Election of 1960Election of 1960

John F. Kennedy (D) v. Richard Nixon (R)John F. Kennedy (D) v. Richard Nixon (R)Closest election since 1884Closest election since 1884

Less than 120,000 votes differenceLess than 120,000 votes difference

Kennedy winsKennedy wins Television debate helped him win Kennedy also gain African Television debate helped him win Kennedy also gain African

American vote when he showed sympathy for MLK in 1960American vote when he showed sympathy for MLK in 1960

New FrontierNew Frontier““Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”you can do for your country.”

Creates Peace CorpsCreates Peace Corps

Kennedy mystique was known as “Camelot”Kennedy mystique was known as “Camelot”

Kennedy & the Cold WarKennedy & the Cold War

Kennedy adopts new idea of “flexible response”Kennedy adopts new idea of “flexible response” Used conventional forces; not nuclearUsed conventional forces; not nuclear Created Green BeretsCreated Green Berets

Bay of PigsBay of Pigs Eisenhower had cut relations w/ Cuba in Jan.61Eisenhower had cut relations w/ Cuba in Jan.61 Fidel Castro took over as communistFidel Castro took over as communist Eisenhower’s administration creates plan to overthrow Eisenhower’s administration creates plan to overthrow

Castro w/ trained Cuban exilesCastro w/ trained Cuban exiles Kennedy backed CIA plan to invade Cuba w/ exilesKennedy backed CIA plan to invade Cuba w/ exiles

Plan failed miserably; Kennedy publicly took blamePlan failed miserably; Kennedy publicly took blame

Never trusted CIA/military leaders againNever trusted CIA/military leaders again

Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis Soviets sent nuclear missiles into CubaSoviets sent nuclear missiles into Cuba Kennedy planned to remove missiles; could lead to WWIIIKennedy planned to remove missiles; could lead to WWIII Crisis avoided when Soviets offered to remove missiles in Crisis avoided when Soviets offered to remove missiles in

exchange for US promise to NOT invade Cubaexchange for US promise to NOT invade Cuba

After Cuban Missile CrisisAfter Cuban Missile Crisis Many Cuban exiles upset; switch allegiance to RepublicansMany Cuban exiles upset; switch allegiance to Republicans US & Soviets also put in hotline between Washington & MoscowUS & Soviets also put in hotline between Washington & Moscow

Berlin WallBerlin Wall West Germany & West Berlin are flourishing w/ capitalismWest Germany & West Berlin are flourishing w/ capitalism Many in East Berlin try to flee to W. BerlinMany in East Berlin try to flee to W. Berlin Khrushchev sees those leaving hurting image of communismKhrushchev sees those leaving hurting image of communism Builds a huge wall to keep people in communist East Builds a huge wall to keep people in communist East

Germany/East BerlinGermany/East Berlin Wall seen as oppressive symbol of communismWall seen as oppressive symbol of communism

Kennedy’s DeathKennedy’s Death

Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963 in Dallas Texas1963 in Dallas Texas

Lee Harvey Oswald is arrested for murderLee Harvey Oswald is arrested for murder Oswald killed by Jack Ruby before any trialOswald killed by Jack Ruby before any trial

Vice President Lyndon Johnson takes over Vice President Lyndon Johnson takes over as Presidentas President Pushes for many of the bills Kennedy wanted Pushes for many of the bills Kennedy wanted

passed (ie Civil Rights Act)passed (ie Civil Rights Act)

Vietnam EraVietnam Era

Background InfoBackground Info French controlled Vietnam after WWIIFrench controlled Vietnam after WWII Push for independence, led by communist Vietminh & Ho Chi MinPush for independence, led by communist Vietminh & Ho Chi Min N.Vietnam controlled by communists, S.Vietnam controlled by French (US N.Vietnam controlled by communists, S.Vietnam controlled by French (US

supports w/ money)supports w/ money) Dien Bien Phu- French get out of Vietnam (lost battle)Dien Bien Phu- French get out of Vietnam (lost battle) Geneva convention- Vietnam to have free electionsGeneva convention- Vietnam to have free elections

