Transcript 1960s: JFK & LBJ - An Online Resource Guide for Social

1960s: JFK & LBJ
US History: Spiconardi
Johnson
The Election of 1960
Kennedy runs against Nixon
First time presidential debate is televised
Wins Kennedy the election due in part to the way he
come off on TV
“The Best and the Brightest”
Surrounded himself with Harvard types in his
cabinet
Wanted fresh ideas to invigorate the country
JFK’s New Frontier
 “And so my fellow Americans – ask not what
your country can do for you – ask what you can
do for your country.”
 New Frontier
Ambitious program that aimed to eliminate racial
discrimination, give federal aid to education and medical
care for elderly.
Wanted the American people to develop a personal
commitment to work for national ideals
Most of his proposed legislation knocked down in
Congress
NASA & The Peace Corps
 NASA
 Kennedy had a goal of sending a man to the moon by the end
of the 1960s after Russians sent first man into space
 After $25.4 billion, Neil Armstrong first to land on moon in
1969
 Peace Corps
 Sent thousands of American volunteers to developing nations
to ward off communism and gain American allies
 US sent teachers, agricultural specialists, and health workers
The Kennedy Assassination: Who &
Why?
Was the accused assassin, Lee Harvey
Oswald, acting alone or was he part of a
conspiracy?
The Great Society
 LBJ wanted to eradicate poverty & guarantee equal rights to all
citizens
 The War on Poverty
 Job Corps  provided work experience & remedial education for young
people
 Project Head Start program that prepared preschoolers from lowincome families for grade school
 Upward Bound helped high-school students from low-income families
prepare for college
 Medicare provided health care and insurance to people over the age
of 65
 Medicaid  provided states with funds to provide health care for the
poor
 Department of Housing and Urban Development  Improved housing
and provided cities with economic aid (creation of the “projects”)
The Warren Court
 Under Chief Justice Earl Warren, Supreme
Court maintained a liberal tradition
Eliminated required prayers and Bible reading in public
schools
Declared a Connecticut law outlawing the use of
contraceptives by married couples unconstitutional
Ruled that state representatives should serve the same
number of constituents
The Warren Court
 Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) a person who could not
afford an attorney has the right to a state appointed
lawyer
Escobedo v. Illinois (1964)  accused had the right to
counsel during and interrogation & the right to remain
silent
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)  established that police had
to inform criminal suspects that had rights and any
statement could be used against them
Roe v. Wade (1973)* struck down state laws that
prohibited abortion based on the “right to privacy”
 * Not a Warren Court decision