Mr. Buttell APUSH

The Stormy Sixties

Election of 1960  Americans fear U.S. falling behind Soviets militarily  JFK discusses Catholicism openly  First televised presidential debate (70 million viewers)  Nixon Foreign Policy expert, but JFK coached  Comes across better than Nixon  JFK takes stand on arrest of MLK Jr.; wins black vote

Kennedy Mystique  Wins in close election  Critics argue he lacks substance  White House becomes known as Camelot for its glamour, culture, wit  JFK advisers called “the best and brightest”  Brother Robert named Atty. Gen.

Military Policy  New national nuclear strategy  Flexible Response— fight conventional wars, keep nuclear arms balanced  Change from Eisenhower’s Massive Retaliation  JFK increases spending in three areas:  Strengthens forces  Creates Special Forces (Green Berets)  Triples nuclear capabilities

Bay of Pigs  Fidel Castro declares himself communist  Seizes U.S. properties; IKE cuts off diplomatic relations  10% of Cuban pop. goes into exile; mostly to U.S.  Pres. Eisenhower gave the CIA permission to train Cuban exiles in March 1960 for invasion  JFK learns of plan nine days after his election  Though he had doubts, he approved it, plans go wrong; exile forces killed, taken prisoner  JFK pays ransom in food, medicine; mission is public embarrassment

Cuban Missile Crisis  Krushchev sends weapons to Cuba, including nuclear  JFK warns Soviets that missile attack will trigger war on USSR  Soviets avoid confrontation at sea; reach agreement with US  Krushchev’s prestige severely damaged  JFK criticized for brinkmanship, and not ousting Castro  Cuban exiles switch to GOP; Castro bans flights to/from Miami

Berlin Crisis  By 1961, 20% of Germans flee to W. Berlin; economic drain on East  Khrushchev wants to close roads to W. Berlin; JFK refuses  Soviets isolate W. Berlin from E. Germany with Berlin Wall  Tensions rising, both leaders establish a hot line—direct phone between White House and Kremlin  Limited Test Ban Treaty bans nuclear tests in atmosphere.

New Frontier  New Frontier—policies of the Kennedy administration  JFK faces Republican-Southern Democrat coalition  Lacks skill to get policies passed  Lacks mandate—clear voter support for his agenda  1960, U.S. in recession; 6% unemployment  Admin. pushes for deficit spending to stimulate growth  Gets 20% increase for defense; money for unemployment problems

Addressing Poverty Abroad  Peace Corps—volunteers assist developing nations; great success  Alliance for Progress—economic, technical assistance to Latin America  Meant to deter spread of communism

Race to the Moon  April 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin is first man in space  Soon after, U.S. puts man in space, uses satellite communications  July 1969 U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong is first man to walk on moon  University science programs grows; new industries, technologies arise

The Space Race: “man on the moon ”

Alabama, 1963

Freedom Riders in Montgomery

Welcome to Birmingham

Birmingham, 1963

“Putting on the Pressure”

Gov. George Wallace

Vivian Malone

June 11,1963:  AL Gov. Wallace blocks two students from entering U of A  Kennedy denounces racism on national TV  Promises a new civil rights bill

June 12,1963: Medgar Evers, Pres. MS Chapter NAACP

Byron De La Beckwith 1963, 1994 & 1997

Planning the March on Washington

John Lewis 1963 and 2003