to carry out domestic policies while carrying out the space race and the war in Vietnam Higher Taxes Inflation

Space Race Yuri Gargarin, a Russian cosmonaut, became the first man in space. In the Spring of 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American in space.

Space Race In February, 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth. As part of the Gemini program, Ed White became the first American to “walk in space.”

Apollo Disaster On January 27, 1967, the first Apollo capsule caught fire and killed all 3 astronauts on board, Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee.

Apollo 11 Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969

Near Disaster: Apollo 13

The Warren Court