1. Stuff we should all know!

2. One of the most famous elections in US history took place in 1960
Democrat: John F. Kennedy
Republican: Richard Nixon

3. Who was JFK? 43 year old Senator from Massachusetts
WW2 veteran who was awarded medals for his bravery
Came from a very wealthy family
Married to Jacqueline Kennedy

4. Who was Richard Nixon? Served in the US Navy during WW2
Nixon served in the House and the Senate in the late 1940’s-early 1950’s
Had a reputation for being anti-Communist
Served as Vice President under President Eisenhower

5. The turning point of the election was the televised debate
By 1960, the TV played a major role in Presidential politics
When Nixon arrived at the debate, he did not wear make-up, had a five o’clock shadow, and began to sweat under the hot lights
JFK was tanned and relaxed
JFK looked directly to the camera

6. The results of the 1960 election
JFK won in a very close election
This was one of the closest elections in American history
JFK entered the White House without a mandate (public endorsement of the President’s proposals)

7. JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963
JFK was in Dallas to begin his reelection campaign
This was the first public appearance for Jackie Kennedy since her c-section and death of their baby (that happened in August)

8. People knew exactly where JFK would be because his parade route was published in the newspaper
Today, a President’s plans are not announced until a few days ahead of time
Also, a President’s entrance and exit routes are never publicized

9. Lee Harvey Oswald shot and killed JFK
Oswald was a former Marine and an alleged supporter of Fidel Castro
Two days later, Oswald was shot and killed by Jack Ruby
Jack Ruby wanted to spare Jackie Kennedy the pain of a trial

10. Warren Commission was the government investigation into JFK’s assassination
The Warren Commission determined that Oswald acted alone
They also said there was no conspiracy behind JFK’s assassination
Many Americans do not believe the Warren Commission

11. Watergate: the scandal that involved the breaking in of the Democratic National Office in 1972

12. Henry Kissinger claimed that Nixon had three goals
1. To win the 1972 election in the largest landslide in American history
2. To be remembered as a peace maker
3. To be accepted by the “Establishment”

13. As early as 1969, Nixon and his staff created an “enemies list”
Anyone who criticized Nixon’s policies could find themselves on this list
Nixon targeted the media

14. People on the “Enemies List”
Senator Edward Kennedy
Jane Fonda
Steve McQueen

15. In the Fall of 1971, Nixon began using the “plumbers”
The “plumbers” were former CIA and FBI agents who tried to stop leaks coming from the Nixon Administration
Nixon was especially upset at the leaking of the Pentagon Papers, which gave out secrets about the Vietnam War
The “plumbers” did their work in the name of national security

16. Famous “plumbers” Howard Hunt (spy novelist and former CIA agent)
G. Gordon Liddy (former FBI agent)

17. The Committee to Reelect the President (CREEP) used questionable tactics
CREEP was headed by John Mitchell, the former Attorney General
The purpose of CREEP was to collect as much money as possible

18. CREEP also tried to discredit Nixon’s opponents
Edmund Muskie, a Democratic Presidential candidate did not react well when CREEP sent a letter to a New Hampshire newspaper claiming that Muskie’s wife was an alcoholic
Muskie ended up crying on TV and dropped out of the Presidential race

19. June 17, 1972
Five men are arrested for the break-in of the Democratic National Committee office at the Watergate office building
“Plumbers” Liddy and Hunt were a part of the break-in

20. Nixon won the 1972 Presidential election
Nixon defeated George McGovern in one of the biggest electoral landslides in American history

21. How did Nixon’s involvement in Watergate become an issue?
Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein kept digging for the truth
Their source, “Deep Throat” claimed that the White House and CREEP hired 50 agents to sabotage the Democrats in the 1972 election

22. Who was “Deep Throat?” “Deep Throat” was Mark Felt
Mark Felt was angry that he was passed over for a big promotion at the FBI
Mark Felt revealed his identity in 2005 (he has since died)

23. By the Spring of 1973, the legislative and judicial branches were investigating Watergate
Watergate burglar James McCord admitted that “top White House officials” planned and, later, covered up the break-in
Nixon’s role in Watergate was still unknown

24. However, it soon emerged that Nixon had tape recorded his conversations in the White House
Special prosecutor Archibald Cox demanded that Nixon turn over the tapes
Former Nixon assistant Alexander Butterfield told Senate investigators about Nixon’s tapes

25. A Federal judge ordered Nixon to release the tapes
Nixon declined claiming “executive privilege” and the tapes could endanger national security
A Federal judge ordered Nixon to release the tapes
The released tapes included an 18 minute gap, where the conversation was erased

26. August 9, 1974 President Richard Nixon resigned
Gerald Ford takes over as President
Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon for his role in Watergate (so, he faced no criminal charges)

27. Many people associate the term “feminism” with the 1960’s
Feminism: the belief that women should have economic, political, and social equality with men
In reality, feminism began in the 1890’s
By the 1950’s, many American women were still fighting the stereotype that they should be at home

28. WW2 had opened up many employment and educational opportunities for women
In 1950, 25% of all college degrees were earned by women
By 1970, that number was up to 43%

29. The feminist movement took on a new organization in the 1960’s
Betty Friedan wrote a book in 1963 called The Feminine Mystique, which discussed the dissatisfying lives of housewives
The Feminine Mystique inspired woman to come together and form support groups to discuss their experiences

30. In 1966, frustrated women eventually formed the National Organization for Women (NOW)
The goal of NOW was “to take action to bring American women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now”
NOW wanted fair pay and equal job opportunities
NOW attacked the media for their portrayal of women

31. Some women thought NOW was too extreme
Some critics thought NOW only benefited white, middle class, educated women

32. Another influential feminist was Gloria Steinem
Steinem was a journalist who began Ms. Magazine
Ms. Magazine was controversial because it pushed for abortion rights

33. One of the biggest laws passed that benefited women was Title IX (1972)
Title IX states that any educational institution receiving federal funding may not discriminate based on gender
Many people today know Title IX as the law that made women’s sports equal to men in college
Today, colleges must have equal funding for women’s sports or equal offerings

34. Title IX has allowed more women to attend college
Today, more women receive college diplomas than men

35. Perhaps the biggest moment in the feminist movement was the Roe vs
Perhaps the biggest moment in the feminist movement was the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision
Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in the US
The US Supreme Court based their decision on abortion being a personal privacy
States could still outlaw abortion after the first trimester
Abortion remains legal in the US today