Kennedy’s Domestic PolicyJan. 1961 - Nov. 1963

“New Frontier”

The name of JFK’s platform!

a platform is what a candidate says are his basic beliefs/promises/ideas!

JFK comes into office w/the image of being young, vibrant, guy-who-makes-things-happen

“New Frontier”

To show the world what a free & democratic society looks like!

To lead by example!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t03ktje7jE (JFK’s New Frontier Speech 1960, DNC 2:12)

A tough sell…

It was a tough message to sell since the US had shown great levels of intolerance, esp. w/the civil rights movement!

Even though US congress had passed laws & amended the Constitution to protect civil rights

Kennedy does not address civil rights in his 1st 2 years

While MLK is organizing non-violent protest & begging JFK for taking a forceful stand on civil rights, JFK ignored the call

This is not because JFK didn’t care

Democrats held a narrow majority in Congress (JFK was a Democrat)!

Most of the Democrats in Congress were from the south!

did not support civil rights legislation

Think about it…

Why would JFK care about keeping the southern Congress members on his side?

JFK supported existing civil rights laws

But didn’t really focus on making any new legislation!

So instead of having one tight civil rights policy, JFK had to take care of issues on a case-by-case basis

Example:

Attacks on Freedom Riders in Alabama May, 1961!

JFK sends out US marshals, but that can’t guarantee protection

Example:

Sept. 1962 - JFK announces on TV the successful registration of African American man James Meredith in registering for U of Mississippi!

Unfortunately - the US marshals sent to protect Meredith were at that very moment being beaten back by violent segregationists

Example:

Nov. 1962 JFK sent a bill to Congress asking for mortgage equality for federal loans & also voting rights.!

But it did not address the inequality in public facilities!

Bill went nowhere & died in Congress

Non-Committal

Generally JFK’s stance on civil rights was considered “watered-down” and “non-committal”

Birmingham changes his attitude

May 3, 1963 - police turns dogs, night sticks, and firehoses on protesters!

It’s all over TV!

JFK changes his public response, for fear of a full-on race war in the US

JFK’s assassination

Nov. 1963!

JFK never gets to bring his May statement to actual application/policy!

His successor - L.B. Johnson - will pick up the battle

Not his only failed domestic policy

He came into office during a big recession!

What is a recession?

Not his only failed domestic policy

Efforts at cutting taxes - FAIL!

Efforts at increasing $ for education - FAIL!

Medical care reform - FAIL

He did have some success…

Est. national min. wage ($1.25 per hr!)!

Equal pay act (men & women)!

Housing Act (low interest home loans)!

Establishment of the Peace Corps!

Lowered retirement age to 62!

Increasing interest in environment (Clean Air Act)

Justice League…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZey0q8G-3E (Justice League, 1:45)!