THE 1960’S

President John F. Kennedy

President Lyndon B. Johnson

President John F. Kennedy

Election of 1960• Candidates:

– Richard M. Nixon, Republican– John F. Kennedy, Democrat

• Time to get things moving again– Slow economy from 1950’s– Still dealing w/ recessions

• 1st televised election– Allowed voters to see candidates – Gave Kennedy an edge as he appeared healthy and

young while Nixon looked old and out of shape

The New Frontier• Described Kennedy’s proposals to improve the

economy– Give aid to the poor & revive space program

• Poverty: direct aid needed– Raised minimum wage– $4.9 billion to improve cities– 24th amendment: outlawed poll taxes

• Space Program: challenged nation to put a man on the moon– Energized by Soviet orbit of Earth– Increased funding to NASA

Assassination

• President Kennedy’s term was cut short on November 22, 1963

• Shot while riding in an open car through Dallas

• Suspected to be a conspiracy plot

• Warren Commission: investigation into the death of President Kennedy – no conspiracy revealed

Kennedy – Lincoln Coincidences

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjqQkHG1qWE

THE GREAT SOCIETY• Described LBJ’s goals • War on poverty

– Economic Opportunity Act: fight causes of poverty – illiteracy, unemployment & poor public services

• Aid to education– Provide aid to states based on the number of

children from low income families– Began pre-k in poor urban areas

• Medicare & Medicaid– Health insurance for the elderly & poor

Effects of the Great Society

• Critics:– Too many dollars were being spent on the

poor– Too much power to the federal government to

oversee programs

• Effect:– Number of people living in poverty cut in half