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The Liberal Era

The Liberal Era. Chapter 28 & 29. The Kennedy Presidency 1960-1963. Personified self-confident liberal Believed activist state could improve life at home and confront the communist challenged abroad From a wealthy, political family Served in WWII, Navy Served in Congress, Senate 1958

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The Liberal Era

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  1. The Liberal Era Chapter 28 & 29

  2. The Kennedy Presidency 1960-1963 • Personified self-confident liberal • Believed activist state could improve life at home and confront the communist challenged abroad • From a wealthy, political family • Served in WWII, Navy • Served in Congress, Senate 1958 • Believed in “The New Frontier”

  3. 1960 Election • Televised debates • Downfall of Nixon • Pale and haggard vs. the tanned and dynamic JFK • Election • Closest since 1884 • Only separated by 120,000 votes • Inauguration • “New Frontier” • Surrounded himself with intellectuals • JFK • Benefitted from recession • VP Southern Protestant Lyndon B. Johnson • Religion an issue • Nixon • Better known • More experience • Middle road Republican • Eisenhower’s VP

  4. Kennedy’s Domestic Record • Little significant social legislation • New liberalism held back by Congress • Economic growth key to liberal agenda • Accomplishments • Increased nuclear stockpile • Increased defense budget • Established Green Berets • “race to moon” • Federal aid to education • Medical care to elderly • Urban renewal • Clean Air Act 1963 • Civil Rights • Lot of rhetoric = little action • Focus on foreign affairs, then economy • Straddled race issue • Balanced unprecedented # of African-Americans to federal jobs with appointment of racist judges • Kennedy “forced” to enforce desegregation of buses only after “Freedom Ride” of 1961 • “forced” again to deal with issue after Birmingham embarrassment June 1963 • Women • Established Presidential Commission of status of Women

  5. Kennedy’s Foreign Policy • Cold War Activism • Launched a major buildup with military arsenal • Foreign policy top priority • Congressional for liberal programs of economic assistance for third world • 1961 Peace Corps • Missionaries of Democracy • Laos • Created by Geneva agreement 1954 • Civil war b/w US forces and Laos rebels • Compromise in July 1962 • Restored neutralist government • Cuba • Spring 1961: Bay of Pigs • 1st major foreign policy • 1500 exiles stormed Cuba • DISASTER • JFK takes blame • Brink of Cold War • Oct. 1962 • Aerial photographs of missile bases in Cuba • Kennedy’s Response • Remove missiles • “quarantine” Cuba • Naval blockade • Tense movements • 180 US ships in Caribbean • “I think the other fellow just blinked” • Missiles out if US doesn’t invade Cuba • Darkest Hour • Russia changes and adds Turkey • US spy plane shot down over Cuba • Compromise • October 27, 1962 • Original offer accepted • “Hot-line” established • Signaled “détente” • New phase in Cold War

  6. The Thousand Day Presidency • JFK Assassination • Nov. 22, 1963 • Dallas, TX • Legacy • New Frontier, Liberalism • “held back” by Congress • Barely existed for environment, women, or slowing business • Mixed International Record • Signed 1st nuclear-test-ban treaty, yet initiated build up • Compromised on Laos, but deepened Vietnam involvement • Increased power of executive branch • Publicly • Fired imagination of Americans • Gave liberals new hope • Challenged young • Stimulated social and political activism • Consequences • Assassination shattered illusions • Increasing # of Americans to lose confidence in government

  7. Liberalism Ascendant, 1963-1968 • Lyndon B. Johnson • Substantial political assets • Served in Washington since 1932 • Lots of political experience • Determined to prove himself • LBJ’s Liberalism • Tax Cut • $10 billion tax reduction • Surge in capital investment and personal consumption • Shrank the budget deficit • Civil Rights • Memorial to JFK • “The Other America” • Economic Opportunity Act 1964 • War on Poverty • Job Corps • Domestic peace corps • VISTA • Volunteers in Service to America • Project Head Start • Community Action Program • Vision of a “Great Society” • Horrified conservatives • Will lead into Election of 1964

