JFK & LBJ

1960-1968

1960 ElectionKennedy defeats Nixon by narrowest of margins

Nixon assisted by Eisenhower’s popularity and moderate policies

Better known (McCarthyism)

More experienced

Kennedy had a number of attributes

Young and photogenic

War hero

Wife Jackie

Issues

Kennedy was a Catholic

Economic recession/U-2 embarrassment

Nixon Kennedy debate

1st televised presidential debate

New FrontierJFK’s legislative agenda

Largely ineffective because of JFK’s passive leadership & international problems (Cuba)

Faced with a recession in 1960

Attempted to stimulate economic growth through tax cuts

Never successfully passed tax cuts

Increased military spending aided economic growth

Oversaw space race (20 billion to reach moon in 1969)

Response to Soviet successes

Weakly favored civil rights after election

Pressured by protests and escalating violence

Ends segregation in public transportation

Sends federal officers to protect James Meredith (Ole Miss)

Meets with MLK

Kennedy and the Cold WarFavored “flexible response” over “massive retaliation”

Attempted to assist third world countries in order to achieve containmentThe Peace CorpsThe Alliance for progress

1961 East Germany builds Berlin Wall1963 Ich Bin Ein Berliner speech

JFK escalates American involvement in VietnamJFK’s most embarrassing moments are result of 1959

revolution in CubaFidel Castro establishes a seemingly pro Soviet government in Cuba

CubaBay of Pigs (1961)

Eisenhower administration begins plans for CIA backed overthrow of Cuba

Cuban exiles trained for an invasion

JFK pulls air support fearing Soviet response

Invasion is a failure and an international embarrassment

Castro forced to seek aid from USSR

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

USSR establishes missile bases in Cuba

Khruschev lies about missiles

JFK blockades Cuba to prevent more missiles

US troops prepare for an invasion

Both sides come to brink of nuclear war before cutting a deal

Kennedy finishes presidency as a foreign policy success

• Why are the events in Cuba pivotal to JFK’s presidency?

JFK AssassinationNovember 22, 1963

JFK is assassinated in Dallas, TX

Visiting the South to rally support for Civil Rights

Assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald (????)

VP Johnson assumes the presidency

LBJ benefits tremendously from JFK’s death

Will pass sweeping Civil Rights and social legislation

Easily elected in 1964

Myth of Camelot

LBJ as PresidentJohnson is an extremely effective national leader

Able to persuade members of Congress to support his programs

The “Johnson treatment”

LBJ able to pass his Great Society programs

Dramatically impact American society

Meaningful Civil Rights law

Reduction of poverty

Immigration reform

Long term assistance to elderly and poor

Draws criticisms from conservatives because of cost of programs

LBJ’s effectiveness limited by mounting protest to American involvement in Vietnam

Why did the Great Society have such a major impact on the nation?