US supports democratic S.VietnamUS supports democratic S.VietnamDomino Theory-Domino Theory- US afraid all South Asia will fall to communism if we US afraid all South Asia will fall to communism if we don’t support S.Vietnamdon’t support S.VietnamSpecial Forces sent as military advisors during early 1960sSpecial Forces sent as military advisors during early 1960sGulf of Tonkin incident, 1964Gulf of Tonkin incident, 1964

N.Vietnamese boat “attacks” US ship in Gulf of TonkinN.Vietnamese boat “attacks” US ship in Gulf of Tonkin US uses “attack” to promote escalationUS uses “attack” to promote escalation Congress passes Congress passes Tonkin Gulf ResolutionTonkin Gulf Resolution (LBJ can assist any Southeast (LBJ can assist any Southeast

Asian Country that is threatened by communism)Asian Country that is threatened by communism)

US at WarUS at War

US started bombings of N.Vietnam in early 1965 US started bombings of N.Vietnam in early 1965 (Operation Rolling Thunder)(Operation Rolling Thunder)US begins escalation, sending more troopsUS begins escalation, sending more troops

180,000 by end of 1965180,000 by end of 1965

American troops commanded by William WestmorelandAmerican troops commanded by William Westmoreland Unhappy w/ ARVN troops; continues requesting more US troopsUnhappy w/ ARVN troops; continues requesting more US troops 500,000 US troops in Vietnam by end of 1967500,000 US troops in Vietnam by end of 1967

Fighting difficult (in jungles)Fighting difficult (in jungles) Vietcong use guerilla attacks, hit-and-run tactics, etc.Vietcong use guerilla attacks, hit-and-run tactics, etc. Difficult for US to know difference between enemies and friendsDifficult for US to know difference between enemies and friends Vietcong supplied by N.Vietnam thru Ho Chi Min trailVietcong supplied by N.Vietnam thru Ho Chi Min trail Vietcong used threats on civilians, booby traps, tunnels, etc.Vietcong used threats on civilians, booby traps, tunnels, etc. US counters with “Hearts and Minds” approach (help out US counters with “Hearts and Minds” approach (help out

Vietnamese citizens in order to gain support)Vietnamese citizens in order to gain support)

US uses napalm & agent orange to help with jungle fightingUS uses napalm & agent orange to help with jungle fighting Problem of hitting innocent peopleProblem of hitting innocent people

Troop morale gets lowTroop morale gets low Troops engage in drug use/alcoholismTroops engage in drug use/alcoholism TV coverage sends footage homeTV coverage sends footage home

Protest of war beginsProtest of war begins Mainly led by Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)Mainly led by Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) Civil Rights leaders also call for change (disproportionate numbers of Civil Rights leaders also call for change (disproportionate numbers of

Af.Americans in service)Af.Americans in service)

Tet Offensive – turning point of the war (1968)Tet Offensive – turning point of the war (1968) North Vietnamese (Communists) attack US throughout S.VietnamNorth Vietnamese (Communists) attack US throughout S.Vietnam Temporarily take over US bases, US EmbassyTemporarily take over US bases, US Embassy US kills more NVA; turns back attackUS kills more NVA; turns back attack Public opinion changes against the warPublic opinion changes against the war LBJ decides not to run for re-electionLBJ decides not to run for re-election

Richard Nixon wins 1968 election; promises withdrawal of US troopsRichard Nixon wins 1968 election; promises withdrawal of US troops

Nixon withdraws 1Nixon withdraws 1stst US troops in 1969 US troops in 1969 Calls policy “Vietnamization”Calls policy “Vietnamization”