  8. 1964 Election • Republicans • Barry Goldwater • Product of 20th century West • Outsider of Washington • Anticommunist • Proponent of individual freedom • Platform • Opposed big government • Deficit spending • Racial liberalism • Social welfare • Opposed liberalism • Wanted to use Nucs with Cuba and Vietnam • Support • Southern segregationists • Blue-collar workers in Northern cities • LBJ • VP: Hubert Humphrey • Depicted Goldwater as an extremist • Election • 43 million votes to 27 million • Landslide victory • Consequences • Goldwater launches modern Republican conservative movement • GOP became conservative, Southern and Western party • Mobilized support for future leaders like Ronald Reagan • New “Southern Strategy”

  9. Triumphant Liberalism • 89th Congress • “Congress of fulfillment” • Enlarged war on poverty • Milestone Civil Rights • Enacted Medicare and Medicaid • Funds for public education, housing, redevelopment of Appalachia, and revitalizing inner-city neighborhoods • Created new departments • Transportation • Housing • Endowment for Humanities • New immigration law • Abolishes Nat’l Origin Act 1924 • Environment • 1964 Nat’l Wilderness Preservation Act • Safety standards • Highway Safety Act • Results • Improved lives of millions • Poor down from 22% to 13% by 1969 • IMR down by 1/3 • Head start reaches 2 million children • African-American poverty down from 40%-20% • Critics • MLK Jr. • “War on Poverty shot down over the battlefields of Vietnam” • 22% more spent on War than poverty • Election 1956 • Democrats lost 47 seats in House • Sealed Liberalism’s fate

  10. Civil Rights Act 1964 • Most significant C.R. legislation in US history • What it does: • Banned racial discrimination and segregation • Outlawed bias in federally funded programs • Created EEOC • What it doesn’t: • Address voting rights • CORE, SNCC • Campaign to register African-Americans • “Freedom Summer” 1964 • Voting Rights Bill passed August 1964 • Only after George Wallace violence • “we shall overcome”

  11. Riots and Black Power • Civil rights movement did not revolutionize race relations • August 11, 1965 • Watts, LA • 6 days • 34 dead, 900 injured • 4000 arrested • Looting, fire-bombing white shops • Summer 1966 • Riots in Northern ghettoes • Response to brutal police • Summer 1967 • 150 racial skirmishes, 40 riots • Most intensive and destructive period in US history • 1964-1968 • 200 dead, 7000 injured • 40.000 arrested • $500 million in damage • Rise of new leaders • “too little, too late” • 1966 “Black Power” • Malcolm X • “wake up, clean up, and stand up” • Be proud of blackness, roots • Critical of MLK Jr. • “If ballots won’t work, bullets will” • Assassinated Feb. 1965 • Cassius Clay • Converted to Islam 1964 • Muhammad Ali • Draft evasion • Black Panthers • Founded Oakland, Cali 1966 • Huey Newton, Bobby Seale • “strike at night, spare no one” • Significant influence • Black studies at colleges • Community groups • Black voters, candidates • Encourage black pride

  12. Warren Court of the 1960’s • Supported and promoted liberal agenda • Acted to expand individual rights to a greater extent • Johnson appoints 1st African-American justice: Thurgood Marshall • Major rulings: • Prohibiting bible and prayer in school • Limiting local power to censor books and films • Overturned state ban on contraceptives • One person, one vote • Rights of the accused • Criticism: • Miranda v. Arizona 1966

