John F. Kennedy
1961-1963
The Political Scene of the 1960’s
• Two vivacious candidates
looked to become the next
President of the United
States during the election
of 1960.
• John Fitzgerald Kennedy,
grandson of Boston’s
former mayor, Honey Fitz
and son of the previous
Ambassador to England,
Joseph Kennedy, looked
to move his seat from the
United States Senate to
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Background
• Of Irish descent, he was
born in Brookline,
Massachusetts, on May
29, 1917. Graduating from
Harvard in 1940, he
entered the Navy.
• In 1943, when his PT boat
109 was rammed and sunk
by a Japanese destroyer,
Kennedy, despite grave
injuries, led the survivors
through perilous waters to
safety.
• Back from the war, he
became a Democratic
Congressman from the
Boston area, advancing in
1953 to the Senate.
• He married Jacqueline
Bouvier on September 12,
1953.
• In 1955, while
recuperating from a back
operation, he wrote
Profiles in Courage,
which won the Pulitzer
Prize in history.
Nixon Background
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Born in California in 1913, Nixon
had a brilliant record at Whittier
College and Duke University Law
School before beginning the
practice of law.
In 1940, he married Patricia Ryan;
they had two daughters, Patricia
(Tricia) and Julie.
During World War II, Nixon
served as a Navy lieutenant
commander in the Pacific.
On leaving the service, he was
elected to Congress from his
California district.
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In 1950, he won a Senate seat. Two
years later, General Eisenhower
selected Nixon, age 39, to be his
running mate.
As Vice President, Nixon took on
major duties in the Eisenhower
Administration. Nominated for
President by acclamation in 1960
The Road to the White House
• In 1956 Kennedy almost gained
the Democratic nomination for
Vice President, and four years
later was a first-ballot nominee
for President.
• Millions watched his television
debates with the Republican
candidate, Richard M. Nixon.
• The Kennedy/Nixon debates
were the first ones to occur on
television.
• People focused very much on
what they candidates looked
like and how they reacted.
• People felt like the two
candidates were right
there with them.
• As was stated, “You can
hear each man directly”,
“Nothing is between you
and what he says” and
“You can see which man
gets rattled easily”
• Debates
The Election
• Both candidates used
television as a means for
campaigning.
• The Democrats spent
more than $6 million in
television and radio spots
while the Republicans
spent just over $7.5
million
• Kennedy Campaign
• Nixon Campaign Ad
• There were clearly two
completely different
tactics at used by two
completely different
people
• However, both focused on
issues of the Cold War,
calling themselves “Cold
Warriors”
• However, they both
preached different things
in regard to the Cold War.
The Election of 1960
The election of 1960
was the closest since
1884; Kennedy
defeated Richard
Nixon by fewer than
119,000 votes.
Election of 1960
• Eisenhower was not able to
transfer his popularity to another
Republican
• His VP, Richard Nixon, had
gained a reputation as a statesman
in his diplomatic travels to Europe
and South America
Election of 1960
• Many Democrats wanted to
nominate Adlai Stevenson
again or Lyndon B. Johnson
• In the primaries,
John F. Kennedy
defeated his rivals
Election
of
1960
• To balance the ticket, MA
senator Kennedy chose L.B.
Johnson from TX - a choice
crucial to getting the southern
states
The
Debates
• Four televised debates took
place, the first in American
politics
• Kennedy used make-up
and appeared vigorous
and comfortable
• Nixon looked sinister, pale
and tense
The
Debates
• The debates were
broadcasted coast to coast
and watched by 60-70 million
viewers
The Debates
• Kennedy attacked the
Eisenhower administration for
– The recent recession
– Losing the arms race to the
Soviets
– A losing gap in the space race not true by 1960
The Debates
• When polled after the debates,
the majority of people who
listened to the debates on the
radio, said Nixon won
• Those who watched on TV
thought Kennedy won
• Appearances make a difference
The Results
• Kennedy won by a little over
100,000 votes but a wider
electoral college margin 303219
• Republicans charged Democrats
of stuffing ballot boxes with
“votes” of deceased people
Election of 1960
Their Thoughts
• JFK was deeply concerning
about the Soviet Union
• He was also worried about the
country of Cuba that was
aligning itself with the Soviet
Union
• He also talked about a “missile
gap” stating that the USA was
behind the Soviets in regard to
weaponry
• Many had their doubts about
the fact that he was Catholic.
