JFK’s New Frontier■ 1960 election – Nixon vs. Kennedy

was 1st to use TV debates:–Nixon much better known but TV

debates helped swing undecided voters towards JFK

–Marked beginning of TV dominance in politics

–Image & appearance became essential traits for candidates

But, it was not the 1st time TV influenced politics…

Eisenhower used TV to campaign in 1952 & 1956

McCarthy was destroyed by TV in the Army-Senate

hearings

Nixon used to TV to defend himself in the “Checkers” speech

TN Senator Kefauver used TV to investigate

organized crime

JFK’s New Frontier■ JFK admin reflected youth, energy, &

sharp break from DDE■ JFK promised New Frontier:

–Domestic reforms in education, health care, civil rights

–Foreign policy based on defeating USSR & winning Cold War

JFK era often referred to as “Camelot”

JFK’s New Frontier■ New Frontier promised a return of

FDR-era liberal policies:–Cons in Congress opposed JFK’s

social reforms in ed & health care

–Congress did help the poor

–Modernization of industry, gov spending, & major tax cut in 1963 stimulated economy & created jobs

Extension of Social Security…

…unemployment benefits…

…and med ins for elderly all shot down by

Congress

An increase in the minimum wage

Increased funds for public housing

JFK’s New Frontier■ Long-lasting effect of JFK era was

strengthening the presidency:–DDE left many decisions to staff,

but JFK demanded direct control–JFK transferred most decision

making power from the cabinet to his personal White House staff

JFK referred to his staff as the “the best & the brightest”

Kennedy Intensifies the Cold War

Kennedy Intensifies the Cold War■ US foreign policy & containing

Communism was JFK’s top priority:–Believed DDE compromised when

Cold War could have been won–Aimed to close the “missile gap” &

increase US defenses–Tried to solve issues in Berlin,

Vietnam, & Cuba

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any

friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival & success of liberty. We will do this & more.”

—JFK’s inaugural address

Flexible Response■ JFK shifted from “mutual assured

destruction” to “flexible response”–Capable of responding to a variety

of future problems– nuclear arsenal to create “1st

strike” capability –Increased army & air force–Expanded covert operations &

created Green Berets

JFK was convinced that USSR had more missiles, but US did – 600 B-52s, 2 Polaris

subs, 2000 warheads

To combat Communism & help underdeveloped countries, JFK created the Peace Corps & the Alliance for Progress

The Space Race■ JFK hoped to avoid another Sputnik-

type embarrassment■ Hoped to beat USSR to the moon:

–Expanded NASA & announced that US would get to the moon by 1970

–US landed a man on moon in 1969

The Apollo Program

Crisis over Berlin■ 1st confrontation w/USSR came in

Berlin:–Khrushchev upset with the exodus

of skilled workers from GDR to FRG–USSR threatened to remove all US

influence from W Berlin, but settled on building Berlin Wall in 1961

“Ich bin ein Berliner”—JFK, 1963

Containment in Vietnam■ Communist leader Ho Chi Minh

gained popularity in N & S Vietnam■ US aided unpopular S Vietnamese

leader Ngo Dihn Diem ■ Diem proved oppressive; JFK okayed

coup against Diem in 1963

“Strongly in our mind is what happened in China at the end of World War II, where

China was lost. We don’t want that.”—JFK

Vietnam Viet Minh are Vietnamese communists in North Vietnam

Viet Cong are Vietnamese communists in South Vietnam

Monk Quang Duc protested Diem’s treatment of Buddhists

Containing Castro: Bay of Pigs■ 1959: Fidel Castro took Cuba &

developed ties with USSR

■ DDE administration (using the CIA) had been training Cuban exiles for an invasion & overthrow of Castro

■ 1961: JFK gave OK for the CIA to initiate Bay of Pigs invasion

Invasion called for US air support but JFK canceled air strike; without air support,

Castro squashed invasion

JFK took responsibility for Bay of Pigs, but did not apologize for attempt

Cuban Missile Crisis■ To protect Cuba from another US

invasion, USSR began secret build-up of nuclear missiles

■ Oct 14, 1962: U-2 spy plane discovered Cuban missile camps

■ How would the U.S. respond?

24 medium-range & 18 short range ICBMs

Naval blockade to keep warheads out?

Diplomacy: trade nukes in Cuba for nukes in Turkey?

Immediate air strike?Full-scale invasion?

JFK chose to “quarantine” Cuba to keep new missiles out & invasion of Cuba if

USSR did not remove its nukes

The Cuban Missile Crisis Kennedy announced a quarantine (blockade) to keep more missiles out & demanded that the Soviets remove the missiles already in Cuba

"We are eyeball to eyeball, and the other fellow just blinked."

—Sec of State, Dean Rusk

Cuban Missile Crisis■ Standoff ended when USSR removed

its missiles & US vowed never to invade Cuba

■ Impact of the crisis:–Political victory for JFK–“Hot line” for US-USSR

communications–Convinced both sides to move from

confrontation to negotiation

“Our most basic common link is the fact that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the

same air. We all cherish our children’s future. We are all mortal.”

—JFK

And…U.S. removal of nuclear weapons in Turkey

"Let Us Continue"■ 11/22/63 Dallas: JFK assassinated■ VP Lyndon Johnson now president:

–LBJ was a master politician with a reputation for getting results

–LBJ promised to continue Kennedy's liberal agenda

–LBJ ultimately exceeded JFK’s record on providing economic & racial equality

LBJ helped push through the greatest array of liberal legislation in U.S. history (“Great Society”), surpassing FDR’s New Deal

Americans were stunned this rapid succession of events

The Zapruder Film