Essential QuestionEssential Question::To what degree did To what degree did Kennedy’s “New Frontier” Kennedy’s “New Frontier” domestic & foreign policy domestic & foreign policy differ from Truman & differ from Truman & Eisenhower in the 1950s?Eisenhower in the 1950s?

Kennedy & Kennedy & the New Frontier the New Frontier

JFK’s New FrontierJFK’s New Frontier The election of 1960 between Richard The election of 1960 between Richard

Nixon & John F. Kennedy was the 1Nixon & John F. Kennedy was the 1stst to use TV debates:to use TV debates: Nixon was much better known butNixon was much better known but thethe TVTV

debates helped swing undecided voters debates helped swing undecided voters towards JFKtowards JFK

1960 marked the beginning of television 1960 marked the beginning of television dominance in politics dominance in politics

Image & appearance became essential Image & appearance became essential traits for candidates traits for candidates

But, it was not the 1st time TV influenced politics…

Eisenhower used TV to campaign in 1952 & 1956

McCarthy was destroyed by TV in the Army-Senate

hearings

Nixon used TV to defend himself in the “Checkers” speech

TN Senator Kefauver used TV to investigate

organized crime

JFK’s New FrontierJFK’s New Frontier Kennedy’s Kennedy’s

administration administration reflected youth, reflected youth, energy, & sharp break energy, & sharp break from Eisenhowerfrom Eisenhower

JFK promised a JFK promised a New New FrontierFrontier:: Domestic reforms in Domestic reforms in

education, health care, education, health care, & civil rights& civil rights

A foreign policy A foreign policy committed to defeating committed to defeating the Soviet Union & the Soviet Union & winning the Cold Warwinning the Cold War

The JFK era began “Camelot”

comparisons with JFK as a modern-day

Lancelot

JFK’s New FrontierJFK’s New Frontier JFK’s New Frontier promised a return of JFK’s New Frontier promised a return of

FDR-era liberal policies:FDR-era liberal policies: But, Conservatives in Congress But, Conservatives in Congress

opposed JFK’s social reforms in opposed JFK’s social reforms in education & health careeducation & health care

Congress did help the poorCongress did help the poor The modernization of industry, gov’t The modernization of industry, gov’t

spending, & a major tax cut in 1963 spending, & a major tax cut in 1963 stimulated the economy & created jobs stimulated the economy & created jobs

Aid for public schools…

…the extension of Social Security…

…unemployment benefits…

…and medical insurance for the elderly were all shot down by Congress

An increase in the minimum wageIncreased funds for

public housing

JFK’s New FrontierJFK’s New Frontier

One long-lasting achievement of One long-lasting achievement of the JFK-era was strengthening the the JFK-era was strengthening the presidency:presidency: Eisenhower left many decisions Eisenhower left many decisions

to his staff, but JFK demanded to his staff, but JFK demanded more direct presidential controlmore direct presidential control

JFK transferred much of the JFK transferred much of the decision-making power from the decision-making power from the cabinet to his White House staffcabinet to his White House staff

JFK appointed tough, pragmatic, & academic “New Frontiersmen” to his staff

Kennedy referred to his staff as the “the best & the brightest”

Kennedy Kennedy Intensifies the Intensifies the

Cold WarCold War

Kennedy Intensifies the Cold Kennedy Intensifies the Cold WarWar

Addressing U.S. foreign policy & Addressing U.S. foreign policy & containing Communism was JFK’s top containing Communism was JFK’s top priority as president:priority as president: JFK believed Ike compromised with the JFK believed Ike compromised with the

USSR when the Cold War could have USSR when the Cold War could have been wonbeen won

JFK aimed to close the “missile gap” & JFK aimed to close the “missile gap” & increase U.S. increase U.S. defensesdefenses

Looked to solve issues in Berlin, Looked to solve issues in Berlin, Vietnam, & CubaVietnam, & Cuba

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any

friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival & success of liberty. We will do this & more.”

