Kennedy and Johnson Years 1960-1968

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.