The The Kennedy Kennedy

YearsYears

Election of 1960Election of 1960 Republicans nominated Republicans nominated

Eisenhower’s Vice-Eisenhower’s Vice-President, Richard NixonPresident, Richard Nixon

Democrats nominated Democrats nominated Massachusetts Senator Massachusetts Senator John F. KennedyJohn F. Kennedy

Election featured the first Election featured the first televised presidential televised presidential debates and it was the first debates and it was the first time television was used time television was used as a serious campaign toolas a serious campaign tool

Kennedy won in a tight Kennedy won in a tight election, in some ways due election, in some ways due to his better manipulation to his better manipulation of televisionof television

John F. KennedyJohn F. Kennedy 1917 – 19631917 – 1963 3535thth President (1961 – President (1961 –

63)63) WWII veteran who had WWII veteran who had

held his own command held his own command in the US Navyin the US Navy

First Catholic presidentFirst Catholic president In his inaugural In his inaugural

address, he famously address, he famously stated “Ask not what stated “Ask not what your country can do for your country can do for you; ask what you can you; ask what you can do for your country”do for your country”

The Peace CorpsThe Peace Corps Created in 1961Created in 1961 Purpose is “To promote world Purpose is “To promote world

peace and friendship … which peace and friendship … which shall make available to shall make available to interested countries … men interested countries … men and women of the United and women of the United States qualified for service States qualified for service abroad and willing to serve, abroad and willing to serve, under conditions of hardship under conditions of hardship if necessary, to help the if necessary, to help the peoples of such countries and peoples of such countries and areas in meeting their needs areas in meeting their needs for trained manpower.”for trained manpower.”

Since 1961, over 200,000 Since 1961, over 200,000 college-educated American college-educated American volunteers have served 2-volunteers have served 2-year commitments in foreign year commitments in foreign nationsnations

The New The New FrontierFrontier

JFK proposed ambitious JFK proposed ambitious policies intended to policies intended to boost education, health boost education, health insurance for the insurance for the elderly, create a Dept. elderly, create a Dept. of Urban Affairs, & help of Urban Affairs, & help migrantsmigrants

Congress decided that Congress decided that Kennedy’s programs Kennedy’s programs were too expensive were too expensive and voted against themand voted against them

The Bay of Pigs Invasion

Under the approval of then-President Eisenhower, the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) began training Cuban exiles for an invasion of Cuba with the purpose of overthrowing Castro’s communist gov’t.

In April 1961, the exiles landed at The Bay of Pigs in Cuba, but were quickly defeated by Cuban military forces when the US failed to provide any further invention on their behalf

Major international embarrassment for the US

Yuri GagarinYuri Gagarin 1934 – 19681934 – 1968 Soviet “cosmonaut” who Soviet “cosmonaut” who

became the first man in became the first man in space in April of 1961space in April of 1961

Declared a “Hero of the Declared a “Hero of the Soviet Union,” he was Soviet Union,” he was never allowed to return never allowed to return to space due to his value to space due to his value as an instrument of as an instrument of propaganda; instead, he propaganda; instead, he was sent on a world tour was sent on a world tour to promote Soviet to promote Soviet superioritysuperiority

Ironically, he later died in Ironically, he later died in a plane crash a plane crash

Project MercuryProject Mercury 1959 – 19631959 – 1963 NASA’s first program NASA’s first program

designed to put an designed to put an American in spaceAmerican in space

Capsule could carry Capsule could carry only a single astronautonly a single astronaut

Cost $384 million, but Cost $384 million, but succeeded at getting succeeded at getting the US’ manned space the US’ manned space program off the program off the groundground

John GlennJohn Glenn 1921 – Present1921 – Present US Marine pilot who US Marine pilot who

became the first became the first American to orbit the American to orbit the earth in 1962earth in 1962

Went on to serve as Went on to serve as US Senator from Ohio US Senator from Ohio from 1974 – 1999from 1974 – 1999

