Chapter 15: Kennedy and Johnson Years 1960-1968
•Before we can discuss the 1960s, we need to look at the
previous decade:
–On September 2, 1949, the balance of power between the U.S.
and the Soviet Union changed forever: That day, the Soviet
Union tested an atomic bomb, and threat of nuclear war suddenly
became very real.
–Our response was to order scientists to produce a hydrogen
bomb—a bomb 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic
bomb.
•In 1952, the U.S. tested the first H-bomb; The next year, the
Soviets tested their own H-bomb - The arms race (race in which
countries compete to build more powerful weapons) had
begun.
–the United States and the Soviet Union would build enough
nuclear weapons to destroy each other many times over
Chapter 15: Kennedy and Johnson Years 1960-1968
•Both countries were literally MAD with the notion of stockpiling
NUKES.
–Mutually Assured Destruction − policy in which the U.S. and Soviet
Union hoped to deter nuclear war by building up enough weapons to
destroy each other.
•Did the stockpile of nuclear weapons on both sides of the Iron
Curtain promote peace or threaten peace?
–Eisenhower believe next major war would not be a conventional war
(millions of soldiers, guns, tanks, ships, airplanes, etc.), but a war fought with
nuclear weapons. He focused on stockpiling nuclear weapons.
–Brinkmanship - belief that only by going to the brink of war could the U.S.
prevent war.
–Eisenhower Doctrine − President Eisenhower’s policy that stated the U.S.
would use force to help nations threatened by communism.
Chapter 15: Kennedy and Johnson Years 1960-1968
•As the Soviets spread their communism throughout the world, the
threat of massive retaliation (policy of threatening to use massive
force in response to aggression) suddenly seemed useless in the fight
against communism. Why? B/c it would ensure the destruction of
mankind.
• While the U.S. worked to contain communism on the ground, they
suffered a serious setback in space.
–In 1957, the Soviets launched the Sputnik I satellite into orbit around
the earth. Fearing Soviet dominance of space, Congress approved
funding to create NASA. The arms race was now joined by a space
race.
•By this time the 22nd Amendment was in place, Eisenhower’s time
as president was up. Who would carry the US into the next decade.
A decade that will prove to be one of the most significant during the
Cold War.
Chapter 15: Kennedy and Johnson Years 1960-1968
•John F. Kennedy won a close presidential election in 1960, defeating Richard M. Nixon.
An election won more by the appearance of the candidates, rather than the issues they stood
for.
–Nixon – Eisenhower’s VP – Would he carry on with the idea of keeping America out
of war.
–Kennedy – young Senator, with fresh ideas both domestically and world-wide.
•Television played a big role in the election, as it will, for the domestic and foreign policy of
the 1960s.
Kennedy launched a new Cold War strategy.
•He built up both conventional and special military forces.
•He created a flexible response defense policy (a defense policy in which the U.S. military
is prepared to fight any type of conflict.) Any war fought on the ground would be fought
where most conventional weapons couldn’t go, and where the enemy could hide, like
jungles
•He developed the Alliance for Progress (a U.S. policy that aimed to renew the former
Good Nation Policy toward Latin American nations by providing economic aid) to improve
relations with Latin American countries.
•He created the Peace Corps a U.S. program that sent volunteers to developing countries to
assist in education, healthcare, and economics.)
Chapter 15: Kennedy and Johnson Years 1960-1968
•Kennedy’s policies is to prevent the spread of communism to areas
of the world where communism has not infiltrated.
–Communism – a social system characterized by the common ownership of
the means of production and substance by the organizations of labor for the
common advantage of all members. OR a governmental system of
government in which the state controls the means of production and a single,
often authoritarian party holds power with the intention of establishing a
higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.
•Kennedy will be put to the test with the sudden threat of Castro and
Communism in nearby Cuba led to two major confrontations.
Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis
In April, 1961 the United States invaded Cuba’s Bay of Pigs.
–Conceived by the CIA to overthrow Fidel Castro, the invasion involved
Cuban exiles who had fled Castro’s rule and settled in the United States.
Chapter 15: Kennedy and Johnson Years 1960-1968
•Mission failed because it was badly mismanaged. Poor
communication, poorly trained and equipped forces landed without
protective cover (meaning the US did not want to involve the US
military Navy, Air Force, and Marines for fear of Soviet retaliation.)
•Kennedy took responsibility for the mission’s failure, but he would
continue to resist efforts by the communists to control other countries
in Western Hemisphere.
•Democrats are still under the idea of the Truman Doctrine - the
promise to help nations struggling against communist movements.
–We lost Eastern Europe (Soviet Bloc, Iron Curtain). Sorry France, sorry
Great Britain, Europe is your responsibility.
– China, North Korea, and North Vietnam got away from us, but that is on the
other side world.
–CUBA! Didn’t see that one coming. Or did we?
Chapter 15: Kennedy and Johnson Years 1960-1968
•In 1962, American intelligence agencies photographed Soviet
nuclear missile installations in Cuba.
•The missiles at these Cuban sites threatened major cities in the
United States.
Chapter 15: Kennedy and Johnson Years 1960-1968
•To resolve the Cuban missile crisis, Kennedy worked:
In Public: In a television address, Kennedy blamed Khrushchev for
reckless action that threatened world peace.
Kennedy initiated a U.S. naval blockade, oops, I mean quarantine. of Cuba.
