19.3

Bell RingerBell Ringer

Who would want to kill Kennedy?

The Assassination of JFKThe Assassination of JFK

The Facts

Where?◦Dallas Texas

When?◦November 22, 1963

Why was Kennedy in Texas?◦Campaigning for the 1964 Presidential Election

Who?◦Lead suspect, Lee Harvey Oswald

Dealey PlazaDealey Plaza

3 Shots3 Shots

Shot 1◦Missed according to

testimony of James Tague

Shot 2◦Magic?

Shot 3◦Kennedy Headshot

After the AssassinationPolice discover

◦ Sniper’s nest◦ 3 shell casings◦ Italian made rifle

Officer J.D. Tippit killed trying to arrest a man who resembled the assassin’s description

Police track Tippit’s killer to a movie theater where he is arrested

Killer is Lee Harvey Oswald

The Lone Gunman: Lee Harvey The Lone Gunman: Lee Harvey OswaldOswald

Mental Capacity◦ Schoolmates and fellow

marines called him unstable◦ 2 suicide attempts◦ Attempted assassination of

Gen. Walker

Means◦ Marine marksman medal

winner◦ 49/50 at 200 yards◦ Purchased the rifle for $20◦ Worked at TSBD

Motive◦ Moved to USSR tried to

denounce citizenship◦ Married a Russian◦ Pro-Castro movement

The Assassination of Oswald

Who shot Oswald?◦Jack Ruby

What did Ruby say was his reason?◦“He killed my president.”

What problem does this create?

The Warren CommissionThe Warren CommissionEstablished by LBJ

All star assassination investigation team

Named Oswald sole assassin

Ruled a single bullet hit both JFK and Connally

Conspiracy TheoriesConspiracy TheoriesCubans

◦Angry about Bay of Pigs and Cuban Missile Crisis

The Mafia◦JFK shared mistress with mob boss

and cracked down on organized crime

Soviets◦Covertly kill Kennedy without

starting WWIII

Taking OfficeTaking OfficeLBJ lost 2

democratic primaries

Sworn in on Air Force One after the assassination of Kennedy

JFK ReviewJFK Review

1. In what city was JFK assassinated?

2. In what year did the assassination take place?

3. Who was named the sole assassin by the Warren Commission?

4. In your opinion, was the assassination the act of a lone gunman or part of a greater conspiracy?

The Great SocietyThe Great SocietyTerm used to describe LBJ’s domestic

programs including war on poverty.

Great Society ProgramsGreat Society Programs

1. Medicare◦Provided health

insurance for those over 65

2. Medicaid◦Provided health care for

low income families

Great Society ProgramsGreat Society Programs

3. Volunteers in Service to America◦ Provided educational and healthcare support

for those in need

4. Head Start◦ Free pre-school program

Vietnam Quick FactsVietnam Quick Facts

Former French colony

Communist North led by Ho Chi Minh

South Democratic

1959-1975

Guerilla TacticsGuerilla Tactics

Traps and Secret Passages

Vietminh had home field advantage

Guerilla TacticsGuerilla Tactics

Ambush◦Surprise attack using concealment

“Tiger” style

The Tiger and the Elephant The Tiger and the Elephant

It is the fight between tiger and elephant. If the tiger stands his ground, the elephant will crush him with its mass. But, if he conserves his mobility, he will finally vanquish the elephant, who bleeds from a multitude of cuts.

Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionGulf of Tonkin ResolutionAugust 7, 1964

“Take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent any further aggression.”

Gave LBJ a blank check for the war

“Grandma’s Nightshirt”

American TacticsAmerican TacticsNapalm

◦Jellied gasoline used to burn the jungle

Carpet bombing◦Wall to wall bombing◦“Operation Rolling Thunder”

Herbicides◦Agent orange used to remove

tree cover◦Carcinogen

Search and Destroy: Ground WarSearch and Destroy: Ground War

Defensive war- learned lesson from Korean War◦ Troop level increased to

550,000

◦ Locate enemy, call in air strike, use ground troops to clean up

◦ Never really held any territory

Tet Offensive- January 30, 1968Tet Offensive- January 30, 1968

Vietnamese New Year◦VC attacked over

100 cities and 12 US bases

VC held embassy for 6 hours

Results of TetResults of TetUS-lost no territoryCasualties

◦US- 1,000◦VC- 45,000

Hurt US confidence

19681968

Tet Offensive◦US turns on war effort

Robert Kennedy Assassinated◦Leading Presidential

nominee◦Democrats divided by

war

MLK Assassinated◦Civil Rights Movement

stunned

Vietnam ReviewVietnam Review

1. What resolution gave LBJ a blank check for the Vietnam war?

2. How did American tactics differ from those of the Viet Cong?

3. How did the Tet Offensive change the way Americans felt about the war in Vietnam?

4. What are two reasons for 1968 being called the worst year in US history?