1. A Changing Home Front
1954 to 1978

2. 1960 Presidential Campaign
People happy with Eisenhower
22nd Amendment – two term limit for presidents…10 years

3. 1960 Presidential Campaign
Democrats
Republicans
John F. Kennedy
Senator for Massachusetts
wit, good looks, WWII veteran record
…but Roman Catholic (assures voters of the importance of church and state)
Lyndon B. Johnson (V.P.)
Richard Nixon
Eisenhower’s Vice President
Henry Cabot Lodge (V.P)

4. 1960 Presidential Campaign
Nixon argues maturity and experience
Television debates
4 television debates
Appearances???

5. John F. Kennedy “we wouldn’t have had a prayer without that gadget”
First Roman Catholic president
First president born in the 20th century
Closest election in U.S. history…Kennedy won by less than 1/2 percent of the total vote
Age 43…youngest U.S. president

6. Kennedy’s Foreign Policy
Follows Cold War policies of predecessors
Does not want to rely on the threat of nuclear war solely
Prefers to have a number of options…Flexible Response
Increases defense spending to boost military forces…non nuclear forces (troops, ships, artillery)
Special Forces – Green Berets
Tripled nuclear capabilities

7. Fidel Castro
led an uprising that overthrew the current dictator in Cuba and established a communist style dictatorship tied to Soviet Union
Castro “the reason president Kennedy can’t sleep at night”
Only 90 miles from the U.S.
CIA operation to overthrow Castro

8. The Bay of Pigs Invasion is a disaster
1500 rebels landed at Bay of Pigs but were quickly defeated
U.S. naval and air support never arrived
Uprising doesn’t strike support from Cubans
Cuban military forces crush the movement and imprison 1200 rebels

9. The Bay of Pigs
Made the U.S. look “like fools to our friends, rascals to our enemies, and incompetents to the rest”
Brings Cuban leaders closer to Soviet Union

10. Cuban Missile Crisis

11. Berlin Crisis Khrushchev thinks Kennedy is weak and can be intimidated
Ultimatum:
West must recognize the sovereignty of communist East Germany…remove all troops from West Berlin
Kennedy doesn’t give in…
Doesn’t want to lose the confidence of Americans
Berlin Wall erected…most widely recognized symbol of the Cold War

13. Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Historic turning point, sobered by the brush with nuclear war
1963 – Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty – signed by U.S., Soviet Union, Great Britain
End testing of nuclear bombs in the atmosphere and underwater.
Hot Line – teletype line enabled the leaders of the two countries (U.S. & Soviet Union) to communicate directly during a crisis

14. The Kennedy White House

15. The Kennedy Charisma Captures the hearts of many Americans
Popularity – has to request that people stop sending items of” Congrats!” to the White House
Popularity stems from
Cool intellectual personality
Good looks
Athletic appearance
Handsome features
“Profiles in Courage”
Wins Pulitzer Prize

16. The First Family Jacqueline “Jackie” Kennedy
Contributes to the glamour and mystique
Women admire her…all over the world
“I'd like to shake her hand first” and “the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris, and I have enjoyed it”
Brings an appreciation for the arts to the White House
Televised Tour of the White House
Americans are also fascinated by the children
Caroline
John Jr….born a few weeks after the election

18. Effects on Youth Young people find Kennedy inspiring
Public appearances draw huge crowds of young people…responding to his call for service and sacrifice
“I’d never done anything political, patriotic, or unselfish because no one ever asked me to. Kennedy asked.”
“Having faith in young Americans may be a simple idea, but it works.”

19. Kennedy Public Appearance
Avoids photos
Wearing reading glasses
Lighting to hide double chin
Unhealthy
Struggles with illness throughout life
Addison’s Disease
Back issues

20. Kennedy’s Advisers Use government to solve national & global problems
Surrounds himself with others that share his vision
Wants the “best and brightest,” well educated…”there’s nothing like brains. You can’t beat brains.”
Not everyone impressed

21. National Security Affairs Dean at Harvard
McGeorge Bundy
National Security Affairs
Dean at Harvard
Robert McNamara
Secretary of Defense
Harvard Business School Grad
Bobby Kennedy
Attorney General
Law School Grad
(never practiced)
“I need you….I need someone I know to talk to in this government”
*proves to be his closest adviser
Dean Rusk
Secretary of State
Rhodes Scholar

22. Foreign Aid Programs designed to help Africa, Asia, Latin America
Strengthen developing nations to avoid communist take over
Peace Corps – American volunteers sent to work for two years in developing countries

23. Peace Corps…now Volunteers 1960 – 7,000 1980 – 5,380 1992 – 10,000
2010 – 8,655
Serving 68 countries…U.S. appropriates $400 billion annually

24. Latin America Alliance for Progress Program
Economic aid to Latin America
In exchange for billions of dollars, they would begin democratic reforms
Failure – population expanding, more money than the U.S. was willing to provide
Money was falling into the hands of corrupt politicians
Few leaders actually willing to enact new reforms

25. Domestic Policy Kennedy’s agenda becomes known as the “New Frontier”
Economy
Manage without disrupting business
Elects a Republican as the Secretary of Treasury to appear bipartisan

26. Economic Matters Rising unemployment and inflation
Increase government spending
Persuades labor & business to informal wage and price controls
Stop raising prices of goods
Fewer wage increases
Steel Industry breaks this informal agreement
“Some time ago I asked each American to consider what he would do for this country and I asked the steel companies. In the last twenty-four hours we had their answer.”

27. Kennedy and Congress
Little cooperation from Congress Southern Democrats and conservative Republicans oppose Kennedy’s agenda and blocked most of the domestic programs
May 1962 –small dip in economy…asks Congress to reduce taxes…fails
Legislation to assist older Americans in paying medical bills and education funding legislation also fail

28. Helping the Disadvantaged
JFK ranks among the wealthiest presidents
Donates salary ($100,000) to charity
Seeks to help the poor
Area Development Act (ARA) – help economically distressed areas-
“The Other America” – book published
Shatters public notion that EVERYONE prospered in the 1950s
42 million live on less that $1,000 per year
Racism among poor African Americans
Calls on America’s leaders to change this
Work impresses Kennedy

29. Tragedy in Dallas In Texas to build support for 1964 election
Dallas - November 22, 1963
Open-car motorcade

30. Tragedy in Dallas
Lyndon B. Johnson sworn in within hours

31. Tragedy in Dallas Lee Harvey Oswald arrested Jack Ruby shoots Oswald
Many people call it a conspiracy

32. Tragedy in Dallas Televised funeral
President Johnson calls for the Warren Commission to investigate