JFK and domestic affairs:The New Frontier

JFK and domestic affairs:The New Frontier

For homework:For homework:

Carefully read each of these slides. This presentation is designed to take you through the domestic, social, and economic landscape of the brief (but extraordinarily important) Presidency of John F. Kennedy.

Take a look at your Enduring Vision, p. 961-966 if you need clarification. These five pages cover many of the same things seen here.

Depending on timing, you will either watch the youtube clips found on some of these slides for homework or in class, and will receive a video guide for most of them. Pay attention to what is said in class and noted on the website.

Carefully read each of these slides. This presentation is designed to take you through the domestic, social, and economic landscape of the brief (but extraordinarily important) Presidency of John F. Kennedy.

Take a look at your Enduring Vision, p. 961-966 if you need clarification. These five pages cover many of the same things seen here.

Depending on timing, you will either watch the youtube clips found on some of these slides for homework or in class, and will receive a video guide for most of them. Pay attention to what is said in class and noted on the website.

The New FrontierThe New Frontier

“We stand at the edge of a New Frontier- the frontier of unfulfilled hopes and dreams, a frontier of unknown opportunities and beliefs in peril. Beyond that frontier are uncharted areas of science and space, unsolved problems of peace and war, unconquered problems of ignorance and prejudice, unanswered questions of poverty and surplus.”

-JFK’s 1960 acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention

“We stand at the edge of a New Frontier- the frontier of unfulfilled hopes and dreams, a frontier of unknown opportunities and beliefs in peril. Beyond that frontier are uncharted areas of science and space, unsolved problems of peace and war, unconquered problems of ignorance and prejudice, unanswered questions of poverty and surplus.”

-JFK’s 1960 acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention

JFK’s cabinet and advisors: “The Best and the Brightest”

JFK’s cabinet and advisors: “The Best and the Brightest”

JFK’s cabinet was populated by many young, Ivy League-educated men

Bobby Kennedy: 35 yr. old Attorney General

Robert McNamara: Defense Secretary

Dean Rusk: Secretary of State

McGeorge Bundy: National Security Advisor

Ted Sorensen: speechwriter Pierre Salinger: Press

Secretary

JFK’s cabinet was populated by many young, Ivy League-educated men

Bobby Kennedy: 35 yr. old Attorney General

Robert McNamara: Defense Secretary

Dean Rusk: Secretary of State

McGeorge Bundy: National Security Advisor

Ted Sorensen: speechwriter Pierre Salinger: Press

Secretary

The Kennedy EconomyThe Kennedy Economy

There was a brief economic slowdown at the end of the Eisenhower administration

Economic growth doubles: 5.5% yearly from 1961-63!

Unemployment decreases dramaticallyOnly 1.3% inflation rate on averageLongest uninterrupted period of growth in

American history- all the way through 1966! (the record until President Clinton)

There was a brief economic slowdown at the end of the Eisenhower administration

Economic growth doubles: 5.5% yearly from 1961-63!

Unemployment decreases dramaticallyOnly 1.3% inflation rate on averageLongest uninterrupted period of growth in

American history- all the way through 1966! (the record until President Clinton)

The Reality of JFK’s First Term The Reality of JFK’s First Term

“There’s no sense in raising hell and then not being successful.” -JFK

JFK defeated Richard Nixon in 1960 in closest election since 1888 (less than 1%)

Congress was dominated by Republicans and Southern Democrats; it was difficult for JFK to get much done!

“There’s no sense in raising hell and then not being successful.” -JFK

JFK defeated Richard Nixon in 1960 in closest election since 1888 (less than 1%)

Congress was dominated by Republicans and Southern Democrats; it was difficult for JFK to get much done!

Modest achievements?Modest achievements?

Minimum wage raised to $1.25 Housing Act of 1961: created the Department of

Housing and Urban Development; $4.9 billion for urban renewal, mass transit, and housing

Federal support for the disabled and mentally ill: http://news.scotsman.com/johnfkennedy/JFKs-sister-dies-after-60.2593460.jp

Equal Pay Act, 1963: gender equality in pay Clean Air Act, 1963: tougher air pollution standards Proposed many other plans for Medicare,

education, etc. but few were passed

Minimum wage raised to $1.25 Housing Act of 1961: created the Department of

Housing and Urban Development; $4.9 billion for urban renewal, mass transit, and housing

Federal support for the disabled and mentally ill: http://news.scotsman.com/johnfkennedy/JFKs-sister-dies-after-60.2593460.jp

Equal Pay Act, 1963: gender equality in pay Clean Air Act, 1963: tougher air pollution standards Proposed many other plans for Medicare,

education, etc. but few were passed

Space… the final frontierSpace… the final frontier

$25 billion invested in the Apollo project

"First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him back safely to the earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.”

"No nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in this race for space."

"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."

$25 billion invested in the Apollo project

"First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him back safely to the earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.”

"No nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in this race for space."

"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."

The civil rights revolution continuesThe civil rights revolution continues

JFK concentrated more on enforcing existing civil rights laws than passing new ones (through Attorney General Bobby Kennedy)

He appointed record numbers of African Americans to federal government posts, but also appointed racist federal judges in the South

Stalled until 1962 on his campaign pledge to end federal housing segregation

Kennedy's political strategy was to delay sending a civil rights bill to Congress until his second term

JFK concentrated more on enforcing existing civil rights laws than passing new ones (through Attorney General Bobby Kennedy)

He appointed record numbers of African Americans to federal government posts, but also appointed racist federal judges in the South

Stalled until 1962 on his campaign pledge to end federal housing segregation

Kennedy's political strategy was to delay sending a civil rights bill to Congress until his second term

The following slides…The following slides…

Watch only the specific segment of each of these videos from YouTube.

For homework on Monday night, watch the clip on slide 11 and use the video sheet provided to you.

Watch only the specific segment of each of these videos from YouTube.

For homework on Monday night, watch the clip on slide 11 and use the video sheet provided to you.

The Freedom RidesThe Freedom Rides Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

VAmt_XKBBAM 26:03-54:51

Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

VAmt_XKBBAM 26:03-54:51

The story of James MeredithThe story of James Meredith

Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

2a32Uc1oP7s 31:50-54:43

Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

2a32Uc1oP7s 31:50-54:43

The Birmingham Campaign, 1963The Birmingham Campaign, 1963

Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

qJ7k4wMdV5g 21:19-42:42

Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

qJ7k4wMdV5g 21:19-42:42

JFK’s civil rights address to the nation: June 11, 1963

JFK’s civil rights address to the nation: June 11, 1963

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkcivilrights.htm

We will read this in class.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkcivilrights.htm

We will read this in class.

The murder of Medgar Evers: June 12, 1963

The murder of Medgar Evers: June 12, 1963

We will look at this in class: http://www.biography.com/

articles/Medgar-Evers-9542324

We will look at this in class: http://www.biography.com/

articles/Medgar-Evers-9542324

The March on WashingtonThe March on Washington http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=qJ7k4wMdV5g 42:43-end We will watch this in class, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ7k4wMdV5g

42:43-end We will watch this in class, too.

16th Street Baptist Church bombling; 4 Little Girls murdered; September 15, 1963

16th Street Baptist Church bombling; 4 Little Girls murdered; September 15, 1963

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1431932

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1431932

This concludes…This concludes…

… our brief look at the domestic, social, political, and economic aspects of JFK’s time in office. Next week we will examine his role in The Cold War and of course, most famously, his tragic assassination.

… our brief look at the domestic, social, political, and economic aspects of JFK’s time in office. Next week we will examine his role in The Cold War and of course, most famously, his tragic assassination.