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