—JFK’s inaugural address

Flexible ResponseFlexible Response

JFK shifted from Ike’s “mutually JFK shifted from Ike’s “mutually assured destruction” to a “flexible assured destruction” to a “flexible response” capable of responding to a response” capable of responding to a variety of future problems:variety of future problems: Increased nuclear arsenal to 1,000 Increased nuclear arsenal to 1,000

ICBMs & 32 Polaris subs to create a ICBMs & 32 Polaris subs to create a ““first-strike” capabilityfirst-strike” capability

Increased the army & air forceIncreased the army & air force Expanded covert operations & Expanded covert operations &

created the Green Berets created the Green Berets JFK was convinced that the USSR had more

missiles, but really the U.S. had the lead with 600 B-52s, 2 Polaris subs, 2,000 warheads

To combat Communism & to help underdeveloped countries, JFK created the Peace Corps & the Alliance for Progress

The Space RaceThe Space Race

JFK hoped to avoid another Sputnik & JFK hoped to avoid another Sputnik & hoped to beat the Soviets to the hoped to beat the Soviets to the moon:moon: JFK greatly expanded NASA & JFK greatly expanded NASA &

announced that the U.S. would get to announced that the U.S. would get to the moon by 1970the moon by 1970

The U.S. landed a man on the moon in The U.S. landed a man on the moon in 1969 1969

The Apollo Program

Crisis over BerlinCrisis over Berlin

JFK’s 1JFK’s 1stst confrontation with the Soviet confrontation with the Soviet Union came in Berlin:Union came in Berlin: Khrushchev was upset with the Khrushchev was upset with the

exodus of skilled workers from East exodus of skilled workers from East Germany to West BerlinGermany to West Berlin

The USSR threatened to remove all The USSR threatened to remove all U.S. influence from West Berlin, but U.S. influence from West Berlin, but settled on building the Berlin Wall in settled on building the Berlin Wall in 19611961

“Ich bin ein Berliner”—JFK, 1963

Containment in VietnamContainment in Vietnam

VietnamVietnam provedproved toto bebe aa toughtough test:test: Since 1954, Communist leader Since 1954, Communist leader Ho Chi Ho Chi

MinhMinh gained popularity in North gained popularity in North Vietnam; By 1961, he gained a foothold Vietnam; By 1961, he gained a foothold in the Southin the South

The U.S. gave aid to unpopular South The U.S. gave aid to unpopular South leader leader Ngo Dihn DiemNgo Dihn Diem

When Diem lost control of the South, JFK When Diem lost control of the South, JFK gave the OK for a coup against Diem in gave the OK for a coup against Diem in 19631963

“Strongly in our mind is what happened in China at the end of World War II, where

China was lost. We don’t want that.”—JFK

VietnamVietnam Viet Minh are Vietnamese communists in North Vietnam

Viet Cong are Vietnamese communists in South Vietnam

Containing Castro: Bay of Containing Castro: Bay of PigsPigs

Fidel Castro took over Cuba in 1959Fidel Castro took over Cuba in 1959 && developed ties with Russia developed ties with Russia The Eisenhower administration (directed The Eisenhower administration (directed

by the CIA) had been training Cuban by the CIA) had been training Cuban exiles for an invasion & overthrow of exiles for an invasion & overthrow of CastroCastro

In 1961, JFK gave the OK for the CIA to In 1961, JFK gave the OK for the CIA to initiate the initiate the Bay of Pigs invasionBay of Pigs invasion

JFK blamed the Republicans for allowing a “communist satellite” to arise on “our very doorstep”

The invasion called for U.S. air support but JFK canceled the air strike; without air

support, Castro squashed the invasion

Kennedy took full responsibility for the failure of Bay of Pigs, but did not apologize for coup

Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis

To protect Cuba from another U.S. To protect Cuba from another U.S. invasion, the USSR began a secret invasion, the USSR began a secret build-up of nuclear missilesbuild-up of nuclear missiles

On Oct 14, 1962 a U-2 spy plane On Oct 14, 1962 a U-2 spy plane discovered Cuban missile campsdiscovered Cuban missile camps

How would the U.S. respond?How would the U.S. respond?

24 medium-range & 18 short range ICBMs

Naval blockade to keep warheads out?

Diplomacy: trade nukes in Cuba for nukes in Turkey?

