1. America: Past and Present Chapter 30
THE TURBULENT SIXTIES
America: Past and Present
Chapter 30

2. Kennedy Intensifies the Cold War
John F. Kennedy a "Cold Warrior"
Kennedy advisors support U.S. hard line against Russia

3. Flexible Response Arms buildup
Conventional armed forces
The nuclear arsenal
Special Forces
U.S. strength tempts new administration to challenge U.S.S.R.

4. Crisis over Berlin
1961--Khrushchev renews threat again to give Berlin to East Germany
Kennedy’s response
Announce crisis on nationwide television
Call up the National Guard
Soviets retreat
Berlin Wall built

5. Containment in Southeast Asia
Kennedy sees Southeast Asia as focus of U.S.-Soviet rivalry
Support Saigon’s Diem regime
Sends 16,000 American military "advisors"
November, coup against Diem
Kennedy accepts
Coup further destabilizes South Vietnam
U.S. involvement in Vietnam deepened

6. Containing Castro: The Bay of Pigs Fiasco
Kennedy supports “anti-Castro forces in exile”
Bay of Pigs invasion a part of 1960 CIA plan under Eisenhower
April, —Invasion
1,400 Cuban exiles land without expected U.S. military support
Defeated within 48 hours
Kennedy takes responsibility in defiant speech against “communist penetration”

7. Containing Castro: The Cuban Missile Crisis
October, Soviet nuclear missiles confirmed in Cuba
Plan to blockade, invade Cuba
October 22--Kennedy informs Americans of Cuban Missile Crisis
October 28--Khrushchev agrees to remove missiles

8. Effects of the Missile Crisis
Political
Kennedy’s popularity soars
Democrats gain in Congressional elections
Diplomatic effects
Moderation of the Cold War
Russians begin naval, nuclear buildup

9. The New Frontier at Home
Kennedy staff competent, activist
Seeks legislative and economic reform
JFK the administration's greatest asset

10. The Congressional Obstacle
Congress controlled by Southern Democrat-Republican coalition
Coalition blocks far-reaching reform
Kennedy does not challenge Congress

11. Economic Advance Economic stimulation
Increased space, defense spending
Informal wage and price guidelines
1962--U.S. Steel forced to lower prices
1963--tax cut spurs one of the longest sustained advances in U.S. history
Kennedy's economic policies double growth, cut unemployment

12. Moving Slowly on Civil Rights
Downplay civil rights legislation to avoid alienating Southern Democrats
May, federal marshals sent to protect Birmingham freedom riders
1962--federal marshals, National Guard to U. of Mississippi
1963--deputy attorney general faces down George Wallace at U. of Alabama

13. "I Have a Dream"
May, violent police suppression of nonviolent protestors in Birmingham
Kennedy intervenes on side of blacks
Congress asked for civil-rights laws
August, MLK leads March on Washington
Kennedy record disappointing to supporters, ultimately effective

14. The Supreme Court and Reform
Defendants’ rights in criminal cases
Legislative reapportionment of states
1962--Baker v. Carr establishes "one man, one vote"
Greater social justice achieved
Rights of the underprivileged protected
Dissent and free expression protected

15. "Let Us Continue"
November 22, JFK assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald
Lyndon Johnson promises to continue Kennedy's programs
Johnson ultimately exceeds Kennedy’s record on economic, racial equality

16. Johnson in Action Poor image on television
Effective manager of Congress
Spring, Kennedy's tax cut passed
July 2-- Civil Rights Act
bans public segregation
protects voting rights

17. The Election of 1964 1964--Johnson launches “war on poverty” to
encourage self-help
reduce poverty
Johnson wins landslide election against Republican Barry Goldwater

18. The Triumph of Reform
1965 Great Society legislation advances beyond New Deal
Medicare
Medicaid
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Voting Rights Act

19. Johnson Escalates the Vietnam War
Hawkish foreign policy continued
1965--troops sent to Dominican Republic
Determined not to "lose" Vietnam to the Communists

20. The Vietnam Dilemma 1964--Saigon on the verge of collapse
Johnson’s initial response
Refuse to send American combat forces
Economic aid
Military advisers
Covert actions
August, Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

21. Escalation
Johnson seeks to avoid diverting resource from Great Society to Vietnam
U.S. effort intended to bring Hanoi into peace negotiations
Policy of secrecy and deceit to assure Americans of Vietnam’s insignificance

22. Stalemate 1968--500,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam
War of attrition increases American losses, enrages South Vietnamese
January, Tet Offensive demonstrates futility of U.S. efforts
May, Johnson announces scaling back of war, efforts for peace

23. U.S. Troop Levels in Vietnam (as of Dec. 31 each year)

24. Years of Turmoil Exceptional unrest at home
Continued escalation of Vietnam war

25. The Student Revolt 1964--student protest movement launched at Berkeley
Challenge older generation’s materialism
Vietnam War targeted
Widespread cultural uprising

26. Protesting the Vietnam War
October, ,000 protesters besiege the Pentagon
Demonstrations suppressed by a combination of force, concessions

27. The Cultural Revolution
Rejection of older values through
sexual expression
clothing
drugs
music
Some extremism provokes outrage
Serious challenge to hypocrisy of American society

28. "Black Power" 1964-1967--riots in northern cities
Rise of militant leaders
Black separatism
Armed struggle
MLK leads anti-poverty crusade
April, MLK assassinated
Militancy increases African-American pride

29. Ethnic Nationalism Multiple groups emulate African American movement
1965--César Chávez organizes National Farm Workers' Association
Chicanos win federal mandate for bilingual education

30. Women's Liberation 1963--Friedan's The Feminine Mystique
New feminist activism
1964 Civil Rights Act used to attack inequality in employment
Pro-choice advocacy on abortion
Seek to toughen enforcement of rape laws
1972--Congress sends Equal Rights Amendment to the states

31. The Return of Richard Nixon
1968 a year of turmoil
Presidential election
Turning point in the Vietnam War
Massive protests in the streets
Richard Nixon election demonstrates desire for national reconciliation

32. Vietnam Undermines Lyndon Johnson
1968--Tet Offensive leads to conclusion that Vietnam war cannot be won
March--Johnson announces he will not seek another term as president

33. The Democrats Divide Rivals Kennedy assassinated during campaign
Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy
Robert Kennedy
Party leaders favor Hubert Humphrey
Kennedy assassinated during campaign
‘68 Democratic convention in Chicago besieged by antiwar protestors
Democrats wounded in public opinion

34. The Republican Resurgence
Republicans unite on Richard Nixon
George Wallace’s third party candidacy draws Democratic votes
Nixon wins narrow victory
Consequences
Ends thirty-year era of liberal reform, activist foreign policy
Americans seek less intrusive government