My Lai massacre by US Soldiers, 26 put on trial.My Lai massacre by US Soldiers, 26 put on trial.Nixon bombs & invades CambodiaNixon bombs & invades Cambodia

Goes against promise to reduce warGoes against promise to reduce war Leads to Kent State Tragedy Leads to Kent State Tragedy

(Student protest that gets violent, 4 students shot and killed by Nat’l (Student protest that gets violent, 4 students shot and killed by Nat’l Guard)Guard)

Nixon wins re-election in 1972, says “peace is at hand”Nixon wins re-election in 1972, says “peace is at hand”US signs agreement to withdraw troops in 1973US signs agreement to withdraw troops in 1973All troops gone by March 29, 1973All troops gone by March 29, 1973S.Vietnam falls to communists in April 1975S.Vietnam falls to communists in April 1975

Johnson’s PresidencyJohnson’s PresidencyEarly LifeEarly Life Grew up in rural Texas; saw lots of povertyGrew up in rural Texas; saw lots of poverty Idolized FDR in early politicsIdolized FDR in early politics

Johnson’s GoalsJohnson’s Goals Major concern at home was povertyMajor concern at home was poverty Johnson’s plan called Johnson’s plan called Great SocietyGreat Society (fights a “ (fights a “War War

on Povertyon Poverty”)”) Medicare & MedicaidMedicare & Medicaid HeadstartHeadstart H.U.D.H.U.D. Tax cutsTax cuts

Court CasesCourt Cases

The Warren CourtThe Warren CourtMapp v. OhioMapp v. Ohio, 1961 – illegally seized , 1961 – illegally seized evidenceevidenceGideon v. WainwrightGideon v. Wainwright, 1963 – free legal , 1963 – free legal counsel for underprivilegedcounsel for underprivilegedMiranda v. ArizonaMiranda v. Arizona, 1966 – legal rights of , 1966 – legal rights of accused accused Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg BOESwann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg BOE, 1971 , 1971 – school districts can use forced bussing for – school districts can use forced bussing for integrationintegration

NixonNixon

More conservative; “New Federalism”More conservative; “New Federalism”Gives more power back to state gov’tsGives more power back to state gov’tsNixon too paranoid; uses power illegallyNixon too paranoid; uses power illegally FBI – wiretapped liberalsFBI – wiretapped liberals CIA – list of anti-gov’t peopleCIA – list of anti-gov’t people IRS – tax audits of antiwar & civil rights activistsIRS – tax audits of antiwar & civil rights activists Had an “enemies list”Had an “enemies list”

Economy suffers during Nixon’s presidencyEconomy suffers during Nixon’s presidency stagflationstagflation

Cold War StrategyCold War Strategy Détente (easing of Cold War tensions)Détente (easing of Cold War tensions) Visits China and Soviet Union in 1972Visits China and Soviet Union in 1972 SALT I – talks to limit ICBMsSALT I – talks to limit ICBMs

WatergateWatergate5 men caught breaking into Democratic National HQ’s5 men caught breaking into Democratic National HQ’sMen were members of Committee to Reelect the Men were members of Committee to Reelect the President (CRP)President (CRP)Nixon uses cover-up to keep top aides from being fired Nixon uses cover-up to keep top aides from being fired or dismissedor dismissed

Documents destroyedDocuments destroyed $500,000 in bribes handed out$500,000 in bribes handed out CIA pressures FBI to stop investigationCIA pressures FBI to stop investigation

Tape recordings of conversationsTape recordings of conversationsStory cracked by newspaper reportersStory cracked by newspaper reportersNixon v. USNixon v. US, 1974, 1974

Nixon forced to surrender taped phone conversationsNixon forced to surrender taped phone conversations 18 minute gap on tape (had been destroyed)18 minute gap on tape (had been destroyed)

Congress begins impeachment processCongress begins impeachment processNixon resigns before being impeached; Gerald Ford Nixon resigns before being impeached; Gerald Ford takes over as President takes over as President