The Kennedy and Johnson Years (1961–1969) Mr. McMinn American History.

The Kennedy and Johnson Years(1961–1969)

Mr. McMinnAmerican History

Kennedy’s Domestic ProgramsKennedy’s Domestic Programs In a speech early in his presidency, In a speech early in his presidency,

Kennedy said that the nation was poised at Kennedy said that the nation was poised at the edge of a the edge of a “New Frontier.”“New Frontier.” This phrase This phrase came to refer to came to refer to Kennedy’s proposals to Kennedy’s proposals to improve the economy, assist the poor, and improve the economy, assist the poor, and speed up the space program.speed up the space program.

Many of Kennedy’s proposals aimed to Many of Kennedy’s proposals aimed to combat poverty and inequality. Although combat poverty and inequality. Although some were rejected by Congress, others some were rejected by Congress, others were passed. These included an were passed. These included an increase in increase in the minimum wage, funding for urban the minimum wage, funding for urban renewal, abolishment of poll taxes, and the renewal, abolishment of poll taxes, and the Equal Pay ActEqual Pay Act, which required all , which required all employees doing the same work in the employees doing the same work in the same workplace to receive equal wages.same workplace to receive equal wages.

Other Kennedy InitiativesOther Kennedy Initiatives

Improved surplus food to Improved surplus food to unemployed Americansunemployed Americans

Largest defense buildup in Largest defense buildup in peacetime historypeacetime history

Help to communities Help to communities plagued by long-term plagued by long-term unemploymentunemployment

Extension of Social Extension of Social Security benefitsSecurity benefits

Expansion of National Park Expansion of National Park SystemSystem

Doubling of federal Doubling of federal resources combating water resources combating water pollutionpollution

Construction of the world’s Construction of the world’s largest nuclear power plantlargest nuclear power plant

Tightening of food and Tightening of food and drug lawsdrug laws

Encouragement of free Encouragement of free tradetrade

Signing of the Nuclear Test Signing of the Nuclear Test Ban TreatyBan Treaty

Changes in the welfare Changes in the welfare systemsystem

Creation of first federal Creation of first federal program to address program to address juvenile delinquencyjuvenile delinquency

Although Kennedy served a shortened presidency, he was able to initiate a variety of programs, including:

The Space ProgramThe Space Program The Soviet Union’s launch of the The Soviet Union’s launch of the SputnikSputnik satellite in 1957 inspired the satellite in 1957 inspired the United States to work toward placing a United States to work toward placing a manned spacecraft in orbit.manned spacecraft in orbit.

Funding for the Funding for the National Aeronautics National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)and Space Administration (NASA) was was increased. In 1961 and 1962, American increased. In 1961 and 1962, American astronauts made initial space flights.astronauts made initial space flights.

On July 20, 1969, American astronaut On July 20, 1969, American astronaut Neil ArmstrongNeil Armstrong became the became the first person first person to walk on the moonto walk on the moon. .

Kennedy Is AssassinatedKennedy Is Assassinated On November 22, 1963, Kennedy was shot while On November 22, 1963, Kennedy was shot while

riding in an open limousine through Dallas, Texas. riding in an open limousine through Dallas, Texas. He had traveled to Texas to mobilize support for He had traveled to Texas to mobilize support for his upcoming reelection campaign.his upcoming reelection campaign.

Shots fired from the sixth-floor window of the Shots fired from the sixth-floor window of the empty Texas School Book Depository mortally empty Texas School Book Depository mortally wounded Kennedy, making Vice President Lyndon wounded Kennedy, making Vice President Lyndon Johnson the new President.Johnson the new President.

The prime suspect in Kennedy’s murder, The prime suspect in Kennedy’s murder, Lee Lee Harvey OswaldHarvey Oswald, was murdered by a man named , was murdered by a man named Jack RubyJack Ruby two days later, while being transferred two days later, while being transferred from one jail to another.from one jail to another.

To investigate Kennedy’s murder, To investigate Kennedy’s murder, President Johnson appointed The President Johnson appointed The President’s Commission on the President’s Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, better known as the Kennedy, better known as the Warren Warren Commission Warren CommissionCommission Warren Commission,, after its after its chairman, Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl chairman, Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren. Warren.

The Warren Commission determined that The Warren Commission determined that Oswald had acted aloneOswald had acted alone. However, . However, theories that Oswald and Ruby had theories that Oswald and Ruby had belonged to a conspiracy persisted.belonged to a conspiracy persisted.

