John F. Kennedy

Domestic Policy

Eisenhower’s Legacies

• Construction of the Interstate Highway System– Promoted commerce– Preserved the nations unity

• Expanded Social Security System and Unemployment benefits

Election of 1960

• JFK vs. Richard Nixon– JFK is 43, some say he’s too young to be president– JFK is Catholic and some fear the Catholic Church

will control him• First televised debate

– JFK looks better than Nixon– He hired people to help him look and act better on

TV– JFK looks at the Camera and not at the studio

audience– Nixon looks at the studio audience

Election of 1960

• JFK wins an by only 120,000 votes– He does not receive a mandate or the backing of

the people– Congress won’t pass a lot of his bills especially the

controversial ones• When JFK takes office he develops a liberal

consensus view– People think capitalism is the best economic

system– Communism is a bigger threat than domestic

concerns

Camelot

• People called Kennedy’s Whitehouse Camelot– Very energetic administration– Diplomats always visited the White House– Many famous singers visit the White House– Very youthful and good looking family

The New Frontier

• The New Frontier was the name that was given to Kennedy’s domestic programs

• Three areas that He focuses on 1. Boosting the economy

2. Aid to the poor

3. The space program

The New Frontier

• The Economy (not successful)– Kennedy needs to end the recession

– Businesses don’t trust Kennedy

– Market hits the lowest point since the Depression

– Tries to cut taxes, but congress stops him (no mandate)

• The Poor (not successful)– He doesn’t understand how to help the poor

– 20% of the population are under the poverty line

• Space program (successful)– NASA is started

The Assassination

• November 22, 1963, while on a trip to Dallas, Kennedy is shot

• America is Shattered

• Warren Commission – Chief Justice Earl Warren heads the investigation– They find that Oswald worked alone– Many think there is a conspiracy