  13. Voices of Protest • Native American Protest • 1961 • 67 tribes created Declaration of Purposes • Criticized termination policies • Lobbied for inclusion with war on poverty • Johnson established National Council on Indian Opportunity 1965 • 1968 • “Red Power” • Younger movement • American Indian Movement • Most militant • Goal to protect way of life • Hispanic-American • Fastest-growing minority • Impatient • Cesar Chavez 1965 • “La Causa” • Chicano/Chicana movement • Boycotts to demand bilingual classes, more Latino teachers • Spread to other minorities • 2nd Feminist Wave • Urged 1964 Civil Rights Act to include gender discrimination too • 1966 NOW (Nat’l Org. of Women) • Betty Freidan, Aileen Hernandez • Sought liberal change • “Feminine Mystique” 1963 • Women wanted careers, identity • Anti-Vietnam • Mary King, Casey Hayden 1965 • Starts Women’s Liberation Movement • Women’s Liberation • Groups spread across nation • Generated publicity • Miss American “sheep” 1968 • Boston Marathon • “The Pill” 1960 • Worked for • Daycare centers, rape crisis, abortion counseling • Rejected notion of women as passive • August 1970 • Largest women’s rights movement

  14. Escalation of War • 1963 • Before JFK’s death, authorized overthrow of Diem in S. Vietnam • Increased US forces to 16,000 • Johnson’s decision • Torn, widened limited war • Ordered air strikes Feb. 1964 • Authorized escalation • Gulf of Tonkin Aug. 1964 • US “victims” of open aggression on the high seas • Condemned attacks, ordered more air strikes • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • Operation “Rolling Thunder” • 1965 • Bombing, air war • 1965-1968 = 800 tons of bombs dropped a DAY • Committed more troops • “meat-grinder” strategy • Doves vs. Hawks • Opposition to war started at colleges March 1965 • Univ. of Michigan • 1966 large-scale protests • Intellectuals, clergy joined • Bobbie Kennedy, Dr. Benjamin Spock, MLK Jr. • War’s toll on the poor • College deferments benefitted wealth • TV coverage • Eroded support • Many left undecided though

  15. A Time of Upheaval • Youth Movement • Starts with JFK • More than ½ population of 1960’s under 30 years old • Conflict between baby boomers and youth • A “New” Left • Insurgent majority of liberal arts majors • Welcomed idealism of civil-rights movement • Determined not to be “silent” • Port Huron Statement 1962 • SDS: Students for a Democratic Society • Wanted non-violent movement • Turn US into a participatory democracy • Protest to Resistance • Mario Savio • Home from Freedom Summer • Univ. of Cali-Berkley • Banned political activity • Started Berkley Free Speech Movement (FSM) • Spread across country • New demands • Smaller classes, more minorities • Vietnam influence • “Make Love, Not War” • SDS, Vietnam Vets. Against the War • 40,000 students, 100 campuses • College Massacres • Kent State- April 30, 1970 • Jackson State- May 14, 1970

  16. Counter-Culture • Hippies and Drugs • Marijuana • 60% of college students tried • No real “evidence” against it • LSD • Timothy Leary, Ken Kesey • Films • “Hair” 1967 • “Alice’s Restaurant” 1969 • Music • Jim Morrison “the Doors” • Jefferson Airplane • Revolt • Surplus military clothing • Torn jeans, tie-dyed shirts • Music Revolution • 1960’s College Folk • Bob Dylan • Beatlemania • Woodstock 1969 • End of the movement • NY, San Fran • Charles Manson • Stones concert at Almont Raceway • 1970 Beatles disbanded • Sexual Revolution • “if it feels good, do it” • “the pill” debate • 1970 1/3 fetuses aborted • Roe v. Wade (1973) • Publications • Playboy • Gore Vidal’s “Myra Breckenridge” 1969 • Films • “Easy Rider” • “Midnight Cowboy” • Divorce rate increased • Cohabitation increased • “open marriages” • Gay Liberation • Public June 1969 • Raid on a gay bar in NY • “gay pride” • Supported mainly in cities • Change stigmas • American Psychiatric Association • Not a “mental disorder” • 1975 US Civil Service Commission ended ban on employment