Protestants were afraid that
Catholicism would run his
Presidency instead of his
governmental policies.
• Nixon thought that the
USA was on the right
track thanks to IKE.
• He warned that
Democrats would
bring inflation and that
JFK had little
knowledge about
foreign affairs.
The Results
• The election of 1960 was one of the closest
elections in the history of the United States.
• John F. Kennedy went to bed at his Cape Cod,
MA home called Hyannis Port when there still
was no winner declared.
• When he awoke the next morning he found
himself to be the next President of the United
States.
• He won the popular vote by 119,000 votes and the
electoral college 303 to 219. In some states, only a
few votes would have completely changed history.
The Kennedy “Mystique”
• People were absolutely
taken with JFK.
• They loved his youth and
optimism.
• On Inauguration Day,
January 20th, 1961
Kennedy once again
pulled at the heart strings
of Americans when he
said:
• Kennedy Inauguration
• The day was cold and the
Inauguration almost
canceled.
• The problem with the
weather
• Scenes from the day
• People were freezing but
still they came all bundled
up just to see him speak.
• The Kennedy Mystique
still is carried into today
Jackie Kennedy
• Biography
• The inauguration of
John F. Kennedy in
1961 brought to the
White House and to
the heart of the nation
a beautiful young wife
and the first young
children of a President
in half a century.
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She was born Jacqueline Lee
Bouvier, daughter of John Vernon
Bouvier III and his wife, Janet Lee.
Her early years were divided
between New York City and East
Hampton, Long Island, where she
learned to ride almost as soon as
she could walk.
Jacqueline was dubbed "the
Debutante of the Year" for the
1947-1948 season, but her social
success did not keep her from
continuing her education.
• He was a decorated
naval officer in World War
II.
• He received the Pulitzer
Prize for his book,
"Profiles in Courage."
• He served exactly 1,000
days in office.
• He was the first
president born in the 20th
century and the youngest
president ever elected.
•He is the only Roman
Catholic president
•He could read 1600
words a minute.
Kennedy’s Inaugural Address
Kennedy was the youngest person ever to be elected president. His
youth helped provide the theme to his inaugural address:
“Let the word go forth…
That the torch has been
passed to a new
generation of Americans…
The energy, the faith, the
devotion which we bring
to this endeavor will light
our country and all who
serve it…And so, my fellow
Americans-ask not what
your country can do for
you-ask what you can do
for your country.”
The Camelot Years
With JFK’s
youthful glamour
and his talented
advisors, the
Kennedy White
House reminded
many of a modernday Camelot, the
mythical court of
King Arthur.
Kennedy and the Cold War
• The 1960 Campaign
– JFK vs. Nixon on national TV
– Close Race 49.7 to 49.5 Popular Vote
• Kennedy’s Foreign Policy
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“Flexible Response”
Peace Corps
Bay of Pigs Incident --Very Bad for JFK
Weakened JFK politically and popularly
• The Berlin Crisis
– USSR tried to push around JFK (Bay of Pigs)
Kennedy’s Policies
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When Kennedy went to the White
House he wanted to implement a
new legislative program called The
New Frontier
He wanted to increase aid to
education, provide health insurance
to the elderly, create a department
of Urban Affairs and help migrant
workers
Kennedy found out that it was
difficult to pass legislation
especially when Kennedy was not
beloved by most democrats or
republicans in the Congress
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Congress defeated many of Kennedy’s
policies: health insurance for elderly, a
Department of Urban Affairs, and
federal aid to education.
Kennedy worked to lower the
unemployment rate and to keep the
economy on the upswing
He pushed businesses to to increase
productivity and he asked Union
leaders to keep the wage increases
down.
When he met opposition from the steel
workers he threatened by have the
government by steel from some of the
other countries.
His tactics worked by weakened his
relationships with the countries
business owners.
More Policies
• JFK also adopted supplyside tactics and pushed for
a cut in tax rates
• Some people were afraid
that a tax cut would only
help the wealthy
• Kennedy thought that a
tax cut would give
businesses more money to
expand.