In 1998, became the In 1998, became the oldest person to fly in oldest person to fly in space when he took space when he took part in a shuttle part in a shuttle mission at age 77mission at age 77

Kennedy Targets the Kennedy Targets the MoonMoon

““[We] commit … before this [We] commit … before this decade is out, to landing a decade is out, to landing a man on the Moon and man on the Moon and returning him safely to the returning him safely to the Earth … But why, some say, Earth … But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest ask why climb the highest mountain? …We choose to go mountain? …We choose to go to the moon in this decade and to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are easy, but because they are hard, because they are hard, because that goal will serve to because that goal will serve to organize and measure the organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we postpone, and one which we intend to win”intend to win”

The Cuban Missile The Cuban Missile CrisisCrisis

Soviets placed nuclear missiles in Cuba in Fall 1962

US demanded their removal and enacted a naval blockade of Cuba to stop Soviet ships from bringing more missiles

Many thought that WWIII would result as the US and USSR faced off over a tense 13-day period, each threatening the other with nuclear force

Soviets eventually backed down and removed the missiles, thanks to the US publicly promising not to invade Cuba and secretly agreeing to remove American missiles from Turkey

CCongress ongress oof f RRacial acial EEquality quality (CORE)(CORE)

Founded in 1942Founded in 1942 Created to apply the Created to apply the

Gandhi’s model of Gandhi’s model of non-violent resistance non-violent resistance to the American civil to the American civil rights movement, rights movement, opposing Jim Crow opposing Jim Crow laws in the South and laws in the South and housing and housing and employment employment inequities in northern inequities in northern citiescities

Freedom RidersFreedom Riders Teams of black and white Teams of black and white

CORE volunteers traveled CORE volunteers traveled into the South on buses to into the South on buses to try to forcibly integrate try to forcibly integrate bus terminals as had been bus terminals as had been ordered by federal courts, ordered by federal courts, but ignored by most local but ignored by most local governmentsgovernments

These riders were These riders were attacked by angry white attacked by angry white mobs in Alabama, and in mobs in Alabama, and in Birmingham were met Birmingham were met and beaten by members and beaten by members of the KKK who had been of the KKK who had been tipped off by the local tipped off by the local policepolice

James Meredith & the James Meredith & the University of MississippiUniversity of Mississippi

1933 – Present1933 – Present In Sept. 1962, tried to In Sept. 1962, tried to

register at the Univ. of register at the Univ. of Mississippi under a court-Mississippi under a court-order, but was blocked by order, but was blocked by Gov. Ross BarnettGov. Ross Barnett

President Kennedy ordered President Kennedy ordered 500 US Marshalls to escort 500 US Marshalls to escort Meredith onto campus, but Meredith onto campus, but an angry mob attacked the an angry mob attacked the Marshalls, forcing Kennedy Marshalls, forcing Kennedy to use US Army troops to to use US Army troops to protect Meredithprotect Meredith

Meredith went on to be a Meredith went on to be a civil rights activist, was shot civil rights activist, was shot while leading a protest while leading a protest march, and later served on march, and later served on the staff of Sen. Jesse Helmsthe staff of Sen. Jesse Helms

Medgar EversMedgar Evers 1925 – 19631925 – 1963 WWII veteran who WWII veteran who

became a civil rights became a civil rights activist and officer in activist and officer in the NAACP who the NAACP who helped gain James helped gain James Meredith admission Meredith admission to Univ. of Mississippito Univ. of Mississippi

Was shot and killed in Was shot and killed in front of his home by a front of his home by a member of the KKKmember of the KKK

No one was convicted No one was convicted of his killing until of his killing until 19941994

““Bull” ConnorBull” Connor 1897 – 19731897 – 1973 Public Safety Commissioner Public Safety Commissioner

in Birmingham, AL, known in Birmingham, AL, known for his use of brutal police for his use of brutal police tactics to enforce tactics to enforce segregation and who segregation and who allowed the attacks on the allowed the attacks on the Freedom RidersFreedom Riders

