Section 1: The New Frontier

Section 2: The Great Society

Section 3: Foreign Policy in the Early 1960s

Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing asPrentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. All rights reserved.

•1952 – 1960 Eisenhower and Nixon1952 – 1960 Eisenhower and Nixon

The Election of 1960

A New Type of Candidate

Democratic Senator John F.

Kennedy had served in the

House and Senate for 14 years when

he ran for President in 1960.

some questioned his candidacy because of his young age, 43,

and his Catholic religious beliefs.

1st Televised Presidential Debate

A Narrow Kennedy Victory• Kennedy won the 1960

election by an extremely close margin.

• Kennedy was separated from his opponent, Republican Richard Nixon, by fewer than 119,000 popular votes out of nearly 69 million cast.

•Because of the close election, Kennedy entered office without a mandate, or public endorsement

of his proposals.

Jacqueline Kennedy

Brought sense of style and sophistication to the White House

Educated in EuropeMother of two

Kennedy’s Domestic Programs

In a speech early in his presidency, Kennedy said that the nation was poised at the edge of a “New New Frontier.”Frontier.”

This phrase came to refer to Kennedy’s proposals to improve the economy, assist the poor, and speed up the space

program.

Peace Corps

Peace CorpsHelp poor around

the worldHelp resist

communism

Space ProgramFunding for the

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was increased.

In 1961 and 1962, American astronauts made initial space flights.

Race to beat the Russians to the Moon

Domestic ProgramsLack of a mandate led to the defeat of

many of his initiatives, however, he was able to initiate a variety of important programs:Surplus food to unemployed

AmericansLargest defense buildup in peacetime

historyHelp to communities plagued by long-

term unemployment

Extension of Social Security benefits

Expansion of National Park System

Signing of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Nikita KhrushchevStalin dies in 1953

1956 – “History is on our side, we will bury you”

Reduces the Soviet armed forces but accelerates missile development!

1959 - Castro takes power in Cuba

January 1, 1959 leftist forces under Fidel Castro overthrow Cuban Government

The next year, Castro seizes U.S. assets on the island.

Foreign Affairs Fidel Castro

Introduction of Communism – 90 miles from American shores!

Soviet Union is VERY pleased!

Bay of Pigs Invasion •Eisenhower approves a plan by the CIA to overthrow Castro

•In April 1961, Kennedy gives final approval for

nearly 1,800 Cuban exiles that had been training in Central

America by the CIA to invade Cuba

Chapter 22, Section 1

The Bay of Pigs Invasion proved to be both a military and diplomatic disaster.

Bay of PigsAirstrikes failed to destroy Cuba’s air force, and

Cuban troops were more than a match for the invaders.

•U.S. loses credibility

•Clumsy invasion tactics

•Violation of agreements not to

interfere in the Western

Hemisphere.

Kennedy Meets with KhrushchevKennedy Meets with KhrushchevVienna

1961

Triumph for Khrushchev

Kennedy’s poor performance during the summit may have been due to the combination of powerful medication he was taking for his back pain and other ailments.

•Khrushchev told Kennedy, "Force will be met by force. If the U.S. wants

war, that's its problem." "It's up to the U.S. to decide whether there will

be war or peace."

BerlinCauses of the Berlin CrisisAs part of the post–World War II division of

Germany, the city of Berlin in Communist East Germany had been divided into Communist and non-Communist zones.

Berlin Wall

The division of Berlin was planned as a temporary measure.

Barbed Wire led

to concrete

walls

Concrete Walls

were reinforce

d and made

permanent

1961 – Berlin WallLarge numbers of East Germans are fleeing to Large numbers of East Germans are fleeing to the Westthe WestEast Germans build a wall around West Berlin East Germans build a wall around West Berlin to stop flowto stop flow

…More Barriers are put into place

Berlin WallThe Berlin Wall came to be a

somber symbol of Cold War tensions.

The Berlin Crisis

At least 86 die in the process

Hundreds attempted

escape

JFK in Berlin

Cuban Missile Crisis Medium range missiles could reach Dallas or DC in

5 minutes Longer range missiles could reach virtually any

major U.S. city

Cuban Missile Crisis – October 14

U-2 Reconnaissance Plane

over Cuba spots installation of nuclear

Missiles

The Missiles: One Site

1962 – Cuban Missile CrisisSoviets secretly install missiles in CubaKennedy (U.S.) blockades Cuba

BRINK OF WAR!BRINK OF WAR!Khrushchev removes missilesKennedy agrees not to invade Cuba and to remove U. S. missiles from TurkeyHelped lead to Khrushchev’s downfall