1 The New Frontier Angela Brown Chapter 28 Section 1

Learning Targets: 1.Describe the election of 1960 and its outcome. 2.Summarize Kennedy’s domestic Programs. 3.Explain Americans’ reaction to President Kennedy’s assassination 2

3 The Election of 1960  Sept 1960 First televised Presidential debate Nixon vs. Kennedy

4 Kennedy Kennedy Massachusetts, Democrat Served in the U.S. House and Senate 43 years old – Roman Catholic Questioned: old enough and experienced to be President Many thought a Roman Catholic could not be elected President.

5 Kennedy Promised to spur sluggish economy – time to “Get America Moving Again Kennedy won close election 303 to 219 electoral votes but only 120,000 popular votes.

6 Kennedy Kennedy was youngest ever elected but TR held office at a younger age when McKinley assassinated.

7 Kennedy Mandate - a set of wishes expressed to a candidate by his or her voters Without a strong mandate Kennedy would have a difficult time pushing controversial measures through Congress.

8 Inauguration Inaugural Address: “Ask what you can do for your country” speech

9 Kennedy Young wife, Jacqueline, full of idealism and youth = nicknamed “Camelot” after 1960 Broadway musical “King Arthur dreamed of transforming country into one where power would be used to achieve right” rather than using might

10

11 Kennedy’s Domestic Programs Early speech stated nation poised at edge of New Frontier. Name stuck, used to describe Kennedy’s proposals to improve the economy, give aid to the poor, and breathe new life into the space program.

12 The Economy Business leaders suspicious of JFK’s plans U.S. steel company raised price $6 a ton - other firms did same JFK called increase unjustifiable – ordered Federal Investigation into price fixing

13 Economy U.S. steel and others backed down – Business leaders angry – stock market fell steepest since JFK proposed cutting taxes - $13.5 billion over three years Bottled up in Congress – no hope of passing

14 Combating Poverty and Inequality Hoped to help poor by stimulating economy 1962 Micheal Harrington book, The Other America stated 1/5 U.S. below poverty line Kennedy began to believe direct aid was necessary. Kennedy rarely succeeded in getting legislation through Congress – plans for ed., medical care, and elderly failed

15 24 th Amendment He was able to raise minimum wage and pass Housing Act 1961 = $4.9 billion for urban renewal Congress also approved 24th Amendment – outlawed Poll tax

16 The Space Program Government agencies and industries worked with NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Agency, to put a manned spacecraft in orbit around Earth Mercury Program trained seven test pilots.

17 Government spending and future of NASA uncertain when Kennedy task force recommended NASA concentrate on missions without human crews.  April 1961 USSR announced Yuri Gagarin first human to travel in space circled Earth on board Soviet Craft Vostok - once again Americans feared falling behind

18 Space Program 23 days later Alan Shepard made a 15 – minute suborbital flight altitude 115 miles convinced JFK to move forward

19 John Glenn May 25th JFK boldly challenge nation to land a man on moon before end of decade John Glenn completed three orbits around Earth.

20 On February 20, 1962, Glenn piloted the Mercury-Atlas 6 "Friendship 7" spacecraft on the first manned orbital mission of the United States. Launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, he completed a successful three- orbit mission around the earth, reaching a maximum altitude (apogee) of approximately 162 statute miles and an orbital velocity of approximately 17,500 miles per hour. Glenn's "Friendship 7" Mercury spacecraft landed approximately 800 miles southeast of KSC in the vicinity of Grand Turk Island. Mission duration from launch to impact was 4 hours, 55 minutes, and 23 seconds.

21

22 Neil Armstrong July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the moon.

23 Neil Armstrong

24 Kennedy Assassination November 22, 1963 campaign in Dallas, Texas with Governor John Connally in open limousine President Kennedy and John Connolly shot President Kennedy pronounced dead at hospital – nation shattered

25 Kennedy Assassination

26

27

28 Oswald Chief Justice Earl Warren formed commission to investigate. Lee Harvey Oswald, former marine and supporter of Fidel Castro, prime suspect

29 Lee Harvey Oswald

30 Ruby Transfer from one jail to another Nov. 24th – killed by Jack Ruby, Dallas nightclub owner Warren Commission declared Oswald had worked alone

31 Johnson Many believed in a larger Conspiracy – Oswald killed to protect others Lyndon B. Johnson took Presidential Oath on board Air Force One ninety minutes after Kennedy’s death.

32 Swearing in

movie by Oliver Stone – JFK stressed conspiracy theory and confused facts and myths in minds of many Americans.

34 Who’s to blame??? Johnson believed larger plot by Castro. Others believed Soviets, mob, CIA, even Johnson himself  U.S. planes in air – Government did not know what was to come – other targets possible invasion

35 Conspiracy For many Americans Oswald was not significant enough to warrant the tremendous damage of losing Kennedy. Nazi’s greatest Evil government = Greatest tragedy in the persecution of the Jews in WWII Scales do not balance Americans seek to balance the scales.

Exit Slip: 1.One obstacle Kennedy faced in his quest for the presidency was his… 2.Compare JFK’s handling of business interests such as U.S. Steel with TR’s handling of trusts. 3.During the 1960s presidential Campaign, JFK promised to… 4.The Warren Commission declared that Kennedy’s assassination was the work of a … 36