The Kennedy and Johnson Years 1961 1969 Chapter

The Kennedy and Johnson Years (1961 -1969) Chapter 22: Sections 1 & 2 “The New Frontier” “The Great Society”

Setting the Scene…

The Election of 1960 • A New Type of Candidate • 43 yrs old • Roman Catholic • “Get America Moving Again”

The Election of 1960 • A Narrow Kennedy Victory • Ran w/ Lyndon Johnson • Popular vote w/ in 119, 000 • Enter office w/o strong mandate • “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. ”

Kennedy’s Domestic Programs • The “New Fontier” • Referred to Kennedy’s proposals to improve the economy, assist the poor, and speed up the space program

The “New Frontier” • The Economy • Concern for continuing recession • U. S. Steel Company raised steel $6 a ton, others did the same • Kennedy called for investigation • Stock Market falls • 1963 large tax cut to help economic slump

The “New Frontier” • Combating Poverty & Inequality • Help by stimulating economy • 1/5 under poverty • Needed Fed. Aid • Increase in min wage • Housing Act 1961 • 4. 9 billion to urban renewal • 24 th Amendment • Ends Poll Taxes • Equal Pay Act • = work = pay

The “New Frontier” • The Space Program • Spurred NASA after Sputnik • May 5, 1961 Alan Shepard sent to space (15 min) • Feb 20, 1962 John Glenn orbits earth • July 1969 “Walk on the Moon”

Other Kennedy Initiatives • Boosted Missile Programs • Surplus food to unemployed Americans • Area redevelopment to fight long-term unemployment • Combat water pollution • Changes in Social Security (available to more people) • Trade Expansion Act • Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Kennedy Assassinated • Nov 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas • Parade route published in paper the previous day • Shot from the sixth floor window of Texas School Book Depository

Kennedy Assassination • America was shattered by the news • Lee Harvey Oswald • Supporter of Fidel Castro • Jack Ruby • Dallas Nightclub owner kills Oswald

Kennedy Assassination • Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as U. S. President • Warren Commission • States Oswald acted alone to kill JFK • Nobody else was involved in a conspiracy

Magic Bullet Theory

The Great Society

LBJ’s Path to the White House • Skillful politician and leader • New Deal Democrat from Texas • Minority & Majority leader in the Senate • “Johnson Treatment”

The Great Society • Major Legislative initiatives by LBJ • • • Major poverty relief Education Aid Healthcare Voting Rights Conservation and beautification projects • Urban renewal • Economic Development

The Great Society • Election of 1964 • Landslide victory over Barry Goldwater • The Tax Cut • Also cut gov. spending • GNP rose, unemployment fell • The War on Poverty • Economic Opportunity Act • Head Start • VISTA

The Great Society • Aid to Education • Elementary & Secondary Education Act of 1965 • Medicare & Medicaid • Medicare: 65 & older • Medicaid: poor of any age • Immigration Reform • Immigration Act of 1965

The Warren Court • Chief Justice Earl Warren • Social Issues • Engel v. Vitale • Prayers in schools • Griswold v. Conn. • Birth Control

The Warren Court • Criminal Procedure • Mapp v. Ohio • Gideon v. Wainwright • Miranda v. Arizona • “One Man, One Vote” • Apportionment • Baker v. Carr

Effects of the Great Society • Initially thought to be successful • LBJ more popular than JFK • Race Riots • Vietnam takes money away from the programs