2. John f. Kennedy

3. The Election of 1960 The 1960 election began the era of TV politics.
John F. Kennedy- Catholic- wealthy family- Democrat
Richard M. Nixon- Quaker- poor family- Republican
Campaign focused on the economy and the Cold War
The televised debates had a strong influence on the outcome.
Kennedy was charismatic, young, and optimistic
Nixon looked sick

4. The New Frontier The New Frontier was Kennedy’s legislative agenda.
Increase aid to education, provide health insurance to the elderly, create a Dept. of Urban Affairs, and help migrant workers
Congress defeated many of his proposals.
He did convince Congress to invest in defense and space exploration to create more jobs and spur economic growth
Boosted economy through increased business production
Women’s movement:
He created a Presidential Commission on the Status of Women
Federal action against gender discrimination
Equal pay

5. Global Challenges
Kennedy supported a “flexible response” when it came to the Cold War
He asked for a buildup of troops and weapons
Supported the Special Forces (guerrilla warfare)
Alliance for Progress
Over 10 years, $20 billion was promised to aid Latin America
Peace Corps
Created to help less developing nations fight poverty
Space Race
Kennedy encouraged Congress to do whatever was necessary for the Americans to reach the moon first

6. Global Challenges
Fidel Castro (Cuba) formed an alliance with the Soviets
Eisenhower secretly trained Cuban exiles (La Brigada)
Kennedy wanted to use them to invade Cuba
They invaded the Bay of Pigs
Kennedy called off the air support (US not to blame)
Most were killed or captured
After meeting with Khrushchev, Kennedy refused to recognize East Germany or pull out of Berlin
Soviets built a wall separating East and West Berlin
(The Berlin Wall)

7. Global Challenges The Cuban Missile Crisis
Summer Intelligence and photographs showed that the Soviets had placed long-range missiles in Cuba
Nuclear holocaust was feared
Kennedy agreed not to invade Cuba and removed missiles in Turkey
Khrushchev removed the missiles
The Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war
Treaty banned the testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere
Led to the demise of Khrushchev
New leadership did not like negotiating with the West
Result- Soviet arms buildup.

8. Death of a President
November 22, Kennedy was shot twice while riding in a presidential motorcade
Dallas, TX
Lee Harvey Oswald- a Marxist- was accused
Jack Ruby killed Oswald 2 days later
There is still much controversy over Kennedy’s death
The country was heart-broken over his death
Lyndon B. Johnson became President
Continued many of Kennedy’s reforms