KENNEDY’S PRESIDENCY

DO NOW How does TV influence society today? How does TV influence society today? Provide two examples of how TV could impact society. Provide two examples of how TV could impact society.

ELECTION OF 1960 John F. Kennedy (Dem.) vs. Richard Nixon (Rep.) John F. Kennedy (Dem.) vs. Richard Nixon (Rep.) Kennedy: 43 yrs. Old & Nixon: 47 yrs. Old Kennedy: 43 yrs. Old & Nixon: 47 yrs. Old Both served in WWII Both served in WWII Kennedy born into privilege Kennedy born into privilege Nixon had to work his way up Nixon had to work his way up Issues: Cold War, Civil Rights & Religion Issues: Cold War, Civil Rights & Religion Kennedy was Catholic Kennedy was Catholic

TELEVISED DEBATE 1 st ever debate televised (over 70 million viewers) 1 st ever debate televised (over 70 million viewers) Kennedy Kennedy Good looking, charming, relaxed Good looking, charming, relaxed Nixon Nixon Pale, exhausted, five o’ clock shadow Pale, exhausted, five o’ clock shadow Advantage: Kennedy Advantage: Kennedy

KENNEDY WINS Final Electoral Vote Count Final Electoral Vote Count Kennedy: 303 Kennedy: 303 Nixon: 219 Nixon: 219 Largest voter turnout ever in US history Largest voter turnout ever in US history “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”

NEW FRONTIER Kennedy’s domestic policy Kennedy’s domestic policy Focus on education, healthcare, economy & civil rights Focus on education, healthcare, economy & civil rights Improve space program Improve space program Small victories in New Frontier Small victories in New Frontier Social Security & minimum wage increase Social Security & minimum wage increase Equal Pay Act: abolish pay disparity amongst sexes Equal Pay Act: abolish pay disparity amongst sexes Timid approach towards civil rights Timid approach towards civil rights

SPACE RACE Kennedy: US & USSR competing in space Kennedy: US & USSR competing in space Yuri Gagarin: 1 st human to orbit the earth (Soviet) Yuri Gagarin: 1 st human to orbit the earth (Soviet) Kennedy’s goal: 1 st to land on moon Kennedy’s goal: 1 st to land on moon 1969: Neil Armstrong lands on moon 1969: Neil Armstrong lands on moon Kennedy not alive to see event Kennedy not alive to see event

MILITARY & THIRD WORLD INITIATIVES Flexible Response Flexible Response Defense policy to prepare US to fight any type of conflict Defense policy to prepare US to fight any type of conflict Funded Army, Navy & Army Special Forces Funded Army, Navy & Army Special Forces Peace Corps Peace Corps American volunteers sent to developing nations American volunteers sent to developing nations Alliance for Progress Alliance for Progress Improve relations with Latin America Improve relations with Latin America

CUBA UNDER FIDEL CASTRO 1959: Castro overthrows Cuban government 1959: Castro overthrows Cuban government Created radical political reforms Created radical political reforms Took away land from citizens Took away land from citizens Accepted aid from Soviets Accepted aid from Soviets Originally US wanted to work with Castro Originally US wanted to work with Castro Became unrealistic Became unrealistic

BAY OF PIGS INVASION Created under Eisenhower with the CIA Created under Eisenhower with the CIA Kennedy pressured into executing the plan Kennedy pressured into executing the plan Plan: Overthrow Castro Plan: Overthrow Castro Using Cuban exiles Using Cuban exiles April 17, 1961: 1400 CIA-led exiles enter Cuba April 17, 1961: 1400 CIA-led exiles enter Cuba Plan fails horribly Plan fails horribly All but 300 are killed or captured All but 300 are killed or captured Kennedy takes the blame Kennedy takes the blame

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS 1962: US discovers nuclear missile sites 1962: US discovers nuclear missile sites Created by the Soviets Created by the Soviets Many US cities would be targets Many US cities would be targets Kennedy blames Nikita Khrushchev for reckless action Kennedy blames Nikita Khrushchev for reckless action US blockades Cuba US blockades Cuba Behind the scenes Kennedy & Khrushchev negotiated Behind the scenes Kennedy & Khrushchev negotiated US would remove missiles from Turkey US would remove missiles from Turkey Soviets remove missiles from Cuba Soviets remove missiles from Cuba

RESULTS After threat of nuclear war Kennedy & Khrushchev work towards détente After threat of nuclear war Kennedy & Khrushchev work towards détente Create a “hot line” between Moscow & Washington D.C. Create a “hot line” between Moscow & Washington D.C. Improve communication Improve communication Nuclear Test Ban Treaty signed Nuclear Test Ban Treaty signed US, Soviet Union, Great Britain & 36 other nations sign US, Soviet Union, Great Britain & 36 other nations sign Ended aboveground nuclear testing Ended aboveground nuclear testing

BERLIN CRISIS 1961: Kennedy & Khrushchev meet to discuss Berlin 1961: Kennedy & Khrushchev meet to discuss Berlin Meeting ends abruptly Meeting ends abruptly Khrushchev responds with construction of Berlin Wall Khrushchev responds with construction of Berlin Wall Separates West & East Berlin Separates West & East Berlin Kennedy responds by increasing military spending Kennedy responds by increasing military spending Sends 1,500 troops to West Berlin Sends 1,500 troops to West Berlin

SUMMARY Do you think Kennedy is a good president? Why? Do you think Kennedy is a good president? Why? Think back to when we gave characteristics of what makes a good president Think back to when we gave characteristics of what makes a good president

KENNEDY’S ASSASSINATION November 22, 1963 November 22, 1963 Location: Dallas, Texas Location: Dallas, Texas Lyndon B. Johnson takes over as president (JFK’s V.P.) Lyndon B. Johnson takes over as president (JFK’s V.P.) Sets up Warren Commission to investigate assassination Sets up Warren Commission to investigate assassination Decision: Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone Decision: Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone

CONSPIRACIES CIA CIA LBJ LBJ Mafia Mafia KGB/Russians KGB/Russians Castro/Cubans Castro/Cubans FBI FBI Cuban Exiles Cuban Exiles Secret Service Secret Service Vietnam Vietnam Secret Government/ “Illuminati” Secret Government/ “Illuminati”