Behind the Scenes: Kennedy told the Soviets that the United States would
remove U.S. missiles from Turkey and Italy if the Soviets removed their
missiles from Cuba.
•The Soviets backed off. Nikita Khrushchev agreed to honor the blockade
and removed the missiles.
–My opinion is that Khrushchev just wanted to see what we would do if he
played in our back yard , like we played in his. Kennedy called his bluff, and
things got intense. Khrushchev accomplished what he set out to do, get those
missiles out of Turkey. Remember the Soviet Union is in a two-front war, with
enemies that both have nuclear weapons. While the US looks for détente
(flexible diplomacy), Mao and China really hate the Soviets. Two front battles
are usually not very successful.
Chapter 15: Kennedy and Johnson Years 1960-1968
•The
crisis prompted the two leaders to establish a period of détente. They set up a
hot line between Washington, D.C. and Moscow to improve communication.
•In
1963 the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and thirty-six other
countries signed the first Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
This treaty ended aboveground nuclear testing.
•Berlin
Crisis - Khrushchev insisted the U.S. end its military presence in West
Berlin. Kennedy again called his bluff.
•Khrushchev ordered the
building of the Berlin Wall separating East and West
Berlin. In response to Khrushchev’s actions, Kennedy requested a large increase in
military spending. He also sent 1,500 more U.S. soldiers to West Berlin.
•The
Berlin Wall became a symbol of the rift between the Democratic West and
the Communist East.
Chapter 15: Kennedy and Johnson Years 1960-1968
•Kennedy’s
New Frontier
•President Kennedy had a special style that made him seem different
from other politicians.
–Charmed America with his youth and energy
–Surrounded himself with the “Best and the Brightest”
•Cabinet of distinguished men that came from some of the most
prestigious businesses and universities.
•Robert McNamara, Ford Motor Company, served as Secretary of State.
•Dean Rusk, president of the Rockefeller Foundation (prominent
philanthropic organization and private foundation whose mission is "to
promote the well-being of mankind throughout the world.“), was his
Secretary of State.
Chapter 15: Kennedy and Johnson Years 1960-1968
•Kennedy’s
New Frontier
Kennedy promised America a New Frontier.
•Proposals to improve the economy, education, healthcare, and civil rights
•Hoped to
jump-start the space program.
•Some
of President Kennedy’s New Frontier proposals succeeded. Kennedy was
able to:
•Increase the minimum wage
•Extend Social Security benefits
•Improve the welfare system
•Pass the first Equal Pay Act law required equal wages for equal work in industries
engaged in commerce or in producing goods for commerce for men and women
Chapter 15: Kennedy and Johnson Years 1960-1968
•Kennedy’s
New Frontier
–Stimulating a
struggling economy: Unemployment
•Kennedy made
several proposals related to the economy.
•Increased military spending to create jobs.
•Tax credits for business to encourage business investments in new
equipment and tax cuts for the middle class to put more money into their
pockets.
•Deficit spending to stimulate the economy. Government practice of
borrowing money in order to spend more money than what is received by
taxes.
•He increased tax burden on wealthier citizens.
•Kennedy’s economic initiatives led to tremendous economic growth in the
late 1960s.
Chapter 15: Kennedy and Johnson Years 1960-1968
•Kennedy’s
–Civil
New Frontier
Rights – Moved Cautiously
•Barely
won the 1960 election
•Did
not have much support in Congress, and did not want to upset
conservative, white southern congressman, who were ready to block any
civil rights legislation.
•Civil rights marches and demonstrations (Freedom Rides, Birmingham,
March on Washington) took place all across the country.
•Kennedy introduced a civil rights bill in 1963. Bill demanded prosecution
for voting-rights violations and federal money to aid school segregation.
•He also proposed to strengthen civil rights in response to the violence in
the South.
Chapter 15: Kennedy and Johnson Years 1960-1968
•Kennedy’s
New Frontier
•Kennedy recognized the need for the United States to beat the Soviet Union in
the space race. Competition between the US and USSR to develop technology
to successfully land and the moon.
–Congress gave generous funding to NASA, the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration.
–May of 1961, Alan Shepard took a sub-orbital space flight aboard the
Project Mercury space capsule Freedom 7.
–He made it a national goal to place a man on the moon before 1970.
–John Glen became the first American to orbit the Earth in February of
1962.
–Set back with the fire on Apollo I that killed three astronauts
–July of 1968, Neil Armstrong stepped from his spacecraft Columbia, and
became the first man to step on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission.
Chapter 15: Kennedy and Johnson Years 1960-1968
•Kennedy’s
New Frontier
•Kennedy is Assassinated –
–Confronted
–Spoke
In his first 2 ½ years of office Kennedy:
the Soviets and earned their respect.
eloquently about the need to move toward a peaceful future.
–Concluded
that the Federal Government had to lead the struggle for civil-rights
–Inspired Americans
to dream noble dreams and work toward lofty ends.
23, 1963, Kennedy is assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald from the 6th
floor of the Texas Book Depository building.
•November
•Lyndon Baines
Johnson, VP and former Senator from Texas is sworn in as
president.
•Later
the Warren Commission, conducted the official investigation of the
assassination. Gave us the “Lone Gunman” in Oswald.
•America
was deeply saddened as part of America’s innocence died with Kennedy.