1. The Age of Camelot
Unit 11 – The 1960s

2. The 1960 Election 1960 Election: John F. Kennedy vs. Richard Nixon
First televised debate in US History
JFK wins
Appoints brother- Robert Kennedy to Attorney General of the US

3. JFK’S DOMESTIC POLICY “New Frontier” Aid to education
Programs to end poverty
Tax cuts
Raise minimum wage
Fund medical for elderly
Make cities more livable
Many programs were not approved by Congress and failed

4. 1960’s Economy Economic trouble in the US Boost spending on Defense
US increases stockpile of missiles and high tech weapons (nuclear submarines)
Major Tax Cut
Not very successful
Recession ends in 1961

5. JFK & The Civil Rights
Kennedy largely failed on Civil Rights Legislation
After becoming president, he didn’t push Civil Rights in Congress
Worried about splitting the Democratic Party
Proposed no new Civil Rights laws in
After Freedom Riders outrage, he proposed new legislation but southern congressmen blocked it

6. JFK & The Soviet Union Space Exploration NASA created in 1958
Soviets send first man into space- 1961
Kennedy wants to send a man to the moon
John Glenn- first US astronaut in space
1969- First man lands on the moon
Berlin Wall built to stop refugees fleeing East Berlin- 1961
US and allies are outraged

7. JFK & Cuba 1959- Fidel Castro becomes dictator of Cuba
Establishes close ties to the Soviet Union
USSR sends aid, weapons, financial aid
Many Cubans fled the
communist takeover
Bay of Pigs
CIA plans an uprising against Castro
Ends in total disaster- many people killed

8. JFK & Cuba Cuban Missile Crisis
1962- US spy planes spot Soviet Union building missiles in Cuba
A nuclear weapon could easily strike the US
Kennedy announces plan to blockade Cuba
US demands all weapons be removed
Soviet ships continue toward Cuba
Eventually, Soviet ships turn around
Soviets agree to remove missiles from Cuba and US agreed to remove missiles from Turkey

9. JFK Assassination Lee Harvey Oswald assassinates JFK in Dallas, TX
November 22, 1963
Lee Harvey Oswald assassinates JFK in Dallas, TX
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson becomes president on Air Force One before it leaves Dallas with JFK’s body
Oswald is murdered leaving court by Jack Ruby
Conspiracy still surrounds JFK’s death