The Kennedy Years

Election of 1960 First televised debates Slim victory for Kennedy CandidateElectoral VotePopular Vote% Electoral Vote % Popular Vote John F. Kennedy (Democrat) 30334,227, Richard M. Nixon (Republican) 21934,107,

Kennedy’s Foreign Policy “flexible response”: gave increased funding to conventional armed forces Peace Corps: organization to help underdeveloped countries and provided education and health services Alliance for Progress: Improved ties with Latin America

Bay of Pigs Invasion April 17-19, 1961 Planned by Eisenhower administration CIA recruited and trained Cuban exiles to attack Cuban government Failed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro in Cuba

Bay of Pigs Invasion

Khrushchev wanted West Berlin in Soviet Union’s control but Kennedy refused Led to construction of Berlin Wall The Berlin Crisis

The Berlin Wall 239 killed trying to cross 66 miles long

September 1962 U.S. intelligence realized Soviets were building nuclear missile sites in Cuba Cuban Missile Crisis

Kennedy approved a naval blockade of Cuba Leaders eventually reached a diplomatic negotiation after six days Cuban Missile Crisis

“hot line”: telephone system between Moscow and Washington Nuclear Test Ban Treaty: ended above ground nuclear tests Effects of Cuban Missile Crisis

Discussion Points 1. According to these documents, what deal did the US strike with the USSR? 2. Why was this deal kept secret? 3. Who seems to be more scared or on the defensive in these documents? 4. What does this event show you about how people felt during the Cold War?

“New Frontier” Very ambitious Increased minimum wage to $1.25/hour Set up the President’s Commission on the Status of Women – Equal Pay Act to reduce wage gap between men and women Kennedy’s Domestic Policy

To help economy, Kennedy gave tax credits to encourage business investment Increased military spending Advocated Keynesian economics, or deficit spending, to boost economy Tax cuts for middle class Americans Increased taxes on wealthier citizens

Kennedy and Civil Rights Approached Civil Rights timidly Introduced Civil Rights Bill in 1963 – Prosecuted voting rights violations – Gave federal funds to schools integrating Sent federal marshals to Ole Miss

Space Program US behind in the “space race” with Soviet Union Wanted a man on the moon by 1970 Funded space program- NASA Neil Armstrong lands on moon in 1969

White House Renovation

Personal Life Constant affairs Marilyn Monroe Sang “Happy Birthday”

Kennedy’s Assassination Visited Texas to boost support for re-election Fatally shot while riding through Dallas, TX on November 22, 1963

Kennedy’s Assassination Shot by Communist sympathizer, Lee Harvey Oswald

Johnson Sworn In