John F. Kennedy and His Domestic Policy

The Election of 1960 On September 26, 1960 70 million tuned in to watch the first televised presidential debate between Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy. Kennedy looked and spoke better than Nixon. His success determined the course of the election, and the debate launched a new era in American politics: the television age.

The Election of 1960 Kennedy’s religion and inexperience created problems in his campaign for president. He only won the election by a slight margin, so he entered office without a strong voter mandate. (a mandate is voter approval for the candidate and his policies)

Camelot The Kennedy family fascinated the public. They were young, intelligent, attractive, and fashionable. With JFK’s youthful glamour and talented advisors, the Kennedy White House reminded many of a modern day Camelot, the mythical court of King Arthur.

Kennedy’s New Frontier Kennedy’s domestic policies were called the New Frontier. Kennedy’s lack of a mandate and his position on civil rights issues made it difficult to accomplish his domestic agenda with a conservative Congress. To help the slumping economy, Kennedy proposed a large tax cut; Congress blocked this proposal. To fight poverty, Kennedy proposed direct aid to the poor, money for education, and medical aid for senior citizens; Congress blocked these proposals.

Kennedy’s New Frontier Kennedy did pass the Housing Act of 1961 (for urban renewal) and the 24th Amendment outlawing the poll tax. JFK was also able to breathe new life into the space program; he committed NASA to put a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s.

Urban Renewal? NYC- Park Avenue before urban renewal NYC- Park Avenue after urban renewal

The Peace Corps Peace Corps – a program of volunteer assistance to the developing nations of Asia, Africa, and Latin America Kennedy challenged American youth to devote a part of their lives to living and working in Third World countries

The Assassination of JFK On November 22nd 1963, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas Texas; Lee Harvey Oswald was charged with murder. The Warren Commission investigated the assassination and decided that Oswald acted alone.

The Assassination of JFK Lyndon Johnson (LBJ) took the oath of office an hour and a half after the assassination.

The Assassination of JFK Oswald was killed by Jack Ruby (a nightclub owner) 2 days later. Ruby died in jail in 1967 awaiting trial.