The Kennedy Years 1961 1963 Election of 1960

The Kennedy Years 1961 -1963

Election of 1960 • First televised debates • Slim victory for Kennedy Candidate Electoral Vote Popular Vote % Electoral Vote % Popular Vote John F. Kennedy (Democrat) 303 34, 227, 096 56. 4 49. 7 Richard M. Nixon (Republican) 219 34, 107, 646 40. 8 49. 6

Kennedy’s Foreign Policy • “flexible response”: gave increased funding to conventional armed forces • Peace Corps: organization to help underdeveloped countries and provided education and health services • Alliance for Progress: Improved ties with Latin America

Bay of Pigs Invasion • • April 17 -19, 1961 Planned by Eisenhower administration CIA recruited and trained Cuban exiles to attack Cuban government Failed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro in Cuba

Bay of Pigs Invasion

The Berlin Crisis • Khrushchev wanted West Berlin in Soviet Union’s control but Kennedy refused • Led to construction of Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall • 239 killed trying to cross • 66 miles long

Cuban Missile Crisis • September 1962 • U. S. intelligence realized Soviets were building nuclear missile sites in Cuba

Cuban Missile Crisis • Kennedy approved a naval blockade of Cuba • Leaders eventually reached a diplomatic negotiation after six days

Effects of Cuban Missile Crisis • “hot line”: telephone system between Moscow and Washington • Nuclear Test Ban Treaty: ended above ground nuclear tests

Discussion Points • 1. According to these documents, what deal did the US strike with the USSR? • 2. Why was this deal kept secret? • 3. Who seems to be more scared or on the defensive in these documents? • 4. What does this event show you about how people felt during the Cold War?

Kennedy’s Domestic Policy • “New Frontier” • Very ambitious • Increased minimum wage to $1. 25/hour • Set up the President’s Commission on the Status of Women – Equal Pay Act to reduce wage gap between men and women

Kennedy’s Domestic Policy • To help economy, Kennedy gave tax credits to encourage business investment • Increased military spending • Advocated Keynesian economics, or deficit spending, to boost economy • Tax cuts for middle class Americans • Increased taxes on wealthier citizens

Kennedy and Civil Rights • Approached Civil Rights timidly • Introduced Civil Rights Bill in 1963 – Prosecuted voting rights violations – Gave federal funds to schools integrating • Sent federal marshals to Ole Miss

Space Program • US behind in the “space race” with Soviet Union • Wanted a man on the moon by 1970 • Funded space program- NASA • Neil Armstrong lands on moon in 1969

White House Renovation

Personal Life • Constant affairs • Marilyn Monroe • Sang “Happy Birthday”

Kennedy’s Assassination • Visited Texas to boost support for re-election • Fatally shot while riding through Dallas, TX on November 22, 1963

Kennedy’s Assassination • Shot by Communist sympathizer, Lee Harvey Oswald

Johnson Sworn In