1960’s Notes Part 1
Questions:
1.
What was Kennedy’s New Frontier? How was that philosophy played out, both domestically and internationally,
within the first few years of Kennedy’s administration?
2.
What was flexible response and how was that different from the foreign policy philosophy of the previous
administrations (Massive Retaliaton)?
3.
Explain the Kennedy administration’s vigorous activism in the Cold War, both against the Russians and against
Third World communists. The emphasis might be on the contrast between relative success dealing with the Russians
(for example, the Cuban missile crisis) versus frustration in the Third World (for example, the Bay of Pigs and
Vietnam).
4.
How did Kennedy deal with the civil rights issue?
5.
How did President Johnson deal with the civil rights issue? What were his goals and were these goals actualized by
the end of the decade?
6.
What role did President Johnson have in the Vietnam conflict?
7.
What were the major goals of Johnson’s Great Society? How successful were they?
8.
How did Nixon’s foreign policy of détente differ from previous administrations? How did détente help or hurt
relations with China and the Soviet Union?
9.
Consider the domestic political and social turmoil of the sixties, brought on by social and cultural upheavals as well
as Vietnam. Point out the deep polarization of American society, as evidenced by the turbulent events of 1968.
10.
How did the Vietnam conflict escalate under the Nixon administration?
Themes:
Kennedy’s New Frontier initiatives bogged down in congressional stalemate. The Kennedy administration’s
domestic stalemate ended in the mid-1960s, as Johnson’s Great Society and the black civil rights movement
brought a tide of liberal social reform. But the diversion of resources and the social upheavals caused by the
Vietnam War wrecked the Great Society.
Cold War confrontations, during JFK’s Administration, over Berlin and Russian missiles in Cuba created
threats of war. Countering Third World communism through flexible response led the administration into
dangerous involvement in Vietnam and elsewhere. The Kennedy administration’s flexible response
doctrine to combat Third World communism bore ill fruit in Cuba and especially Vietnam.
Johnson’s massive escalation of the war in Vietnam failed to defeat the Communist Vietnamese forces,
while growing domestic opposition finally forced him from power.
Johnson succeeded Kennedy and overwhelmingly defeated Goldwater. The black movement for
integration and voting rights won great victories. Johnson used his huge congressional majorities to push
through a mass of liberal Great Society legislation. Northern black ghettos erupted in violence amid calls
for black power.
Johnson escalated military involvement in Vietnam. As the number of troops and casualties grew without
producing military success, dovish protests against the war gained strength. Political opposition forced
Johnson not to seek reelection, and the deep Democratic divisions over the war allowed Nixon to win the
White House.
Nixon’s Vietnamization policy reduced American ground participation in the war, but his Cambodia
invasion sparked massive protest.
Quotes:
“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 throughout the world.” (JFK - Inaugural address, 1961)
“When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every
city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and
Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of that old Negro spiritual,
‘Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, we are free at last!’” (MLK- “I Have a Dream” speech, 1963)
“I knew from the start that I was bound to be crucified either way I moved. If I left the woman I loved—
the Great Society—in order to get involved with that bitch of a war on the other side of the world, then I
would lose everything at home. All my programs, all my dreams. But if I left that war and let the
communists take over South Vietnam, then I would be seen as a coward and my nation would be seen as
an appeaser and we would find it impossible to accomplish anything for anyone anywhere on the entire
globe.” (LBJ - Conversation, 1970)
“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events,
and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.” (RFK - To Seek a Newer World,
1967)
“You won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore, because gentlemen, this is my last press conference.” (“Tricky
Dick” (Nixon -Press conference after election loss, 1962)
“Say what we will about the Sixties’ failures, limits, disasters, America’s political and cultural space would
probably not have opened up as much as it did without the movement’s divine delirium.… This side of an everreceding millennium, the changes wrought by the Sixties, however beleaguered, averted some of the worst
abuses of power, and made life more decent for millions. The movement in its best moments and broadest
definition made philosophical breakthroughs which are still working themselves out.” {Todd Gitlin, “The
Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage, 1987}
“The counter-culture flourished in cities and on campuses. Elsewhere, in Middle America, it was hated and
feared. The result was a national division between the counter-culture and those adults who admired or tolerated
it, and the silent majority of workers and Middle Americans who didn’t. The tensions between these groups
made solving social and political problems all the more difficult and were, indeed, part of the problem.”
