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Democrat Roman Catholic War Veteran Youngest President elected

"Ask not what your country can do for you --ask what you can do for your country.". President John F Kennedy 1960-1963. Democrat Roman Catholic War Veteran Youngest President elected. The Great Television Debates. The election of 1960: John F Kennedy vs. Vice President Nixon

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Democrat Roman Catholic War Veteran Youngest President elected

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  1. "Ask not what your country can do for you --ask what you can do for your country." President John F Kennedy1960-1963 Democrat Roman Catholic War Veteran Youngest President elected

  2. The Great Television Debates • The election of 1960: John F Kennedyvs. Vice President Nixon • First televised debates, 9 out of 10 families tuned in for the debates • Appearance: Nixon looked tired and hot JFK looked polished and relaxed • The 4 debates had a major impact on the outcome of the election and changed the role TV had on American politics

  3. Served in WWII Massachusetts Democrat Served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate 43 years old, youngest man elected to office Youngest President to die in office First Roman Catholic elected to office Background on JFK

  4. Camelot • King Arthur of Camelot wanted a create a country were “might makes right” and where power is used to achieve right • Kennedy's administration nicknamed after Camelot because its goal was to achieve right and peace. It was also energetic and full of hope

  5. Kennedy’s New Frontier • Name for JFK’s Domestic Program • Proposed to improve the economy, give aid to the poor, and refresh the Space Program • Problem: JFK entered office without a mandate-set of wishes expressed to a candidate by their voters- which made it hard for JFK to push measures through Congress

  6. The Economy • US is in a recession • JFK faced opposition from many business leaders • Spring 1962, US Steel Co. announced price increase • In response, JFK announced a federal investigation into a possibility that the company was price fixing • This caused US Steel to back down but business leaders remained angry • Result:stock market fell to the steepest drop since the Great Crash of 1929

  7. $ Kennedy also proposed cutting taxes by 13.5 billion dollars$ This would reduce the government income and cause a deficit$ JFK believed the extra money in peoples’ wallets would eventually led to tax revenues in the end$The proposal got held up in Congress and stood little chance of passing

  8. Poverty and Inequality • At first JFK thought he could help the poor by stimulating the economy • In 1962, The Other America, came out. This book said that 1/5 of the population was below the poverty line. • This caused JFK to think that direct aid was needed • He had trouble passing any legislation through Congress

  9. JFK tried to pass plans to aid education and create medical care for the elderly • But, JFK rarely got any legislation passed in Congress • Only accomplishments were increasing the minimum wage and the Housing Act of 1961 which gave money for urban renewal

  10. The Space Program • JFK’s success, got Congress to give more money to the NASA program • Soviet Union launched 1st man to travel in space in April 1961 • U.S. responded by Alan Shepard making a 15 minute orbit in space • On May 25, JFK challenged America to commit to having a man on the moon before the end of the 1960s

  11. Bay of Pigs InvasionKennedy’s first major dealings with foreign policy • When JFK became president, he learned of the CIA plan to overthrow Castro • CIA had been training Cuban opponents of Castro (new communist leader of Cuba) to invade Cuba • April 17, 1961 attack was launched

  12. Results: Total Disaster • The attack failed because: • US Air strike failed to destroy Cuba’s air power • This allowed Castro to stop land troops from coming ashore • JFK, accepting defeat, refused to provide additional aid to help the Cuban soldiers

  13. Cuban Missile Crisis • In October 1962, photos from a spy plane showed that the Soviets were building missile bases in Cuba • JFK responded by announcing a naval “quarantine” around Cuba which would prevent the Soviets from sending more missiles in to Cuba • 2 days later, the Soviet leader, Khrushchev, sent a letter to JFK stating that he would remove missiles from Cuba if JFK agreed to remove the quarantine and stay out of Cuba

  14. Berlin Crisis • Soviets demanded a treaty to cut off flow between West Berlin and the rest of East Germany • JFK met with Khrushchev in June 1961 and after feeling bullied by him, JFK came home and asked Congress for additional 3 billion dollars for defense • He also appeared on television and said that West Berlin was “testing place for Western courage” andthat the US would not be pushed around

  15. Soviet Response • In August 1961 the Soviet Union began building the Berlin Wall • The Wall stopped the flow of trafficbetween West Berlin (democratic) and East Berlin/Germany (communist) • Prevented people from escaping communism by crossing the border into West Berlin • Berlin Wall became a somber symbol of the Cold War

  16. Peace Corp • JFK establish the Peace Corp in 1961 • Its purpose was to send volunteers abroad to help developing nations around the world

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