Election of John F. Kennedy–Dem. -Richard Nixon Rep. -religious issue -impact of television -Kennedy wins very close election takes a hard line on communism

Camelot -”ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country.” -special focus on American culture -Jackie Kennedy fashion -The Best and the Brightest -feelings of hope and prosperity

Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro leads revolution -turns to communist system -confiscated lands of large corporations -trade barriers set -seen as threat to the U.S. -many Cubans go into exile

Bay of Pigs -Cuban exiles to try to overthrow Castro -U.S. gives exiles military aid -Attack at the Bay of Pigs is a great failure -embarrassment to the U.S. and Kennedy -Cuba turns to USSR for more aid

Berlin Wall -millions of East Germans moved West -Soviets want East Germany recognized as new nation -wall built to separate East and West (1961) -seem as symbol of communism

Cuban Missile Crisis -Soviets place missiles in Cuba -Oct U.S. spy planes get intelligence -Kennedy demanded removal -U.S. blockades Cuba -brink of nuclear war USSR backs down

Easing Tensions -Hotline established between leaders -signed treaty banning nuclear testing above ground

New Frontier -name of Kennedy’s legislative program -medical care for the poor, urban renewal, education -Congress resisted his programs like Truman’s -Kennedy took very few political risks lacked a voter’s mandate did very little for poverty or civil rights in first years

New Frontier -deficit spending to boost economy -increased defense spending -Peace Corp created, 1961 volunteer program to help poverty stricken nations -Alliance for Progress- program designed to give aid to poverty stricken Latin American nations saw a new Kennedy that pushed for civil rights, end to poverty, lower taxes

Race to the Moon -Sputnik satellite started space race in USSR sends first man to space -Kennedy challenges national leaders to get us to the moon -creation of NASA Alan Shepard-first in space John Glenn -first to orbit -program had several setbacks -goal of the moon reached July, 1969 Neil Armstrong- first on the moon

Tragedy -Nov. 22, 1963 Dallas -Kennedy assassinated while riding in a parade -Texas School Book Depository -Lyndon B. Johnson became president -Lee Harvey Oswald arrested for the crime rifle with fingerprints shady past -Jack Ruby kills Oswald just days after his arrest for Kennedy’s assassination

Unanswered Questions -Conspiracy theories lone assassin magic bullet theory Grassy Knoll -Warren Commission investigated the event and pronounced Oswald the lone assassin -later Congressional investigation suggested other involvement by unknowns