JOHN KENNEDY Elections and Control

Challenges in the Electoral Campaign : Lack of experience Weak Congressional record Playboy image Catholicism

How he dealt with these challenges: Excellent campaign team  LBJ. Lyndon nominated as vice president. Experienced and protestant. Pledged commitment to separation of state and church

Opportunities in Electoral Campaign: Family wealth Image of youth and vitality Stylish and appealing wife General desire for change Television The Republican’s ‘drift’ in foreign and domestic policies, The U-2 Incident Civil Rights issue

Taking advantage of these opportunities: New Frontier Liberal reform tradition of the Democratic party Campaign clips, televised debates Missile gap, Democrats being ‘soft on Communism’ Made issue of civil rights, Martin Luther King out of jail Emphasis on heroism, courage and character

Link to ad campaign on youtube (need to choose one)

Overall success of campaign: Youngest American president 1 st Roman Catholic president …but Among closest victory in America!  Won by a majority of just 118,574 votes. Evidence of corruption in Illinois and Texas “In ‘The Dark Side of Camelot’, Pulitzer Prize winning author Seymour Hersh implies that corrupt and unethical practices provided the winning margin in the 1960 election. Hersh was not the first person to imply that the 1960 election was stolen, especially in Illinois.”

The Glamorous President:  How did Kennedy use his popularity to keep control? Fundamentally changed the presidential image National media idealized Kennedy and his young wife “Kennedy carefully controlled his family image: No photographs were allowed showing him eating, smoking cigars, playing golf, or kissing his wife.” The American President in Popular Culture by John W.Matviko Extra-matrimonial affairs remained hidden to public Popularity of Jackie Kennedy – fashion icon.

Main Issues Kennedy faced Relationship with congress and his own party Relationship with the press Civil rights issue Cold war crisis in Cuba

Relationship with congress -Party had majority in both houses of congress but: hostile congress; southern democrats and republicans were in control  conservative coalitions -blocked measures in education, healthcare, transport as well as proposal to set up a new department of urban affairs which would fight against the issues in cities such as crime, drugs, decay, housing, transport etc. -many resented his northern liberalism, ambition and easy charm

Relationship with the press Had to control what the public as well as countries hostile to the US knew without seeming like censorship being imposed. “President and the press” 0n2echttp:// 0n2ec T-VFp4&feature=relatedhttp:// T-VFp4&feature=related

Domestic and foreign issues Civil rights issue was becoming more and more troubling. The issue also created a division in the democratic party between those who wanted the issue resolved and those who thought Cuba and Vietnam should come first. Kennedy also faced the Cuban missile crisis 1962 as well as Vietnam and Eastern Europe.

Tactics Continual use of techniques of stardom, propaganda through the media, constant speeches, kept close relationship with the press Tried to win over congressmen with social gatherings at the white house to build stronger relationships with them. Employed pollster Lou Harris Made use of Internal Revenue Service Wins over special interest and labour groups by sympathizing with their needs Sent economic advisers all over the country to dissuade big businesses of their suspicions of his administration. Chose administration carefully – known as the new frontiersmen Kept family and those he trusted close in administration.

Success or failure? Relationship with congress could have been better – only passed 172/335 pieces of legislature- Won democratic party’s favor for re-election in 1962 Press remained in favor of Kennedy, public opinion polls show him as one of the most popular presidents. Foreign policy: one major success regarding the missile crisis Escalated commitment in Vietnam

Sources /0,9171, ,00.htmlhttp:// /0,9171, ,00.html dwar/kennedy_celebrity_01.shtmlhttp:// dwar/kennedy_celebrity_01.shtml ches/detail/3677http://millercenter.org/scripps/archive/spee ches/detail/3677