LBJ’s Path to the White HouseLBJ’s Path to the White House

Lyndon Johnson Lyndon Johnson became President became President unexpectedly unexpectedly following Kennedy’s following Kennedy’s assassination. assassination. However, his political However, his political career had been career had been leading up to this leading up to this position for many position for many years.years.

Great Society ProgramsGreat Society Programs

Great Society ReformsGreat Society Reforms The Tax CutThe Tax Cut — Like Kennedy, Johnson — Like Kennedy, Johnson

believed that a budget deficit could be used believed that a budget deficit could be used to improve the economy. A tax cut caused to improve the economy. A tax cut caused the deficit to shrink, since renewed prosperity the deficit to shrink, since renewed prosperity generated new tax revenues.generated new tax revenues.

The War on PovertyThe War on Poverty — Johnson initiated new — Johnson initiated new programs such as programs such as Head StartHead Start,, a preschool a preschool program for low-income families, and program for low-income families, and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA),Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), which sent volunteers to help people in poor which sent volunteers to help people in poor communities.communities.

Aid to EducationAid to Education — The 1965 Elementary and — The 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also initiated by Secondary Education Act, also initiated by Johnson, provided billions of dollars in aid to Johnson, provided billions of dollars in aid to public and private schools.public and private schools.

Medicare and MedicaidMedicare and Medicaid — Johnson helped — Johnson helped Congress pass two new programs, Congress pass two new programs, MedicareMedicare and and Medicaid.Medicaid. Medicare provides low-cost Medicare provides low-cost medical insurance to most Americans over medical insurance to most Americans over age 65, while Medicaid provides similar age 65, while Medicaid provides similar services to poor Americans of any age.services to poor Americans of any age.

Immigration ReformImmigration Reform — The — The Immigration Act of Immigration Act of 19651965 replaced immigration quotas with replaced immigration quotas with overall limits from various parts of the world. overall limits from various parts of the world. Immigration rose during the 1960s and Immigration rose during the 1960s and 1970s. 1970s.

The Warren CourtThe Warren Court During the Kennedy-Johnson years, the During the Kennedy-Johnson years, the

Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Earl Warren, handed down many Earl Warren, handed down many controversial landmark verdicts.controversial landmark verdicts.

The Court ruled on social issues including The Court ruled on social issues including obscenity, prayer in public schools, and obscenity, prayer in public schools, and use of birth control.use of birth control.

The Warren Court was also interested in The Warren Court was also interested in safeguarding the rights of persons safeguarding the rights of persons accused of committing crimes. The accused of committing crimes. The Miranda rule,Miranda rule, a result of the 1966 case a result of the 1966 case MirandaMiranda v. v. ArizonaArizona, required police to , required police to inform accused persons of their rights.inform accused persons of their rights.

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Effects of the Great SocietyEffects of the Great Society

Effects on PovertyEffects on Poverty During the 1960s and early During the 1960s and early

1970s, the number of 1970s, the number of Americans living in poverty Americans living in poverty in the United States was in the United States was cut in halfcut in half..

However, some Americans However, some Americans complained that too many complained that too many of their tax dollars were of their tax dollars were being spent on poor being spent on poor people. people. Others criticized Others criticized the way Great Society the way Great Society antipoverty programs antipoverty programs expanded the size of the expanded the size of the federal governmentfederal government..

The End of the Great SocietyThe End of the Great Society Johnson received both Johnson received both

praise and criticism for praise and criticism for Great Society reforms.Great Society reforms.

A conflict in Southeast A conflict in Southeast Asia, later to become the Asia, later to become the Vietnam WarVietnam War, began to , began to consume the resources consume the resources Johnson needed for his Johnson needed for his domestic programs.domestic programs.

The Great Society came to The Great Society came to an end when Johnson an end when Johnson failed to contain the failed to contain the Southeast Asia conflict.Southeast Asia conflict.

The Bay of Pigs InvasionThe Bay of Pigs Invasion

Goals of the Bay of Pigs Goals of the Bay of Pigs InvasionInvasion

The United States The United States government was disturbed government was disturbed when Fidel Castro took when Fidel Castro took over Cuba in 1959 and over Cuba in 1959 and developed ties to the developed ties to the Soviet Union.Soviet Union.

To overthrow Castro, the To overthrow Castro, the Central Intelligence Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) trained a Agency (CIA) trained a group of Cubans to invade group of Cubans to invade Cuba.Cuba.

President Kennedy President Kennedy approved the resulting Bay approved the resulting Bay of Pigs invasion, which of Pigs invasion, which took place on April 17, took place on April 17, 1961.1961.