• Congress refused the tax
cut
• Some members were
afraid of inflation
• They did support an
Area Redevelopment
Act and a Housing Act
• Both these things
would help the poor
living in slums
Women’s Rights and the Warren
Commission
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Kennedy helped women to make
strides in the 1960’s
Kennedy had some women in
prominent positions such as Esther
Peterson who was the assistant
secretary of labor and director of
the Women’s Bureau of the
Department of Labor
In 1961 he created the Presidential
Commission on the Status of
Women
This promised federal action
against gender discrimination and
affirmed the right of women to be
equally paid in employment
In 1963 he signed the Equal Pay
Act for women
• Earl Warren was the Chief
Justice of the United States.
• One of the most important
things that the Warren Court
did was called “reappointment”
or the way in which states draw
up political districts based on
changes in population
• The problem was that
sometimes, in some districts the
vote of an urban resident was
less influential that a rural
resident
• See page 844 in the textbook
Extending Due Process and
Beyond
• The US Supreme Court decided
to use the 14th Amendment in
regard to the Bill of Rights
• The 14th Amendment says “that
no state shall deprive any
person of life, liberty or
property without due process of
law”
• Due Process means that the law
may not treat individuals
unfairly, arbitrarily or
unreasonably, and that courts
must follow proper procedures
and rules when trying cases”
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In the 1960’s the Supreme Court
said that this applied to all states
when upholding the Bill of Rights
Some changes made:
– State courts could not consider
evidence obtained in violation
of the federal Constitution
– Defendants have a right to a
lawyer even if they can’t pay
themselves
– Miranda Warnings: right to
remain silent before being
questioned by the police,
anything said can be used
against them, they have a right
to a lawyer and one could be
provided if necessary
Church and State
• The Warren Court also made rules about this
saying:
– States could not compose official prayers and require
those prayers to be recited in state public schools
– There could be no state-mandated Bible readings in
public schools
– Finally, prohibiting the sale and use of birth control
devices violated citizen’s constitutional rights
The New Frontier
President Kennedy’s
legislative program to
provide medical care
for the elderly….
To rebuild blighted
urban areas….
To aid education….
To bolster the national
defense….
To increase
international aid….
To expand the space
program.
To provide volunteer
assistance to developing
nations in Asia, Africa,
and Latin America.
And to promote civil rights.
Kennedy: Global Challenges
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The major issue when Kennedy
came to office was the relationship
between The USA and The Soviet
Union
As a result, Kennedy spent a lot of
his time trying to guide the nation
through the Cold War
His main focus was to stop the
spread of communism using
different programs
He looked for what was called the
“flexible response” for nations that
needed help against communism
• Kennedy pushed for a
build up of conventional
troops and weapons.
• He also supported guerilla
warfare in limited
conflicts.
• The soldiers of this
became known as “green
berets” complete with
green berets head gear.
Latin America
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JFK was worried about Latin
America because the conditions
were so bad
Many were in extreme poverty with
the wealthy running the
government
The USA wanted to stop
communism from coming into
Latin America by keeping the
existing government in power so
military personnel were sent there
The Latin Americans did not like
the intrusion of the troops
JFK created Alliance for Progress
to help create a “free and
prosperous Latin America”
• Over a 10 year period the
USA promised $20 billion
to help Latin American
countries establish
schools, housing, health
care, and fairer land
distribution
• The money was not
always used in a positive
way but instead to keep
some of the same
governments in control
The Peace Corps
• The Peace Corps was designed to help fight poverty
• It sent young Americans to perform humanitarian services in poorer
countries
• The participants were trained and then they were to spend 2 years in
the countries that needed assistance
• They laid out sewage systems in Bolivia and trained medical
technicians in Chad.
• Some taught English or built roads
• By late 1963 1,000s of Americans were in 30 countries
• The Peace Corps is still alive and well today as one of JFK’s best
legacies
• The Peace Corps today
Crises of the Cold War: Bay of
Pigs
• The first crisis was in Cuba
which is only 90 miles outside
of the American shores
• Fidel Castro established ties
with the Soviet Union,
instituted land reforms, and
seized foreign-owned
businesses, many of them were
American.
• The Cuban alliance with the
Soviets and Soviet Premier
Nikita Khrushchev was
disturbing.
• Khrushchev wanted to
strengthen Cuban militarily
• When IKE was President he
was also afraid of the
Soviet/Cuban relationship so he
gave the CIA permission to
start training and arming Cuban
exiles known as La Brigada.
Their job would be to invade
the island. This would
hopefully begin an uprising
against Castro
More
• When JKF became President
his administration okayed the
mission.