In 1963, Connor was running In 1963, Connor was running for mayor when Dr. King for mayor when Dr. King decided to stage protests in decided to stage protests in Birmingham designed to Birmingham designed to provoke a violent response provoke a violent response and discredit Connor’s and discredit Connor’s campaigncampaign

““Letter from a Birmingham Letter from a Birmingham Jail”Jail”

King was arrested and held King was arrested and held in solitary confinementin solitary confinement

King used the time to King used the time to compose a letter which compose a letter which explained his rationale for explained his rationale for using non-violent protest using non-violent protest even when faced with even when faced with brutally violent tactics by brutally violent tactics by his opponentshis opponents

After King was released, After King was released, Connor ordered police to Connor ordered police to use clubs, dogs, and fire-use clubs, dogs, and fire-hoses on King’s supporters, hoses on King’s supporters, all of which was shown on all of which was shown on national television to a national television to a stunned American audiencestunned American audience

George WallaceGeorge Wallace 1919 – 19981919 – 1998 June 1963: Alabama June 1963: Alabama

Governor blocked the Governor blocked the admission of black admission of black students at the Univ. of students at the Univ. of Alabama, provoking Alabama, provoking President Kennedy to call President Kennedy to call on Congress to enact a on Congress to enact a new civil rights billnew civil rights bill

Wallace later went on to Wallace later went on to run for President 4 times, run for President 4 times, backing away from his backing away from his segregationist stance and segregationist stance and was shot and paralyzed was shot and paralyzed while campaigning in 1972while campaigning in 1972

March on March on WashingtonWashington

August 28, 1963August 28, 1963 Dr. King wanted to Dr. King wanted to

lobby Congress for lobby Congress for passage of Kennedy’s passage of Kennedy’s civil rights bill and civil rights bill and organized a massive organized a massive rally on the mall in rally on the mall in Washington, DCWashington, DC

More than 200,000 More than 200,000 attended to hear King attended to hear King and others speakand others speak

““I Have a I Have a Dream”Dream” "I have a dream that one day "I have a dream that one day

this nation will rise up and live this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'" men are created equal.'"

"I have a dream that my four "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live little children will one day live in a nation where they will not in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of skin, but by the content of their character.“their character.“

““And when this happens … we And when this happens … we will be able to join hands and will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last! Negro spiritual: Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”Almighty, we are free at last!”

1616thth Street Church Street Church BombingBombing

Sept. 15, 1963Sept. 15, 1963 Birmingham, ALBirmingham, AL Members of the KKK Members of the KKK

bombed a black bombed a black church which was church which was frequently used as a frequently used as a meeting place for civil meeting place for civil rights leaders, killing 4 rights leaders, killing 4 girls aged 11 to 14girls aged 11 to 14

No one was convicted No one was convicted of the crime until 1977of the crime until 1977

Lyndon B. Lyndon B. JohnsonJohnson

President Kennedy was President Kennedy was assassinated before he assassinated before he could gain passage of could gain passage of the new civil rights bill, the new civil rights bill, but President Johnson, but President Johnson, a Southerner, a Southerner, committed himself to committed himself to pushing the bill through pushing the bill through in Kennedy’s memory in Kennedy’s memory and had the and had the connections in connections in Congress to make it Congress to make it happen.happen.

