Standard - SSUSH23 :The student will describe and assess the impact of political developments between 1945 and ( c ) Describe the political impact of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy; include the impact of civil rights legislation. Standard - SSUSH23 :The student will describe and assess the impact of political developments between 1945 and ( c ) Describe the political impact of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy; include the impact of civil rights legislation.

The Kennedy Years

THE KENNEDY NIXON DEBATE Vice President Richard Nixon and Senator John Kennedy participated in a televised debate from a CBS television studio in Chicago. Individuals who watched the debate felt that Kennedy won the debate, those who listened to it on the radio felt that Nixon won. The television showed Kennedy as a young tanned handsome charismatic man. Nixon looked tired and strained.

The Presidential election of 1960 John Kennedy was only 43 years old and a Roman Catholic. No Catholic had ever been elected to President The electoral vote had Kennedy with 303 votes to Nixon’s 219 votes. Kennedy came into office without a mandate or strong support from the public. What do you think not having strong public support did for policies that Kennedy might want to endorse? Congress at times will not find it necessary to support the ideas and policies of an incoming President if the majority of the public did not show that they were in full support of the candidate. Kennedy went into office with three main agendas he wanted to get through Congress: Improve the economy, assist the poor, and speed up the space program.

“My Fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country Kennedy proposed a large tax cut over three years. Kennedy believed that the extra cash in the taxpayers wallet would stimulate the economy. The proposal was stuck in Congress Kennedy wanted to create federal education aid and medical care for the elderly Both plans failed in Congress However, Congress did pass an increase in the minimum wage, out lawed the poll tax, Equal Pay Act, and added to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

The Executive Orders To get around the Congressional blockage President Kennedy decided to use executive orders. 1. High quality food for unemployed 2. Boosted the missile program 3. Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 4. Trade Expansion Act ( encourage free trade) 5. Federal program to address juvenile delinquency 6. Creation of national Seashore Parks 7. Protection against untested drugs 8. Retirement age at Construction of nuclear energy plants.

One Small step for man one giant leap for mankind May 5, 1961, the United States sent Alan Shepard into space for a 15 minute ride up to an altitude of 115 miles. On May 25, President Kennedy issued a challenge to the nation. He wanted to land a man on the moon before the decade was over. This would be achieved but President Kennedy would not live long enough to see it. On May 25, President Kennedy issued a challenge to the nation. He wanted to land a man on the moon before the decade was over. This would be achieved but President Kennedy would not live long enough to see it. April 1961, The Soviet Union announced that Yuri Gagarin had circled the Earth on a Soviet spacecraft.

Black Friday John Fitzgerald Kennedy assassinated November 22,1963, President John Kennedy was assassinated while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. He was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald from the sixth floor of a School Book Depository. President Kennedy was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital where doctor pronounced him dead at 1:00 P.M. The nation was in a state of shock. We needed something to make this tragedy right. President Johnson took the agenda that President Kennedy wanted, which had previously been rejected by Congress and pushed them through. Johnson used the phrase “Great Society” to describe the dream. The Great Society programs included poverty relief, education aid, healthcare, voting rights, conservation and beautification projects, and economic relief.