1. The New Frontier
28.2 Notes

2. The Camelot Years
“Ask not what your country can do for you – Ask what you can do for your country.”

3. The Camelot Years Kennedy brought a majestic feel to the White House.
Kennedy and his family were very charismatic & youthful
Entertained people frequently at the White House
Jacqueline Kennedy
American women looked up to and mimicked Jacqueline Kennedy

4. President’s Advisors
Kennedy hired a very well educated staff (copied Roosevelt) as advisors
Robert McNamara – Sec. of defense
McGeorge Bundy – National Security Advisor
Robert Kennedy – Attorney General
Dean Rusk – Secretary of State

5. Promise of Progress
“Americans are new pioneers, they should explore uncharted areas of science and space, unconquered pockets of ignorance and prejudice, unasnwered questions of poverty and surplus”

6. Promise of Progress
Kennedy’s Plan for America was called the New Frontier
Medical Care for the elderly
Rebuild Urban Areas
Improve Education
Kennedy’s election was a narrow victory and he could not get the legislative branch to help him fulfill his plan

7. Kennedy gets some help Congress agrees to
Build up the national defenses
Provide international aid to communist resisting countries
Fund the Space Program

8. Stimulating the Economy
The President is usually seen as the responsible party for economic growth or recession
Who has the power to influence the economy?
Kennedy introduced the idea of deficit spending
The Government spending more money than it takes in to stimulate economic growth
US Military received a 20% budget increase
Minimum wage increased by $1.25
Increased government unemployment benefits

9. Addressing Poverty Abroad
Kennedy created the Peace Corp
Volunteers who go to impoverished countries to aid them.
Volunteers are usually young college graduates.

10. Race to the Moon Russia sent the first man into space
Kennedy held a special session of Congress to address Russia’s triumph
The US created NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

11. Race to the Moon John Glenn became the first American man in space
July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the moon.
Created a national focus on education
Science became a core class
Increased federal funding for electronics and computers

12. Kennedy takes sides on Civil Rights and Poverty
Economic Boom created by Deficit spending and the Space Race didn’t reach the South
Avoiding the Civil Rights issue, Kennedy in 1963 takes a political stand against prejudice in the South
Kennedy however, never got the opportunity to finish this battle