The Kennedy YearsThe Kennedy YearsHow does America change during

“Camelot”?

The Television Election

• 1960 election: VP Richard Nixon vs. Sen. John F. Kennedy (issues: Nixon experienced vs JFK not experienced & Catholic)

• First debate, radio listeners think Nixon won, TV viewers say Kennedy won

• Kennedy defeats Nixon in nation’s closest election

• Eisenhower warns US public of power of military-industrial complex

http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1960

The Camelot Years

• First family captivate the nation, modern day Camelot (royalty)

• Kennedy surrounds himself bright-minded cabinet but relies most on his brother Bobby who is Attorney General

• Kennedy inauguration “ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for you country”

The New Frontier• Domestically, JFK wants to stimulate stagnant economy

• Gets Congress to lower taxes + hike min. wage = low unemployment

Peace Corps

• JFK starts volunteer program, young people sign up & travel to Asia, Africa, Lat. America to assist people

Race to the Moon

• After Soviets put first man into space, JFK challenges the nation saying we need to put a man on the moon by end of 60s

Bay of Pigs InvasionBay of Pigs Invasion• Communist Fidel Castro takes over Cuba, JFK okays an Eisenhower

Admin planned invasion of Cuba (CIA trains Cuban exiles)

• Bay of Pigs invasion fails. JFK won’t use US military to help

• Cuba asks Soviets for defensive help

• JFK demands all missiles be removed. US begins to blockade Cuba

• However, JFK and Khrushchev cut a deal to avoid a nuclear war

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

• Soviets offer nuclear missiles in Cuba, U2 spy planes photograph sites

1. Describe people, object and actions taking place in the cartoon.

 2. Explain the

symbols in the cartoon.

 3. Explain the

message of the cartoon.

Cuban Missile Crisis Political Cartoon

Flexible Response• JFK dumps MAD policy in favor of Flexible Response (US will

use different responses to communists threats not just nuclear)

Berlin Wall• Khrushchev tells E. Germans to build a wall to stop defections

• JFK sees wall as Soviets isolating W. Berlin, says we won’t let Communists knock us out of Berlin

• Showdown between two leaders leads to estb. of “Hot Line”

Kennedy & Civil Rights•1960: MLK & 33 others “sit-in” at Atlanta lunch counter, King gets 1 month hard labor, JFK asks Bobby to get judge to release MLK•1962: James Meredith wants to enroll at Ole Miss. Gov Ross Barnett refuses to let him register•JFK sends in federal troops to allow Meredith into school

•1963: JFK sends in federal troops to force Alabama Gov George Wallace to desegregate schools•1963: JFK gives speech urging Congress to pass Civil Rights Act

More “Advisors” in Vietnam• Southern communists form Vietcong who will use guerilla warfare to

fight Diem govt & US advisors

• North Vietnam begins aiding Vietcong thru a network of secret paths called the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

• JFK sends more advisors to SV but Diem’s popularity is plummeting

• Monks protest Diem’s govt, Americans can’t believe their eyes

• JFK authorizes CIA sponsored coup against Diem, Diem killed in Coup – Kennedy expressing doubts about US role in Vietnam

Tragedy in Dallas• Nov 22nd, 1963: JFK campaigning for reelection in Dallas, TX

• After passing the Texas School Book Depository, shots are fired

• Police charge a man named Lee Harvey Oswald with the crime

• Oswald claims he is a “patsy”. Next AM Oswald is shot a man w/ mafia connections named Jack Ruby

• Lots of questions about assassination – many say they heard shots from grassy knoll in front of motorcade (JFK head goes back & to left)

• Warren Commission concludes Oswald acted alone