Transcript The kennedy & johnson years - Avon Grove School District
THE KENNEDY & JOHNSON YEARS
Chapter 18
John F. Kennedy
Democrat Junior Senator Young: 43 Wealthy, Connected Family Handsome Catholic
Richard M. Nixon
Republican VP Youngish: 47 Humble Means “Tricky Dick” Quaker
Election
1960 Elections first to have televised debates Kennedy & Nixon Debates Kennedy had Hollywood producers to coach Makeup, suit, speaking Nixon refused makeup, grey suit Kennedy played on Cold War Fears claiming the US had fallen behind in the Arms Race – said Eisenhower not doing enough Also championed the poor: 17 million hungry
Camelot
Jack & Jackie Photographs showed JFK strong, athletic, handsome Young, beautiful wife Jackie (31) Two small children (first in White House since 1908)
JFK’s plan to change the nation Tried to reduce taxes – congress said no Federal aid to education – congress said no Cancelled government contracts with steel companies to lower prices Area Redevelopment Act of 1961- financial assistance to economically distressed regions Minimum wage raised from $1.00 $1.25
Sets the goal of landing on the moon before the decade is up – it would be an accomplishment for the entire nation
Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren Made many reforms – desegregate schools – right to a lawyer schools – banned prayer/Bible reading in
Foreign Affairs
1959 Fulgencio Batista overthrows (US backed Cuban Dictator) Takes over Private Business Makes Anti-American Speeches Signed trade agreement with the USSR CIA believed an invasion of Cuba would inspire Cubans to rise up Eisenhower Okayed the operation (about to leave office)
Foreign Affairs
1960: Kennedy learns of a plan to train Cuban Exiles to invade Cuba Kennedy in tough spot: to invade, or not to invade?
CIA assures Kennedy that the plan will succeed JFK gave the go-ahead
April 15: Cuban Exiles, fly bomber planes and attack Cuban airfields,
No secret “The Perfect Failure”
Cuban Exiles also invade beaches April 17: US Navy ships assist Cuban Brigade, but don’t fight Cuban Forces, led by Fidel Castro, sink 2 ships, and capture 1,200 men
Outcome
JFK took the blame – got respect from the people Collins Type II – Write an article!
Describe the Bay of Pigs Invasion What was the lead up to the event?
What happened?
What was the outcome?
What do YOU think??
Vienna Conference
JFK invited Khrushchev to meet with him in Vienna, Austria in June 1961 to ease tensions Khrushchev demanded: US and allies recognize Communist East Germany as an independent nation Withdraw from West Berlin
Vienna Conference
West Berlin was an “island of freedom” surrounded by East Germany 3.5 Million East Germans escaped through West Berlin JFK & advisors afraid East Germany would use force to regain West Berlin Called reserves into active duty, built nuclear shelters in US, troop buildup in West Germany
Berlin Wall
August 13, 1961: Khrushchev closed crossing points between East and West Berlin Within hours 25,000 troops were in place to guard a barbed wire barrier around West Berlin A proper wall soon followed: 97 miles around the three Western Sectors, 27 miles between West & East Berlin No Mans Land in Between
Collins Type II – Write a letter
What was the Berlin Wall?
What led up to its being built?
What was its purpose?
How will it affect East & West Germans?
Cuban Missile Crisis
US actions at the Bay of Pigs and Berlin Crisis encouraged USSR to become more aggressive Khrushchev pledged to defend Cuba USSR concerned about nuclear missiles placed in Turkey Convinced Castro to allow Surface - to – air missiles (SAM) and nuclear missiles in Cuba JFK accused of being “soft on communism”
Cuban Missile Crisis
JFK ordered U-2 spy planes to fly over Cuba 1962: photos showed the building of SAMs JFK’s advisors advised an airstrike Followed by an invasion Act of war Robert McNamara & Robert Kennedy wanted a naval blockade This would be an act of war too, less threatening JFK chose blockade For two days the US prepared for war as Soviet ships sailed for Cuba – Khrushchev said if we try to stop them, WAR!
Khrushchev wrote a letter…
Offering to remove the missiles if the US promised to never invade Cuba Then he wrote another letter demanding the US pull missiles out of Turkey JFK ignored the second letter Secretly, Robert Kennedy promised we would take missiles out This is the closest the world has ever come to nuclear war JFK & Khrushchev installed a hotline so they could communicate directly : end testing nuclear weapons in the atmosphere & underwater
13 Days
John F. Kennedy – President Robert Kennedy – Attorney General Kenny O’Donnell - Advisor Robert McNamara – Secretary of Defense Dean Atcheson – Secretary of State under Truman Adlai Stevenson – Ambassador to the UN
November 22, 1963
JFK went to Dallas to campaign for the 1964 election Rode in a convertible shot Kennedy from the 6 th of the Texas School Book Depository floor Two days later Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby gave the oath of office on Air Force One Set up the DEATH TO INVESTIGATE JFK’S “The legacy of hope died with him. You never had that same sense again that we were moving forward.”
LBJ – Lyndon Baines Johnson
Powerful Senator from Texas Hated being VP “It was my duty to carry on” what JFK had planned Master Legislator – used the JOHNSON TREATMENT WAR ON POVERTY GREAT SOCIETY: DOMESTIC PROGRAMS , AIMS TO END POVERTY AND RACIAL INJUSTICE MEDICAID: healthcare for poor MEDICARE: healthcare for 65+ DAISY AD: election of 1964 Beat Barry Goldwater
Turn to Page 546
Look at the Major Great Society Programs Chart
Write a Collins Type II:
What was the Great Society & its aims