[William O’Neill, Coming Apart, 1971]
The Stormy Sixties
“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.” JFK Inaugural Address, 1961
Intro
In 1960 the country elected a young, vigorous President -JFK- Many today call his time as President,
“Camelot.” After his assassination – the decade began its perilous revolutionary spiral—The 1960’s
would bring a Sexual Revolution, a Civil Rights Revolution, the emergence of a “youth culture,” a
devastating and escalating WAR in Vietnam, a Feminist Revolution, a Chicano Revolution, the American
Indian Movement, and began an Environmental Movement.
Kennedy’s “New Frontier” Spirit
January 20, 1961 a tall, elegantly handsome, YOUNG President gave one of the greatest inaugural speeches
in our history--“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can
do for your country.”
“For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty
and all forms of human life.”
“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, to assure
the survival and the success of liberty.”
“Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together
let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths,
and encourage the arts and commerce.”
“All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the
first one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our
lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.”
“The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our
country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.”
At the outset JFK inspired high expectations—especially among the young—
The New Frontier at Home
JFK though had to deal with the damnable Southern Democrats--- Southern Democrats threatened to
team up with conservative Republicans and ax all of his proposed programs.
JFK works to tame inflation---by negotiating a non-inflationary wage agreement with the Steelworkers
in 1962---the agreement with the owners was that they would keep prices fixed—down—BUT—
immediately the owners raise prices—and so he brought them into the White House and forced them to
hold prices--- and called them S.O.B.s for lying to him---his threat to take the mills over worked.
JFK cuts taxes—to stimulate the economy—“The Trickle-Down Theory,” unusual for such a liberal--some called the action, “the most Republican since McKinley.”
JFK BEGINS THE PEACE CORP –sending an army of idealistic and Youthful volunteers to underdeveloped
nations around the world to bring knowledge and understanding to improve the lives of thousands—ONE
OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF OUR POSTITIVE INFLUENCE IN THE WORLD.
JFK begins Project Apollo--- to put a MAN ON THE MOON (23 BILLION LATER, IN 1969 IT IS DONE ] @
a famous speech at Rice University, “But why, some say, the moon? And they well may ask, why climb
the highest mountain? Why, thirty-five years ago fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas? We
choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not
because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and
measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to
accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win…”
Rumblings in Europe—BERLIN WALL IS BUILT***
In June 1961 JFK meets Nikita Khrushchev at the Vienna Summit –Khrushchev when 1st meeting JFK
must sense WEAKNESS—because he becomes bellicose (warlike) in his manner towards the USA and
JFK---he threatens to cut Berlin off completely---from the WEST---THE “BRAIN DRAIN” –Comparing life in
East Germany and West Germany (economically the East Germans were struggling and in the West they
were thriving) it became an embarrassment for the Communists---so much so that it was clear that if they
did not stop people from leaving Eastern Europe through Berlin---that they would have to continue to
deal with uprisings in each of their “Satellite” nations in Europe. From the beginning of JFKs
Presidency the USSR took a “Hard Line” towards the USA ---and a WAR seemed imminent---and
due to the USAs lack of assistance for Hungary ---the people of Western Europe were concerned
that if the USSR wanted to take the rest of Europe the USA MIGHT JUST SIT BACK AND WATCH--PARALYZED BY THE THREAT OF WAR***SO JFK and his advisors HAD to in this case be tough too
and follow through on their promises*** or would risk losing what they had spent so much time
and $$$ re-building since the end of WW2.
****June 26, 1963 JFK Travels to West Berlin***
The USSR and East Germany have completed the WALL – on TV, shown around the World people
see the valiant attempts to escape---horrible really--- JFK comes to show that the USA WILL NOT
ABANDON THEM--- IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE OF CLOSE TO ½ A MILLION PEOPLE JFK GIVES ONE
OF HIS MOST MEMORABLE SPEECHES:
JFK IN WEST BERLIN 
“Two thousand years ago, the proudest boast was civis romanus sum ["I am a Roman
citizen"]. Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is "Ich bin ein
Berliner!"... All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and therefore,
as a free man, I take pride in the words "Ich bin ein Berliner!" [I am a Berliner]
He also states:
“To those who say we can work with the communists… Lass’ sie nach Berlin
kommen..[“let them come to Berlin”] (a threat )
The Wall stands as a symbol of shame*** and a symbol of the difference between
communism and a free world*** for 30 years this is the COLD WAR—One society
has to wall in its people and in the other they are FREE.
