JFK’s Domestic Agenda

1. JFK’s Domestic Agenda His Thousand Days – 19.2

2. Welcome to “Camelot” Theodore White of Life magazine wrote essay that associated Camelot with the 1000-day presidency of JFK. He said Camelot represented, “a magic moment in American history, when gallant men danced with beautiful women, when great deeds were done, when artists, writers, and poets met at the White House, and the barbarians beyond the walls held back.”

3. The Dark Side of Camelot (or if you read Malory, Camelot proper) • Women – “dated” an East German spy, Marilyn Monroe, a mob boss’s girl (and other actresses)… • Drug Habit – pain killers from Addison’s Disease

4. Domestic Policy • The New Frontier • JFK platform to address the economy, education, healthcare, and civil rights • Inspired by Michael Harrington’s The Other America • Keynesian Methods – 1960s economy was sluggish • Middle-Class tax cuts/Upper-Class tax raise – tax revenues actually raise after the cuts • Increase military spending • Tax credits for businesses • High deficit spending • War on Poverty – increases size of welfare state

5. Presidential Commission on the Status of Women • Called to see the effects of poverty and discrimination on women • Led to the Equal Pay Act of 1963 • Fails • 1st step for the Civil Rights Act of 1964

6. Civil Rights • Unsure at first, not wanting to offend Southern Democrats • 1963 – introduced limited legislation to aid desegregation and further voting rights • Was prepping for 1964 act when he was killed

7. Space…the Final Frontier • Late 50s – looks like the Russians are winning • Sputnik (1957) • Laika (1957) • Yuri Gagarin (1961) - first human in outerspace • Flew in the Vostok spacecraft • Completed one orbit around the earth before (successfully) returning • ValentinaTereshokova (1963) – first woman in space

8. The Mercury Seven • From 1961 – 1964 Nasa’s budget increased 500% • Seven test pilots were chosen to pilot the Mercury missions from May 1961 to May 1963

9. …these are the voyages of the starship Enterprise • 5 May 1961 – Alan Shepard becomes the second person in space • JFK commits to a moon landing by 1970 • 1967 fire makes it seem impossible • July 1969 – Apollo 11

10. Kennedy announces Moon Goal “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth.”

11. John Glenn • February 1962 - First American to orbit Earth • Orbited 3 times • Friendship 7 was his ship • Also from Ohio…Cambridge to be precise

12. It always affects culture… 8 Sept 1966 – first episode of Star Trek, “The Man Trap” aired

13. Tragedy Strikes • Apollo 1 – Virgil Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee burned to death on launch pad while running a flight simulation

14. Saturn V Rocket • 1967 – key to the moon program • Multi-stage solid fuel • Designed by Wernher von Braun • Used from Apollo 4 on

15. Apollo 11 – 20 July 1969 • Columbia (command module) orbits with Michael Collins • “The Eagle has Landed” with Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong • “One small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind”

18. The Assassination

19. Dallas – 22 November 1963 • President John F. Kennedy • First Lady Jackie Kennedy • Texas Gov. John Connally • First Lady of Texas Nellie Connally

20. Dealey Plaza – the fatal backdrop

21. The Lone Assassin • Lee Harvey Oswald • Former Marine • Communist sympathizer

22. Oswald Shot by Jack Ruby

23. A New President

24. Funeral for a President

25. Warren Commission • Created to investigate the assassination • 10 month investigation • Was it a conspiracy? • Said Oswald and Ruby acted alone • Many still believe it is a conspiracy to this day

26. The (Abraham) Zapruder Film

27. Possible Culprits • The CIA • The FBI • Lyndon Johnson • The Mafia • Cuban Exiles • The USSR • The Federal Reserve • Lee Harvey Oswald