The Stormy Sixties: 1960-1968

1. The Stormy Sixties: 1960-1968 Chapter 38 AP Notes

2. 1960 Election • R.M. Nixon v. J.F. Kennedy • Obstacles for Kennedy…. • Age • Religion • Promises… • Liberal Consensus…

3. The Debates… Kennedy Strengths V. RMN Weaknesses

5. What were the results of the 1960 election?

8. Camelot….

11. The Kennedy Cabinet • “The Best and the Brightest” • McGeorge Bundy – NSA • Robert McNamara – Secretary of Defense • Dean Rusk- • Sec. of State • RFK- Attorney General

12. Kennedy’s New Frontier.. • Higher minimum wage • Greater federal aid to education • Increased Social Security • Medical care for the elderly • Support for public housing • Anti-poverty measures – influenced by Michael Harrington’s The Other America

13. Successes…. • Slight increase in minimum wage • Modest expansion of Social Security • Higher Education Act 1963 • NASA…. • Commission on the Status of Women • Equal Pay Act of 1963

14. Race to the Moon • In April, 1961 the USSR put the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin • JKF increased funding to NASA, $33 billion by 1969 • Cape Canaveral and Houston Space Center were built • JFK pledged to go to the moon by the end of the 1960’s • Universities expanded science programs, new industries and technologies emerged

15. JFK and Civil Rights • At first wanted to avoid the issue – too controversial • RFK was ordered to investigate racial injustices in the South • He sent federal troops to desegregate Old Miss (James Meredith) • He sent federal marshals during the Freedom Rides • Sent a Civil Rights bill to Congress in 1963

16. Kennedy on CR? • Appointed approx. 40 African Americans to high federal positions • Thurgood Marshall apptd. to federal appellate court • Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity – fight discrimination in federal civil service and in corporations with government contracts • Invigorate CR division of Dept. of Justice

17. Failures…. • Over 300 bills sent to Congress – less than 50% passed • Congress rejected federal aid for : • Medical care for the elderly, education, cities, and mass transportation • Reasons? Close election – Kennedy doesn’t have a mandate and opposition from southern democrats and conservative republicans

18. JFK’s Domestic Legacy? • Strengthened executive branch • White House staff appointed by the President made many key decisions…

19. Kennedy’s Foreign Policy? • Shifted from aggressive containment to efforts at easing tensions • At first built up nuclear and conventional weapons • Increased defense budget • Created elite force – Special Forces – Green Berets to supplement CIA covert operations

20. Peace Corps • Young volunteers • Sent to third world nations for 2 years • Provide technical support and educational assistance • Epitomized Kennedy’s ideal of service by idealistic youth

21. Peace Corps – 35,000 volunteers in 60 nations Alliance for Progress – offered economic and technical assistance to Latin American countries ($20 billion in aid) – A Marshall Plan for Latin America

22. Kennedy and Vietnam… • Pursued containment • Supported the Diem against southern Vietnamese insurgents – Vietcong • Sent Green Berets and military advisors • 1963 sent 16,000 support and combat troops to support Diem • Diem’s regime corrupt – failed to win support of the people

23. Buddhist monk burning himself to death in protest over Diem’s repressive regime.

24. Kennedy and Vietnam… • South Vietnamese army continued to disintegrate • 1963 with knowledge of the CIA – a group of Vietnamese generals assassinated Diem and his top advisers • South Vietnam will be ruled by a series of generals for the duration of the war

25. Berlin Wall? • 1961 – JFK met with Khrushchev in Vienna to discuss the future of Germany • Khrushchev wanted a permanent division and to force U.S. out of W. Berlin • 3 million East Germans had fled to W. Berlin since end of WWII • Kennedy tried to stand up to him – asked Congress for increased defense funding • Soviets built the wall

27. The Assassination of JFK… • Dallas, Texas – November 22, 1963 • Accused killer – Lee Harvey Oswald • Two days later – Oswald shot and killed on national T.V. by Jack Ruby • Chief Justice Earl Warren appointed to head a commission to investigate the killing – Warren Commission said Oswald was the lone gunman

28. The Kennedy’s Arrive in Dallas LBJ, Jackie Kennedy, and JFK

35. LBJ and The Great Society

36. What was LBJ’s path to power? • From Texas • 1937 – New Deal Congressman • FDR helped him secure key committee assignments • 1948 – Senator from Texas • 1955 Senate majority leader

37. LBJ’s path to power… • Master politician – very persuasive • Knew how to handle Congress to secure passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 • Chosen by Kennedy family to be Vice President….. • Given the Oath of Office aboard Air Force One….

38. How did Johnson complete Kennedy’s agenda? • Kennedy was the inspiration to solve world and national problems • Johnson – got the job done • Tax cut bill • Civil rights bill

39. Tax Cut • February 1964 tax reduction of over $10 billion passed into law • Spurred economic growth…. • People spent more • More profit for business • Increased tax revenues • Lowered deficit from $6 billion to 4 billion • It worked!!!!

40. What was LBJ’s role on Civil Rights? • After Kennedy shot – Johnson pledged to carry on his work • Used his political skill to see that Kennedy’s bill was passed • Passed in the House – filibustered in Senate • Johnson ended filibuster and Kennedy’s bill became the Civil Rights Act of 1964

41. Civil Rights Act of 1964 • Prohibited discrimination because of race, religion, national origin, and gender • Gave all citizens the right to enter libraries, parks, washrooms, restaurants, theaters and all public places • Gave government more power to desegregate and created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

42. Violence in northern cities? • Centuries of de facto segregation had produced social and economic inequalities • Slums, high unemployment, poor schools all contributed to desperation • Aggressive Police was a point of contention • In July 1964, a race riot erupted in Harlem after a 15 year old black student was killed • On Aug. 11th, 1965 the worst riot erupted in Watts, Los Angeles

43. Watts- 34 deaths, $200 million in damages • Detroit 1967 – 43 deaths, $40 million in property damages • In 1966 and 67 more than 100 riots and violent clashes took place • Newark, San Francisco, Milwaukee, Phila., Cleveland, and Dayton

44. Detroit

45. What caused race riots and the destruction? • Heightened expectations from the civil rights movement and LBJ’s promises in the Great Society that were not realized • “White Racism”  poverty, police brutality • The Kerner Commission recommended extensive public housing, integrated schools, 2 million new jobs, and a national system of income supplementation

46. Malcolm X and Black Consciousness • Malcolm Little joined The Nation of Islam when he was in prison and changed his name to Malcolm X • Preached Elijah Muhammad’s views that whites were the cause of the problem and black should separate from society • Preached black supremacy • Received media attention which resulted in resentment from other Nation of Islam members

47. In March of 1964 - broke with the Nation and went on the pilgrimage to Mecca • Malcolm X returned and preached an extremely moderate message, found a new tolerant Muslim organization and proposed working with Dr. MLK • On Feb. 21, 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated by members of the Nation of Islam

48. What was Johnson’s agenda? • War on Poverty • Create a Great Society • Economic Opportunity Act - 1964 • Job Corps Youth Training Program • VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) • Project Head Start • Community Action Program – encouraged poor people to participate in public works programs

49. Job Corps – Johnson visits

50. Project Head Start