1. The Kennedy Years

2. Election of 1960
Republicans nominated Eisenhower’s Vice-President, Richard Nixon
Democrats nominated Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy
Election featured the first televised presidential debates and it was the first time television was used as a serious campaign tool
Kennedy won in a tight election, in some ways due to his better manipulation of television

3. John F. Kennedy 1917 – 1963 35th President (1961 – 63)
WWII veteran who had held his own command in the US Navy
First Catholic president
In his inaugural address, he famously stated “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”

4. Vietnam

5. Vietnam Through 1945 Had been colonized by the French in late 1800s
Seized by Japan at onset of WWII
After Japan surrendered in 1945, French attempted to resume control, but met stiff resistance from the Vietnamese

6. Ho Chi Minh 1890 – 1969 Real name = Nguyen Tat Thanh
Ho Chi Minh means “Bringer of Light”
Former teacher who became leader of Vietnam’s Communist Party
During the Japanese occupation, organized a nationalist resistance group known as the Vietminh

7. US Support
After WWII, the US supported the French efforts to reclaim Vietnam
US did not support colonialism, but feared communism more – picked what it considered to be the lesser of two evils
US policy was reinforced after China and North Korea both became communist states

8. The French Withdraw
Despite extensive US support, the French were defeated by the Vietminh, who waged a campaign of guerrilla warfare
In May of 1954, the French lost the battle of Dien Bien Phu and decided to withdraw from Vietnam

9. The Geneva Accords The French agreed to leave Vietnam
Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel into a communist North Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh, and a pro-western South Vietnam, led by Ngo Dinh Diem

10. Ngo Dinh Diem
Refused to consider allowing elections to reunite Vietnam into a single state out of fears that such elections would not be conducted legitimately in the communist North

11. The Vietcong
As tensions rose between North and South, Ho Chi Minh organized a new guerrilla army to conduct raids against the South
The US responded by sending military advisors to train the South’s military

12. Kennedy Increases US Aid
After taking office in 1961, John Kennedy made the protection of South Vietnam a top US priority
Kennedy also pressured Diem to create a more democratic government in the South
During his presidency, the number of American military personnel in Vietnam jumped from 2000 to 15,000

13. Diem’s Popularity Fades
Diem did little to help the mostly peasant population of the South and his popularity quickly faded
Diem, who was Catholic, also tried to suppress Buddhism, which was the dominant religion of the Vietnamese

15. Diem’s Downfall
In Nov. 1963, the US decided to support a coup led by Diem’s generals against him, believing that Diem’s regime was no longer viable
The overthrow led to a weakening of the South’s government, forcing the US to assume more responsibility for maintaining the South’s independence

16. JFK Assassination
Nov. 22, 1963
While riding in a motorcade in Dallas, TX, Kennedy was shot and killed
Lee Harvey Oswald was charged with the killing, but was himself shot and killed 2 days later by Jack Ruby while being transported from jail to appear in court