THE UNITED STATES 1960-1980

From JFK to Ronald Reagan1960-1988

1960 Election-defining election Nixon is heir apparent to Eisenhower

2 term Vice-President Former Senator and member of Congress Former Red-Hunter who bagged Hiss

“Old” Nixon is no-hold-bared campaigner “New” Nixon is a mature and veteran

statesmen Kitchen Debate 1959: Nixon vs. Khrushchev

American consumerism vs Soviet economic planning

Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. from Massachusetts chosen as running mate

Democratic Nominee-JFK

John F. Kennedy (JFK) is “youthful, dark-haired millionaire senator from Massachusetts “

43 years old

Scion of powerful family

Former WW2 Veteran and Roman Catholic JFK scores victories in the primaries Lyndon Johnson chosen as running mate

for Kennedy-done to please Southern democrats

TV Debates

Kennedy says Sputnik has allowed Soviets to catch up to power and prestige of U.S.-”missile gap”

Nixon says this unpatriotic talk is hurting American prestige

Four Televised Debates 60+ million people watched Who won??? At a minimum JFK holds his own against veteran debater

Nixon Viewers like Kennedy’s glamour and youth more than

Nixon’s tired and pale look

TV shows “style over substance”

Results

Kennedy win the election Electoral College: 303-219 Popular Vote: Margin of 119,574 of 68 million

Kennedy does well in industrial centers Support from workers, Catholics and African

Americans Nixon campaigned in all 50 states

Democrats win both houses of congress Kennedy becomes youngest person elected

President Big city bosses and machine got out vote in

key states-fraud in Illinois and Texas?

1960 Results

Inauguration Day

The New Frontier

Domestic Agenda

1. Called for across the board tax cuts-rejected by Congress

2. Increased funding for education-rejected

3. Cautious approach to civil rights-case-by-case basis0sent Federal marshals to protect freedom riders and James Meredith

4. Equal Pay Act of 1963-passed by Congress

5. 1962-Asked Congress to make it priority for space program

Space Program

1957 Soviets launch Sputnik-1st space based satellite

April 1961, the Soviets had become the first country to send a man into space with the successful mission of Yuri Gagarin

May 1961, American Alan Shepard flew into space, but did not orbit the earth as the Russian cosmonaut had.

FOPO and JFK

JFK campaigned on strong national defense

Called for increased defense spending

Young and inexperienced in foreign policy

Chief advisor-RFK-the Attorney General of the US

Bay of Pigs-April 1961

1959-Fidel Castro leads Communists revolution on Cuba

1961-JFK authorizes 1400 CIA trained Cuban exiles to invade Cuba to overthrow Castro

Invasion a debacle-serious damage to American prestige and embarrassment to JFK

Berlin Crisis-June 1961

Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev seeks to intimidate JFK at Vienna Summit

Demands that Allies remove troops from West Berlin

JFK calls for defense buildup and renewal of draft

Restates commitment to West Berlin Summer of 1961-Building of Berlin

Wall

Ich bin ein Berliner”

Cuban Missile Crisis

Oct 1962-US U2 planes site medium ballistic missile sites in Cuba

13 day confrontation between US and Soviets

World teetered on edge of WW3 JFK orders a “quarantine” of Cuba,

rather than invasion Russians back down, agree to

remove launching sites

Limited Test Ban Treaty

US and Soviets agree to ban the testing of nuclear weapons in the air, at sea, or in space

Peace Corps

Volunteer organization for Americans to work on social and economic programs in 3rd world nations

Since 1961, over 200000 Americans have served in 140 countries

Nov. 22, 1963-Dallas, Texas JFK assassinated in Dallas, Texas Lone gunman arrested Lee Harvey

Oswald, who was shot and killed few days later

Nation stunned and riveted to the funeral in Washington DC and burial at Arlington National Cemetery

Warren Commission blames Oswald, says he acted alone

Conspiracy theories?????

