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HS A-85, “JFK and American Liberalism” Tuesday, March 6, Lecture #10. Contradictory Images of JFK: JFK as Cold Warrior not very different from Nixon vs. JFK as idealist with moral message vs. JFK as pragmatic, even ruthless politician vs. JFK as less than honest on personal grounds
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HS A-85, “JFK and American Liberalism”Tuesday, March 6, Lecture #10 • Contradictory Images of JFK: JFK as Cold Warrior not very different from Nixon vs. JFK as idealist with moral message vs. JFK as pragmatic, even ruthless politician vs. JFK as less than honest on personal grounds II. JFK as parallel to American liberalism of early 1960s—a modicum of progressive idealism along with a continued investment in traditional structures of American society: champion of Cold War and anticommunism favorable view of federal govt. faith in corporate capitalism privileging of individual over social group rights perfectability of American system without far-reaching reform, particularly in domestic arena (civil rights, women’s equality) III. Conclusion: JFK may not have advocated major alterations in American society but through his moral, idealistic visions he opened the way to deeper challenges from those more committed to fundamental change than he, ranging from LBJ to civil rights activists, New Left anti-war radicals, and feminists. Fathered social movements not on his own agenda.