Foreign Flare-ups and “FLEXIBLE
RESPONSE”
The World after WW2 became a very different place. Decolonization and nation building dramatically
changes the nature of relationships between countries--- especially in Africa, Asia, and Latin
America –where a thousand years of European dominance came to end quickly and abruptly. This
caused many problems for the USA due to their close relationship with their European allies---and the
USAs desire to win over the hearts and minds of the peoples in these regions---to continue our
international trade and compete with communism for influence*** these twin desires of the
USA influence our governments actions at home supporting the civil rights movement and our
actions abroad—in some ways very generous and in others (to be honest) very ruthless and
thoughtless towards certain peoples---almost ignoring their desires or ideas---copy us, be
friends with us, OR ELSE*** THE USA HAD MANY QUESTIONS TO ANSWER—AND NONE OF
THE CHOICES WERE EASY---SOME TURN OUT WELL ----SOME NOT SO WELL.
It was obvious that IKE’s policy of “MASSIVE RETALIATON” was not EFFECTIVE in most cases
when dealing with small conflicts that were popping up across the globe--- Hungary, is just one
example of this failure—So JFK and his team of young ivy league educated advisors had to
CHANGE OUR STRATEGY; “Flexible Response”-becomes our philosophy**************
In essence this policy becomes the USAs main policy for the rest of the Cold War---with few
exceptions.
The events in the Congo and in Laos, vicious and murderous slaughter of innocent people, brings the
failure of IKEs policy to a head---Kennedy felt that “massive retaliation” only gave him two choices of
how to respond to these crises---1- Nuclear weapons ( and possibly begin WWIII) 2 – Do nothing
(and be embarrassed)
Flexible Response was created to give JFK and the USA a variety of Military options that
would precisely match the gravity of the particular crisis at hand--SPECIAL FORCES: small elite units like: The Green Berets, Delta Force, and JFK, himself a
Navy veteran of WWII (a hero on PT-109) CREATES THE NAVY SEALS.
These “special” forces would be and are trained scientifically and specifically to be a force that can
defeat these “insurgents” and restore peace and stability to areas around the world--********THIS[FLEXIBLE RESPONSE] SEEMS LOGICAL AND THOUGHTFUL***** YET—IT
ALSO LOWERED THE LEVEL AT WHICH DIPLOMACY –non-military solutions—WOULD
BECOME WARS FOR THE USA---MORE US TROOPS WOULD BE PUT INTO COMBAT---AND
THEREFORE POSSIBLY DIE***and once you start fighting ---using US troops –where does it
end---if we leave, will the problem just return? Or WILL WE HAVE TO STAY IN THESE PLACES
FIGHTING ---CONTINUING TO PUT MORE AND MORE TROOPS IN HARMS WAY--There is no good answer*** the Question: What should or How should America respond to
these global crises---is a tough one---what are our interests in a particular region of the
World? What of our promises, Truman & Eisenhower Doctrines---that state “WE WILL GO
ANYWHERE TO DEFEND FREE PEOPLE FROM SUBJUGATION?” WHAT OF OUR GROWING
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS INTERESTS??? TO THIS DAY---WE STILL BATTLE
WITH THESE QUESTIONS!!!! JFK’S ANSWER AND OURS TODAY ARE SIMILAR: A
“Flexible Response.”*********************************************************
Stepping into the Vietnam Quagmire –Our Role in Vietnam is still***a very controversial issue
among historians*** with a great divide among them as to our role and the legacy****
The 1954s Geneva Summit split French Indochina into 4 countries: North Vietnam (communist - ruled
by Ho Chi Minh) South Vietnam (Democratic – President Ngo Dinh Diem) –Laos and Cambodia.
Truman and Eisenhower supported the French during their war for Independence. Billions of $$$ and
some “MILITARY ADVISORS,” especially after 1954—specifically to train South Vietnam’s Army---to
be able to resist the communist guerillas who hoped to overthrow Diem and cause havoc in the noncommunist South.
