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Kennedy’s Presidency. Do Now. How does TV influence society today? Provide two examples of how TV could impact society. Election of 1960. John F. Kennedy (Dem.) vs. Richard Nixon (Rep.) Kennedy: 43 yrs. Old & Nixon: 47 yrs. Old Both served in WWII Kennedy born into privilege
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Do Now • How does TV influence society today? • Provide two examples of how TV could impact society.
Election of 1960 • John F. Kennedy (Dem.) vs. Richard Nixon (Rep.) • Kennedy: 43 yrs. Old & Nixon: 47 yrs. Old • Both served in WWII • Kennedy born into privilege • Nixon had to work his way up • Issues: Cold War, Civil Rights & Religion • Kennedy was Catholic
Televised Debate • 1st ever debate televised (over 70 million viewers) • Kennedy • Good looking, charming, relaxed • Nixon • Pale, exhausted, five o’ clock shadow • Advantage: Kennedy
Kennedy Wins • Final Electoral Vote Count • Kennedy: 303 • Nixon: 219 • Largest voter turnout ever in US history • “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”
New Frontier • Kennedy’s domestic policy • Focus on education, healthcare, economy & civil rights • Improve space program • Small victories in New Frontier • Social Security & minimum wage increase • Equal Pay Act: abolish pay disparity amongst sexes • Timid approach towards civil rights
Space Race • Kennedy: US & USSR competing in space • Yuri Gagarin: 1st human to orbit the earth (Soviet) • Kennedy’s goal: 1st to land on moon • 1969: Neil Armstrong lands on moon • Kennedy not alive to see event
Military & Third World Initiatives • Flexible Response • Defense policy to prepare US to fight any type of conflict • Funded Army, Navy & Army Special Forces • Peace Corps • American volunteers sent to developing nations • Alliance for Progress • Improve relations with Latin America
Cuba Under Fidel Castro • 1959: Castro overthrows Cuban government • Created radical political reforms • Took away land from citizens • Accepted aid from Soviets • Originally US wanted to work with Castro • Became unrealistic
Bay of Pigs invasion • Created under Eisenhower with the CIA • Kennedy pressured into executing the plan • Plan: Overthrow Castro • Using Cuban exiles • April 17, 1961: 1400 CIA-led exiles enter Cuba • Plan fails horribly • All but 300 are killed or captured • Kennedy takes the blame
Cuban Missile Crisis • 1962: US discovers nuclear missile sites • Created by the Soviets • Many US cities would be targets • Kennedy blames Nikita Khrushchev for reckless action • US blockades Cuba • Behind the scenes Kennedy & Khrushchev negotiated • US would remove missiles from Turkey • Soviets remove missiles from Cuba
Results • After threat of nuclear war Kennedy & Khrushchev work towards détente • Create a “hot line” between Moscow & Washington D.C. • Improve communication • Nuclear Test Ban Treaty signed • US, Soviet Union, Great Britain & 36 other nations sign • Ended aboveground nuclear testing
Berlin Crisis • 1961: Kennedy & Khrushchev meet to discuss Berlin • Meeting ends abruptly • Khrushchev responds with construction of Berlin Wall • Separates West & East Berlin • Kennedy responds by increasing military spending • Sends 1,500 troops to West Berlin
Summary • Do you think Kennedy is a good president? Why? • Think back to when we gave characteristics of what makes a good president
Kennedy’s Assassination • November 22, 1963 • Location: Dallas, Texas • Lyndon B. Johnson takes over as president (JFK’s V.P.) • Sets up Warren Commission to investigate assassination • Decision: Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone
Conspiracies • CIA • LBJ • Mafia • KGB/Russians • Castro/Cubans • FBI • Cuban Exiles • Secret Service • Vietnam • Secret Government/ “Illuminati”