1. The New Frontier
Chapter 28 Section 1

2. The Candidates The Election of 1960 Kennedy Nixon Catholic
Came from a wealthy family from Massachusetts
Outgoing and relaxed
Nixon
Quaker
Financially struggling family from California
Formal, stiff in manner

3. Election of 1960

4. Televised Debate

5. Main Issues Campaign issues Economy and Cold War
Candidates differed little on these issues
Both promised to boost the economy
Both portrayed themselves as Cold Warriors
Both determined to stop the forces of Communism

6. Main Issues Kennedy argued… Nixon argued…
Serious threats from the Soviet Union
Concerned about a missile gap
The US lagged b/h the Soviets in weaponry
Nixon argued…
The nation was on the right track under the current administration (VP at the time)
Democrats fiscal policies would boost inflation
He had the foreign policy experience to guide the nation

7. Election of 1960 Kennedy came under scrutiny b/c he was Catholic
US had never had a Catholic president
Kennedy faced the issue head on in a speech
One of the closest elections in history
Kennedy won by a small margin

8. John F. Kennedy JFK was the first President born in the 20th century.
His right leg was ¾ longer than his left and he wore corrective shoes to make up for it.
He was the first President who had served in the U.S. Navy.

9. The Kennedy Mystique His youth and optimism captured Americans
He urged citizens to take a more active role in making the US a better place
“…ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”
The media loved JFK, his wife, and their 2 children
They were inspiring to the nation

11. A New Generation in the White House

21. LBJ and JFK
JFK
with an elderly
Herbert Hoover

22. Kennedy’s Struggles New Frontier – Kennedy’s legislative agenda
To increase aid to education, provide health insurance to the elderly, create a Dept. of Urban Affairs, and to help migrant workers
JFK was unable to push many of his domestic programs through
Many legislators did not feel like they owed him anything

23. Women’s Rights
A number of women worked in prominent positions in his administration
Although he never appointed a woman to his cabinet
1961 – JFK created the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women
Federal action against gender discrimination
Affirmed the right of women to equally paid employment
1963 – Equal Pay Act for women