1. Chapter 20 Section 2
The New Frontier

2. The Camelot Years Kennedy inauguration
Set tone for new era in White House
Grace
Elegance
Wit

3. The Camelot Years
Gave an inspiring speech- “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
During his term recognized art and culture and appeared frequently on TV

4. Kennedy Mystique Critics said he was all style with no substance
But 1st family fascinated the public
After learning JFK could read 1,600 wpm
Thousands enrolled in speed reading courses

5. Kennedy Mystique 1st lady had influence on fashion and culture
Media fascinated with Kennedy children
1st family’s glamour seemed like a fairy tale
JFK & his advisors reminded many of a modern day Camelot

6. The Best and the Brightest
JFK surrounded himself with young intellectuals and business people
Media called them the “Best and the Brightest”

7. The Best and the Brightest
McGeorge Bundy
National Security Advisor

8. The Best and the Brightest
Robert McNamara
Secretary of Defense

9. The Best and the Brightest
Dean Rusk
Secretary of State

10. The Best and the Brightest
Robert Kennedy
Brother
35 years old
Attorney General

11. The Promise of Progress
New Frontier-JFK’s legislative agenda
Called on Americans to be “new pioneers” and explore “uncharted areas of science and space…unconquered pockets of ignorance and prejudice, unanswered questions of poverty and surplus.”

12. The Promise of Progress
JFK had a hard time turning his New Frontier into reality
Showed little skill in pushing his domestic reforms through Congress
Lacked a mandate- a clear indication that voters approved of his plans

13. The Promise of Progress
As a result of not having a mandate, JFK played it safe
Was able to persuade Congress to enact measures to
Boost economy
Build national defense
Provide international aid
Fund a massive space program

14. Stimulating the Economy
US stuck in a recession by 1960
Unemployment at 6%
JFK criticized Eisenhower for not doing more to stimulate the economy

15. Stimulating the Economy
Advocated deficit spending
Felt economy would grow with a mixture of government spending and lower taxes

16. Stimulating the Economy
Dept. of Defense budget increased by 20%
New nuclear missiles
Nuclear submarines
Expansion of armed services

17. Stimulating the Economy
Congress increased minimum wage to $1.25/ hour
Extended unemployment insurance
Provide assistance to cities with high unemployment

18. Addressing Poverty Abroad
Created Peace Corps- volunteer assistance to developing nations of Latin America, Asia, and Africa

19. Addressing Poverty Abroad
Critics referred to the fact that the volunteers were so young
Many foreigners questioned whether Americans understood other cultures

20. Addressing Poverty Abroad
Peace Corps became a huge success
People of all ages and backgrounds signed up to work as
Agricultural advisors
Teachers
Health aides

21. Addressing Poverty Abroad
By 1968 – more than 35,000 volunteers served in more than 60 nations

22. Addressing Poverty Abroad
Alliance for Progress- offered economic and technical assistance to help Latin American nations
Meant to spread of communism

23. Addressing Poverty Abroad
Alliance for Progress
Built schools
Houses
Sanitation facilities
Encouraged economic reforms
Between 1961 and 1969 the US invested almost $12 billion in Latin America

24. Race to the Moon April 12, 1961- Soviets launched 1st man into space
Yuri Gagarin
Americans stunned
JFK saw this as a challenge that had to be met

25. Race to the Moon
JFK set goal of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth
To be achieved by the end of the decade (1960s)
Within weeks NASA began building new launch facilities

26. Race to the Moon
February 20, Colonel John Glenn orbited earth 3 times
Later that year- satellite Telstar relayed live TV pictures across the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Europe

27. Race to the Moon
July 20, U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong becomes the 1st man to walk on the moon

28. Race to the Moon Space race impacted many parts of society Education
Science and technology
Computers
Miniaturized electronics

29. New Domestic Agenda
1962- problem of poverty came to national attention
The Other America by Michael Harrington used govmt stats to profile 42 million Americans that made less than $1000/year

30. New Domestic Agenda Mass movement against segregation also emerged
JFK pushed for legislation dealing with poverty and civil rights

31. Tragedy in Dallas Fall 1963 JFK had popular support
60% of the public approved of him

32. Four Days in November November 22, 1963
In Dallas to repair relationship with Texas Democratic party

33. Four Days in November Sat next to his wife in an open air limousine
Texas Governor John Connally sat in front of him
Car approached Texas School Book Depository

34. Four Days in November Kennedy shot in the head Rushed to hospital
JFK died less than an hour after he had been shot

38. Four Days in November
Lyndon Baines Johnson becomes new President

39. Four Days in November
Dallas police charge Lee Harvey Oswald with the murder of JFK
Oswald’s palm print on the rifle used to kill the President
Former Marine sniper
Dishonorably discharged
Lived briefly in the Soviet Union
Active supporter of Fidel Castro

40. Four Days in November November 24, 1963
Oswald being transferred from one prison to another – on live TV
Shot by Dallas night club owner Jack Ruby
Oswald died less than an hour later

41. Four Days in November November 25, 1963
JFK buried at Arlington National Cemetary

43. Unanswered Questions
Many wondered if Oswald acted as part of a conspiracy
Commission presided by Chief Justice Earl Warren conducted an extensive 10 month investigation

44. Unanswered Questions
Warren Commission- concluded that Oswald did shoot JFK and acted on his own
However, in a 1979 congressional committee- they concluded that…

45. Unanswered Questions Oswald probably shot Kennedy
But in conspiracy with unknown people
Possible that 2 people fired at the President