jfk’s new frontier
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JFK’s New Frontier. But, it was not the 1 st time TV influenced politics…. 1960 election – Nixon vs. Kennedy was 1 st to use TV debates: Nixon much better known but TV debates helped swing undecided voters towards JFK Marked beginning of TV dominance in politics - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
JFK’s New Frontier■ 1960 election – Nixon vs. Kennedy
was 1st to use TV debates:–Nixon much better known but TV
debates helped swing undecided voters towards JFK
–Marked beginning of TV dominance in politics
–Image & appearance became essential traits for candidates
But, it was not the 1st time TV influenced politics…
Eisenhower used TV to campaign in 1952 & 1956
McCarthy was destroyed by TV in the Army-Senate
hearings
Nixon used to TV to defend himself in the “Checkers” speech
TN Senator Kefauver used TV to investigate
organized crime
JFK’s New Frontier■ JFK admin reflected youth, energy, &
sharp break from DDE■ JFK promised New Frontier:
–Domestic reforms in education, health care, civil rights
–Foreign policy based on defeating USSR & winning Cold War
JFK era often referred to as “Camelot”
JFK’s New Frontier■ New Frontier promised a return of
FDR-era liberal policies:–Cons in Congress opposed JFK’s
social reforms in ed & health care
–Congress did help the poor
–Modernization of industry, gov spending, & major tax cut in 1963 stimulated economy & created jobs
Extension of Social Security…
…unemployment benefits…
…and med ins for elderly all shot down by
Congress
An increase in the minimum wage
Increased funds for public housing
JFK’s New Frontier■ Long-lasting effect of JFK era was
strengthening the presidency:–DDE left many decisions to staff,
but JFK demanded direct control–JFK transferred most decision
making power from the cabinet to his personal White House staff
JFK referred to his staff as the “the best & the brightest”
Kennedy Intensifies the Cold War
Kennedy Intensifies the Cold War■ US foreign policy & containing
Communism was JFK’s top priority:–Believed DDE compromised when
Cold War could have been won–Aimed to close the “missile gap” &
increase US defenses–Tried to solve issues in Berlin,
Vietnam, & Cuba
“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 & success of liberty. We will do this & more.”
—JFK’s inaugural address
Flexible Response■ JFK shifted from “mutual assured
destruction” to “flexible response”–Capable of responding to a variety
of future problems– nuclear arsenal to create “1st
strike” capability –Increased army & air force–Expanded covert operations &
created Green Berets
JFK was convinced that USSR had more missiles, but US did – 600 B-52s, 2 Polaris
subs, 2000 warheads
To combat Communism & help underdeveloped countries, JFK created the Peace Corps & the Alliance for Progress
The Space Race■ JFK hoped to avoid another Sputnik-
type embarrassment■ Hoped to beat USSR to the moon:
–Expanded NASA & announced that US would get to the moon by 1970
–US landed a man on moon in 1969
The Apollo Program
Crisis over Berlin■ 1st confrontation w/USSR came in
Berlin:–Khrushchev upset with the exodus
of skilled workers from GDR to FRG–USSR threatened to remove all US
influence from W Berlin, but settled on building Berlin Wall in 1961
“Ich bin ein Berliner”—JFK, 1963
Containment in Vietnam■ Communist leader Ho Chi Minh
gained popularity in N & S Vietnam■ US aided unpopular S Vietnamese
leader Ngo Dihn Diem ■ Diem proved oppressive; JFK okayed
coup against Diem in 1963
“Strongly in our mind is what happened in China at the end of World War II, where
China was lost. We don’t want that.”—JFK
Vietnam Viet Minh are Vietnamese communists in North Vietnam
Viet Cong are Vietnamese communists in South Vietnam
Monk Quang Duc protested Diem’s treatment of Buddhists
Containing Castro: Bay of Pigs■ 1959: Fidel Castro took Cuba &
developed ties with USSR
■ DDE administration (using the CIA) had been training Cuban exiles for an invasion & overthrow of Castro
■ 1961: JFK gave OK for the CIA to initiate Bay of Pigs invasion
Invasion called for US air support but JFK canceled air strike; without air support,
Castro squashed invasion
JFK took responsibility for Bay of Pigs, but did not apologize for attempt
Cuban Missile Crisis■ To protect Cuba from another US
invasion, USSR began secret build-up of nuclear missiles
■ Oct 14, 1962: U-2 spy plane discovered Cuban missile camps
■ How would the U.S. respond?
24 medium-range & 18 short range ICBMs
Naval blockade to keep warheads out?
Diplomacy: trade nukes in Cuba for nukes in Turkey?
Immediate air strike?Full-scale invasion?
JFK chose to “quarantine” Cuba to keep new missiles out & invasion of Cuba if
USSR did not remove its nukes
The Cuban Missile Crisis Kennedy announced a quarantine (blockade) to keep more missiles out & demanded that the Soviets remove the missiles already in Cuba
"We are eyeball to eyeball, and the other fellow just blinked."
—Sec of State, Dean Rusk
Cuban Missile Crisis■ Standoff ended when USSR removed
its missiles & US vowed never to invade Cuba
■ Impact of the crisis:–Political victory for JFK–“Hot line” for US-USSR
communications–Convinced both sides to move from
confrontation to negotiation
“Our most basic common link is the fact that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the
same air. We all cherish our children’s future. We are all mortal.”
—JFK
And…U.S. removal of nuclear weapons in Turkey
"Let Us Continue"■ 11/22/63 Dallas: JFK assassinated■ VP Lyndon Johnson now president:
–LBJ was a master politician with a reputation for getting results
–LBJ promised to continue Kennedy's liberal agenda
–LBJ ultimately exceeded JFK’s record on providing economic & racial equality
LBJ helped push through the greatest array of liberal legislation in U.S. history (“Great Society”), surpassing FDR’s New Deal
Americans were stunned this rapid succession of events
The Zapruder Film