The Golden Age

1952-1970

Desegregation OrderedDesegregation Ordered

1954: The Supreme Court handed down a 1954: The Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision. According to Chief Justice Earl landmark decision. According to Chief Justice Earl Warren writing for a unanimous Court, "...in the Warren writing for a unanimous Court, "...in the field of public education the doctrine of 'separate field of public education the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place." This was sure to have a but equal' has no place." This was sure to have a major impact on more than just the educational major impact on more than just the educational institutions of America. In fact, there was been talk institutions of America. In fact, there was been talk of holding a bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama of holding a bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama to protest the segregation on city buses. How did to protest the segregation on city buses. How did the South react?the South react?

Camelot?Camelot?Never underestimate the power of television.Never underestimate the power of television.

Richard Nixon would have been well served to Richard Nixon would have been well served to heed this warning in 1960 when he faced a heed this warning in 1960 when he faced a young, handsome gentleman named John F. young, handsome gentleman named John F. Kennedy in one of the first televised debates. Kennedy in one of the first televised debates. Turning down offers for make-up to help improve Turning down offers for make-up to help improve his haggard appearance as 'unmanly', Nixon's his haggard appearance as 'unmanly', Nixon's bid for the presidency was seriously undermined bid for the presidency was seriously undermined after 70 million viewers watched the debate. The after 70 million viewers watched the debate. The fact that those who listened to the debate on the fact that those who listened to the debate on the radio felt that Nixon actually won had no bearing radio felt that Nixon actually won had no bearing on the eventual results and overall effect of this on the eventual results and overall effect of this meeting. Kennedy had the exuberance of youth meeting. Kennedy had the exuberance of youth and an inexplicable charisma that allowed him to and an inexplicable charisma that allowed him to squeak past Nixon to win the election. squeak past Nixon to win the election.

LBJ Ushers in the Great SocietyLBJ Ushers in the Great Society

LBJLBJ When John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 23, 1963, the When John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 23, 1963, the

presidency fell to his second-in-command: Vice-president Lyndon presidency fell to his second-in-command: Vice-president Lyndon Baines Johnson. When he took the oath of office on the plane that Baines Johnson. When he took the oath of office on the plane that transported Kennedy's body back to Washington, he had spent almost transported Kennedy's body back to Washington, he had spent almost half of his life in Washington politics. This Texan was a force to be half of his life in Washington politics. This Texan was a force to be reckoned with. In his first State of the Union address, he announced a reckoned with. In his first State of the Union address, he announced a "war on poverty." Fighting this war meant creating a new 'Economic "war on poverty." Fighting this war meant creating a new 'Economic Opportunity Act' allowing for job-training and employment to Opportunity Act' allowing for job-training and employment to underprivileged workers. Further, Congress passed a Food Stamp underprivileged workers. Further, Congress passed a Food Stamp Plan. When he won the next election in 1964, he created a new Plan. When he won the next election in 1964, he created a new program called the "Great Society" aimed at further aid to the poor and program called the "Great Society" aimed at further aid to the poor and underprivileged. Acts passed under this "Great Society" included underprivileged. Acts passed under this "Great Society" included Medicare, rent subsidies, and aid to schools in lower socioeconomic Medicare, rent subsidies, and aid to schools in lower socioeconomic areas. However, by 1966, examples of welfare fraud and rising medical areas. However, by 1966, examples of welfare fraud and rising medical costs combined with the issues of the Vietnam War resulted in a strong costs combined with the issues of the Vietnam War resulted in a strong conservative showing at the mid-term elections. By 1969, a Republican conservative showing at the mid-term elections. By 1969, a Republican would be back in office again. would be back in office again.

Vietnam Escalates and Nixon Wins Vietnam Escalates and Nixon Wins

The Vietnam Conflict is one of the most The Vietnam Conflict is one of the most controversial episodes in American controversial episodes in American history. What began as an aid program history. What began as an aid program to help the French in Indochina in 1950 to help the French in Indochina in 1950 resulted in a full scale war after 1965. As resulted in a full scale war after 1965. As author David McCullogh stated in his author David McCullogh stated in his introduction to introduction to Vietnam: A Television Vietnam: A Television History,History,

"The Vietnam War was the longest and "The Vietnam War was the longest and most unpopular war in which Americans most unpopular war in which Americans ever fought. And there is no reckoning ever fought. And there is no reckoning the cost. The toll in suffering, sorrow, in the cost. The toll in suffering, sorrow, in rancorous national turmoil can never be rancorous national turmoil can never be tabulated. No one wants ever to see tabulated. No one wants ever to see America so divided again. And for many America so divided again. And for many of the more than two million American of the more than two million American veterans of the war, the wounds of veterans of the war, the wounds of Vietnam will never heal."Vietnam will never heal."

As time went on, people became less and less inclined As time went on, people became less and less inclined to support the war in Vietnam. Johnson's popularity to support the war in Vietnam. Johnson's popularity began to decline sharply as the opposition mounted. By began to decline sharply as the opposition mounted. By March, 1968, Johnson ordered a halt to the bombing of March, 1968, Johnson ordered a halt to the bombing of most of North Vietnam and further announced that he most of North Vietnam and further announced that he would not run for another term as president. During the would not run for another term as president. During the Election of 1968, the Democrats nominated Vice Election of 1968, the Democrats nominated Vice President Hubert Humphrey who declared wholehearted President Hubert Humphrey who declared wholehearted support for Johnson's actions at home and abroad. The support for Johnson's actions at home and abroad. The Republicans nominated Richard Nixon. Finally, former Republicans nominated Richard Nixon. Finally, former Democratic governor of Alabama, George C. Wallace Democratic governor of Alabama, George C. Wallace ran as a third-party candidate. The major issues of the ran as a third-party candidate. The major issues of the campaign were 'law and order' and the Vietnam War. campaign were 'law and order' and the Vietnam War. Nixon promised to bring "fresh ideas and ... new Nixon promised to bring "fresh ideas and ... new leadership" to end the war. Further, he blamed the leadership" to end the war. Further, he blamed the Democrats for the urban crises that had ensued Democrats for the urban crises that had ensued including increased crime, riots and disorder. Nixon won including increased crime, riots and disorder. Nixon won by only 500,000 votes (though he had 110 more by only 500,000 votes (though he had 110 more electoral votes). electoral votes).