John F. Kennedy

1. John F. Kennedy

2. The Election of 1960 The election of 1960 was the closest since 1884; Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon by fewer than 119,000 votes.

3. Did You Know? • • He was a decorated naval officer in WW II • • He received the Pulitzer Prize for his book, Profiles in Courage • He served exactly 1,000 days in office • He was the only Catholic president

4. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address Kennedy was the youngest person ever to be elected president. His youth helped provide the theme to his inaugural address: “Let the word go forth…that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it…And so, my fellow Americans -ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country.”

5. The Camelot Years With JFK’s youthful glamour and his talented advisors, the Kennedy White House reminded many of a modern-day Camelot, the mythical court of King Arthur.

6. Crisis In Cuba • The first test of Kennedy’s foreign policy came in Cuba, just 90 miles off the coast of Florida. • Revolutionary leader Fidel Castro openly declared himself a communist and • welcomed aid from the • Soviet Union. Fidel Castro

7. The Bay of Pigs April,1961: 1500 Cuban exiles, trained by the CIA and supported by the U.S. military, landed at Baja de Cochinos, (Bay of Pigs). The CIA hoped to trigger a mass uprising that would overthrow Castro. It didn’t… Backed by Soviet tanks and jet aircraft, Cuban forces easily repelled the invasion. Some of the exiles were killed, others imprisoned.

8. The failed invasion and overthrow of Castro was a “black eye” for the JFK administration… • It made the U.S. (and JFK) look like a bully… • Caused a wave of anti-Americanism around the world

9. The Cuban Missile Crisis October, 1962

10. The Key Participants: John F. Kennedy Robert F. Kennedy Nikita Khrushchev

11. Khrushchev & Castro

12. American U-2 spy plane photos reveal missile launchers under construction in Cuba

13. Potential Target Range Phoenix, AZ? 15 mins. after launch

14. Kennedy warns Soviets that U.S will not tolerate offensive missiles in Cuba • Warns any attack from Cuba would trigger all out attack on Soviet Union

15. JFK speaks to the American public about the events… • John F. Kennedy Missile Crisis – YouTube

16. October 22: JFK ordered a naval blockade of Cuba to prevent further deliveries of Soviet weapons. He also demanded that the Soviets remove the missiles.

17. For a few days, nuclear war and massive destruction was a distinct possibility for every American. In schools, children practiced air raid drills, a common occurrence during the Cold War. People who had built bomb shelters began stocking them with food and other provisions. Even the president called his family to the White House where they could be protected in the presidential nuclear shelter.

18. The President and top advisors… “EX COMM”

19. Suddenly, on October 24, many of the Soviet ships stopped short of the blockade line, turned, and sailed home. “We’re eyeball to eyeball,” saidSecretary of State Dean Rusk, “and I think the other fellow just blinked.” On October 28 Khrushchev agreed to dismantle the missile bases in response to Kennedy’s promise not to invade Cuba and to remove U.S. missiles in Turkey

20. End Part I

21. SECTION 2: THE NEW FRONTIER Kennedy’s vision for America: “The New Frontier” The economy, education, medical care for the elderly and the poor, and space exploration were all part of his vision

22. THE PEACE CORPS One of the first programs launched by JFK was the Peace Corps volunteer program to assist developing nations in Asia, Africa and Latin America The Peace Corps has become a huge success

23. RACE TO THE MOON On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space Meanwhile, America’s space agency (NASA) began construction on new launch facilities in Cape Canaveral, Florida and a mission control center in Houston, Texas

24. A MAN ON THE MOON Finally, on July 20, 1969, the U.S. would achieve its goal An excited nation watched as U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the moon Space and defense-related industries sprang up in Southern and Western states Armstrong “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”

25. KENNEDY ADDRESSES INNER CITY BLIGHT AND RACISM JFK called for “a national assault on the causes of poverty” He also ordered his brother, U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy to investigate racial injustice in the South Finally, he presented Congress with a sweeping civil rights bill and a sweeping tax cut bill to spur the economy

26. TRAGEDY IN DALLAS On a sunny day on November 22,1963, Air Force One landed in Dallas with JFK and Jackie JFK received warm applause from the crowd that lined the downtown streets of Dallas as he rode in the back seat of an open-air limousine

27. As the motorcade passed the Texas Book Depository, shots rang out

28. JFK was shot in the neck and then the head The Undamaged Zapruder Film - YouTube He was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors frantically tried to revive him President Kennedy was dead (11/22/63)

29. LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON BECOMES PRESIDENT The Vice-President, Lyndon B. Johnson became President after JFK was assassinated The nation mourned the death of the young president while Jackie Kennedy remained calm and poised A somber LBJ takes the oath of office aboard Air Force One with the Jackie next to him

30. JFK LAID TO REST All work stopped for Kennedy’s funeral as America mourned its fallen leader The assassination and the televised funeral became historic events Like 9-11, Americans can recall where they were when they heard the news of the President’s death Three-year old John Kennedy Jr. salutes his father’s coffin during the funeral

31. LEE HARVEY OSWALD CHARGED; SHOT TO DEATH A 24-year-old Marine with a suspicious past left a palm print on the rifle used to kill JFK He was charged and as a national TV audience watched his transfer from one jail to another, nightclub owner Jack Ruby broke through the crowd and shot Oswald to death Jack Ruby, right, shoots Oswald, center, to death 11/24/63

32. UNANSWERED QUESTIONS The bizarre chain of events led many to believe that Oswald was part of a conspiracy The Warren Commission investigated the assassination and determined that Oswald had indeed acted alone Filmmaker Oliver Stone isn’t so sure – his film, “JFK,” is filled with conspiracy theories

33. An alternate view…Seinfeld - The Magic Loogie, Reconstruction - YouTube