The Stormy 60’s

1. The Stormy 60’s • Sexual revolution • Civil Rights struggles • Anti-war protests • Assassinations of John Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy • Feminist revolution • Youth culture

2. Youngest president establishes youngest cabinet Attorney General = Robert “Bobby” Kennedy Biggest opponent = J. Edgar Hoover, FBI director Why Bobby begins to have FBI investigate organized crime Bobby wants FBI to start getting involved in Civil Rights Defense Department= Robert McNamara ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. JFK and Cabinet

3. Abroad Peace Corps- an army of idealistic and mostly youthful volunteers to bring American skills to underdeveloped countries JFK and the “New Frontier”

4. In congress- Southern Demos threaten to team up with Reps, shut down any New Frontier Deals (medical assistance for old, and federal aid to education) Expands house rules committee But bills remain stalled in congress New Frontier at Home

5. Economy Restore economy after Eisenhower recessions However, almost immediately into his term, steel managementannounced great price increases, igniting the fury of the president, but JFK also heard fiery attacks by big business against the New Frontier. People worried about free enterprise quit complaining when JFK slashes taxes New Frontier at Home

6. Space program Multi billion dollar project to get to the moon Tells public, show that we can rise to challenges and expand human possibilities In reality- wants to get up on USSR in space race (Sputnik) 1969- Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, land on the moon New Frontier at Home

7. 1961- FDR meets Khrushchev Khrush makes threats on cutting Western Access to Berlin, JFK won’t be bullied Berlin wall constructed in 1961 Done to stop East Berliners from going to west Stands for 3 decades West calls it the Wall of Shame Rumblings in Europe

9. What makes it prosper 1. Marshall Plan 2. European Economic Community (EEC), foundation of European Union Trade Expansion Act 1962 Cuts tariffs by as much as 50% in EEC countries (Common Market) Led to Kennedy Round of tariff negotiations- even better trade with W. Euro Beginnings of globalization Western Europe

10. New Strategy = “flexible response” Develop an array of military options that can be matched with the gravity of the situation Increased military spending Green Berets Problem with flexible response Could mean less diplomacy, and more force Steps of use of force Vietnam demonstrates these problems The Vietnam Quagmire

11. Corrupt, pro-US government in South Vietnam. Diem Communists in the south, Viet-Cong, waging guerrilla civil war. Late 1961 Kennedy sharply increases US military advisors. 1963- US coup ousts Diem Ironic- US was supposed to ensure political stability, instead caused instability The Vietnam Quagmire

12. Latin American starts to resent US 1961 Alliance For Progress- basically Marshall plan for Latin America Shorten income gap between Latin American and US, thus quiet communists agitation Poor results- too little too late Our Southern Neighbors

13. During Eisenhower, US makes plans to topple Castro, JFK continues on with them CIA plans to topple government, with help of anti- Castro rebels Bay of Pigs Invasion = huge failure Cuban Confrontations

14. BofP and assassination attempts on Castro force him into Soviet hands 1962- US spy planes finds out USSR is installing nuclear tipped missile in Cuba (90 miles away) Cuban Confrontations

15. USSR- missiles are to stop US in Cuba, and blackmail US into backing down in Berlin and elsewhere 1962- JFK naval quarantine on Cuba, attack from Cuba would result in nuclear retaliation against USSR “Nuclear Chicken” Cuban Confrontations

16. The whole world watches on edge Compromise- Soviets pull missiles out of Cuba, US promises not to invade Cuba US secretly removed weapons from Turkey, which were aimed at Soviets Cuban Confrontations

17. Khrushchev forced out of power Kremlin begins an aggressive program of military expansion; New Arms Race Democrats gain in the midterm elections. Kennedy begins to push for arms control and greater communications between Russia and the US. Hotline Ban on above-ground nuclear tests agreed to in 1963 Kennedy urges Americans to live with the Soviets as they are and find a method of peaceful coexistence. Origins of the policy of Détente. Results of the Cuban Missile Crisis

18. JFK promised to end racial discrimination in house “with a stroke of the pen” Very slow in acting Ink for Jack protests- civil rights groups send him pens JFK hesitate because has little control over congress, and needs southern Democrats to support economic and social legislation (education and medical) JFK and civil rights

19. JFK and Robert worried that MLK advisors could have communists ties, wiretap King’s phone Otherwise JFK and MLK have strong relationship CRM in 1960’s

20. 1963- Birmingham Alabama, most segregated big city Blacks = 50% of population, but only 15% of voters 1975- 1963- “Bombingham” 50 cross burnings and 18 bomb attacks Much opposition police use, fire hoses, attack dogs, electric cattle prods All is seen on TV CRM 1960’s

22. JFK, doesn’t turn blind eye like Eisenhower, makes speech advocating new civil rights legislation August 63, MLK marches on Washington, with 200,000 in support of new legislation CRM 1960’s

23. Nov 22 1963- JFK is shot is assassinated in Dallas by Lee Harvey Oswald Days later, Jack Ruby kills Lee Harvey Oswald Bizarre events trigger investigation known as the Warren Commission Death of JFK

24. JFK selected Lyndon B. Johnson to appease southern Democrats Lot of tension between “the Harvards” and Southern Dems LBJ one of last people to know about death of JFK Death of JFK

25. Early career, big fan of FDR 1941 Senate race (TX) LBJ realizes liberals don’t win down south Turns conservative Very in your face style, known as “Johnson Treatment” LBJ before presidency

26. Civil Rights Act 1964 Prohibits discrimination in facilities open to the public Strengthened power to end segregation in schools Created federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Prevents both race and gender discrimination.(Affirmative Action) Southern Senators try to kill with a lengthy filibuster Johnson launches a war on poverty designed to help those not yet getting the benefits of America’s vast wealth. Dubbed the Great Society Program. Medicare/Medicaid central pillar LBJ’ Great Society

27. Demos- LBJ Republicans nominate Senator Barry Goldwater very, very conservative. Strongly anti-red, strongly anti-New Deal. Believes in small national government (Jeffersonian) Wanted American field commanders to have authority to use tactical nukes in the battle field Election of 1964

28. Democrats play up image that Goldwater is trigger happy Tonkin Gulf Episode- US secretly has ships patrolling N. Vietnam, S. Vietnam shoots down US ships LBJ response- “limited” retaliatory raid- thus making Goldwater look the opposite Daisy Commercial Tonkin Gulf Resolution-gives president unlimited authority to defend US forces and members of SEATO Election of 1964

29. Election of 1964

30. Demos majorities in both houses, conservative Southerners see writing on the wall Congress pushes mass legislation, sim to 100 days Continues War on Poverty- EEOC gets 2 billion, 1 billion to Trans App area. Created the Dept. of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. Names the first Black cabinet secretary—Robert Weaver Creates national Endowment for the arts. Great Society Congress

31. 4 landmarks of legislation Four legislative achievements at heart of Great Society: Federal Aid to Education Medicare for the Elderly/Medicaid for the Poor Immigration Reform Voting Rights Act Medicare and Medicaid provide medical insurance at governmental expense for elderly and poor Medicare and Medicaid join social security and unemployment insurance as part of social safety net. M and M based on entitlements, part of “rights” revolution, helps out millions of Americans, but hurts Federal Government’s financial health Great Society Congress

32. Abolishes quota system Doubles number of Immigrants allowed 1st time set limits on immigration from Western Hemisphere Family Unification clause Immigration and Nationality Act

33. VRA of 65 marks end of nonviolent demonstrations Focus on integrating blacks into society 5 days later Watt Riots occur in LA Watts Riot mark a new more militant phase in Civil Rights movement, now sometimes aimed at black separatism Black Power

34. New ldrs mock MLK Malcolm X- Nation of Islam, black separatism Black Panther Party (militant) forms in Oakland Stokely Carmichael begins preaching black power To some, it meant that African American should exercise new political and economic gains, speed up integration To others- separatists message, complete rejection of white culture Black Power

35. Viet Cong bombs American base in S. Vietnam Orders retaliatory bombing raids (1st time) known as Operation Rolling Thunder Felt step by step escalation of American forces would drive Viet Cong back LBJ and Communism

36. South Vietnam are guests of own war, America forces take more control, while South V. goes through corrupt governments 1968- LBJ puts another half million troops, and war budget exceeds 30 billion LBJ and Communism

37. World opinion getting worse on US Several countries expel American Peace Corps Charles De Gaulle withdraws France from NATO (66) ordered all US troops out of his country America looking bad

38. Anti war feelings increased in US Protests start on college campuses “teach-ins” Burn draft cards, head to Canada “Hey, hey LBJ, how many kids have you killed today” Domestic Problems of War

39. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations- headed by William Fulbright Televised hearings American public beginning to feel duped about causes and winability of war Domestic Problems of War

40. Defense Sec. McNamara- “we were wrong, terribly wrong” Public questioning motives, loss of American life, excessive bomb dropping LBJ uses CIA to spy on antiwar protestors, FBI uses counter intelligence (cointelpro) Despite problems, LBJ continues to slowly escalate war Domestic Problems of War

41. Tet Offensive- Viet Cong makes huge coordinated push While US pushes offensive back, Tet Offensive convince American public that LBJ’s strategy won’t work Vietnam slowly killing LBJ

42. Military leaders request 200,000 more troops 1968 Democratic Convention Eugene McCarthy Robert F. Kennedy Both threaten LBJ LBJ goes on TV, freeze troop levels, reduce bombing, and shocked everybody stating he will not run for president Vietnam slowly killing LBJ

43. Democratic Convention of 68 in Chicago Mayor Richard Daley- barb wired barricades, brings and national guards Hubert Humphrey wins, but Democratic party looks very disorganized Election of 1968

44. Republicans- Richard Nixon, appeasing to conservatives and moderates Call for a victory in Vietnam, strong anti-crime policy American Independent Party George C Wallace “Segregation now, Segregation tomorrow, Segregation forever” Election of 1968

45. Nixon and Humphrey have similar policies on VN. No real choice between the two. As a result, many sat out the election because no standard-bearer for their views. Nixon wins by half a percentage point without carrying a single major city and Both houses of Congress remain Democratic. Democrats win 95% of the black vote. Nixon wins only 43% of the vote because Wallace had siphoned off votes from both. Wallace wins 46 electoral votes from the deep south. Largest third-party electoral vote in American history. Election of 1968

46. Dies 4 years after election Biggest mover and shaker in terms of civil rights and helping poor Vietnam often overshadows domestic programs Legacy of LBJ How is it possible that all these people could be so ungrateful to me after I had given them so much? I tried to make it possible for every child of every color to grow up in a nice house, to eat a solid breakfast, to attend a decent school, and to get a good and lasting job. I asked so little in return. Just a little thanks. Just a little appreciation. That's all.-LBJ-Interview 1967