JFK’s Presidency

Do NowWatch the video of the first ever televised

presidential debates between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon.Describe both candidates. Keep in mind their

dress, posture, and overall appearance.Who do you think is more nervous?Who is more likeable? Why?How do you think the use of television

impacted the debates and election?

The American President•John F. Kennedy is the youngest elected U.S president in history.

•1st Catholic president

•Jackie Kennedy sets the stage for all future first ladies

•Celebrity •Fashion icon•Transforms the White House both as a symbol and in function•All American family

Jackie Kennedy

Kennedy FamilyJFK was not the only

politician in the family.His father, Joseph, was

extremely influential in politics

Robert F. KennedySenatorCivil Rights activistAttorney General

Edward KennedyMassachusetts Senator

for almost 47 years.

America at the time of JFK’s ElectionAmerica coming off

victory in World War II

Emerges as major super power in the world

Economy boomingRacial issues and

segregation though are threatening to tear America apart.

Major Events of PresidencyJFK entered presidency with

high hopes of bringing major changes to both America and the world.

Peace Corps established on March 1st, 1961

JFK made Civil Rights one of his central focuses.

Began drafting a comprehensive Civil Rights Bill

Sent in federal troops to oversee court integration of schools in Mississippi and Alabama

Cuban Missile Crisis:

•What is happening in the cartoon?•List any observations• Who are the men and what are they sitting on?•What is the button for?•What is the meaning behind the cartoon?

•Where are the arrows extending from?•Where are they pointing to?•What do they represent?•What countries were involved in the crisis?•What were the results of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

President Kennedy’s ChallengeIn 1961, President

Kennedy began a massive expansion of the space program.

John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962.

America eventually put a man on the moon in 1969.

Nuclear Test Ban TreatyIn his campaign for the

presidency, Kennedy pledged to not test nuclear weapons in the air and to work to prevent other countries from gaining nuclear weapons.

On August 5, 1963, after more than eight years of difficult negotiations, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union signed the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

VietnamPresident Kennedy

began sending advisors to Vietnam in hopes the country would not fall to Communism

Under JFK’s successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, America would enter into a costly war against North Vietnam.