Camelot and the Great Society

1. Camelot and the Great Society

2. Nixon/Kennedy Debate • First televised debate • Nixon not feeling well • Kennedy just came off a SOCAL campaign tour • Make-up Debate • Those who watched it • Kennedy • Those who listened • Nixon • Kennedy wins election • Narrowest victory in modern times

3. Camelot • Kennedy’s bring style and glamour to White House • Jackie wore the latest fashions • Women adored her • John was young and “vibrant” • Made the Presidency “Pretty”

4. Bay of Pigs • Began under Eisenhower • CIA trained ex-Cuban patriots would invade Cuba • Kennedy gives the go ahead • Invasion begins 17 Aug 1961 • Total failure • Air support never comes • Planned rebellion never takes place • Prisoners finally freed for tractors and corn

5. Operation Mongoose • CIA devised ways of taking Castro out • Shaving off beard • TNT in cigars • Snipers • MLB Scouts

6. Cuban Missile Crisis • 14 Oct 1962 • U2 Spy Plane takes photos • Analysis: Prep sites for nuclear ICBM missiles • Begins 13 days of fear • Options • Military: Take out site • Civilian: Blockade • Kennedy goes with this option • Resolution • Russia promises no missiles in Cuba • US promises not to invade Cuba • Also removes short range missiles from Turkey • The part of the story the rest of the US didn’t know

7. Domestic Front • Starts space program known as NASA • Land on moon in 1969 • Starts Civil Rights Act • Passed in 1964 • Starts Peace Corps • Millions of young men and women serve • Lower Taxes • Sees prosperous economy

8. Foreign Front • Vienna Summit • Kennedy and Kruschev meet in June 1961 • Failure for Kennedy • Cuba • Bay and Crisis hurt his image • Vietnam • Increases “advisors” • Ok’s the assassination of Diem • Berlin • Wall goes up Aug. 1961

9. End of an Era

10. Assassination • 22 Nov 1963 • Kennedy campagns in Texas • Makes stop in Dallas • He is Shot • Lee Harvey Oswald is arrested • Killed by Jack Ruby • Warren Commission • Lone gun man • 1976 Congressional investigation • Oswald killed Kennedy • However there might have been another shooter • All files closed for 40 years!

11. Johnson Takes Office • Kennedy was shot at 12:30 22 Nov 1963 • At 1:20 he is pronounced dead • At 2:38 Johnson takes the oath of office aboard Air Force One prior to take on return to Washington • He becomes the 36th President • Mrs. Kennedy is still wearing the clothes soaked with her husband blood

12. Voting Rights Act of 1964 • Johnson continues Kennedy’s legacy on Civil Rights • 2 July 1964 signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 • Law outlaws Jim Crow • Southern Gov’s resist • LBJ threatens to withhold federal funds • Gov’s back down

13. 1964 Election • Democrat: LBJ • Continues the campaign message of Kennedy • Focus on Domestic Front • Republican: Barry Goldwater • Known as “Mr. Conservative” • Supporters include: Future presidents Reagan and Bush Sr. and Supreme Court Justice Rhenquist • LBJ uses Goldwater “tatical use of nuclear weapons” against him in an ad that ran only once • Also attacks for his push for US involvement in Vietnam • LBJ wins in a landslide

14. The Daisy Ad

15. LBJ’s “Great Society • During a campaign speech LBJ brings up the Great Society • A strong domestic focus • Attack education, poor, voting rights, conservation, urban renewal, etc.

16. 1965 Voting Rights Act • Selma to Montgomery March 7-16, 1965 • Attempt to bring attention to voting discrimination • Police tactics are brutal • Catches national attention • March 15 LBJ calls a special session of Congress • Wants a voting rights bill on his desk • Aug. 6, 1965 LBJ signs the Voting Rights Act of 1965 • Outlaws voting restrictions • Allows for federal observers

17. Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 • Also known as the Hart-Celler Act • Signed by LBJ on Oct. 3, 1965 • Ends quota system that restricted immigration from Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Africa

18. Elementary and Secondary Education Act • LBJ is a former social studies teacher • Signs law in April 1965 • Establishes Dept. of Education • Federal funds for education • Meant to eliminate education gap • Sets standards for education • Essentially takes over education from states

19. War on Poverty • Establishes Office of Economic Opportunity • Initiates Welfare and food stamps • Urban renewal projects • Focus on education opportunities • Head Start

21. Health Care Reform • July 30, 1965 LBJ signs the Medicare Bill • Establishes affordable medical care for seniors • Follows with Medicaid • Establishes medical care for those in poverty

22. Gun Control • In response to JFK and the assassination of MLK Jr. and Robert Kennedy LBJ signs Gun Control Act of 1968 • Gov’t regulation of gun manufactures • Regulate gun transfers between states • Illegal to sale guns to convicted criminals

23. Space Program • LBJ continues JFK’s promise to land on moon before the end of the decade • July 20, 1969 Apollo 11 lands on Moon • Neil Armstrong is fist human to set foot on surface

24. “One Small Step…”

25. Derailed • Aug 17, 1964 In response to attack on USS Maddox LBJ signs Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • Feb. 1965 150,000 Marines Land in Dan Nang, Vietnam • By 1966 LBJ is consumed by Vietnam • 1967 the tide of support goes against war • 1968 Tet Offensive breaks Johnson • He announces he will not run for re-election • Jan. 22, 1973 LBJ dies • Legacy is Vietnam