THE TURBULENT 60’S andEarly 70’s

EISENHOWER’S FAREWELL

Lame duck 22nd Amendment “social harmony not social justice” “military industrial complex” U-2 incident—tension with USSR CHANGING AMERICA

Prosperity—suburbia, hwys, sunbelt “cult of domesticity” Sun belt states TV, Disney, McDonald’s & Elvis

1960 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNHow television helped America pick a President!

ISSUES OF THE 1960 CAMPAIGN

JFK Catholic Less experienced Pro-urban, worker Pro-African-

American; women Is the power of

America declining?

NIXON Uphold previous

Ike administration Experienced Pro-”white

America”

Inaugural Address

Text of Inaugural Address

The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God

Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.This much we pledge and more.

Kennedy’s Critics

Republicans and Southern Democrats viewed New Frontier too costly

Southern Democrats controlled Congress

JFK –”THE TV CANDIDATE”

“the best and the brightest men” surround the President—Harvard men—

RFK as Attorney General; McNamara-defense

Small Democratic majorities in Congress

Southern Dems don’t like JFK because of Civil Rights

Most bills stalled in Congress

THE NEW FRONTIER

FBI with Bobby Kennedy Organized crime; not civil rights

SPACE RACE—to the moon! AID TO EDUCATION HELP MIGRANT WORKERS HEALTH INSURANCE TO THE ELDERLY DEPARTMENT OF URBAN AFFAIRS

PEACE CORPS—”Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”

idealism & vitality

ECONOMY—STOP INFLATION A-wage agreements in steel 1962 B-Tax cuts C-$24 bil (by 1969)spent on Space Mission; stimulates economy

Kennedy’s Critics: Despite Democratic large majorities in House

and Senate, Kennedy could not pass his New Frontier legislation.

WHY?

Congress could follow their own interest: “A good many [congressional

representatives] were elected in 1960 in spite of his presence on the ticket rather

than because his name was there.” Congressional Democrat

US News & World Report

Kennedy’s Charisma:

“…Our faith in him and in what he was trying to do was absolute, and he could impart to our work together a sense of challenge and adventure-a feeling that he was moving, and the world with him, toward a better time.” Pierre Salinger, Press SecretaryGlencoe text p. 842

Kennedy’s Enduring Legacy: The Peace Corps Helping the people of interested

countries in meeting their needs for trained men and women.

Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.

Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of all Americans.

http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/JFK+in+History/Peace+Corps.htm

http://www.peacecorps.gov/

PROBLEMS TO FACE

SPACE RACE CIVIL RIGHTS YOUTH CULTURE REVOLUTIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE FEMINIST REVOLUTION VIETNAM

The Space Race: “man on the moon”

http://www.nootrope.net/kennedy.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e08r5IRTbjE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND4kDezFUk8

Kennedy: the Pragmatist

Minor deficit spending Increased funding for defense

and space exploration Supported supply-side

economics and tax cuts “A rising tide lifts all boats.” Congress denied tax cuts out of

fear of inflation

FOREIGN POLICY PROBLEMS

JUNE, 1961 MEETING WITH KRUSCHEV

1962-TRADE EXPANSION ACT Marshall Plan for Latin America French Pres. deGaulle

CIVIL WARS 1-Belgian Congo-1960 2-Laos

Bay of Pigs, Cuba: April 17, 1961

CIA trained 1,400 Cuban Exiles Kennedy cancelled air support Cubans did not rise up in

support of exiles Castro personally led defense

of island 1,189 captured/100 killed US paid $53 in food and

medicine for their release

Lessons learned

The Berlin Wall Goes Up The Berlin Wall Goes Up (1961)(1961)

CheckpoinCheckpointt

CharlieCharlie

Berlin Wall June 1961

http://www.dailysoft.com/berlinwall/photographs/berlinwall-1961.htmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARQ4EDKlQ0k

Ich bin ein Ich bin ein Berliner!Berliner!

(1963)(1963)

President President Kennedy tells Kennedy tells Berliners that Berliners that

the West is the West is with them!with them!

Kennedy: the Pragmatist

Less of Ike’s “brinkmanship” and more

“flexible response” more conventional troops

and weapons Support of Special Forces“Green Berets”

http://www.specialoperations.com/Army/Special_Forces/SF_Info/Story.htmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y5GDvN9_OE

A “Marshall Plan” for Latin America?