The Women’s The Women’s MovementMovement

The Women’s Liberation The Women’s Liberation Movement began to take Movement began to take shape in the 1960s as shape in the 1960s as women became resentful women became resentful of discriminatory practices of discriminatory practices that denied them access that denied them access to equal education, credit, to equal education, credit, job opportunities, and payjob opportunities, and pay

Women were also upset Women were also upset over their lack of a political over their lack of a political voice at a time when many voice at a time when many other oppressed groups, other oppressed groups, such as African Americans, such as African Americans, were suddenly were suddenly experiencing wide-spread experiencing wide-spread gainsgains

The PillThe Pill Oral contraceptives first Oral contraceptives first

became available to American became available to American women in 1960, giving them women in 1960, giving them the power over whether or not the power over whether or not they had children for the first they had children for the first timetime

Griswold v ConnecticutGriswold v Connecticut: in : in 1965 the Supreme Court 1965 the Supreme Court ruled that the states could not ruled that the states could not restrict married couples restrict married couples access to contraceptionaccess to contraception

Eisenstadt v Baird Eisenstadt v Baird : in 1972 : in 1972 the Court ruled that single the Court ruled that single women had the same right to women had the same right to contraception as married onescontraception as married ones

Presidential Commission on Presidential Commission on the Status of Womenthe Status of Women

Established in 1961 Established in 1961 by President by President Kennedy and Kennedy and headed by former headed by former First Lady Eleanor First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to Roosevelt to consider women’s consider women’s rights and roles rights and roles within the workplace within the workplace and propose new and propose new legislation on such legislation on such to the governmentto the government

Equal Pay Act of Equal Pay Act of 19631963

Banned Banned discriminatory discriminatory practice of paying practice of paying women less than a women less than a man for the same man for the same work, unless the work, unless the employer pays on employer pays on basis of seniority, basis of seniority, merit, or merit, or productivityproductivity

Betty FriedanBetty Friedan 1921 – 20061921 – 2006 Her book Her book The Feminine The Feminine

MystiqueMystique, published in , published in 1963, is often called the 1963, is often called the beginning of the modern beginning of the modern feminist movementfeminist movement

The book focused on the The book focused on the dissatisfaction felt by dissatisfaction felt by American women with American women with their roles as housewives their roles as housewives and mothers and led to and mothers and led to creation of women’s creation of women’s groups around the nationgroups around the nation

EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism Throughout the Throughout the

1960s, Americans 1960s, Americans became increasingly became increasingly concerned with the concerned with the damage being done damage being done to the environment to the environment through pollution, through pollution, logging, and man-logging, and man-made alterations to made alterations to natural habitats, natural habitats, such as dams, such as dams, mines, etc.mines, etc.

Rachel CarsonRachel Carson 1907 – 19641907 – 1964 Marine biologist who wrote Marine biologist who wrote

the book the book Silent SpringSilent Spring in in 1962 which warned of the 1962 which warned of the dangers posed by overuse dangers posed by overuse of pesticides by farmers – of pesticides by farmers – mainly that the pesticides mainly that the pesticides also killed creatures like also killed creatures like birds and fish which ate the birds and fish which ate the insectsinsects

The book sold well despite The book sold well despite opposition by chemical opposition by chemical companies, and led many companies, and led many Americans to reconsider Americans to reconsider their impact on the their impact on the environmentenvironment

VietnamVietnam

Vietnam Through Vietnam Through 19451945

Had been colonized Had been colonized by the French in late by the French in late 1800s1800s

Seized by Japan at Seized by Japan at onset of WWIIonset of WWII

After Japan After Japan surrendered in 1945, surrendered in 1945, French attempted to French attempted to resume control, but resume control, but met stiff resistance met stiff resistance from the Vietnamesefrom the Vietnamese

Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh 1890 – 19691890 – 1969 Real name = Nguyen Real name = Nguyen

Tat ThanhTat Thanh Ho Chi Minh means Ho Chi Minh means

“Bringer of Light”“Bringer of Light” Former teacher who Former teacher who

became leader of became leader of Vietnam’s Communist Vietnam’s Communist PartyParty

During the Japanese During the Japanese occupation, organized occupation, organized a nationalist a nationalist resistance group resistance group known as the Vietminhknown as the Vietminh