Outcome of the InvasionOutcome of the Invasion The Bay of Pigs invasion The Bay of Pigs invasion

proved to be both a proved to be both a military and diplomatic military and diplomatic disaster.disaster.

Airstrikes failed to destroy Airstrikes failed to destroy Cuba’s air force, and Cuba’s air force, and Cuban troops were more Cuban troops were more than a match for the than a match for the invaders.invaders.

The United States lost The United States lost credibility for its clumsy credibility for its clumsy invasion tactics as well as invasion tactics as well as its violation of agreements its violation of agreements not to interfere in the not to interfere in the Western Hemisphere.Western Hemisphere.

The Berlin CrisisThe Berlin Crisis

Causes of the Berlin CrisisCauses of the Berlin Crisis As part of the post–World As part of the post–World

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

The division of Berlin was The division of Berlin was planned as a temporary planned as a temporary measure. However, the measure. However, the Soviet Union demanded Soviet Union demanded that the division of the city that the division of the city be made permanent, be made permanent, hoping this hoping this would reduce would reduce the flow of East Germans the flow of East Germans escaping through Berlin to escaping through Berlin to West Germany.West Germany.

Effects of the Berlin CrisisEffects of the Berlin Crisis In response to Soviet In response to Soviet

demands, Kennedy demands, Kennedy increased funding to the increased funding to the military and expanded the military and expanded the size of the armed forces.size of the armed forces.

To avoid a confrontation, To avoid a confrontation, the Soviets built a wall to the Soviets built a wall to separate the Communist separate the Communist and non-Communist and non-Communist sections of Berlin in August sections of Berlin in August 1961.1961.

The The Berlin WallBerlin Wall came to be came to be a somber symbol of Cold a somber symbol of Cold War tensions.War tensions.

The Cuban Missile CrisisThe Cuban Missile Crisis On October 16, 1962, photographs taken from an On October 16, 1962, photographs taken from an

American spy plane showed construction of Soviet American spy plane showed construction of Soviet missile bases in Cuba, about missile bases in Cuba, about 90 miles from the coast of 90 miles from the coast of Florida.Florida.

The American response to this construction, and the The American response to this construction, and the resulting Soviet response, became known as the resulting Soviet response, became known as the Cuban Cuban Missile CrisisMissile Crisis.. The Cuban Missile Crisis brought the The Cuban Missile Crisis brought the superpowers to the brink of nuclear warsuperpowers to the brink of nuclear war..

After much consultation with his advisors, President After much consultation with his advisors, President Kennedy decided to authorize a Kennedy decided to authorize a naval “quarantine” naval “quarantine” around Cubaaround Cuba. He demanded that Soviet leader Nikita . He demanded that Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev cease construction of the missile bases.Khrushchev cease construction of the missile bases.

On October 25, Soviet ships headed for Cuba suddenly On October 25, Soviet ships headed for Cuba suddenly reversed direction, called back by Khrushchev. This reversed direction, called back by Khrushchev. This action led to tremendous relief since confrontation, and action led to tremendous relief since confrontation, and the threat of nuclear war, had been avoided.the threat of nuclear war, had been avoided.

Results of the Cuban Missile Results of the Cuban Missile CrisisCrisis

The Cuban Missile Crisis did not end when Soviet ships The Cuban Missile Crisis did not end when Soviet ships reversed their course, however. The end of the crisis came reversed their course, however. The end of the crisis came several days later, when Kennedy responded to letters sent several days later, when Kennedy responded to letters sent from Khrushchev, agreeing to some terms publicly and from Khrushchev, agreeing to some terms publicly and others in secret.others in secret.

In the end, the Soviet Union agreed to remove its missiles In the end, the Soviet Union agreed to remove its missiles from Cuba. In return, the United States agreed to end the from Cuba. In return, the United States agreed to end the quarantine, stay out of Cuba, and remove missiles of its quarantine, stay out of Cuba, and remove missiles of its own from Turkey.own from Turkey.

As a result of the crisis, Kennedy and Khrushchev As a result of the crisis, Kennedy and Khrushchev established a “established a “hot line” with which they could communicate hot line” with which they could communicate quickly in case of further crisesquickly in case of further crises. .

In addition, the United States and the Soviet Union, In addition, the United States and the Soviet Union, together with Great Britain, signed the together with Great Britain, signed the Limited Test Ban Limited Test Ban TreatyTreaty in 1963. This treaty banned nuclear testing above in 1963. This treaty banned nuclear testing above the ground.the ground.