Poverty and corruption in Latin America

Kennedy wants to thwart communist expansion in Latin America

Alliance for Progress $20 billion aid for better schools,

housing and health care Designed to counter leftist

movements Chile, Colombia, Venezeula, and

Central America benefited

Cuban Missile Crisis Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)(1962)

Nukes in Cuba

Cuban Missile Crisis Oct. 1962

Pictures of missile silos in Cuba JFK-orders a blockade KRUSCHEV BACKS DOWN Results:

“RED” PHONE JFK—RESPECTED KRUSCHEV—KICKED OUT OF OFFICE

Cuban Missile Crisis Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)(1962)

Cuban Missile Crisis Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)(1962)

We went eyeball-to-eyeball with the We went eyeball-to-eyeball with the Russians, and the other man blinked!Russians, and the other man blinked!

CIVIL RIGHTS

“moral issue” freedom riders Voter Education Project Riots in Birmingham Medgar evers “I may lose the next election; I don’t care” JFK James Meredith, Univ. of Mississippi Birmingham—”most segregated city in America” March on Washington, 1963 I Have a Dream Birmingham Church bombing

The dreamis gone!

Nov. 22, 1963

WARREN COMMISSION

(1) The shots which killed President Kennedy and wounded Governor Connally were fired from the sixth floor window at the southeast corner of the Texas School Book Depository.

(2) The weight of the evidence indicates that there were three shots fired. (3) Although it is not necessary to any essential findings of the Commission to

determine just which shot hit Governor Connally, there is very persuasive evidence from the experts to indicate that the same bullet which pierced the President's throat also caused Governor Connally's wounds. However, Governor Connally's testimony and certain other factors have given rise to some difference of opinion as to this probability but there is no question in the mind of any member of the Commission that all the shots which caused the President's and Governor Connally's wounds were fired from the sixth floor window of the Texas School Book Depository.

(4) The shots which killed President Kennedy and wounded Governor Connally were fired by Lee Harvey Oswald.

(5) Oswald killed Dallas Police Patrolman J. D. Tippit approximately 45 minutes after the assassination.

(6) Within 80 minutes of the assassination and 35 minutes of the Tippit killing Oswald resisted arrest at the theater by attempting to shoot another Dallas police officer.

(7) The Commission has found no evidence that either Lee Harvey Oswald or Jack Ruby was part of any conspiracy, domestic or foreign, to assassinate President Kennedy.

(8) In its entire investigation the Commission has found no evidence of conspiracy, subversion, or disloyalty to the U.S. Government by any Federal, State, or local official.

(9) On the basis of the evidence before the Commission it concludes that, Oswald acted alone.

 

LBJ AS PRESIDENT

Urges Congress to pass the Civil Rights bill as a “memorial to JFK”

“true politician” Modern day –”Andy Jackson”

“The Johnson Treatment”

Reputation of being “overpowering and intimidating”

Invaded personal space: nose to nose

“persuasive and personable rather than elegant and charming”

Glencoe American History text p.855

The 1964 Election

1964 Election

DEM-LBJ REP-Goldwater “Mr. Conservative” Issues:

Civil rights Vietnam

Daisy Ad-LBJ’s political ad that shocks the world!

Johnson/Humphrey

The Results

CIVIL RIGHTS AND LBJ

1-CIVIL RIGHTS BILL OF 1964 NO DISCRIM. IN PUBLIC PLACES EEOC

2-FREEDOM SUMMER 1964 VOTER REGISTRATION IN MISS/ALA

3-24TH AMENDMENT LITERACY TESTS & POLL TAXES GONE

4-EXECUTIVE ORDER—1965 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN FED. CONTRACTS

5-VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 “GIVE US THE BALLOT AND THE SOUTH WILL NEVER BE

THE SAME” MLK “Segregation today, tomorrow & forever” George Wallace March, 1965- March to Selma, AL

“We Shall Overcome”

March on Selma

Voting Rights Act of 1965

LBJ speech

“WE SHALL OVERCOME”

GREAT SOCIETY“THE OTHER AMERICA” BY HARRINGTON

4 LEGS 1-MEDICAID/MEDICARE 2-AID TO EDUCATION

HeadStart-preschool for poor kids 3-VOTING RIGHTS 4-IMMIGRATION REFORM

BLACK POWER-1966

WATTS RIOTS 1965 5 DAYS AFTER VOTING RIGHTS ACT PASSED

Malcolm X “BLUE EYED, WHITE DEVILS”

black panthers stokely carmichael

BLACK “DISTINCTIVENESS” 1967-RIOTS IN NEWARK, LA, DETROIT & CHICAGO APRIL 4, 1968– MLK

A Man of Peace, Dies Through Violence April, 1968

Leaders of New Militant Civil Rights Era Malcolm XStokely Carmichael-Black Panther Party

Black Power symbolism at 1968 Olympics

CIVIL RIGHTS-Affirmative Action

NIXON 1969-Griggs v. Duke Power

Reverse Discrimination-Bakke v. California (1970’s)

Vietnam War: 1965-1973Vietnam War: 1965-1973

VIETNAM--TIMELINE

1954-DEFEAT OF FRENCH AT DIEN BIEN PHU 1956-DIEM-SVIETNAM LEADER Repressive dictatorial rule by DiemRepressive dictatorial rule by Diem

Diem’s family holds all powerDiem’s family holds all power Wealth is hoarded by the eliteWealth is hoarded by the elite Buddhist majority persecutedBuddhist majority persecuted Torture, lack of political freedom prevailTorture, lack of political freedom prevail

The U.S. aided Diem’s governmentThe U.S. aided Diem’s government Ike sent financial and military aidIke sent financial and military aid 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.