Immediate air strike?Full-scale invasion?Kennedy chose to “quarantine” Cuba to

keep new missiles out & an invasion of Cuba if the USSR did not remove its nukes

The Cuban Missile CrisisThe Cuban Missile Crisis Kennedy announced a quarantine (blockade) to keep more missiles out & demanded that the Soviets remove the missiles already in Cuba

Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis The standoff ended when Russia The standoff ended when Russia

removed its Cuban missiles & the removed its Cuban missiles & the USA vowed to never invade CubaUSA vowed to never invade Cuba

The impact of the crisis:The impact of the crisis: Seen as a political victory for JFKSeen as a political victory for JFK Installed a “hot line” to improve US-Installed a “hot line” to improve US-

Soviet communicationsSoviet communications This near-nuclear war convinced This near-nuclear war convinced

both sides to move from both sides to move from confrontation to negotiation confrontation to negotiation

“Our most basic common link is the fact that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the

same air. We all cherish our children’s future. We are all mortal.”

—JFK

And…U.S. removal of nuclear weapons in Turkey

Essential QuestionEssential Question::To what degree was Lyndon To what degree was Lyndon Johnson’s “Great Society” a Johnson’s “Great Society” a continuation of JFK’s “New continuation of JFK’s “New Frontier” domestic agenda?Frontier” domestic agenda?

““Let Us Continue”Let Us Continue”

"Let Us Continue""Let Us Continue" On Nov 22, 1963 in Dallas, JFK was On Nov 22, 1963 in Dallas, JFK was

assassinated & VP Lyndon Johnson assassinated & VP Lyndon Johnson became president:became president: LBJ was a master politician with a LBJ was a master politician with a

reputation for getting resultsreputation for getting results LBJ promised to continue Kennedy's LBJ promised to continue Kennedy's

liberal agendaliberal agenda LBJ ultimately exceeded JFK’s record on LBJ ultimately exceeded JFK’s record on

providing economic & racial equalityproviding economic & racial equality

LBJ helped push through the greatest array of liberal legislation in U.S. history (“Great

Society”), surpassing FDR’s New Deal

Americans were stunned this rapid succession of events

Lyndon Johnson in ActionLyndon Johnson in Action LBJ quickly pushed through Congress 2 LBJ quickly pushed through Congress 2

key “Kennedy” bills:key “Kennedy” bills: A $10 billion reduction in income A $10 billion reduction in income

taxes that led to increased taxes that led to increased consumer spending & new jobsconsumer spending & new jobs

The The Civil Rights Act of 1964Civil Rights Act of 1964 that that declared segregation in public declared segregation in public facilities illegal & protected black facilities illegal & protected black voting rightsvoting rights

The most significant legislation on race since the Reconstruction Amendments

Lyndon Johnson in ActionLyndon Johnson in Action In 1964, LBJ waged a “war on poverty In 1964, LBJ waged a “war on poverty

in America” & created the Office of in America” & created the Office of Economic Opportunity:Economic Opportunity: Created the Job Corps for high school Created the Job Corps for high school

dropoutsdropouts Head Start for preschoolersHead Start for preschoolers Adult education & technical training Adult education & technical training

opportunities opportunities As a result of, America had 10 million As a result of, America had 10 million

fewer poor people by 1970fewer poor people by 1970

In 1964, the U.S. had 35 million poor people

The Election of 1964The Election of 1964 In 1964, LBJ ran against: In 1964, LBJ ran against:

Conservative Republican Barry Conservative Republican Barry Goldwater rejected LBJ’s liberal welfare Goldwater rejected LBJ’s liberal welfare programs & called for a stronger foreign programs & called for a stronger foreign policy stancepolicy stance

Segregationist George WallaceSegregationist George Wallace LBJ won in a landslide & the LBJ won in a landslide & the

Democrats took control of Congress Democrats took control of Congress for 1for 1stst time in 25 years time in 25 years

The “Daisy” Campaign Spot

http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/cohttp://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1964mmercials/1964

Click on the “Daisy Ad”Click on the “Daisy Ad”

The Great Society The Great Society Once elected, LBJ initiated his “Once elected, LBJ initiated his “Great Great

SocietySociety” domestic agenda:” domestic agenda: Medicare & Medicaid extended health Medicare & Medicaid extended health

insurance to the elderly & the poorinsurance to the elderly & the poor Extended $1 billion to improve public Extended $1 billion to improve public

& parochial schools& parochial schools The The Voting Rights Act of 1965Voting Rights Act of 1965 banned banned

literacy tests & provided for federal literacy tests & provided for federal registrars for pollsregistrars for polls

The Triumph of ReformThe Triumph of Reform By 1965, Congress passed 89 By 1965, Congress passed 89

laws or reforms as part of LBJ’s laws or reforms as part of LBJ’s social agenda:social agenda: The Great Society was the most The Great Society was the most

comprehensive agenda of social comprehensive agenda of social reform since FDRreform since FDR

