1960s1960s PoliticsPolitics and Foreign and Foreign

PolicyPolicyA30A30

7.4.207.4.20

GREAT GREAT SOCIETYSOCIETY

Domestic political developments in the 60sDomestic political developments in the 60s

GUIDING QUESTIONGUIDING QUESTIONIn what ways did the Great Society In what ways did the Great Society resemble the New Deal?resemble the New Deal? origins, origins, goals, and goals, and social and political legacy?social and political legacy?

KENNEDY’S “NEW FRONTIER”KENNEDY’S “NEW FRONTIER”

1960 Election1960 Election John F. Kennedy – hurdlesJohn F. Kennedy – hurdles televised presidential debatestelevised presidential debates

New FrontierNew Frontierhttp://http://www.archive.org/www.archive.org/details/details/1960_kennedy-1960_kennedy-nixon_1nixon_1

Presidential Election of Presidential Election of 19601960

Mar 1, 1961Mar 1, 1961 Peace CorpsPeace Corps

President John F. Kennedy issues an executive President John F. Kennedy issues an executive order establishing the Peace Corps. The Corps order establishing the Peace Corps. The Corps aims to disseminate good will and practical aims to disseminate good will and practical knowledge by enlisting volunteers, most under knowledge by enlisting volunteers, most under age 30, to two-year terms of service.age 30, to two-year terms of service.

19621962The Other AmericaThe Other AmericaMichael Harrington publishes the The Other America, a Michael Harrington publishes the The Other America, a shocking exposé about poverty in the wealthiest nation in shocking exposé about poverty in the wealthiest nation in the world. President John Kennedy is among those the world. President John Kennedy is among those influenced by the book; he and his successor, Lyndon influenced by the book; he and his successor, Lyndon Johnson, declare war on poverty and launch a decade-Johnson, declare war on poverty and launch a decade-long political mission aimed at reducing unemployment, long political mission aimed at reducing unemployment, increasing federal support for schools and adult increasing federal support for schools and adult education, and expanding the network of government education, and expanding the network of government programs assisting the poor and elderly.programs assisting the poor and elderly.

Dec 14, 1962Dec 14, 1962JFK Proposes Big Tax CutsJFK Proposes Big Tax CutsIn a speech before the Economic Club of New In a speech before the Economic Club of New York, President John Kennedy unveils a plan for York, President John Kennedy unveils a plan for economic recovery that emphasizes large tax cuts economic recovery that emphasizes large tax cuts and credits for businesses. One of his liberal and credits for businesses. One of his liberal economic advisors labels it the most “Republican economic advisors labels it the most “Republican speech since McKinley.”1 These proposals will speech since McKinley.”1 These proposals will become part of the Tax Reduction Act signed into become part of the Tax Reduction Act signed into law in 1964.law in 1964.

Kennedy & Kennedy & “Camelot”“Camelot”

John F. Kennedy in oval John F. Kennedy in oval office with sonoffice with son

The Kennedy Family and Family Dogs, 14 August The Kennedy Family and Family Dogs, 14 August 1963, Hyannis Port, Massachusetts1963, Hyannis Port, Massachusetts

President and Mrs. Kennedy, 20 President and Mrs. Kennedy, 20 January 1962, Washington, D.C., January 1962, Washington, D.C., 

KENNEDY’S “NEW KENNEDY’S “NEW FRONTIER”FRONTIER”

Kennedy Assassination Kennedy Assassination (Nov. 1963)(Nov. 1963) Lee Harvey OswaldLee Harvey Oswald Warren Commission ReportWarren Commission Report

Lee Harvey Lee Harvey Oswald Oswald

LBJ Takes the Oath of OfficeLBJ Takes the Oath of Office

Jan 8, 1964Jan 8, 1964LBJ Declares War on PovertyLBJ Declares War on Poverty

In President Lyndon Johnson’s first inaugural In President Lyndon Johnson’s first inaugural address, a little over a month after assuming the address, a little over a month after assuming the presidency, he declares war on poverty and presidency, he declares war on poverty and outlines an ambitious domestic agenda aimed at outlines an ambitious domestic agenda aimed at reducing unemployment, increasing support for reducing unemployment, increasing support for education and job training, and expanding public education and job training, and expanding public services for the poor.services for the poor.

Aug 30, 1964Aug 30, 1964LBJ Signs Jobs BillLBJ Signs Jobs BillPresident Lyndon Johnson signs the Economic President Lyndon Johnson signs the Economic Opportunity Act, one of the centerpieces of his Opportunity Act, one of the centerpieces of his domestic agenda. In order to combat domestic agenda. In order to combat unemployment and poverty, the act allocates unemployment and poverty, the act allocates funds for job training, adult education, and loans funds for job training, adult education, and loans to small businesses. VISTA, the Job Corps, and to small businesses. VISTA, the Job Corps, and Head Start are also administered by the Office of Head Start are also administered by the Office of Economic Opportunity.Economic Opportunity.