COMMUNIST “VIETMINH” ATTACK DIEM’S GOV’T 1960-DIEM’S GOV’T READY TO FALL

JFK-sends 16,000 “advisors” 1963-DIEM IS OVERTHROWN; Diem killed—a few weeks later

so is JFK

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Early Protests of Diem’s Government

Self-Emolation by a Buddhist MonkSelf-Emolation by a Buddhist Monk

LBJ & VIETNAM--

DOMINO THEORY “I am not going to be the president

who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went”

Robert McNamara-Sec. of Defense -route out all the “commies”

U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam

U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968

U.S. Troops

TONKIN GULF INCIDENT 1964

“unprovoked attacks on US ships by North Vietnamese”

Gulf of Tonkin Incident 1964

McNamara A US ship was attacked on 2 August

1964.

TONKIN GULF RESOLUTION

“blank check” For LBJ

Problems in Vietnam

Pleiku attack—Feb. 1965

“Operation Rolling Thunder” March 1965

Ongoing bombing of Hanoi for 3 years

Downed pilots-POW’s Carpet bombing with napalm

Who Is the Enemy?Who Is the Enemy?

VietcongVietcong: Farmers by day; guerillas at Farmers by day; guerillas at

night.night. Very patient people willing to Very patient people willing to

accept many casualties.accept many casualties. The US grossly underestimated The US grossly underestimated

their resolve and their their resolve and their resourcefulness.resourcefulness.

The guerilla wins if he does not The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win.if it does not win. -- Mao Mao ZedongZedong

Who Is the Enemy?Who Is the Enemy?

The Ground War1965-1968 The Ground War1965-1968

General WestmorelandGeneral Westmoreland, late 1967:

We can see theWe can see the“light at the end of the tunnel.”“light at the end of the tunnel.”

After a tour of Vietnam, publiclyWestmoreland & McNamara agreed with the statementPrivately McNamara told LBJ—”Vietnam is going to Hell in a hand basket”

THE FIRST WAR FOUGHT ON TVAMERICA RESPONDS TO THE HORRORS

Tet Offensive 1968

1968 Tet Offensive

Walter Cronkite, CBS editorial President Johnson “If I’ve lost Cronkite,

I’ve lost the American people.”

The 1968 Decision

Johnson’s Johnson’s popularity popularity dropped in 1968 dropped in 1968 from 48% to from 48% to 36%.36%.Speech by LBJ

Are We Becoming the Enemy?Are We Becoming the Enemy?

Lt. William Lt. William CalleyCalley,,Platoon LeaderPlatoon Leader

Mylai MassacreMylai Massacre, 1968, 1968 200-500 unarmed 200-500 unarmed

villagersvillagers

Charlie Company, 1Charlie Company, 1stst Battalion, 20 Battalion, 20thth InfantryInfantry

Anti-WarDemonstrations

Anti-WarDemonstrations

Columbia UniversityColumbia University19671967

Central Park, NYCCentral Park, NYC

1968 Election

Rep-Nixon “peace with honor” “hawk” “law & order” “silent majority”

American Indep: George Wallace Segregation

Dems Eugene McCarthy-anti-war RFK-anti-war; pro-civil

rights Assassinated

LBJ-won’t run again Hubert Humphrey Becomes the candidate

for Dems

Democratic convention Chicago

Police beat protestors on national tv

Mayor Daley Divided Democrats!

NIXON AS PRESIDENT

1-secretly escalates war—Laos & Cambodia

2-”vietnamization” 3-Agent Orange 4-Peace with Honor

Anti-War Demonstrations

Anti-War Demonstrations

May 4, May 4, 19701970

4 students 4 students shot dead.shot dead.

11 11 students students woundedwounded

Kent State UniversityKent State University

Jackson StateJackson StateUniversityUniversity

May 10, 1970May 10, 1970

2 dead; 12 2 dead; 12 woundedwounded

“Pentagon Papers,” 1971“Pentagon Papers,” 1971

Former defense analyst Former defense analyst Daniel EllsbergDaniel Ellsbergleaked govt. docs. regarding war efforts during leaked govt. docs. regarding war efforts during Johnson’s administration to the Johnson’s administration to the New York TimesNew York Times..