• The Bay of Pigs Invasion
• On April 17th, 1961, only three
months into JFK’s Presidency,
1,400 armed Cuban exiles
landed at the Bay of Pigs on the
South of Cuba.
• The invasion was a disaster
• La Brigada’s boats ran into
coral reef
• The USA canceled air support
• The point was to keep the
USA involvement a secret
• The uprising against
Castro never happened
• Within 2 days Castro had
captured or killed almost
all the members of La
Brigada
• This was a dark moment
for the JFK administratio,
the USA looked weak and
disorganized
The Creation of the Berlin Wall
• In June of 1961 Kennedy went to Vienna, Austria to meet with
Khrushchev; he would be tested again
• Khrushchev wanted to stop the amount of people leaving Communist
East Germany for West Germany
• He thus demanded that the Western powers recognize East Germany
and that the USA, Great Britain and France get out of Berlin which
was a city located in East Germany
• Obviously JFK refused, so Khrushchev responded by building a wall
through Berlin placing guards on the wall so that those trying to escape
East Berlin could be shot.
• It lasted for 30 years there afterward, a visible symbol of the Cold War
• The story of the Berlin Wall
Kennedy and Berlin
One of the high points
of Kennedy’s foreign
travels was a trip he
made to Berlin in 1963
to dramatize America’s
commitment to West
Berlin and West Germany.
In a speech at the Berlin
Wall, Kennedy electrified
an audience of about 150,000
Germans by stating , “Ich bin
ein Berliner” (I am a Berliner),
thus declaring the solidarity of
all free people with the people
of West Berlin.
The Bay of Pigs
On the nights of April 17,1961,
some 1500 Cuban exiles
supported by the U.S. military
landed on the island’s
southern coast at Baja de
Cochinos, the Bay of Pigs. The
CIA and the exiles hoped it
would trigger a mass uprising
that would overthrow Castro.
It didn’t! Cuban forces, backed
by Soviet tanks and jet aircraft,
easily repelled the exile invasion.
Some of the exiles were killed,
others imprisoned.
Crisis Over Cuba
The first test of Kennedy’s
foreign policy came in Cuba,
just 90 miles off the coast of
Florida. Revolutionary leader,
Fidel Castro, openly declared
himself a communist and
welcomed aid from the
Soviet Union.
Cuban Missile Crisis
In October, 1962,
photographs taken
by American planes
revealed Soviet
missile bases in
Cuba-and some
contained missiles
ready to launch.
They could reach
U.S. cities in
minutes.
On October 22,
Kennedy ordered
a naval blockade
of Cuba to prevent
further deliveries
of Soviet weapons.
He also demanded
that the Soviets
remove the missiles.
Khrushchev promised to
challenge the blockade,
calling it “outright banditry.”
For a few days, nuclear war and massive destruction was a
distinct possibility for every American. In schools, children
practiced air raid drills, a common occurrence during the Cold
War. People who had built bomb shelters began stocking
them with food and other provisions. Even the president called
his family to the White House where they could be protected in
the presidential nuclear shelter.
Suddenly, on October 24, many of the Soviet ships stopped short
of the blockade line, turned, and sailed home. “We’re eyeball to
eyeball,” said Secretary of State Dean Rusk, “and I think the
other fellow just blinked.” On October 28 Khrushchev agreed
to dismantle the missile bases in response to Kennedy’s promise
not to invade Cuba.
In the fall of 1963,
public opinion polls
showed that
Kennedy was
losing popularity
because of his
advocacy of civil
rights. On
November 22,
1963, President and
Mrs. Kennedy went
to Texas to mend
political fences with
members of the
state’s Democratic
Party.
Tragedy in Dallas
Crowds lined the
streets of Dallas
to greet the
President. In front
of them sat Texas
Governor John
Connally and his
wife Nellie.
As the car approached a state building known as the Texas State Book
Depository, rifle shots rang out.
Kennedy was
shot in the head.
His car raced to
a nearby
hospital, where
doctors
frantically tried
to revive him,
but it was too
late. President
Kennedy was
dead.
In 1963, the Warren
Commission investigated
and concluded that
Lee Harvey Oswald
had shot the president
while acting on his own.
On Sunday, Nov. 24,
as millions watched
live television
coverage of Oswald
being transferred
between jails, a
nightclub owner
named Jack Ruby
broke through the
crowd and shot and
killed Oswald.