1. 1960s

2. 1960 Election Democrat – John F. Kennedy Republican – Richard Nixon
Had been a Senator
Republican – Richard Nixon
Had been the Vice-President for Eisenhower (made him the favorite in the eyes of the voters)

3. 1960 Election The campaign came down to a TV debate
Nixon appeared to be tired
Kennedy appeared healthy and confident
Radio audience thought Nixon won
TV audience favored Kennedy
Kennedy wins the election
TV played a huge role in deciding the outcome

6. JFK and the Cold War
JFK differed from Eisenhower’s massive retaliation
Wanted to make sure the US was prepared to fight any type of war
Increased funding to all branches of the military

7. Bay of Pigs
In 1959, Fidel Castro led an uprising that succeeded in overthrowing the Cuban government
Castro quickly established a communist-style dictatorship with ties to the Soviet Union
Huge problem because Cuba is 90 miles south of the US
In October of 1960, Eisenhower placed an embargo (no trade) on Cuba
Still on going but the U.S. started talks in December of 2014

9. Bay of Pigs
The CIA was financing and training a group of anti-Castro Cuban refugees who were to invade Cuba while Eisenhower was in office
JFK gave the approval for the plan to proceed
The invasion was a disaster
Took place at Cuba’s Bay of Pigs, 1500 rebels were quickly put down and the U.S. never sent the air strikes that were planned

11. Cuban Missile Crisis
Khrushchev continued to test the U.S. commitment to containment
To protect Cuba from other invasions, Castro asked the Soviet Union to provide him with defensive weapons
The Soviets agreed and also offered offensive weapons
Missiles that could reach the cities of the eastern U.S.

12. Cuban Missile Crisis
After spy plane photos showed the launching pads for the missiles, JFK announced on national television that any armed ships bound for Cuba would be forcibly turned back by the U.S. navy
He also demanded that the Soviets remove the missiles

14. Cuban Missile Crisis For 13 days nuclear war loomed
On October 24, 1962, Soviet ships going to Cuba stopped before reaching the U.S. blockade and turned to sail home

16. Cuban Missile Crisis Khrushchev agreed to dismantle the missile bases
JFK agreed to remove U.S. missiles in other countries
Both leaders now sought to ease the tension between their nations and created a “hot line” telephone system between the 2 nations

19. Berlin Wall
In August of 1961, the government of the GDR, or East Germany, began to build a barbed wire and concrete wall between East and West Berlin
The official purpose of the Berlin Wall was to keep western “fascists” from entering East Germany and undermining the socialist state
In reality, it was built to stop mass defections from East to West

20. Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall still is the most powerful and enduring symbol of the Cold War
JFK was the 1st President to visit the Berlin Wall
“Ich bin ein Berliner”
He tried to say “I am a Berliner”

22. JFK’s “New Frontier”
JFK promised his administration would blaze a “New Frontier”
“New Frontier” described goals to improve
Economy
Healthcare
Civil Rights
Space program

23. Equal Pay Act
Required equal wages for “equal work” in industries engaged in commerce
While very weak, it was a crucial step in road to fair an equal employment practices

24. JFK and the Economy
Much like FDR, JFK followed John Maynard Keyes and advocated deficit spending
Government borrowing money in order to spend more than is received from taxes

25. Space Race
On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the 1st human to circle the Earth
In early May 1961, Alan Shepard became the 1st American in space
Part of Project Mercury

27. Space Race
President John F. Kennedy challenged the U.S. to put a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s and return him to Earth safely

28. Space Race
On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 became the 1st manned space craft to land on the moon
Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the 1st people to walk on the moon