kennedy ’ s presidency
DESCRIPTION
KENNEDY ’ S PRESIDENCY. Kennedy ’ s Background. Came from wealth and politics Family expectation of public service Harvard Graduate Navy in WWII 43 years old Roman Catholic Charismatic, highly appealing to American public. Election of 1960. “ Get America Moving Again ”. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Kennedy’s Background Came from wealth and politics Family expectation of public service Harvard Graduate Navy in WWII 43 years old Roman Catholic Charismatic, highly appealing to
American public
Election of 1960
Democratic Nominee: Senator John F Kennedy
Republican Nominee: VP Richard Nixon Economy was in recession Cold War: Were we winning?
“Get America Moving Again”
Televised Debates 1st ever televised
debate 70 million viewers Kennedy appeared
confident and at ease Launched a new area
of politics: the television age
Nixon looked
like a “sinister
chipmunk” in
comparison to
Kennedy who
looked cool,
collected, and
presidential
Journalist Russell Baker said of the debates:
“That night, image replaced the printed word as the national language of politics”
Inauguration Speech
“And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country.”
Camelot Years
JFK’s youth, glamour and young,
talented advisors were compared to the
mythical court of Camelot and King
Arthur Wife, Jacqueline and young children:
Caroline and JFK Jr.
Called for hope, commitment and
sacrifice Invited young artists and celebrities to
White House
Considered “American Royalty”
Civil Rights MLK Jr. arrested at a sit-in
sentenced to hard labor
Kennedy and his brother, Robert, persuaded judge to release MLK
Captured the attention of many African Americans and won their vote
Civil Rights Bill
Sit-Ins were non-violent protests over the policy of whites-only lunch
counters in the South
King JFK
New Frontier Vision for America
Economy Education Rebuild urban areas Medical care for the elderly and poor Space exploration Bolster national defense Increase international aid
Hard time passing his proposal through Congress because of a conservative coalition
Cold War Crisis: Berlin Wall Soviets threatened to Soviets threatened to
take over West Berlintake over West Berlin In 11 years: almost 3 In 11 years: almost 3
million East Berliners million East Berliners fled to West Berlin to fled to West Berlin to escape Communist ruleescape Communist rule
City in turmoilCity in turmoil JFK reinforced the JFK reinforced the
military presence in the military presence in the areaarea Result: construction of Result: construction of
the Berlin Wallthe Berlin WallEast Germany begins construction on
the Berlin Wall, which becomes a primary symbol of the Cold War and
Soviet oppression
Building up Defense JFK’s policy of
Flexible Response Build-up of the natio
n’s conventional forces (non-nuclear forces)
Created an elite branch of the Army The Special Forces or
The Green Berets
Peace Corps 19611961 organization that organization that
trained volunteers trained volunteers to help to help underdeveloped underdeveloped countries by countries by providing social providing social and humanitarian and humanitarian servicesservices
Asia, Africa, Latin Asia, Africa, Latin AmericaAmerica
Alliance for Progress Offered economic aid to Latin
American countries $12 Billion dollars An attempt to contain Communism.
"millions of men and women suffer the daily degradations of hunger and
poverty" and "discontent is growing.”
Space Race Soviet successes:
Sputnik in 1957 First man in space
Kennedy pushed the race to put a man on the moon Nicknamed the “Space Race,” Encouraging growth in the
studies of math and sciences in the public education system
Bay of Pigs April 1961 Kennedy learned of a
CIA plan to overthrow Castro by Cuban exiles in the Bay of Pigs
Failed due to unanticipated military support of the Soviet Union
A humiliated Kennedy paid ransom to free exiles
Still affects US/Cuban relations today
http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/The-Bay-of-Pigs.aspx
19621962 U2 spy plane took pics of missile U2 spy plane took pics of missile
sitessites USSR builtUSSR built
JFK imposed naval blockadeJFK imposed naval blockade Remove missile, destroy basesRemove missile, destroy bases Intense standoff, nuclear war possibleIntense standoff, nuclear war possible
Publically brokered dealPublically brokered deal USSR remove, US pledge no Cuban invasionUSSR remove, US pledge no Cuban invasion Any secrets???Any secrets???
Easing Tensions (1963) Hot line:
Direct phone line that linked the White House and the Kremlin.
Limited Test Ban Treaty: Barred nuclear
testing in the atmosphere
Tragedy in Dallas Assassinated on Assassinated on
November 22, 1963November 22, 1963 Still a source of Still a source of
controversycontroversy Lee Harvey Oswald Lee Harvey Oswald
arrested arrested Assassinated too Assassinated too
shortly after arrestshortly after arrest All work stopped for All work stopped for
the funeralthe funeral The nation mournedThe nation mourned As with 9/11, As with 9/11,
Americans remember Americans remember where they were where they were when they heard the when they heard the newsnews