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 FrontierNew 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 PovertyThe War on Poverty

Job Corps provided work experience & remedial education for young people

Project Head Start program that prepared preschoolers from low-income 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