Chapter 21 Section 1Chapter 21 Section 1

Kennedy became the 35th Kennedy became the 35th president of the U.S. and told president of the U.S. and told American people that America American people that America should confront communismshould confront communism

The United States presidential The United States presidential election of 1960 marked the end election of 1960 marked the end of Dwight D.Eisenhower's two of Dwight D.Eisenhower's two terms as President. Eisenhower's terms as President. Eisenhower's Vice President, Richard Nixon, Vice President, Richard Nixon, who had transformed his office who had transformed his office into a national political base, into a national political base, was the Republican candidate.was the Republican candidate.

Chapter 21 Section 1Chapter 21 Section 1 The Democrats nominated Massachusetts The Democrats nominated Massachusetts

Senator John F. Kennedy (JFK). Senator John F. Kennedy (JFK). He became the first Roman Catholic to be He became the first Roman Catholic to be

elected President, and he remains the only elected President, and he remains the only Roman Catholic to be elected to the Roman Catholic to be elected to the Presidency. Presidency.

The electoral vote was the closest in any The electoral vote was the closest in any presidential election dating to 1916, and presidential election dating to 1916, and Kennedy's margin of victory in the popular vote Kennedy's margin of victory in the popular vote is among the closest ever in American history. is among the closest ever in American history.

The 1960 election also remains a source of The 1960 election also remains a source of debate among some historians as to whether debate among some historians as to whether vote theft in selected states aided Kennedy's vote theft in selected states aided Kennedy's victory.victory.

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This was the first election in which This was the first election in which Alaska and Hawaii were included in Alaska and Hawaii were included in the election, having been granted the election, having been granted statehood on January 3 and August statehood on January 3 and August 21 of the previous year. 21 of the previous year.

It was also the first election in It was also the first election in which both candidates for president which both candidates for president were born in the 20th century.were born in the 20th century.

Chapter 21 Section 1Chapter 21 Section 1 During the campaign Kennedy During the campaign Kennedy

charged that under Eisenhower charged that under Eisenhower and the Republicans the nation and the Republicans the nation had fallen behind the Soviet had fallen behind the Soviet Union in the Cold War, both Union in the Cold War, both militarily and economically, and militarily and economically, and that as President he would "get that as President he would "get America moving again." America moving again."

Nixon responded that, if Nixon responded that, if elected, he would continue the elected, he would continue the "peace and prosperity" that "peace and prosperity" that Eisenhower had brought the Eisenhower had brought the nation in the 1950's. Nixon also nation in the 1950's. Nixon also argued that with the nation argued that with the nation engaged in the Cold War with engaged in the Cold War with the Soviets, that Kennedy was the Soviets, that Kennedy was too young and inexperienced to too young and inexperienced to be trusted with the Presidency.be trusted with the Presidency.

Chapter 21 Section 1Chapter 21 Section 1 Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Kennedy was assassinated by Lee

Harvey Oswald on November 22, Harvey Oswald on November 22, 1963 in Dallas during a parade. Jack 1963 in Dallas during a parade. Jack Ruby shot Oswald on TV when on Ruby shot Oswald on TV when on way to jail. After Kennedy's death, way to jail. After Kennedy's death, America reeled from the shock of an America reeled from the shock of an assassinated President. A President assassinated President. A President who declared that they were on the who declared that they were on the verge of the New Frontier and who verge of the New Frontier and who offered to guide them was now dead, offered to guide them was now dead, shot through the head.shot through the head.

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The Kennedy Obsession came The Kennedy Obsession came into being after Kennedy's death into being after Kennedy's death in 1963.in 1963.

Everyone was mystified, Everyone was mystified, intrigued, and enchanted by the intrigued, and enchanted by the large, charming, extended, Irish large, charming, extended, Irish Catholic Family and many wanted Catholic Family and many wanted to know more about them.to know more about them.

Chapter 21 Section 1Chapter 21 Section 1 America honored John F. America honored John F.

Kennedy in death with the Kennedy in death with the eternal flame and the eternal flame and the grandest funeral ever seen grandest funeral ever seen for a President. for a President.

His death became all the His death became all the more painful to many more painful to many Americans, when on live Americans, when on live television little John F. television little John F. Kennedy Jr. aged three and Kennedy Jr. aged three and therefore barely aware of therefore barely aware of the full magnitude of the the full magnitude of the event, stepped forward and event, stepped forward and saluted his father's casket.saluted his father's casket.