  17. 1968: Politics of Upheaval • Tet Offensive in Vietnam • Jan 1968 • Dem. Eugene McCarthy • Jan 31, 1968 • N. Vietnamese attack 100+ villages and US embassy • Media Reaction • LBJ loss of support • Shaken President • McCarthy gaining steam • Robert Kennedy joins race • Supported by working-class ethnic whites, poor, and minorities • LBJ not seeking re-election • Assassinations and Turmoil • April 4, 1968: MLK Jr. • June 5, 1968: Robert Kennedy • GOP Nominee Richard Nixon • Promised to end war honorably • Voice of Americans • Anti-protests • 1968 Democratic Convention • Threat of “yippies” • “The whole world is watching” • Chicago police brutality • Conservative resurgence • Nixon capitalized on Chicago • Only real threat Independent George Wallace • Represented the South • 1968 Election ends Liberal Era

  18. Nixon and World Politics • Vietnamization • Nixon Doctrine 1969 • US role “helpful partner” not military protector in 3rd world • Vietnam a MESS • Morale, drugs, murder • My Lai massacre 1968 • Vietnamization • More S. Vietnamese troops • 1972 down to 30,000 US troops • Kissinger sent to negotiate • Nixon’s War • Secret B-52 bombings on Cambodia • Widened Indochina War • America’s longest war ends • 1972 “peace at hand” • Snag with demands • Christmas bombing of Hanoi • Paris Accords Jan 1973 • Ended hostilities • Left situation unresolved • Results • 58,000 dead • 300,000 wounded • $150 billion • Psychological effects • “Put Vietnam behind us” • US could care less about Indochina • Détente • 1970 “three-dimensional” game • 1972- China • 1972- Moscow • Strategic Arms Limitation Talks

  19. Politics • Middle East • 6 day war 1967 • PLO • October 1973 • Egypt/Syria attacked Israel • US sends supplies to Israel • Results in oil embargo • Dramatized US reliance on foreign energy sources • Alaska drilling increased • Kissinger's Shuttle Diplomacy • Middle East • Aiding anti-democratic governments and white supremacist regimes against communism • Chile 1970 • US involvement • Recognizes dictator 1973

  20. Nixon’s Domestic Agenda • July 21, 1969 • “The Eagle has landed” • Apollo 11 • Nation’s hopes restored • Accomplishments • Wage and price controls • Affirmative action policies • Vote for 18 year-olds • OSHA • EPA • Despite not having a GOP majority in EITHER house of Congress • Critics • Government too intrusive • Family Assistance Plan 1969 • Race-conscious employment regulations • Economy • $25 billion deficit in 1969 • Inflation at 5% • Cut gov’t spending • Fed raised interest rates • Resulted in recession • Different approaches • Early 1971- Keynesian approach • Mid-1971- “Freeze” approach • 1973- voluntary restraints • Inflation up 9%, 12% in 1974 • OPEC • Law and Order • Used full gov’t resources to restrain militants • Huston Plan 1970 • Against anti-war movement • Wire-tapping • “The plumbers”

  21. Election 1972 • Southern Strategy • Court whites upset with racial equality • Opposed extension of Voting Rights Act • Hindered Fair Housing Act • Slow desegregation • Supreme court nominations • More conservative • Nominated Chief Justice Warren Berger • Shift to the right • Election • Re-election certain • Democrats divided • Wallace shot May 1972 • Democratic Nominee • George McGovern • CREEP • Results • Nixon Wins • Less people vote • Watergate • Arrest of individuals caught wire-tapping Democratic party center • Paid $400,000 to quiet before election • “Deep Throat” • Bob Woodward/ Carl Bernstein • Feb. 1973 • Senate investigation • Firings/resignations • televised • Disgrace • VP Agnew charged with tax evasion Oct. 1973 • House minority leader Gerald R. Ford becomes VP • March ’74 • Nixon tapes subpoenaed • July unedited tapes appear • Indicted on 3 articles of Impeachment • Aug 9, 1974 1st president to resign

  22. Conclusion • Public distrust of politicians and disillusionment of government for decades to come

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