May 22, 1964May 22, 1964Johnson Proclaims "Great Society"Johnson Proclaims "Great Society"

In a speech at the University of Michigan, In a speech at the University of Michigan, President Lyndon Johnson introduces the theme President Lyndon Johnson introduces the theme for his domestic agenda in stating that we must for his domestic agenda in stating that we must “set our course toward the Great Society."2“set our course toward the Great Society."2

Jul 2, 1964Jul 2, 1964Civil Rights Act of 1964Civil Rights Act of 1964

President Lyndon Johnson signs the Civil Rights President Lyndon Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The act outlaws discrimination in Act of 1964. The act outlaws discrimination in public facilities, such as parks, and in public public facilities, such as parks, and in public accommodations, such as hotels and restaurants, accommodations, such as hotels and restaurants, and it prohibits employment discrimination on and it prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, or gender.the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, or gender.

Oct 1, 1964Oct 1, 1964Berkeley Free Speech MovementBerkeley Free Speech Movement

Hundreds of students at the University of Hundreds of students at the University of California, Berkeley spontaneously surround a California, Berkeley spontaneously surround a police car as it attempts to remove a political police car as it attempts to remove a political activist for engaging in political advocacy on activist for engaging in political advocacy on campus. Roughly 3000 students will join the 32-campus. Roughly 3000 students will join the 32-hour protest marking the beginning of Berkeley’s hour protest marking the beginning of Berkeley’s Free Speech Movement.Free Speech Movement.

Nov 3, 1964Nov 3, 1964LBJ Trounces Goldwater in ElectionLBJ Trounces Goldwater in Election

Democratic incumbent Lyndon Johnson is Democratic incumbent Lyndon Johnson is elected president of the United States. He defeats elected president of the United States. He defeats Republican Barry Goldwater by the largest Republican Barry Goldwater by the largest margin in American history. Johnson wins 61% margin in American history. Johnson wins 61% of the popular vote and 486 of 538 Electoral of the popular vote and 486 of 538 Electoral College votes.College votes.

JOHNSON’S GREAT SOCIETYJOHNSON’S GREAT SOCIETY

Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon B. Johnson Election of 1964Election of 1964 Senator Barry GoldwaterSenator Barry Goldwater

Lyndon B. Lyndon B. JohnsonJohnson

Lyndon Johnson’s campaign against Barry Goldwater, Lyndon Johnson’s campaign against Barry Goldwater, 19641964

Jul 30, 1965Jul 30, 1965Creation of Medicare and MedicaidCreation of Medicare and Medicaid

President Lyndon Johnson signs the bill creating President Lyndon Johnson signs the bill creating Medicare, a national health insurance program Medicare, a national health insurance program for the elderly. Companion legislation creates for the elderly. Companion legislation creates Medicaid, providing health care for people on Medicaid, providing health care for people on welfare. Later, Medicaid will be broadened into a welfare. Later, Medicaid will be broadened into a more comprehensive program financing health more comprehensive program financing health care for low-income persons.care for low-income persons.

Aug 6, 1965Aug 6, 1965Voting Rights Act of 1965Voting Rights Act of 1965

President Lyndon Johnson signs the Voting President Lyndon Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The act abolishes literacy tests Rights Act of 1965. The act abolishes literacy tests and other tests used by local and state and other tests used by local and state governments to inhibit African-American voting.governments to inhibit African-American voting.

JOHNSON’S GREAT SOCIETYJOHNSON’S GREAT SOCIETY

The Great SocietyThe Great SocietyMedicareMedicareMedicaidMedicaidcommunity actioncommunity actionOffice of Economic Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO)Opportunity (OEO)Head StartHead StartFood StampsFood Stamps

Elementary and Secondary Elementary and Secondary Education Act 1965Education Act 1965Immigration Act of 1965Immigration Act of 1965

LBJ signing Medicare Bill, July 30, LBJ signing Medicare Bill, July 30, 19651965

The Vietnam The Vietnam War at HomeWar at Home

GUIDING QUESTIONGUIDING QUESTIONHow did the war in Vietnam How did the war in Vietnam affect American society and its affect American society and its political and social beliefs?political and social beliefs?

