The Kennedy-Nixon Debate: Election of 1960 and Key Policies

1. Chapter 15 The Kennedy and Johnson Years

2. Similarities… • Both Nixon and JFK were born in the 20th century • Both had served in the Navy in WWII • Both had served in Congress & Senate • Both were passionate about foreign affairs and supported the Cold War fight against the Communists • Both were young, energetic, intelligent and hard-working

3. Differences… • JFK was born into wealth, attended Harvard, and was Catholic • Nixon had not been born into a wealthy family with many political connections, had to work and go to school at the same time to help support his family. • Nixon was respected by many for his time as VP under Eisenhower

4. Kennedy v. Nixon….. • Sept 26, 1960 – first televised national debate – John Fitzgerald Kennedy (D) v. Richard M. Nixon (R) • JFK looked polished and relaxed – Nixon looked old and tired – he had just been released from the hospital from a knee infection and had campaigned hard • JFK had hired people to help him with hair, makeup and clothes • Those who had listened on the radio believed that Nixon had won – it was all about appearance for TV watchers • 4 debates took place and had a major impact on the outcome of the election

6. Election of 1960…. • JFK – Former US Representative and Senator – only 43 years old, many questioned whether he had the experience needed to be President • He was also Roman Catholic – no President before him had been a Catholic • JFK put an end to the religion issue when he easily won the primary in Protestant West Virginia - he campaigned hard after that with promises to spur the sluggish economy

7. The GNP was sluggish and there had been several recessions • MLK had been arrested and JFK helped him out of jail – gained the AA vote • JFK won narrowly – 303 to 219 electoral votes but only 120,000 popular votes out of 34 million votes cast – Illinois or Texas could have changed the outcome completely – largest voter turn out ever • JFK took office without a mandate • W/O the mandate of the people – he would have a difficult time pushing his controversial measures through Congress

8. In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shirk from this responsibility - I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it -- and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.

9. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy…. • Jackie – JFK’s wife young, attractive, enthusiastic

10. Camelot… • Administration was filled with idealism, youth, and energy was nicknamed Camelot – legendary kingdom of King Arthur • King Arthur dreams of a country from which “Might makes Right” turns into a country that uses power to achieve right

11. Peace Corps… • Established in 1961 – program would send volunteers abroad as educators, health workers, and technicians to help developing third world countries around the world • JFK felt that if a country was economically and politically stable – it would not succumb to Communism

12. The Alliance for Progress… • Set up in 1961 to encourage developing countries to ally themselves with democratic nations • JFK wanted to help countries in Latin America to avoid Communism – the best way to help was to set up modern transportation and communication systems as well as stable governments • People questioned what the real motive was behind this program…

13. Cuba… • Cuba – 90 miles off of the US coast • Fidel Castro had overthrown US backed dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959 • Cubans supported Castro because he had sworn to help the poor • Castro said that the people were being used by wealthy Cubans and American companies operating in Cuba • Today – Raul Castro – brother of Fidel – is the Dictator of Cuba

15. Castro took control of all private property including businesses owned by American companies • US broke diplomatic ties with Cuba and refused to accept Castro as the legitimate leader of Cuba • Castro started diplomatic relations with the USSR – the US began to worry that Cuba would be a model for revolutionary unrest in Latin America

16. When JFK became President – he learned of a plan that former Pres. Eisenhower had put together – the CIA was training opponents of Castro in Guatemala. At the end of the training – they planned to invade Cuba and overthrow Castro with the help of the Cuban people • JFK pushed ahead with the plan • April 17, 1961 - Bay of Pigs Invasion

17. Bay of Pigs invasion… • Total disaster…an air strike failed to destroy Cuba’s air power • Castro’s troops were able to stop the US backed troops from coming ashore • Advisers urged JFK to provide air cover for the 1500 Cuban soldiers – he refused • It was a total defeat

18. The invasion was clumsy and poorly executed • The world learned of the US’s plan to overthrow another countries leader • Other Latin American countries were angered that the US was getting involved in Western Hemisphere politics • European leaders who had been hopeful when JFK took office were now concerned about the decision he made

