John F. Kennedy and the New Frontier

1960 to Nov. 1963John F. Kennedy and the New Frontier1The 1960 ElectionEisenhower was limited by the 22nd Amendment (2/27/51)Republicans nominate Richard NixonDemocrats nominate Senator John F. Kennedy2Nixons backgroundBorn in CaliforniaServed in the House of Representatives & the SenateBecame V.P. in 1952 An active member of the Eisenhower AdministrationFamous Kitchen Debate 1959

3Nixon was the Eisenhower Administrations spokesman before Congress and abroad.He made several international trips serving as a goodwill ambassador from the U.S.Visited the Soviet Union in 1959.Escorted by Nikita Khrushchev Nixon & Khrushchev engaged in the kitchen debate while touring a model U.S. kitchen in Moscow.In a televised encounter, the two debated the merits of their two political/economic systemsMore Nixon background Traveling RepresentativeHeir Apparent to PresidencyChallenged by Nelson Rockefeller (NY) Won the nomination Chose U.S. ambassador to U.N. Henry Cabot Lodge, JR (MA) as running mate.4John Kennedys BackgroundBorn to wealth. One of four sons of Joseph Kennedy.Harvard Educated, a war hero PT-109Pulitzer Prize winning author Profiles in Courage.Former Congressman and then Senator from Mass.

5Kennedy defeats Lyndon Johnson for nominationJohnson is the Senate Majority leader from TexasKennedy is the first catholic nominated since Al Smith in 1928Kennedy selects Johnson as VP to balance the ticket.

6Nixon leads early because of experience and name recognitionNixon is 47Kennedy 43 & unknown outside Mass.Nixon must defend the Eisenhower recordKennedy complains about a Missile Gap7In the campaign, Nixon conceded that he and Kennedy were close on the issues, making the race more of a beauty contest.Kennedy attacked the Eisenhower administrations record on the economy, pointing out the stagnation of the economy that had occurred during Ikes second term.Kennedy also complained about the so-called missile gap developing between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. Ike cut back on military spending, allowing the USSR to surpass the US in bomb and rocket manufacturing.

First TV Debates key to outcome of the ElectionNixon had been a champion debaterNixon had been ill before the debateKennedy won debate on image60 million watch first debateThose listening on radio thought Nixon won

8Kennedy wins election by narrow margin118,574 popular vote margin303 to 219 in electoral votes.Vote fraud is charged in Illinois and Texas.Kennedy promises to get the country moving again.

9Eisenhowers Farewell Address Jan. 17, 1961Beware of the Military Industrial Complex.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

10In his farewell address to the American people on January 17, 1961, he spoke of his deepest beliefs. He had held the line on defense spending despite tremendous pressure to build more rockets and bombs, but even so the American military services and defense industry had expanded enormously in the 1950s. Eisenhower believed this expansion was necessary to deter the Soviets, but still it worried him. The conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience, he said. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."Eisenhower, Dwight David," Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia. 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Launching the New Frontier Jan. 20, 1961Youngest elected President in history (43)Classic inaugural address- Full of Cold War languageAsk not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

11Let the word go forth from this time and place to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americansborn in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritageand unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed and to which we are committed today at home and around the world."Kennedy, John Fitzgerald," Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia. 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Democrats control Congress...But conservative Republicans & Southern democrats join forcesLiberal elements of New Frontier met congressional opposition education, environment, medical insurance Kennedy can claim no mandateFocus on Foreign Policy issues and the economy12Kennedys cabinet: The Ministry of TalentRobert Kennedy -Attorney GeneralDean Rusk Sec. of StateRobert McNamara Sec of DefenseKennedy promises to bring the best and brightest to Washington13Kennedy promised to bring the best and brightest to Washington.Robert Kennedy was appointed attorney general and soon became a leading figure in JFKs cabinet.Dean Rusk, president of the Rockefeller Foundation, an organization that aids projects to advance welfare and culture, was chosen secretary of state.Robert McNamara, president of Ford Motor Company, became the secretary of defense.Kennedy brings glamour & high expectations Beautiful wife- JackieKennedy forms the Peace Corps appeals to missionary spirit.Style and culture are part of the Kennedy image.14Dealing with the Economy8% unemployment, slow economic growth demanded attention

Kennedy followed Keynesian economics Increased govt. spending & urban renewalIncreased min. wage & Set up retraining programsSought lower taxes to stimulate economyInitiated tariff negotiations to stimulate exports15From the Earth to the MoonKennedy promises to win the space raceVows to put a man on the moon by the end of the 60sNot because it is easy, but because it is hardAchieved when Neil Armstrong becomes 1st person to walk on moon (July 1969)

16An advocate of the space programCalled for greater spending on space explorationPromised to put a man on the moon during the 60sSoviets had already:Put a satellite in orbit (Sputnik 1957)Sent probes to the moon and VenusPut a man in space (Yuri Gagarin 4/61)Kennedy added a sense of urgency to the space programNational Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA (formed in 1958) in charge of the programFirst American in space Alan Shepard (5/61)1st U.S. astronaut to orbit Earth John Glenn (2/20/62)1st man on the moon Neil Armstrong (7/20/69)Kennedy Foreign PolicyFlexible Response

variety of weapons to respond to or deter threats

tripled U.S. nuclear arsenal

increased conventional forces

formed Green Berets

17More Foreign PolicyAgency for International Developmentcoordinated foreign aid

Food for Peacedistributed surplus agri products

Alliance for Progress$ to Latin Am. to promote reform

Peace Corpsvolunteers to Third World nations

18Bay of Pigs - 4/17/61Preparation predated JFKPlanned U.S. backed invasion of Cuba by anti-Castro exilesmeant to oust Castro & CommunismExiles trained in U.S. by CIAInvasion supposed to spark popular support (didnt) - Castros forces stopped invasion in 2 daysJFK declined to provide air supportBig embarrassment for JFK

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The Berlin Wall - June 1961Khrushchev wanted West out of BerlinW. Berlin = a haven for dissatisfied people fleeing E. Ger. & other comm. countriesWould sign treaty w/ E. Ger. making W. Berlin a demilitarized free cityThought he could intimidate young JFKJFK responded by increasing US forces in Europe East Germany built a wall to keep East Germans out of W. Berlin

20No further moves made to force Western powers out of Berlin.

The city remained divided until 1989.

21Cuban Missile Crisis - Oct. 1962US air recon. revealed construction of offensive missile bases in Cubabeing constructed by Soviet expertsJFK went on TV to demand removalOrdered quarantine of military equip. to CubaSaid US would take out missiles if Soviets didnt Soviets sent missile-carrying ships toward blockade

22Missile Crisis cont.US forces on the brink of warOct. 25 - Soviet ships turned aroundKhrushchev promised removal of missiles in exchange for promise by US that Cuba would not be invadedFurther demands from Moscow & downing of US spy plane killed the dealRFK suggests simply accepting first offer

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Missile Crisis cont.Soviets agree - promise to allow on-site inspectionCubans refuseSpy planes confirm dismantling anywayKhrushchev viewed in USSR as losing to Kennedyeventually costs him his job

Real danger greater than believed

Leads to hot line and Nuclear Test Ban Treaty24