The Kennedy and Johnson Years 1961-1969

1. The Kennedy and Johnson Years (1961-1969) �The New Frontier� �The Great Society� �Foreign Policy in the Early 1960s�

2. why Kennedy Won

3. A comparison What was the key part of the 1960 debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon that we discussed earlier? Appearances are everything Nixon was a brilliant politician; he had served in Congress and was Vice President to Dwight D. Eisenhower Kennedy was a relative new comer to the arena of national politics Senator from Massachusetts who had also served as a state Representative to Congress. Attended Princeton and later graduated from Harvard. War vet. of World War II as a lieutenant in the Navy Had powerful stage presence

4. Election of 1960: Why vote for Kennedy? Kennedy was 43, and was elected as the youngest president (Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as president at age 42, but not voted in after McKinley�s death) Experience? Religion? Economy?

5. No Mandate Why is a mandate from the people important? Why do you think the election between Nixon and Kennedy was so close? Kennedy still approached his election with confidence-his inaugural quote in 1961 is one that we have all heard �My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.�

6. Domestic Policies: The New Frontier Derived from a speech given earlier in his presidency about America standing on the edge of a �new frontier�. The Economy is the key question What should we do to help the faltering economy? Business leaders were distrustful of Kennedy U.S. Steel �price fixing�? Tax cut over 3 years Would have created a budget deficit for the government, but would have put money into the hands of the citizens. Would it have stimulated the economy? We don�t know because it didn�t make it through Congress

7. Poverty and Inequality Federal aid for the poor Many plans for the poor once again failed to pass through Congress Some did, however: Congress passed measures to increase minimum wage to reflect the growing cost of living, and also the Housing Act of 1961 for urban renewal (fixing dilapidated buildings, building new structures) Twenty-fourth Amendment was passed-outlawed the poll tax required to register to vote Equal Pay Act-you do the same work, you get paid the same

8. How Do You Avoid Congress? Congress was clearly against many of the President�s measures Executive orders were used to implement many of Kennedy�s plans; they bypassed Congress for approval Provide EQUAL opportunity in housing Food distribution to the poor

9. Notable Goals Achieved in Kennedy�s Presidency Defense build-up as missile programs were added to Changes in Social Security; allowed 5 million more people to collect and the age to retire and draw was set at 62 Laws passed to combat water pollution Laws passed to combat juvenile delinquency World�s largest nuclear plant built Signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

10. Space� April 1961-a Soviet, Yuri Gagarin becomes the first person in space. Kennedy spurned the nation to take the space race seriously NASA funding was increased dramatically; more emphasis on math and science in schools John Glenn becomes the first man to orbit the Earth in 1962 Call for Americans to land on the moon before the end of the decade Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin land on the moon on July 20, 1969, completing the challenge.

12. The Assassination The President went to Texas to gain support for the upcoming presidential election-met with the Governor of Texas, John Connally He took a tour of downtown Dallas in a motorcade Kennedy and Connally are both shot Connally recovers; Kennedy is mortally wounded Johnson is notified; is sword in as President of the United States abroad Air Force One with Mrs. Kennedy and Lady Bird Johnson at his side. Johnson assigns men to investigate the death of John F. Kennedy; becomes known as the Warren Commission. It determined that Lee Harvey Oswald had acted alone Conspiracy theories?

14. LBJ�s Road to the White House Johnson became President through a very tragic event; however, he had wanted to be President for most of his political career Highlights of LBJ 1937-Representative from Texas (New Deal Democrat) 1948-Senator from Texas 1953- youngest person to be elected as Minority Leader 1954-Democrats take Congress, and LBJ becomes Majority Leader Made a run for the White House in 1960-lost the nomination to JFK Didn�t like being VP-very little power; didn�t have control as he did in the Senate

15. The Great Society Johnson had ambitious goals for the American people Wanted to pass Kennedy inspired tax cuts and civil right bills Aid public education Medical care for the elderly Eliminate poverty The Great Society Series of legislative programs that achieved Johnson�s goals Poverty Relief Education aid Healthcare Voting rights Conservation and beatification projects Economic development

16. Election of 1964 Opponent: Barry Goldwater Who was he? He was against civil rights legislation; he took a very conservative side on many issues For nuclear war-Johnson exploited that. Daisy Commercial

17. Johnson Wins on His Own Terms 1964-Johnson is elected President Mandate of the people Tax Cuts Compromise Gov. would have a deficient, but it would cut spending to accommodate (funding for programs could be reduced) Stemmed the recession and created new growth in the economy War on Poverty Head Start-preschool for low income families VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America)-help people in poor communities

18. Medicare and Medicaid Medicare Hospital and low-cost medical insurance to Americans 65 or older Medicaid Low cost health insurance for the poor

19. Warren Court Supreme Court at the time was called the �Warren Court� after Chief Justice Earl Warren Established new precedents in landmark cases

20. Changes in Law Social Obscenity was defined as �utterly without redeeming social importance� (1957 court case) No prayer in schools (1962 court case) Birth control ruled legal (1965) Criminal Miranda v. Arizona