KENNEDY ’ S PRESIDENCY

KENNEDY’S

PRESIDENCY

Kennedy’s Background Came from wealth and politics Family expectation of public service Harvard Graduate Navy in WWII 43 years old Roman Catholic Charismatic, highly appealing to

American public

Election of 1960

Democratic Nominee: Senator John F Kennedy

Republican Nominee: VP Richard Nixon Economy was in recession Cold War: Were we winning?

“Get America Moving Again”

Televised Debates 1st ever televised

debate 70 million viewers Kennedy appeared

confident and at ease Launched a new area

of politics: the television age

Nixon looked

like a “sinister

chipmunk” in

comparison to

Kennedy who

looked cool,

collected, and

presidential

Journalist Russell Baker said of the debates:

“That night, image replaced the printed word as the national language of politics”

The Results

Won by fewer than 119,000

votes

Kennedy Wins Close Election

Inauguration Speech

“And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country.”

LIFE: The Dawn of Camelot

Camelot Years

JFK’s youth, glamour and young,

talented advisors were compared to the

mythical court of Camelot and King

Arthur Wife, Jacqueline and young children:

Caroline and JFK Jr.

Called for hope, commitment and

sacrifice Invited young artists and celebrities to

White House

Considered “American Royalty”

Civil Rights MLK Jr. arrested at a sit-in

sentenced to hard labor

Kennedy and his brother, Robert, persuaded judge to release MLK

Captured the attention of many African Americans and won their vote

Civil Rights Bill

Sit-Ins were non-violent protests over the policy of whites-only lunch

counters in the South

King JFK

New Frontier Vision for America

Economy Education Rebuild urban areas Medical care for the elderly and poor Space exploration Bolster national defense Increase international aid

Hard time passing his proposal through Congress because of a conservative coalition

Cold War Crisis: Berlin Wall Soviets threatened to Soviets threatened to

take over West Berlintake over West Berlin In 11 years: almost 3 In 11 years: almost 3

million East Berliners million East Berliners fled to West Berlin to fled to West Berlin to escape Communist ruleescape Communist rule

City in turmoilCity in turmoil JFK reinforced the JFK reinforced the

military presence in the military presence in the areaarea Result: construction of Result: construction of

the Berlin Wallthe Berlin WallEast Germany begins construction on

the Berlin Wall, which becomes a primary symbol of the Cold War and

Soviet oppression

Berlin Wall

Divided Berlin in half

Became an ugly symbol of oppression

Building up Defense JFK’s policy of

Flexible Response Build-up of the natio

n’s conventional forces (non-nuclear forces)

Created an elite branch of the Army The Special Forces or

The Green Berets

Peace Corps 19611961 organization that organization that

trained volunteers trained volunteers to help to help underdeveloped underdeveloped countries by countries by providing social providing social and humanitarian and humanitarian servicesservices

Asia, Africa, Latin Asia, Africa, Latin AmericaAmerica

Alliance for Progress Offered economic aid to Latin

American countries $12 Billion dollars An attempt to contain Communism.

"millions of men and women suffer the daily degradations of hunger and

poverty" and "discontent is growing.”

Space Race Soviet successes:

Sputnik in 1957 First man in space

Kennedy pushed the race to put a man on the moon Nicknamed the “Space Race,” Encouraging growth in the

studies of math and sciences in the public education system

“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”

Bay of Pigs April 1961 Kennedy learned of a

CIA plan to overthrow Castro by Cuban exiles in the Bay of Pigs

Failed due to unanticipated military support of the Soviet Union

A humiliated Kennedy paid ransom to free exiles

Still affects US/Cuban relations today

http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/The-Bay-of-Pigs.aspx

19621962 U2 spy plane took pics of missile U2 spy plane took pics of missile

sitessites USSR builtUSSR built

JFK imposed naval blockadeJFK imposed naval blockade Remove missile, destroy basesRemove missile, destroy bases Intense standoff, nuclear war possibleIntense standoff, nuclear war possible

Publically brokered dealPublically brokered deal USSR remove, US pledge no Cuban invasionUSSR remove, US pledge no Cuban invasion Any secrets???Any secrets???

Easing Tensions (1963) Hot line:

Direct phone line that linked the White House and the Kremlin.

Limited Test Ban Treaty: Barred nuclear

testing in the atmosphere

Tragedy in Dallas Assassinated on Assassinated on

November 22, 1963November 22, 1963 Still a source of Still a source of

controversycontroversy Lee Harvey Oswald Lee Harvey Oswald

arrested arrested Assassinated too Assassinated too

shortly after arrestshortly after arrest All work stopped for All work stopped for

the funeralthe funeral The nation mournedThe nation mourned As with 9/11, As with 9/11,

Americans remember Americans remember where they were where they were when they heard the when they heard the newsnews

"For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all

mortal.”June, 1963