Although Free Nationwide elections were proposed at Geneva---by 1956 Diem did not believe
that there could be “free and open” elections—he believed that the communists could not be
trusted—so he (the South) does not participate--- THIS ACTION is seen by some as
hypocritical---especially due to the USAs support for Diem’s position of no nationwide elections--due to our criticism of the Soviets in Eastern Europe—which in essence causes the beginning of the
Cold War*****
However***-- many eminent historians agree with Diem’s decision not to participate in the elections
due to, in their opinion, perhaps he was right---too much corruption existed and there was no way to
actually hold FAIR AND FREE ELECTIONS ---AT THIS TIME 
JFK –Sends a plethora (a lot) of “advisors” to try to determine what the US policy should be in
Vietnam?
JFK SENDS AN INCREASED # OF “MILITARY” AND NON-MILITARY “ADVISORS” TO VIETNAM
based on their estimation of the validity of the “DOMINO THEORY.” [THE # OF US TROOP
ADVISORS RISES FROM 900 UNDER IKE TO OVER 15,000 UNDER JFK***
American troops, including “Green Berets” (great movie of this title that stars John Wayne in Vietnam)
begin to help South Vietnam STABILIZE*** WE BEGIN THE “STRATEGIC HAMLET”
PROGRAM****—AN EFFORT TO FORTIFY AND PROTECT THE MASSES WHO LIVED IN THE
COUNTRYSIDE AND WERE SMALL FARMERS***
HOWEVER---a large # of Buddhist protestors against the Diem Government and an increased
# of Communists sent from the North had caused many problems for Diem and their was a
QUESTION OF HIS ABILITY TO RULE SOUTH VIETNAM***
***In November of 1963 Diem is killed and General Nguyen Van Thieu takes over and
becomes President of South Vietnam from 1965-1975. *** He is aided by his rival Nguyen Cao
Ky who becomes Prime Minister and head of the Air Force---THE TWO OF THEM ARE ABLE
TO “STABLIZE” SOUTH VIETNAM AFTER THE COUP DE TAT WHICH KILLS DIEM IN 1963 AND
EFFECTIVELY RULE UNTIL THE US PULLS OUT IN 1975**
Cuban Confrontations—“Missiles of October”- “13 days” ****THE
CLOSEST THE WORLD COMES TO A NUCLEAR WORLD WAR III –
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT EXAMPLE OF “BRINKMANSHIP” OF THE
ENTIRE COLD WAR***
JFK created The Alliance for Progress in 1961—in an attempt to improve our relationship with Latin
American nations—[a Marshall Plan for Latin America] –the primary goal was to improve the lives of the
most poor in Latin America—and thus by improving their lives ---stop the masses from turning to
communism and revolution—the program had mixed results, at best--The Bay of Pigs operation****4/17/1961 – Brigade 2506 – a counter-revolutionary force trained by the
CIA attempts to invade Cuba and overthrow Fidel Castro---they are defeated in 3 days. This invasion was
planned under the Eisenhower administration, and cost 13.1 million $$$. When JFK is elected and takes
office in Jan. of 1961 he is informed of this plan and gives his consent.
The Key: The Eisenhower Administration had approved the use of the US military to support the
invasion—JFK did not allow the US Military to support the invasion to the levels that would “guarantee
success”---as many believed IKE would have--- THIS FACT---WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT US MILITARY
SUPPORT THE MISSION WAS DOOMED***
1200-1500 CUBAN EXILES FROM THE US ATTEMPT TO INVADE CUBA ---AND FAIL MISERABLY –THOSE
NOT KILLED IN FIGHTING ARE PUT IN CUBAN PRISONS—and Castro has evidence of US intentions to
attempt to overthrow him ---clearly a threat ---which brings the USSRs support in an even greater
way----SECRETLY SENDING NUCLEAR MISSILES TO CUBA AND BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
WOULD ALLOW “CUBA” TO USE THESE MISSILES AGAINST THE USA***
JFK –goes on national tv and announces the failure of the invasion and of the our involvement==
“victory has a hundred fathers, and defeat is an orphan.”