But…the American people did not But…the American people did not respond well to LBJrespond well to LBJ

Soon…events in Vietnam, would Soon…events in Vietnam, would taint his presidencytaint his presidency

Johnson Escalates Johnson Escalates the Vietnam the Vietnam

WarWar

LBJ Escalates the Vietnam LBJ Escalates the Vietnam WarWar

LBJ continued JFK’s strong foreign LBJ continued JFK’s strong foreign policy positions too:policy positions too: He supported CIA-sponsored coups in He supported CIA-sponsored coups in

Brazil, Panama, & the Dominican Brazil, Panama, & the Dominican RepublicRepublic

LBJ continued Eisenhower & JFK policies LBJ continued Eisenhower & JFK policies towards Vietnamtowards Vietnam

But in doing so, LBJ found himself But in doing so, LBJ found himself under attack from Congress, the under attack from Congress, the media, & universitiesmedia, & universities

“I am not going to lose Vietnam. I am not going to be the president who saw

Southeast Asia go the way China went.”—LBJ

LBJ Escalates the Vietnam LBJ Escalates the Vietnam WarWar

During the Gulf of Tonkin affair in During the Gulf of Tonkin affair in Aug 1964, the military bombed North Aug 1964, the military bombed North Vietnam in retaliation for an attack Vietnam in retaliation for an attack on the on the USS MaddoxUSS Maddox

The The Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionGulf of Tonkin Resolution gave gave LBJ the authority to:LBJ the authority to: Defend Vietnam at any costDefend Vietnam at any cost Unlimited military intervention to be Unlimited military intervention to be

used at LBJ’s discretionused at LBJ’s discretion

The The Vietnam Vietnam

WarWar

EscalationEscalation 1965 marked the beginning of full-1965 marked the beginning of full-

scalescale U.S.U.S. involvement in Vietnaminvolvement in Vietnam LBJ was informed that “LBJ was informed that “without U.S. without U.S.

action, defeat is inevitableaction, defeat is inevitable”” LBJ authorized bombing raids into North LBJ authorized bombing raids into North

Vietnam & requested 50,000Vietnam & requested 50,000 U.S.U.S. soldierssoldiers sentsent toto AsiaAsia

LBJ never explained to the American LBJ never explained to the American people how the gov’t planned to win people how the gov’t planned to win the war in Vietnam the war in Vietnam

LBJ’s advisors wanted 100,000 troops in 1965 & a plan for 100,000 more in 1966; Estimations

were 500 U.S. deaths per month

LBJ took middle road of limited U.S. intervention: not a withdrawal & not a full-scale invasion of North Vietnam

StalemateStalemate By 1968, 500,000 U.S. troops By 1968, 500,000 U.S. troops

stationed to keep Vietnam from stationed to keep Vietnam from falling to Communismfalling to Communism U.S. bombings & “search & destroy” U.S. bombings & “search & destroy”

attacks were ineffectiveattacks were ineffective Soviet & Chinese weaponry freely Soviet & Chinese weaponry freely

flowed into North Vietnamflowed into North Vietnam Reckless bombings killed thousands of Reckless bombings killed thousands of

innocent civiliansinnocent civilians The bloody stalemate & media The bloody stalemate & media

depictiondepiction ofof thethe warwar ledled toto protestsprotests

ConclusionsConclusions The early 1960s under JFK The early 1960s under JFK

represented consume spending, a represented consume spending, a strong stance on the Cold War, & strong stance on the Cold War, & more social reforms at homemore social reforms at home

The transition to LBJ in 1963 brought The transition to LBJ in 1963 brought success at home (civil rights & the success at home (civil rights & the Great Society)Great Society)

But, heightened involvement in But, heightened involvement in Vietnam signaled the onset of the Vietnam signaled the onset of the counter-culturecounter-culture movementmovement byby 19681968

Class DiscussionClass Discussion: : To what degree was To what degree was the USA winning the the USA winning the Cold War from 1945-Cold War from 1945-

1963?1963?

The Cold War: 1948-1975The Cold War under Truman: 1945-1952

The Cold War: 1948-1975The Cold War under Eisenhower: 1953-1960

The Cold War: 1948-1975The Cold War under Kennedy: 1961-1963

The Cold War: 1948-1975The Cold War under Johnson: 1963-1968