John F. Kennedy and the New Frontier

1. John F. Kennedy and the New Frontier Chapter 27 Section 6 Notes 6.0

2. Objectives… • Illustrate how the New Deal continued through the Kennedy Administration… • Trace the continuing events and policies of the Cold War through the Kennedy Administration…

3. 1960 Election • R.M. Nixon v. J.F. Kennedy • Obstacles for Kennedy…. • Age • Religion • Promises… • Liberal Consensus…

4. The Debates… Kennedy Strengths V. RMN Weaknesses

6. 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 • Area Redevelopment Act for Appalachia • Manpower Retraining Act of 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. 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

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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

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

23. 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

24. 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

31. The Bay of Pigs… • Jan. 1, 1959 – Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba • Many were sympathetic… • Eisenhower and CIA • Suspicious of land reforms • Revoked U.S. aid • Castro turned to the S.U. • U.S. severed diplomatic relations

32. The Invasion? • CIA trained and armed Cuban exiles for an invasion • Kennedy inherited the plan – but decided against air force cover • CIA thought there would be a popular uprising • It was a disaster and an embarrassment to Kennedy

33. Cuban Missile Crisis… • Most serious confrontation of the Cold War • Castro fearing U.S. invasion asked for Soviet assistance • S.U. sent intermediate range nuclear missiles to Cuba • U.S. U-2 flights took pictures of missile silos – • U.S. saw this as a direct threat to American cities

38. October 22, 1962 – Kennedy addressed the nation… • Informed the nation of danger • Demanded removal of all missiles • Ordered a strict naval “quarantine” of Cuba

39. The Brink of War… • 100,000 US troops readied in Florida to invade Cuba • Oct. 26-27 Khrushchev ordered 25 Soviet ships away from Cuba – avoided confrontation • Khrushchev offered to remove missiles if U.S. agreed not to invade Cuba • Also wanted removal of American weapons in Turkey • We complied – crisis over

41. Soviet ships on the way to Cuba…

43. Outcome of the Crisis… • Khrushchev’s prestige hurt – Kennedy’s bolstered • Hot Line set up between the two countries • Limited Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty • Prohibited above ground, outer space, and underwater nuclear weapons tests • Underground testing – O.K.

44. 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

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