JFK and LBJ

Mr. KochUS History B

Forest Lake High School

Election of 1960

Richard Nixon (Rep) John F. Kennedy (Dem)v.

• Kennedy won extremely close election• Overcame

concerns about his age/religion

• TV debates played major role

• Established young, idealist administration called “Camelot”

“New Frontier”• Name for JFK’s domestic programs

– Stimulate economy– Aid to poor

(not everyone sharing in new prosperity since ’50s)

– Build space program• Wanted NASA to catch up to

Soviets – land on moon

July 20, 1969

John Glenn

Feb 20, 1962

1st American to orbit Earth

Nov 22, 1963

• JFK assassinated– Warren Commission

• Lee Harvey Oswald worked alone

Nov 22, 1963

– Some believed in larger conspiracy• Jack Ruby kills Oswald

Lyndon B. Johnson

• Sworn in on Air Force One 90min after JFK died

Lyndon B. Johnson• Much less exciting, but

passed more legislation• “Great Society” – LBJ’s

domestic programs– Education– Medical care (Medicare,

Medicaid)– War on Poverty– Initially successful, but comes

under criticism later• Too expensive? Didn’t do enough?

Lyndon B. Johnson• Won 1964 election over Barry Goldwater

(Rep) by landslide• Goldwater considered too radically conservative