Docs.Docs. Govt. misled Congress & Amer. People Govt. misled Congress & Amer. People regarding its intentions in Vietnam during mid-regarding its intentions in Vietnam during mid-1960s.1960s. Primary reason for fighting not to Primary reason for fighting not to

eliminate communism, but eliminate communism, but to avoid to avoid humiliating defeathumiliating defeat. .

New York Times v. United StatesNew York Times v. United States (1971) (1971) **

The Ceasefire, 1973The Ceasefire, 1973

Peace is at handPeace is at hand Kissinger, 1972 Kissinger, 1972 Prior to 1972 electionPrior to 1972 election

North Vietnam attacks SouthNorth Vietnam attacks South Most Massive U.S. bombing Most Massive U.S. bombing

commencescommences

1973: Ceasefire signed between1973: Ceasefire signed between U.S., South Vietnam, & North VietnamU.S., South Vietnam, & North Vietnam

Peace with honorPeace with honor (President Nixon) (President Nixon)

The Ceasefire, 1973The Ceasefire, 1973

Conditions:Conditions:

1.1.U.S. to remove all troopsU.S. to remove all troops2.2.North Vietnam could leave North Vietnam could leave

troops already in S.V.troops already in S.V.3.3.North Vietnam would resume North Vietnam would resume

warwar4.4.No provision for POWs or No provision for POWs or

MIAsMIAs Last American troops left South Last American troops left South

Vietnam on March 29, 1973Vietnam on March 29, 1973 1975: North Vietnam defeats South Vietnam1975: North Vietnam defeats South Vietnam Saigon renamed Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City

The Fall of SaigonThe Fall of Saigon

South Vietnamese South Vietnamese Attempt to Flee the CountryAttempt to Flee the Country

The Fall of Saigon

The Fall of Saigon

America Abandons Its America Abandons Its EmbassyEmbassy

April 30, 1975April 30, 1975

The CostsThe Costs

1.1. 3,000,000 Vietnamese killed3,000,000 Vietnamese killed2.2. 58,000 Americans killed; 300,000 58,000 Americans killed; 300,000

woundedwounded3.3. Under-funding of Great Society Under-funding of Great Society

programsprograms4.4. $150,000,000,000 in U.S. spending$150,000,000,000 in U.S. spending5.5. U.S. morale, self-confidence, trust of U.S. morale, self-confidence, trust of

government, decimatedgovernment, decimated

The ImpactThe Impact

2626thth Amendment Amendment: 18-year-olds vote: 18-year-olds vote Nixon abolished the draftNixon abolished the draft

all-volunteer armyall-volunteer army War Powers Act, War Powers Act, 19731973 ٭٭

President must notify Congress within 48 President must notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying military forcehours of deploying military force

President must withdraw forces unless he President must withdraw forces unless he gains Congressional approval within 60 gains Congressional approval within 60 daysdays

Disregard for Veterans Disregard for Veterans seen as “baby seen as “baby killers”killers”

POW/MIA issue lingeredPOW/MIA issue lingered

Some American POWs Returned from the “Hanoi Hilton”

Some American POWs Returned from the “Hanoi Hilton”

Senator John Senator John McCainMcCain(R-AZ)(R-AZ)

2,583 American2,583 American POWs / MIAsPOWs / MIAs

still unaccounted for todaystill unaccounted for today..If we have to fight, weIf we have to fight, we will fight. You will kill will fight. You will kill ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and in the end it will be in the end it will be youyou who tires of it. Ho Chi Minh who tires of it. Ho Chi Minh

Journal: What Lessons Should we learn from Vietnam?Journal: What Lessons Should we learn from Vietnam?

1.1. Wars must be of short duration.Wars must be of short duration.2.2. Wars must yield few American casualties.Wars must yield few American casualties.3.3. Restrict media access to battlefields.Restrict media access to battlefields.4.4. Develop and maintain Congressional and Develop and maintain Congressional and

public support.public support.5.5. Set clear, winnable goals.Set clear, winnable goals.6.6. Set deadline for troop withdrawals.Set deadline for troop withdrawals.

President Clinton formally recognized Vietnam on July 11, 1995

Where Were You in the War, Daddy?Where Were You in the War, Daddy?

This war

haunts us

still!

This war

haunts us

still!

The Vietnam Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Formal Recognition of the war--- 1995

The Vietnam Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Formal Recognition of the war--- 1995

58,000 Die 58,000 Die in Vietnamin Vietnam58,000 Die 58,000 Die in Vietnamin Vietnam