A Changing Home Front 1954 to 1978. 1960 Presidential Campaign People happy with Eisenhower 22 nd...
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Transcript of A Changing Home Front 1954 to 1978. 1960 Presidential Campaign People happy with Eisenhower 22 nd...
A Changing Home Front
1954 to 1978
1960 Presidential Campaign People happy with
Eisenhower 22nd Amendment
1960 Presidential Campaign
Republicans Richard Nixon
Eisenhower’s Vice President
Henry Cabot Lodge (V.P)
Democrats John F. Kennedy
Senator for Massachusetts
wit, good looks, WWII veteran record
…but Roman Catholic (assures voters of the importance of church and state)
Lyndon B. Johnson (V.P.)
1960 Presidential Campaign Nixon argues
maturity and experience
Television debates https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oLYqUT24Vk
4 television debates Appearances???
John F. Kennedy “we wouldn’t have had a
prayer without that gadget”
First Roman Catholic president
First president born in the 20th century
Closest election in U.S. history…Kennedy won by less than 1/2 percent of the total vote
Age 43…youngest U.S. president
Kennedy’s Foreign Policy Follows Cold War policies of predecessors
Does not want to rely on the threat of nuclear war solely
Prefers to have a number of options…Flexible Response Increases defense spending to boost military
forces…non nuclear forces (troops, ships, artillery) Special Forces – Green Berets Tripled nuclear capabilities
Foreign Aid Programs designed to help
Africa, Asia, Latin America Strengthen developing
nations to avoid communist take over
Peace Corps – American volunteers sent to work for two years in developing countries http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARN1Hzxo2bg&feature=relmfu
Peace Corps…now
Serving 68 countries…U.S. appropriates $400 billion annually
Volunteers1960 – 7,0001980 – 5,3801992 – 10,0002010 – 8,655
Latin America Alliance for Progress Program
Economic aid to Latin America In exchange for billions of dollars, they would
begin democratic reforms Failure – population expanding, more money
than the U.S. was willing to provide Money was falling into the hands of corrupt
politicians Few leaders actually willing to enact new reforms
Fidel Castro led an uprising that
overthrew the current dictator in Cuba and established a communist style dictatorship tied to Soviet Union Castro “the reason president
Kennedy can’t sleep at night” Only 90 miles from the U.S. CIA operation to overthrow
Castro
The Bay of Pigs Invasion is a disaster
1500 rebels landed at Bay of Pigs but were quickly defeated
U.S. naval and air support never arrived
Uprising doesn’t strike support from Cubans
Cuban military forces crush the movement and imprison 1200 rebels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qXZp8bxpNY
The Bay of Pigs Made the U.S. look
“like fools to our friends, rascals to our enemies, and incompetents to the rest”
Brings Cuban leaders closer to Soviet Union
Cuban Missile Crisis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snc4g8yAURo
Berlin Crisis Nikita Khrushchev thinks that Kennedy
is and weak and can be intimidated Ultimatum: West must recognize the
sovereignty of communist East Germany and remove all troops from West Berlin.
Kennedy doesn’t give in…does not want to lose the confidence of Americans
Berlin Wall erected…most widely recognized symbol of the Cold War
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwOfphFsUwM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR4fubyOIpw
Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Historic turning point, sobered
by the brush with nuclear war 1963 – Limited Nuclear Test Ban
Treaty – signed by U.S., Soviet Union, Great Britain End testing of nuclear bombs in
the atmosphere and underwater. Hot Line – teletype line enabled
the leaders of the two countries (U.S. & Soviet Union) to communicate directly during a crisis
The Kennedy White House
The Kennedy Charisma Captures the hearts of many Americans
Popularity – has to request that people stop sending items of” Congrats!” to the White House
Popularity stems from Cool intellectual personality Good looks Athletic appearance Handsome features
“Profiles in Courage” Wins Pulitzer Prize
The First Family Jacqueline “Jackie” Kennedy
Contributes to the glamour and mystique Women admire her…all over the world “I'd like to shake her hand first” and “the
man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris, and I have enjoyed it”
Brings an appreciation for the arts to the White House Televised Tour of the White House https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfsVQpU3v3w Americans are also fascinated by the
children Caroline John Jr….born a few weeks after the election
Effects on Youth Young people find Kennedy inspiring
Public appearances draw huge crowds of young people…responding to his call for service and sacrifice
“I’d never done anything political, patriotic, or unselfish because no one ever asked me to. Kennedy asked.”
“Having faith in young Americans may be a simple idea, but it works.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tey6HAgip-w&feature=relmfu
Kennedy Public Appearance Avoids photos
Wearing reading glasses Lighting to hide double
chin Unhealthy
Struggles with illness throughout life Addison’s Disease Back issues
Kennedy’s Advisers Use government to solve national & global
problems Surrounds himself with others that share his
version Wants the “best and brightest,” well
educated…”there’s nothing like brains. You can’t beat brains.”
Not everyone impressed
Robert McNamaraSecretary of DefenseHarvard Business School Grad
Dean RuskSecretary of StateRhodes Scholar
McGeorge BundyNational Security AffairsDean at Harvard
Bobby KennedyAttorney GeneralLaw School Grad(never practiced)
“I need you….I need someone I know to talk to in this government”*proves to be his closest adviser
Domestic Frontier Kennedy’s agenda becomes known as
the “New Frontier” Economy
Manage without disrupting business Elects a Republican as the Secretary of
Treasury to appear bipartisan
Economic Matters Rising unemployment and inflation
Increase government spending Persuades labor & business to informal
wage and price controls Stop raising prices of goods Fewer wage increases
Steel Industry breaks this informal agreement “Some time ago I asked each American to
consider what he would do for this country and I asked the steel companies. In the last twenty-four hours we had their answer.”
Kennedy and Congress Little cooperation from Congress Southern
Democrats and conservative Republicans oppose Kennedy’s agenda and blocked most of the domestic programs
May 1962 –small dip in economy…asks Congress to reduce taxes…fails
Legislation to assist older Americans in paying medical bills and education funding legislation also fail
Helping the Disadvantaged
JFK ranks among the wealthiest presidents Donates salary ($100,000) to charity
Seeks to help the poor Area Development Act (ARA) – help
economically distressed areas- “The Other America” – book published
Shatters public notion that EVERYONE prospered in the 1950s
42 million live on less that $1,000 per year Racism among poor African Americans Calls on America’s leaders to change this Work impresses Kennedy
Tragedy in Dallas In Texas to build support for 1964 election
Dallas - November 22, 1963 Open-car motorcade
Lyndon B. Johnson sworn in within hours Lee Harvey Oswald arrested Televised funeral Jack Ruby shoots Oswald
Many people call it a conspiracy President Johnson calls for the Warren
Commission to investigate