Ch. 23 The New FrontierThe Election of 1960

First time in the history 2 Presidential candidates debate on Television.

John Kennedy Democrat Catholic WealthyRichard Nixon Republican Quaker Mid-class

http://youtu.be/zHGs4535W_o

One of the closest race in American history

The Kennedy Mystique

• Despite the narrow victory, many Americans were captivated by his youth and optimism.

• http://youtu.be/bfsVQpU3v3w

“The torch has been passed to a new generation”

“And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, but

what you can do for your country”

The Peace Corps

• A program aimed at helping less developed nations fight poverty. The Corps sent young Americans to perform humanitarian services in these countries. They would build roads, lay sewer systems, teach English etc. Still active today, the Corps remains one of Kennedy’s most enduring legacies.

The Space Race

• The Russians not only put the first satellite in orbit but also the put the first person to orbit the earth.

• They were winning the space race. JFK was worried about this so he committed the US to land the first man on the moon.

• “We choose to go to the moon in this decade, not because it is easy but because it is hard”.

• http://youtu.be/kwFvJog2dMw

The Bay of Pigs• In 1959 Cuba became a communist country.

Just 90 miles from Florida. Almost immediately Fidel Castro establishes ties with Russia.

The Bay of Pigs

• The CIA trained and armed Cuban rebels to invade Cuba and start an uprising against Castro. On April 17, 1961, 1,400 armed Cuban exiles landed at the Bay of Pigs. The invasion was a disaster. Kennedy had called off the air support to keep the US involvement a secret. Within two days, Castro’s forces killed or captured almost all the exiles. This made the US looked weak and disorganized.

The Berlin Wall Goes Up

• http://youtu.be/QwOfphFsUwM• Kennedy’s speech in Berlin-Ich Bin Ein Berliner• http://youtu.be/GK907TwM7q0

The Cuban Missile Crisis- 13 Days• In the Summer of 1962, the CIA learned that the

Soviets had placed long range missiles in Cuba—capable of delivering missiles to the US.

• Many advisors said: Invade!! • Kennedy ordered a naval blockade to stop the

Soviets from delivering more missiles and he demanded that they dismantle existing missile sties.

• After many secret negotiations, the Soviet Union offered a deal—they would remove the missiles if the US removed missiles from Turkey and Greece and promise never to invade Cuba again.

The Death of the President

• On November 22, 1963, while Kennedy and his wife were traveling in Dallas, Kennedy was shot while riding in his motorcade.

• http://youtu.be/JbXI0WSlTGw• http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cf

m?guidAssetId=CFF47E47-B865-4D8E-ADFE-7295214E624B

Death of a President

Lee Harvey Oswald

Jack Ruby

Lyndon Johnson taking the Oath