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As goes the case of fallen heroes, As goes the case of fallen heroes, Kennedy, his words, his images, and Kennedy, his words, his images, and even ideas were immortalized after even ideas were immortalized after death. death.

No other President, before, since, or No other President, before, since, or during has had as many buildings, during has had as many buildings, monuments, schools, named after him monuments, schools, named after him or is the topic of a myriad of films on or is the topic of a myriad of films on his family, himself, his wife, or just his his family, himself, his wife, or just his assassination.assassination.

Chapter 21 Section 1Chapter 21 Section 1 . Many have not been able to accept that . Many have not been able to accept that

JFK was killed by a lone gunman.JFK was killed by a lone gunman. With the convenient death of his assassin With the convenient death of his assassin

Lee Harvey Oswald at the hands of Jack Lee Harvey Oswald at the hands of Jack Ruby, and a later convenient death of Jack Ruby, and a later convenient death of Jack Ruby, many questions were left Ruby, many questions were left unanswered. unanswered.

And many films and books afterwards were And many films and books afterwards were written in an attempt to answer such written in an attempt to answer such questions. One such popular film, JFK, which questions. One such popular film, JFK, which is directed by Oliver Stone, played a popular is directed by Oliver Stone, played a popular conspiracy theory of his assassination. conspiracy theory of his assassination.

The film was so popular that it revived old The film was so popular that it revived old interest in JFK's death in the early nineties interest in JFK's death in the early nineties and forced Congress to pass a resolution toand forced Congress to pass a resolution to release the rest of the Warren Commission release the rest of the Warren Commission papers on JFK's assassination.papers on JFK's assassination.

Chapter 21 Section 1Chapter 21 Section 1 Never before had so many Americans related to the Never before had so many Americans related to the

Jack Kennedy and his family.Jack Kennedy and his family. Many blue-collar and middle class families in America Many blue-collar and middle class families in America

saw and always have enwrapped in the Kennedys the saw and always have enwrapped in the Kennedys the greatness of the American Dream. greatness of the American Dream.

From poor Irish immigrants and in three generations a From poor Irish immigrants and in three generations a rich, extended, large family dominating the White rich, extended, large family dominating the White House and the political scene. House and the political scene.

The Kennedys faith, as Catholics, made them The Kennedys faith, as Catholics, made them outsiders so it gave them appeal to those nations outsiders so it gave them appeal to those nations abroad and those Americans who were Catholic a abroad and those Americans who were Catholic a validation. validation.

First, second, and third generation immigrant families First, second, and third generation immigrant families of all nationalities relate to the Kennedys. And for of all nationalities relate to the Kennedys. And for Jews, Blacks, Asians, seeing the Kennedys, once in Jews, Blacks, Asians, seeing the Kennedys, once in their place as the degraded Irish Catholic, now a their place as the degraded Irish Catholic, now a powerful family with a son in the White House. It powerful family with a son in the White House. It made them feel as if the sky was the limit for them as made them feel as if the sky was the limit for them as well.well.

Chapter 21 Quiz• 1.) What president did J.F.K. follow?• a.) Richard Nixon• b.) Franklin Roosevelt• c.) Dwight D. Eisenhower

• 2.) What future president did J.F.K. defeat in the 1960 Election?

• a.) Richard Nixon• b.) Franklin Roosevelt• c.) Dwight D. Eisenhower

• 3.) What two states were included in the election process for the first time during the

• 1960 election?• a.) Puerto Rico and Cuba• b.) Alaska and Hawaii• c.) Oklahoma and Hawaii

• 4.) Who shot J.F.K.?• a.) Lee Harvey Oswald• b.) Jack Ruby• c.) John Wilkes Booth

• 5.) Who killed Lee Harvey Oswald?• a.) Jack Ruby• b.) James Earl Ray• c.) John Wilkes Booth

• 6.) Where was J.F.K. when he was shot?• a.) Washington D.C.• b.) Out of the country• c.) Dallas

• 7.) Where was J.F.K.’s shooter when he shot J.F.K.?

• a.) A Book depository building• b.) Along the street in the crowd• c.) In the parade

• 8.) What event was J.F.K. participating in when he was shot?

• a.) Democratic Convention• b.) A sporting event• c.) Parade

• 9.) Was the Nixon/J.F.K. election close or not close?

• a.) Close• b.) Not Close• c.) J.F.K never ran against Nixon

• 10.) Describe one fact about the J.F.K./Nixon election.

• a.) It was the first time both candidates had been born in the 20th century

• b.) It was the first time neither candidate had been born in the 19th century

• c.) It was the first time a Democrat had defeated a Republican