US SupportUS Support During WWII, the US sent During WWII, the US sent

military aid to the military aid to the Vietminh, but once the Vietminh, but once the war was over, the US war was over, the US supported the French supported the French efforts to reclaim Vietnamefforts to reclaim Vietnam

US did not support US did not support colonialism, but feared colonialism, but feared communism more – picked communism more – picked what it considered to be what it considered to be the lesser of two evilsthe lesser of two evils

US policy was reinforced US policy was reinforced after China and North after China and North Korea both became Korea both became communist statescommunist states

The French The French WithdrawWithdraw

Despite extensive US Despite extensive US support, the French support, the French were defeated by the were defeated by the Vietminh, who Vietminh, who waged a campaign of waged a campaign of guerrilla warfareguerrilla warfare

In May of 1954, the In May of 1954, the French lost the battle French lost the battle of Dien Bien Phu and of Dien Bien Phu and decided to withdraw decided to withdraw from Vietnamfrom Vietnam

The Geneva The Geneva AccordsAccords

The French agreed The French agreed to leave Vietnamto leave Vietnam

Vietnam was Vietnam was divided at the 17divided at the 17thth parallel into a parallel into a communist North communist North Vietnam, led by Ho Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh, and a pro-Chi Minh, and a pro-western South western South Vietnam, led by Ngo Vietnam, led by Ngo Dinh DiemDinh Diem

Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem 1901 - 19631901 - 1963 Refused to consider Refused to consider

allowing elections allowing elections to reunite Vietnam to reunite Vietnam into a single state into a single state out of fears that out of fears that such elections such elections would not be would not be conducted conducted legitimately in the legitimately in the communist Northcommunist North

The VietcongThe Vietcong As tensions rose As tensions rose

between North and between North and South, Ho Chi Minh South, Ho Chi Minh organized a new organized a new guerrilla army to guerrilla army to conduct raids conduct raids against the Southagainst the South

The US responded The US responded by sending military by sending military advisors to train advisors to train the South’s militarythe South’s military

Kennedy Increases US Kennedy Increases US AidAid

After taking office in After taking office in 1961, John Kennedy 1961, John Kennedy made the protection of made the protection of South Vietnam a top US South Vietnam a top US prioritypriority

During his presidency, During his presidency, the number of American the number of American military personnel in military personnel in Vietnam jumped from Vietnam jumped from 2000 to 15,0002000 to 15,000

Kennedy also pressured Kennedy also pressured Diem to create a more Diem to create a more democratic government democratic government in the Southin the South

Diem’s Popularity Diem’s Popularity FadesFades

Diem did little to Diem did little to improve to help the improve to help the mostly peasant mostly peasant population of the population of the South and his South and his popularity quickly popularity quickly fadedfaded

Diem, who was Diem, who was Catholic, also tried Catholic, also tried to suppress to suppress Buddhism, which Buddhism, which was the dominant was the dominant religion of the religion of the VietnameseVietnamese

Diem’s DownfallDiem’s Downfall In Nov. 1963, the US In Nov. 1963, the US

decided to support a decided to support a coup led by Diem’s coup led by Diem’s generals against him, generals against him, believing that Diem’s believing that Diem’s regime was no longer regime was no longer viableviable

The overthrow led to a The overthrow led to a weakening of the weakening of the South’s government, South’s government, forcing the US to assume forcing the US to assume more responsibility for more responsibility for maintaining the South’s maintaining the South’s independenceindependence

JFK AssassinationJFK Assassination Nov. 22, 1963Nov. 22, 1963 While riding in a While riding in a

motorcade in Dallas, motorcade in Dallas, TX, Kennedy was shot TX, Kennedy was shot and killedand killed

Lee Harvey Oswald Lee Harvey Oswald was charged with the was charged with the killing, but was killing, but was himself shot and himself shot and killed 2 days later by killed 2 days later by Jack Ruby while being Jack Ruby while being transported from jail transported from jail to appear in court to appear in court