JFK & LBJ 1960-68

1. JFK & LBJ1960-68 APUSH ch. 28 part 1

2. JFK • Who did JFK run against in 1960? • Richard Nixon • What advantages did each candidate have? • Nixon – • well known (Ike’s VP) • Good track record vs. communism (McCarthy era) • JFK • Wealthy background • War hero & Pulitzer Prize winner • How did JFK win? • Televised debates – advantage for JFK (more telegenic)

5. JFK Administration • Describe JFK’s Cabinet: • “the best & brightest” – elite intellectuals • Scholarly & academic (unlike Ike’s cabinet, which was more business-oriented) • No women in cabinet • Brother Robert was Attorney General • Major issues for JFK? • Cold War • Civil Rights • Environment • Priorities? • Cold War #1 • Everything else secondary

6. Kennedy & The Cold War • Philosophy? • “Flexible response” – ability to confront communist aggression in several different ways • Nuclear, conventional, or unconventional tactics • JFK’s policies/actions? • Peace Corps – volunteers to bring American “goodwill” to Third World • Funding of space race/NASA – embarrassed by Sputnik, wanted to be 1st to moon • Alan Shepherd, John Glenn • Expansion of US Army Special Forces (created by Ike) • Green Berets • Soldiers specially trained in political warfare, counterinsurgency, unconventional warfare, psychological operations, training allies to combat communism, and direct action when necessary

7. Cold War Incidents – JFK • What happened in Germany? • Soviets put up Berlin Wall in 1961 • What did JFK plan for Cuba? • Use Cuban exiles to oust communist Castro • Plan drawn up during Ike years – executed by JFK • Bay of Pigs Invasion 1961 • Huge blunder, didn’t work • Effect? • US embarrassed • JFK determined to redeem himself • Cuba becomes paranoid of US invasion • What happens next?

8. Cold War Incidents – JFK • What happened in Cuba after the Bay of Pigs fiasco? • Cuba imports Soviet missiles • US sees them with spy plane recon photos • Missiles could reach US in minutes • JFK blockades Cuba – calls it a quarantine – why? • Also vows to get rid of missiles already in Cuba • By force if necessary • Showdown between US (JFK) and USSR (Khrushchev) • World at brink of nuclear war

10. Cold War Incidents – JFK • Cuban Missile Crisis – how did it end? • USSR “blinks” • Vows to remove missiles from Cuba • US will not invade Cuba • US secretly removes missiles from Turkey (JFK saving face) • Effects? • Hotline – White House to Kremlin • US builds nuclear arsenal – feels need to have more nukes than USSR

11. Cold War Incidents – JFK • What was JFK’s attitude toward Vietnam? • Steps up US involvement • Lots of $$$ and aid flowing to SVN • Uses military advisors (lots of them), Special Forces, CIA mostly (not conventional troops) • Wants to keep it a small war • Diem hated in SVN • Assassinated, replaced by military dictators

13. Social Movements under JFK • Environment • Clean Air Act • Warned against pesticides • “Silent Spring” – Rachel Carson • Civil Rights • Mostly let events play out, intervened if necessary • Sit-ins and lunch counter demonstrations • Birmingham, 1963 • Bull Connor • Protesters attacked with cattle prods, fire hoses, dogs • Turned public opinion against segregation (TV coverage) • U of Mississippi • James Meredith integrates

14. Major Court cases during JFK’s administration • Baker v. Carr (1962) – • apportionment – made sure voting districts not drawn in a way that made minority voters a non-factor • Engel v. Vitale (1962) – • bans prayer in public school • Abington v. Schempp (1963) – • bans reading of Bible in public schools • Although…..Mrs. Shangraw’s 4th grade classroom in Tenn began every day with a story from this book. • And before you ask, she was NOT born before 1963, thank you.

15. LBJ & The Great Society • How does LBJ become Pres.? • JFK assassinated in Texas in 1963 • Shot by Lee Harvey Oswald • Oswald murdered by Jack Ruby before he can stand trial • Numerous conspiracy theories • LBJ faces re-election in 1964 again Barry Goldwater • Opponent of civil rights reform, welfare programs, gov’t spending, • LBJ wins – how? • Portrays Goldwater as reckless in nuclear policy (because being a racist is ok) • Goldwater would consider using nukes vs. Cuba or North Vietnam • “Daisy” commercial – brilliant and groundbreaking • Goldwater loses but launches modern republican strategy (Here you go, Matt and Sean!) • Coalition of southern & western conservatives

17. LBJ & The Great Society • What is LBJ most known for? • Great Society • Civil Rights legislation • Increasing US involvement in VN • Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964) • Why does LBJ pursue civil rights so aggressively? • Partly b/c he believed in it • Also b/c of his background – wanted to make sure he didn’t appear a racist southerner • Supposedly wanted to be remembered as one of greatest presidents

18. Civil Rights & Social Progress • Major Milestones under LBJ: • Civil Rights act of 1964 – public segregation illegal • Voting Rights Act of 1965 – grandfather clause, literacy tests illegal • Also voter registration movement • Civil Rights Act of 1968 – prohibited disc. in housing • 24th Amendment – poll tax illegal • Motor Vehicle Safety Act – federal standards • Inspired by Ralph Nader – “Unsafe at Any Speed” • Gideon v. Wainwright – state-provided lawyers ” My Dad’s next car. • Miranda v. Arizona – rights of the accused must be stated • Loving v. Virginia – strikes down state laws outlawing interracial marriage • Engel v. Vitale – no school prayer • Econ. Opportunity Act (and other programs) – War on Poverty • Inspired by Michael Harrington • Education Acts (1965) • Medicare & Medicaid • Immigration Act (1965) • March on Washington, 1963