America after the failure at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba continues to look for ways to overthrow and even
assassinate Fidel Castro—this continues to make Cuba a dangerous place 90 miles from the USA***
The USSR begins to send the Nuclear weapons to Cuba and built the infrastructure necessary to fire
them at the USA*** **** unknown to the USA ***in October 1962 –a “spy plane” U-2 – takes pictures of
the Cuban construction sites and nuclear missiles --- (they already had several sites ready to fire on
the USA**** by the time they were discovered building others)----THE US DID NOT KNOW THAT CUBA
HAD NUCLEAR MISSILES ALREADY READY TO FIRE---THEY ONLY THOUGHT THEY WERE IN THE
PROCESS OF BUILDING THE CAPABILITY TO FIRE****KEY
THIS “REVELATION” THAT CUBA AND THE USSR WERE INSTALLING NUCLEAR WEAPONS 90 MILES
FROM THE USA WITH THE CAPABILITY TO STRIKE US AT ANY TIME CAUSED PANIC IN THE USA
WHAT WAS JFK TO DO?
THE US MILITARY ADVISORS SUGGESTED ATTACKING CUBA*** IN FACT DEMANDED THIS ---AND
CONSIDERED DOING WITH OR WITHOUT JFK’S PERMISSION***
JFK CHOSE TO ATTEMPT TO COMMUNICATE WITH KHRUSHCHEV*** AND HAS DIFFICULTY***
JFK CHOOSES TO “QUARANITINE” “Blockade” CUBA—WITH THE US NAVY AND SUBMARINES (and at
the same time try to get ahold of NK---all in secret--- eventually---at the last minute they begin
negotiations in an attempt to resolve the issue***)
Russian Ships with Nuclear Missiles on their decks (photographed and shown on TV) are getting
closer and closer to Cuba---
A US NAVY plane flying over the Russian Ship with the nuclear missiles on deck
JFK GOES ON NATIONAL TV OCTOBER 22, 1962
“It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from
Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack by the Soviet
Union on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet
Union.”
For an anxious week Americans waited while Soviet ships approached the US Navy
Blockade—Will there be WWIII ---Will M.A.D.---HAPPEN***
THE US GOES TO DEFCON-3 WORLDWIDE
OCTOBER 25 THE US GOES TO DEFCON-2 (THE ONLY “CONFIRMED” TIME IN US
HISTORY)
THE SOVIET UNION DESPITE PROOF OF THE NUCLEAR MISSILES IN CUBA--CONTINUOUSLY DENY THAT THEY EXIST*** IN THE UNITED NATIONS--- IN THE MEDIA--10/25-JFK ORDERS IN SECURITY ACTION MEMO #199= THE LOADING OF NUCLEAR
WEAPONS ONTO AIRCRAFT FOR A STRIKE ON THE SOVIET UNION
10/26 – CASTRO CABLES KHRUSHCEV THAT HE BELIEVES THAT AN INVASION IS
IMMENENT AND THAT HE WANTS TO FIRE NUCLEAR MISSILES AT THE USA
10/27 A US U-2 SPY PLANE FLYING OVER CUBA IS SHOT DOWN – THE USA IS PREPARING
FOR NUCLEAR WAR***”BLACK SATURDAY”—A US SUB ATTACKS A RUSSIAN SUB
EQUIPPED WITH NUCLEAR TORPEDOs--- the Russian commanders had orders to fire—and
permission to fire--- began a countdown--- and with less than 30 seconds left ---1 of the 3
commanders on the Sub--- calls it off--- {the closest the world, that we know of, has ever come
to nuclear world war III}*******
10/28 the US and the USSR come to an agreement that removed the
nuclear missiles from Cuba in exchange for the US removing some
missiles from Turkey (on the USSR border) and a promise to never
invade Cuba.