Lyndon B Johnson 1963-1969 Former Texan member of Congress

and Senate majority leader Vice-President under JFK Took oath of office on airplane to

Washington DC Allowed the nation time to mourn the

President Used JFK’s memory to push

legislation

The Great Society

The War on Poverty Civil Rights Legislation

1963-Congress passes… Revenue Act of 1963 Economic Opportunity Act of 1963

Job Corps Community Action Program Vista-Volunteers in service to America

1963-March on Washington DC MLK delivers “I have the Dream

Speech” LBJ signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964-

prohibits discrimination on the basis of race

1964 Election

D-LBJ R-Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona

Key facts LBJ unbeatable in 1964 Goldwater conservative from Arizona “In your heart, you know he is right”-

birth of modern conservatives LBJ wins landslide

1964 election

1965-the Great Society

LBJ and Congress pass historic legislation

Head Start Elementary and Secondary School Act ($1 billion for public

schools and $100 million for purchase of library and textbooksMedicare  and Medicaid-health care for old and poorVoting Rights Act –guaranteed voting rights for minoritiesOmnibus Housing Act provided $7.5 billion for low-income housingCreated Department of Housing and Urban Development Air Quality Act created auto emission standards 

Head Start

Public Housing

Vietnam: An American Tragedy

Background

Vietnam-part of French Indochina Japanese invaded 1940, defeated

1945 1945-1st Indochinese war

French versus Vietminh Vietminh-Indochinese Communists

Party led by ho Chi Minh

Division of Vietnam

1954-Surrender of French at Dien Bien Phu

1954-Geneva Accords-Vietnam divided at the 17th Parallel

North Vietnam-headed by Ho Chi Minh South Vietnam-headed by Ngo Dinh Diem

National Liberation Front-Viet Cong Communists guerillas in South Vietnam

War-Vietcong in the South

Communists insurgency in the south Vietcong attacks on South Vietnam-

aided by North Vietnam

1963-JFK orders 16000 Green Berets to Vietnam and attack helicoptors

1964-Tonkin Gulf Incident

 USS Maddox, on an intelligence mission along North Vietnam's coast, allegedly fired upon and damaged several torpedo boats that had been stalking it in the Gulf of Tonkin. A second attack was reported two days later

Congress passes Tonkin Gulf resolution authoring LBJ to use force against Communism in Vietnam

Domino Theory

Belief that if South Vietnam fell to communists that it would lead to fall of one country after another

Search and destroy

US Army and Marines versus Viet Cong and NVA

Search and destroy-American missions to hunt and destroy Vietcong and NVA

Operation Rolling Thunder

American air attack on north Vietnam

US drops more bombs on North Vietnam than Japan and Germany combined

Escalation

Jan 1968 Tet Offensive

Vietcong launch massive coordinated attack on South Vietnam-every capital, Saigon, the American embassy, and American military bases

No end to sight to fighting-undermined American morale and credibility of LBJ and the military

Tet Offensive

Walter Cronkite

The war is unwinnable

1968-Year of Turmoil

January 7, 1968

Diane Ruth Atwood born in Plattsburg NY to Tom and Pat Atwood

Jan31, 1968-Tet Offensive

Over 70,000 NVA and VC troops launch massive attack on South Vietnam, major turning point in war, US embassy invaded and captured

March, 1968

Anti-War candidate Eugene McCarthy almost wins the democratic primary in New Hampshire, Senator Robert F Kennedy announces he will enter the race

LBJ announces to nation he will not seek re-nomination for another term

April 4, 1968

MLK assassinated in Memphis, sparks rioting throughout major American cities

RFK delivers the News in Indianapolis

April 1968-Student unrest

Students occupy admin building at Columbia University-police storm the building 7 days later

June 4, 1968

RFK assassinated in San Francisco after winning the California primary, body taken to Arlington National cemetery to be buried

August, 1968

Richard Nixon nominated by RNC to be the Republican candidate for President

Democratic convention opens in Chicago, anti-war protestors engage in days of battle with the Chicago police

Dem nominate Hubert H Humphrey -VP

DNC-Chicago

Election-1968

Richard Nixon-R-Former VP Hubert H Humphrey-D-current VP

Nixon campaign-2 major themes-”forgotten Americans”

1. Peace with honor in Vietnam 2. Law and order

Humphrey-tied to Johnson’s Vietnam policy, Jan 31. LBJ announces halt to US bombing in North Vietnam