19. The Berlin Crisis… • JFK upset by the Cuba failure – is now even more determined to fight Communism • Germany - divided in 4 zones – after WWII – should have been temporary – 3 zones combined – western regions became West Germany – Soviet zone became East Germany

20. Berlin was also divided into 4 zones – Truman’s airlift had kept the city supplied during the Soviets blockade • The Soviets demanded a peace treaty with the other countries in order to permanently divide the city – then they could control the large number of East Germans who were escaping through Berlin to West Germany • JFK feared that this was a Soviet effort to take over other European countries • Khruschev & JFK met in Vienna in 1961 – it went poorly – JFK felt bullied by Khruschev • JFK asked Congress for $3 billion for defense

21. He doubled the # of draftees and called up the reserves for active duty • Sought $200 million to build fall-out shelters in the US – the US needed to be prepared in case of nuclear war • Kennedy spoke to the American people via the TV – explaining the situation in Berlin and that it may come down to a fight… • The Soviets responded by building a wall in Berlin – tensions eased but did not go away.

23. 3.5 million people defected from East Berlin – prior to the building of the wall – 600 would die/be killed escaping to the west. 15 feet tall – 103 miles long.

25. The Cuban Missile Crisis… • After the failed Bay of Pigs invasion - the Soviets vowed to aid Cuba • Oct. 16, 1962 pictures taken from a U2 spy plane showed that the Soviets were building missile bases in Cuba – only 90 miles from the US • JFK was convinced that these new missiles posed an immediate threat from the Russians – even though the Soviets already had missiles in their own country that could reach the US

26. JFK called together his advisors and held several secret meetings • Bobby Kennedy – US Attorney General advised against an air strike to blow up the bases in Cuba – saying that it was too much like Pearl Harbor • Kennedy ordered the US military on full alert – bombers and missiles were armed with nuclear weapons – the Naval fleet was ready to move – soldiers were prepared to invade Cuba at a moments notice

27. Nuclear warheads from both the US and USSR were pointed at each other • Kennedy goes on TV to tell the people what is happening – he demands that the Soviets remove their missiles from Cuba – stating that the US would not back down from a nuclear war – then he announces a naval quarantine (not blockade – act of war) around Cuba to keep the Soviets from bringing more nuclear missiles to Cuba

28. For two days – the US and USSR stood eye to eye waiting for the other to blink… • Soviet ships carrying missiles to Cuba got closer as the US enforced their quarantine • At the last moment the Soviet ships turned away from Cuba and headed back to the USSR – work on the missile bases still continued in Cuba • Khrushchev sent a long letter to JFK – if Kennedy promised to stay out of Cuban affairs and end the quarantine – Khrushchev would remove all missiles and bases from Cuba

30. In a “next day” second letter – if the US removed its missiles from Turkey as well– the Soviets would remove its missiles from Cuba • The US complied with the request in the first letter and ignored the second letter completely • Kennedy emerged from the confrontation as a hero in the eyes of many – he stood up to the Soviets and showed the world that the US would not be pushed around • It earned the Democratic party a much needed boost just before the mid-term elections

31. Efforts to Reduce Nuclear Risk… • A “hot line” was set up between the US and USSR for immediate talks if future issues arose • Limited Test Ban Treaty was signed – banned all nuclear testing above ground – eliminating nuclear fall out that could contaminate the planet • Underground testing was still permissible and bombs were getting bigger • However – it was a good first step in the right direction.

32. New Frontier…. • Improve the economy, help the poor, end racial discrimination and breath life back into the space program – JFK’s goals called the “New Frontier”

33. Kennedy Style… • Charisma, fashion sense, quick and easy smile, and a sense of humor – energetic (but suffered from back pain) • Surrounded himself with distinguished men - best and brightest – Robert McNamara (Ford) for Sec. of Defense, Dean Rusk (Rockefeller) for Sec. of State, Arthur Schlesinger (Pulitzer Prize) for White House Spokesperson

34. Poverty and Inequality… • Wanted to help the poor by stimulating the economy • The Other America – written by Michael Harrington – showed that while many Americans did enjoy the prosperity of the 1950s – 1/5 of the population was living below the poverty line • JFK began to think that direct aid was the only solution to help the poor in the US