C.C. FOREIGN AFFAIRS:FOREIGN AFFAIRS: CONTAINMENT LEADS TO VIETNAMCONTAINMENT LEADS TO VIETNAM

teach-insteach-ins DefermentsDeferments ProtestsProtests draft resistersdraft resisters ‘‘guns and butter”guns and butter”

University of University of California, California,

Berkeley Berkeley students students

during free during free speech sit in, speech sit in,

19641964

Anti war protesters, 1967 Anti war protesters, 1967

Military police guard an entrance to the Pentagon Military police guard an entrance to the Pentagon during 1967 anti-war protestduring 1967 anti-war protest

Antiwar Demonstrators Burn Draft Cards on the Antiwar Demonstrators Burn Draft Cards on the

Steps of the Pentagon, May 22, 1972Steps of the Pentagon, May 22, 1972

Anti-war demonstration at Pentagon Anti-war demonstration at Pentagon Oct 1967Oct 1967

Anti-war Anti-war movementsmovements

DEEP DIVISIONS AT HOME: Election of 1968DEEP DIVISIONS AT HOME: Election of 1968

Eugene McCarthyEugene McCarthy LBJLBJ Robert KennedyRobert Kennedy Hubert HumphreyHubert Humphrey Democratic Convention - ChicagoDemocratic Convention - Chicago Richard M. Nixon – “silent majority”Richard M. Nixon – “silent majority”

Robert KennedyRobert Kennedy Hubert H. HumphreyHubert H. Humphrey Richard NixonRichard NixonPresident JohnsonPresident Johnson

Mar 31, 1968Mar 31, 1968Johnson Abandons Hope of Second TermJohnson Abandons Hope of Second Term

President Lyndon Johnson announces that he President Lyndon Johnson announces that he will not seek another term as president of the will not seek another term as president of the Untied States.Untied States.

PresidentialPresidential Election Election of 1968of 1968

““TRAUMAS OF 1968”TRAUMAS OF 1968”

January – Tet Offensive - VietnamJanuary – Tet Offensive - Vietnam March – Johnson announces he will not run for March – Johnson announces he will not run for

re-election.re-election. April 4 – Martin Luther King, Jr. assassinated in April 4 – Martin Luther King, Jr. assassinated in

Memphis.Memphis. July Robert Kennedy is assassinated in California.July Robert Kennedy is assassinated in California. August – widespread protest and violent police August – widespread protest and violent police

response at Democratic National convention in response at Democratic National convention in Chicago.Chicago.

NovemberNovember

Nov 5, 1968Nov 5, 1968Nixon Wins PresidencyNixon Wins PresidencyRepublican candidate Richard Nixon is elected president Republican candidate Richard Nixon is elected president of the United States. In defeating Democrat Hubert of the United States. In defeating Democrat Hubert Humphrey, Lyndon Johnson’s vice president, Nixon wins Humphrey, Lyndon Johnson’s vice president, Nixon wins 43.4 % of the popular vote and 302 Electoral College 43.4 % of the popular vote and 302 Electoral College votes. Humphrey receives 42.7% of the popular vote and votes. Humphrey receives 42.7% of the popular vote and 191 Electoral College votes. Former Alabama Governor 191 Electoral College votes. Former Alabama Governor George Wallace receives one Electoral College vote.George Wallace receives one Electoral College vote.

Space Space ProgramProgram

19611961

May 5 - Astronaut Alan Shepard became the May 5 - Astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space.first American in space.

May 25 - President Kennedy challenged the May 25 - President Kennedy challenged the country to put a man on the moon by the end of country to put a man on the moon by the end of the decadethe decade

19621962

February 20 - Astronaut John Glenn became February 20 - Astronaut John Glenn became the first American in orbit. the first American in orbit.

19651965

June 3 - Astronaut Ed White became the first June 3 - Astronaut Ed White became the first American to walk in space.American to walk in space.

19661966

June 2 - Surveyor 1 became the first American June 2 - Surveyor 1 became the first American spacecraft to land on the moon.spacecraft to land on the moon.

19671967

January 27 - Astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed January 27 - Astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee were killed in an White, and Roger Chaffee were killed in an accidental fire in a command module on the accidental fire in a command module on the launch pad.launch pad.

19681968

December 21 - Apollo 8 was launched, and later December 21 - Apollo 8 was launched, and later her crewmembers became the first men to orbit her crewmembers became the first men to orbit the moon. the moon.

July 20 - Neil Armstrong and "Buzz" Aldrin July 20 - Neil Armstrong and "Buzz" Aldrin became the first men on the moon. became the first men on the moon.

Liftoff of Apollo 11, July 1969 Liftoff of Apollo 11, July 1969

Edwin Edwin Aldrin Aldrin

descends descends ladder on ladder on

lunar lunar module module

MOON LANDINGMOON LANDING

First man First man on moon, on moon, July 1969 July 1969

SPACE PROGRAMSPACE PROGRAM