Results

Richard M Nixon-1969-1974

Former member of Congress and VP Known as a Red Hunter Shrewd, ambitious, hard working

politician Visionary at times, petty and

vindictive as well Appealed to many ordinary

Americans-the “forgotten Americans”

Nixon’s Foreign Policy

“Real-politik”-practical politics Nixon sought a new world order-Cold War

a thing of the past Maintain a balance of power between

great powers US Soviets Western Europe China Japan

Nixon and Kissinger

Vietnam

How to win “peace with honor?” Plan was Vietnamization Gradual withdrawal of American

forces as we trained the army of South Vietnam to take over-1969-25000 troops come home

Escalation of the war to win victory and negotiate from position of strength

Vietnam-1969-70

NVA infiltrating into South Vietnam along the Ho Chi Minh Trail from neutral Laos and Cambodia, Nixon determined to stop flow of supplies

May 1970

Nixon orders secret invasion of Cambodia by elements of US army, does not inform Congress or the US public

Nation erupts in controversy-100 universities shut down, protestors storm Washington DC

May 5, 1970-Kent State shootings of students

Communist China

Nixon convinced he could drive a wedge between the Soviets and open door to China

1971-Henry Kissinger make secret flights to Pakistan and China to open talks to Zhou Enlai-Chinese FM

1972-RMN becomes first American President to visit China-meets with Mao

Only Nixon could go to China

Arms Control-1972

Intense discussions with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev

SALT-Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty US and Soviets sign agreement that

slows the arms race and limits ICBMs

1972 Election

1973-End of American involvement in Vietnam Nixon and Kissinger conclude peace

talks with North Vietnam in Paris 1. Called for a cease fire 2. return of American POWS 3. Left status of South Vietnam open

to a future political settlement though peaceful means

Vietnam-1963-1973

Watergate-A long National Nightmare Nixon White House Staff and

reelection campaign Obsession with getting reelected and

maintaining secrecy in the face of antiwar protests and leaks to press

Staff ordered break-ins of Psychiatrist office of Daniel Ellsberg-who had leaked the Pentagon Papers

Watergate Hotel

June 1972 Break in to the Democratic National Party headquarters, Plumbers botched the break in and arrested, Cash connected to CREEP found on the men-hush money paid

Senate Watergate Committee Conducted investigation into Nixon’s

White house, evidence that Nixon was running a criminal operation out of the White House

Evidence that Nixon had secret tapes installed in the White House

The Smoking Gun

Nixon forced by SCOTUS to release the tapes-evidence that Nixon ordered a cover up of the investigation

House Judiciary Committee

Adopts 3 articles of Impeachment Abuse of Power Obstruction of Justice Contempt of Congress

Nixon resigns before House can impeach him

Nixon

Movements of the 1960s-the Civil Rights Movement

Martin Luther King Jr.

Called for peaceful, non-violent civil disobedience

Organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Selma March for voting rights

Delivered the “I have a Dream” Speech

Fought for passage of Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act

Assassinated in 1968

Black Nationalism and Islam Black Panther Party-called for black

nationalism and militant self-defense Nation of Islam-led by Elijah

Muhammad and Malcolm X Malcolm X assassinated in 1965

Women

Betty Friedan publishes the Feminine Mystique stating that women were dissatisfied with traditional role as mothers and housewives, sparked the 2nd wave of American feminism

Environmental Movement

Silent Spring- written by Rachel Carson

Spurred the environmental movement in America

Led to the ban of DDT and the formation of the EPA under the Nixon administration

Student activism

Student activism and protests-formation on SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) amd SNCC (Student non-violent Coordinating Committee

1967-1973-Large scale anti-war protests

The Counterculture

 Haight Asbury District of San Francisco Rejection of conventional social norms of the

1950s. Counterculture youth rejected the cultural standards of their parents, especially

1. racial segregation 2. the war in Vietnam 3. The Cold war arms race 4. Sexual Mores 5. drug use 6. the Music and fashions