35. Most of JFK attempts at aid to the poor or elderly were ended by Congress • He did succeed in raising the minimum wage ($1.00 to $1.25) and passing the Housing Act of 1961 – gave $4.9 billion for urban renewal • Twenty Fourth was passed and went to the states for ratification –outlaw poll tax (to keep poor AAs from voting in 5 southern states)

36. Women’s Rights… • JFK set up a panel to study how poverty and discrimination affected women – especially the inequality in pay • Equal Pay Act of 1963 – Required equal wages for equal work • Had huge loop holes but was a big first step in ending sex discrimination • 1964 Congress would add “race, color, religion, national origin and sex”

37. The Economy… • 1962 – US Steel announced that it was raising the price of steel $6/ton – other companies did the same • JFK called it unjustifiable and ordered an investigation into possible price-fixing • Steel producers backed down but were very angry – stock market fell in the steepest drop since the 1929 crash

38. JFK wanted to cut taxes – 13.5 billion in 3 years – would reduce gov’t income and create a deficit at first • He believed that the extra cash in the peoples wallets would stimulate the economy and would bring added tax revenues • Congress was against this proposal and stalled the measure in committee

39. JFK believed that deficit spending – borrowing money to spend more than is received in tax revenues - this would stimulate the economy • He was successful in jump starting tremendous economic growth in the late 1960s

40. Civil Rights… • JFK cautiously worked on Civil Rights • He did not have a mandate and did not want to anger conservative white southern members of Congress • JFK remained cautious during the Freedom Rides and battles in Birmingham • 1963 – he introduced a Civil rights bill that demanded persecution for voting rights violations and aid for school desegregation

41. The Space Program… • NASA was working to place a manned spacecraft in orbit around the earth • 7 pilots were chosen to train as astronauts for the Mercury program • Space task force wanted the program to go for exploratory missions w/o human crews

42. Space Race…. • April 1961 - USSR – Yuri Gagarin became the 1st human to orbit the earth on the Soviet Vostok • May 1961 – Alan Shepard in the Freedom 7 space capsule made a 15 minute suborbital flight at an altitude of 115 miles – not the same as the Russians but enough to convince JFK to go on with the program • Feb. 1962 – John Glenn in the Friendship 7 space capsule successfully orbited the earth 3x and then landed in the Atlantic Ocean near the Bahamas

43. 1967 – Astronauts Grissom, Chaffee and White died in the Apollo 1 during a routine test before take off • July 1969 – Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to walk on the moon (Columbia)

44. Assassination….. • Nov. 22, 1963 – Dallas, TX – traveling in a motorcade with TX Gov. John Connally and his wife Nelly and the First Lady – JFK was looking to his reelection the following year – campaigning for votes • Riding in an open limousine – shots rang out – bullets hit both JFK and the Governor – Connally was wounded but the President was pronounced dead at the hospital

45. Lee Harvey Oswald was apprehended and charged with the murder – as he was being moved to a different jail – Jack Ruby shot Oswald • JFK was buried at Arlington Nat’l Cemetery – an eternal flame marks his burial site • Lyndon B Johnson was sworn in as President on board Air Force One 90 minutes after JFK was pronounced dead

46. Warren Commission… • LBJ appointed Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren to investigate the assassination • Less than a year later – the report was released – there was no evidence found that indicated a conspiracy and it was believed that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone

48. Let Us Continue… • Words spoken by LBJ his first few days as President – letting the nation know that things would not change – that he was going to pursue those same goals that JFK had set in place • LBJ was a Representative and a Senator prior to VP and then President – He was not happy as VP because he was used to all of the action as a Congressman – and then JFK was shot and everything changed

49. Great Society…. • Swift passage of JFK’s civil rights bills and tax-cut bills took place in Congress to help in the healing process of the nation • LBJ pushed on with aid for public education and medical care for the elderly as well as trying to eliminate poverty • He started using the phrase the Great Society to describe his goals

50. Civil Rights Act of 1964… • Outlawed discrimination in voting, education and public accommodations • It demanded an end to discrimination in hospitals, restaurants, theaters, and other places open to the public • Started the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to fight hiring discrimination against AA and MA • Title VII prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex