The Turbulent 60s

1960 Election Nixon – Republican candidate (former vice president for Eisenhower) Kennedy – Democratic candidate-43 year old senator from Massachusetts

TV’s role in Election Most decisive factor in the race for presidency First four televised debates –Kennedy appeared more vigorous and comfortable

Kennedy New Frontier “The Torch has been passed to a new generation” Administration was dubbed Camelot

Kennedy’s Domestic Policy Called for aid in education Federal support of health care Civil rights legislation Urban renewal –Most none were passed Economy stimulated due to increased spending for defense and space

Assassination in Dallas Lee Harvey Oswald accused gunman Many conspiracies linked to assassination – none have proved creditable Marked the beginning for distrust in government

Kennedy’s Legacy “ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country” Peace Corp Inspired thousands to public service

Johnson’s Great Society Medicare – health insurance for those over 65 Medicaid – health care for poor and disabled Elementary and Secondary Education Act – provided funding to poor school districts National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities

Johnson’s Great Society cont. HUD Increased funding for secondary education Increased funding for public housing Increased funding for crime prevention Regulated automobile industry Civil Rights Act of 1964

Student Movement Tom Hayden – leader of a group of radical students Port Huron statement – university decisions made through participatory democracy SDS – Students for a Democratic Society

Free Speech Movement University of California 1964 Called an end to university restrictions on student political activities Student demonstrations grew with the escalation of Vietnam War –many closed down by protests Kent State

Weathermen Radical fringe of SDS Embraced violence and vandalism on American institutions Angered by the Vietnam War Discredited early idealism of the New Left Led the protests at the Chicago Democratic convention

Counterculture Expressed by youth in rebellious styles of dress, music, drug use and communal living Bob Dylan and Joan Baez gave voice to protests Beatles, Janis Joplin, Rolling Stones provided the beat Dress code for “hippies” –Long hair, beard, and jeans

Warren Court Changes in Criminal Law Mapp v. Ohio – ruled illegally seized evidence cannot be used in court against the accused Gideon v. Wainwright – required that courts provide an attorney for poor defendants Escobedo v. Illinois – required police to inform an arrested person of their rights Miranda v. Arizona – accused has the right to an attorney present during questioning

Expression and Privacy Yates v. U.S. – First Amendment protected radical and revolutionary speech, even by Communists unless it presented a “clear and present danger” to country Engel v. Vitale – prayer and Bible readings in public schools violated separation of church and state Griswold v. Connecticut – right to privacy – a state could not prohibit the use of contraceptives

Women’s Movement The Feminine Mystique by Betty Fiedan encouraged middle-class women to seek fulfillment in careers rather than confining roles as wives, mothers, and homemakers NOW – National Organization for Women goal- secure equal treatment of Women ERA – passed in 1972 – equality of rights under the law shall not be denied based on sex Accomplishments -changes in employment and hiring practices

Art of the 60s Andy Warhol –Famous pop artist –Removed the difference between fine arts and commercial arts –Painted objects of mass production –Produced silk screens and posters using mass production

documents in detail the true menace to the ecosystem caused by harmful pesticides awakened society to a responsibility to other forms of life is credited with launching the contemporary environmental movement

1968: Coming Apart at Home January – Tet Offensive March – My Lai massacre April – Martin Luther King assassinated June – Robert Kennedy assassinated

Martin Luther King Civil rights leader committed to nonviolent protests March on Washington 1963 – most successful peaceful marches in history – delivered “I have a Dream” speech –Appealed to end racial prejudice

Robert Kennedy Assassinated June 5, 1968 –Presidential candidate 1968 –Shot and killed by a young Arab nationalists who opposed Kennedy’s support for Israel

Chicago Democratic Convention: 1968 Hubert Humphrey emerged as the candidate controlling the convention inside Outside antiwar demonstrators controlled the streets Chicago’s Mayor Richard Daley had the police out in mass – seen on TV as “police riot” Battle of Lincoln Park

Chicago SEVEN “YIPPIES” Youth International Party Accused of conspiring to incite the riot at the Democratic National Convention, 1968 Government reports placed the blame on Daley and police department Sentenced to five years; overturned in 1972 by federal appeals court Jerry Ruben, Abby Hoffman, Tom Hayden, David Dellinger, John Froines, Lee Weiner and Bobby Seale

1968 Candidates Hubert Humphrey – Democrat (New Deal coalition) George Wallace – American Independent Party (hostility towards antiwar protests and segregation) Richard Nixon –Republican (peace with honor)

Significance: Election of 1968 Voters sent a very strong message Supporters of Nixon and Wallace (“Silent Majority”) had enough of the protests, violence, the counterculture, drugs, and federal intervention in social institutions – tide was turning on the New Deal liberalism in favor of the conservatives

WOODSTOCK 1969

One Last Fling for the “Hippies” Woodstock music festival in upper New York Put together by four young entrepreneurs between the ages ~500,000 “hippies” gathered peacefully to listen to music