1950 Mores

Late 1960’s

Woodstock-August 1969

"An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music

Became the most defining event of the counter-culture

Became a free concert

Woodstock

The Politics of the 1970’s and 80’s Nixon resignation-1974 President Ford (1974-77) 1. Ford pardoned Richard Nixon 2. Economy in trouble-high

unemployment and high inflation-stagflation

3. Foreign Policy Problems-Final collapse of South Vietnam (1975)

4. Energy Crisis-OPEC embargoes oil to the US

Carter-A Failed Presidency Former governor of Georgia Born-again Christian who said he would never

lie to the American people 1. Problems with economy-stagflation 2. Negotiated Camp David Accords between

Israel and Egypt-greatest achievement 3. Energy crisis of 1979 4. Condemned Soviet invasion of Afghanistan-

boycotted Olympics in Moscow 5. Iranian hostage Crisis-52 Americans held

hostage for 444 days

Carter

Election of 1980

Jimmy Carter-D Ronald Reagan-R-Governor of Cal RR former movie actor and

conservative supporter of Barry Goldwater

Supported by “New Right” Evangelicals Christians and Moral

majority “Are you better off today than you

were 4 years ago?”

`1980 Election

Reagan’s 1st term

Recession of 1981-unemployment at 11%, double digit interest rates

Interest rates to 21% to deal with inflation

Reaganomics-”supply side” economics

cut in marginal tax rates, increase in defense spending, and cut government regulation

Result: Inflation came down, interest rates lowered and US economy recovered and started to grow

1981-Assassination attempt Ronald Reagan victim of

Assassination attempt by John Hinckley JR

Reagan and the Soviets

Reagan condemned the Soviet Union as the “evil empire” and predicted that Marxist-Leninism would end up on the ash heap of history-believed in peace through strength

1. Massive defense build-up 2. Armed the mujahedeen rebels in

Afghanistan 3. Supported the Contras-anti

Communist guerillas against Sandinistas

Foreign Policy Problems

1983-Marine Barracks blown up in Lebanon by suicide bomber

1983-US led invasion of Grenada

1984 reelection

Reagan easily defeats Walter Mondale

Morning in American Campaign

Iran Contra

Biggest scandal of the Reagan admin NSC plan to trade arms to Iran for

hostages in Middle East and then divert funds to the Contras in Nicaragua

Hearings in the Senate Reagan seemed out of touch

Mikhail Gorbachev

Came to power in 1985 Reforms loosed changes that would end

Soviet system in 7 years

1. Policy of “perestroika”-economic reconstructing that abandons traditional Marxist ideology in favor of free market reforms

2. “Glasnost”-openness-allowed more criticism of Soviet system and relaxed atmosphere

Reagan and detente

INF Treaty signed with the Soviets-limited intermediate range ballistic missiles

Reagan in Berlin

“Mr. Gorbachev, Tear down this Wall!”

The Computer Revolution

1974-1977: A number of personal computers hit the market, including Scelbi & Mark-8 Altair, IBM 5100, RadioShack’s TRS-80—affectionately known as the “Trash 80,” and the Commodore PET.

1975: The IBM 5100 becomes the first commercially available portable computer.

APPLE

1976: Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak start Apple Computers on April Fool’s Day and roll out the Apple I, the first computer with a single-circuit board.

The Birth of the Computer geek 1977: Radio Shack's initial

production run of theTRS-80 was just 3,000. It sold like crazy. For the first time, non-geeks could write programs and make a computer do what they wished.

The Apple 2

1977: Jobs and Wozniak incorporate Apple and show the Apple II at the first West Coast Computer Faire. It offers color graphics and incorporates an audio cassette drive for storage.

MS-DOS

1981: The first IBM personal computer, code named “Acorn,” is introduced. It uses Microsoft’s MS-DOS operating system. It has an Intel chip, two floppy disks and an optional color monitor. Sears & Roebuck and Computerland sell the machines, marking the first time a computer is available through outside distributors. It also popularizes the term PC.

GUI-Graphic User interphase 1983: Apple’s Lisa is the first

personal computer with a GUI. It also features a drop-down menu and icons. It flops but eventually evolves into the Macintosh.

Windows is born

1985: Microsoft announces Windows, its response to Apple’s GUI. Commodore unveils the Amiga 1000, which features advanced audio and video capabilities.