EFFECTS OF CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS:
NK LOSES POWER –BRESHNEV TAKES OVER
USSR BEGINS A HUGE MILITARY EXPANSION
DEMOCRATS INCREASE MAJORITIES IN CONGRESS
A NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREAT WITH THE USSR IS SIGNED IN 1963
8/63 –“THE HOT-LINE” IS ESTABLISHED SO THAT THE PRESIDENT CAN INSTANTLY
COMMUNICATE WITH THE PREMIER OF THE SOVIET UNION
JFK’S speech at American University in June, 1963 –in which he tells the American people that the
Soviets are not the devil ---and that we need to work at becoming friends---- to live in “peaceful
coexistence”---DÉTENTE – RELAXING OF TENSIONS***
The Struggle for Civil Rights
JFK was slow to help the Civil Rights Movement, despite his promises made while running for
President, due to the Southern Democrats control of Congress and their threats*** he needed them--they new that--- so he did very little initially***
The SCLC-SNCC-CORE-NAACP = The organizations of Blacks --- knew this too---and it fueled
them to ACT----AND FORCE JFK----TO CHOOSE--The Freedom Rides begin in 1961 ---youth riding interstate buses throughout the South to end
segregation in the bus terminals----across the South --- Rock Hill, SC – Charlotte --- Alabama –
Mississippi—THE RIDERS WERE ATTACKED---SOME KILLED---BUSES BOMBED--- VIOLENCE
ENSUED AND IS CAUGHT ON NATIONAL TV***Bobby Kennedy, attorney general, sent a
representative from the AGs Office and he was beaten bloody in Montgomery, Alabama—
Federal Marshalls were sent after this to protect the riders***
Integrating OLE MISS—Federal Marshalls are sent to Oxford, Mississippi in 0ct, 1962 to
protect James Meredith and allow him to enter OLE MISS--- which led to the OXFORD RIOTS--400 marshals and 3000 US TROOPS are sent to protect Meredith and guarantee his protection-******March 1963--- MLK ---takes on BULL CONNOR in BIRMINGHAM-“BOMBINGHAM”
ALABAMA****** this may be THE TURNING POINT*** dogs-fire hoses- electric cattle prods—
churches bombed—houses bombed--- ALL ON NATIONAL TV---EVENING NEWSCASTS BEGIN
IN 1963***MLK IS JAILED ---AND WRITES “LETTERS FROM A BIRMINGHAM JAIL,”
JUNE 1963—JFK RESPONDS--- ON LIVE TV TO THE WORLD—and calls for a Civil Rights Act**
“If an American, because his skin is dark, cannot eat lunch in a restaurant open to the
public; if he cannot send his children to the best public school available; if he cannot
vote for the public officials who represent him; if, in short he cannot enjoy the full and
free life which all of us want, then who among us would be content to have the color of
his skin changed and stand in his place?”
The Civil Rights organizations were used to “promises” --- “be patient”--- THEY CHOSE
TO CONTINUE TO ACT—THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON –AUGUST 1963***
200,000 MARCHERS AT “THE MALL” ---LISTEN TO SPEAKERS ALL DAY---AND
IT CONCLUDES WITH MLK’S FAMOUS “I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH,” A
TREMENDOUS SUCCESS---SUPPORTED BY JFK---WHAT WAS NEXT--- STILL LOTS OF
PROMISES WITH LITTLE ACTION*** ON THIS SAME NIGHT ---MEDGAR EVERS –HEAD OF THE
MOVEMENT IN MISSISSIPPI IS GUNNED DOWN AND MURDERED IN FRONT OF HIS HOME**** A BOMB
IN A CHURCH IN BIRMINGHAM KILLS 4 LITTLE GIRS IN SUNDAY SCHOOL—AND TWO MORE CHILDREN
ARE SHOT DOWN IN THE STREETS---WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE VIOLENCE TO STOP***WHEN WILL
BLACKS BE “EQUALLY PROTECTED” UNDER THE LAW AS GUARANTEED BY THE US CONSTITUTION***
The Killing of Kennedy ****this is the fulcrum for change in
America---all hell breaks loose for a decade after***
November 22, 1963 –JFK is traveling in an open limo with his driver, Texas Governor John Connally, and
His Wife, Jacqueline---- Lee Harvey Oswald on the 4th floor of the Texas School Book Depository---fires his
Rifle at JFK and Kills him. “The Zapruder Film” captures the scene in color video***
Lee Harvey Oswald is arrested and taken to a Dallas Jail---two days later on his way to court---Jack Ruby,
nightclub owner, steps in front of Oswald and shoots him to death**
Congress creates the Warren Commission (led by the Chief Justice) to investigate---Their report claims
the JFK was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald---alone.
LBJ on November 22, 1963 is sworn in as President of the United States aboard Air Force One as it
returned JFK’s body to DC --This remains controversial to this day---if you know anyone who was alive on this day---They knew
exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news****THE NATION
MOURNED*** HE IS BURIED AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETARY---AND AN “ETERNAL FLAME”
MARKS HIS GRAVE--The world is about to change---it gets crazy---