Election of 1960 John F. Kennedy (D) v. Richard Nixon (R) Closest election since 1884 Less than 120,000 votes difference Less than 120,000 votes difference Kennedy wins Television debate helped him win Kennedy also gain African American vote when he showed sympathy for MLK in 1960 Television debate helped him win Kennedy also gain African American vote when he showed sympathy for MLK in 1960 New Frontier “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” Creates Peace Corps Creates Peace Corps Kennedy mystique was known as “Camelot”

Kennedy & the Cold War Kennedy adopts new idea of “flexible response” Used conventional forces; not nuclear Used conventional forces; not nuclear Created Green Berets Created Green Berets Bay of Pigs Eisenhower had cut relations w/ Cuba in Jan.61 Eisenhower had cut relations w/ Cuba in Jan.61 Fidel Castro took over as communist Fidel Castro took over as communist Eisenhower’s administration creates plan to overthrow Castro w/ trained Cuban exiles Eisenhower’s administration creates plan to overthrow Castro w/ trained Cuban exiles Kennedy backed CIA plan to invade Cuba w/ exiles Kennedy backed CIA plan to invade Cuba w/ exiles Plan failed miserably; Kennedy publicly took blame Never trusted CIA/military leaders again

Cuban Missile Crisis Soviets sent nuclear missiles into Cuba Soviets sent nuclear missiles into Cuba Kennedy planned to remove missiles; could lead to WWIII Kennedy planned to remove missiles; could lead to WWIII Crisis avoided when Soviets offered to remove missiles in exchange for US promise to NOT invade Cuba Crisis avoided when Soviets offered to remove missiles in exchange for US promise to NOT invade Cuba After Cuban Missile Crisis Many Cuban exiles upset; switch allegiance to Republicans Many Cuban exiles upset; switch allegiance to Republicans US & Soviets also put in hotline between Washington & Moscow US & Soviets also put in hotline between Washington & Moscow Berlin Wall West Germany & West Berlin are flourishing w/ capitalism West Germany & West Berlin are flourishing w/ capitalism Many in East Berlin try to flee to W. Berlin Many in East Berlin try to flee to W. Berlin Khrushchev sees those leaving hurting image of communism Khrushchev sees those leaving hurting image of communism Builds a huge wall to keep people in communist East Germany/East Berlin Builds a huge wall to keep people in communist East Germany/East Berlin Wall seen as oppressive symbol of communism Wall seen as oppressive symbol of communism

Kennedy’s Death Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963 in Dallas Texas Lee Harvey Oswald is arrested for murder Oswald killed by Jack Ruby before any trial Oswald killed by Jack Ruby before any trial Vice President Lyndon Johnson takes over as President Pushes for many of the bills Kennedy wanted passed (ie Civil Rights Act) Pushes for many of the bills Kennedy wanted passed (ie Civil Rights Act)

Vietnam Era Background Info French controlled Vietnam after WWII French controlled Vietnam after WWII Push for independence, led by communist Vietminh & Ho Chi Min Push for independence, led by communist Vietminh & Ho Chi Min N.Vietnam controlled by communists, S.Vietnam controlled by French (US supports w/ money) N.Vietnam controlled by communists, S.Vietnam controlled by French (US supports w/ money) Dien Bien Phu- French get out of Vietnam (lost battle) Dien Bien Phu- French get out of Vietnam (lost battle) Geneva convention- Vietnam to have free elections Geneva convention- Vietnam to have free elections US supports democratic S.Vietnam Domino Theory- US afraid all South Asia will fall to communism if we don’t support S.Vietnam Special Forces sent as military advisors during early 1960s Gulf of Tonkin incident, 1964 N.Vietnamese boat “attacks” US ship in Gulf of Tonkin N.Vietnamese boat “attacks” US ship in Gulf of Tonkin US uses “attack” to promote escalation US uses “attack” to promote escalation Congress passes Tonkin Gulf Resolution (LBJ can assist any Southeast Asian Country that is threatened by communism) Congress passes Tonkin Gulf Resolution (LBJ can assist any Southeast Asian Country that is threatened by communism)

US at War US started bombings of N.Vietnam in early 1965 (Operation Rolling Thunder) US begins escalation, sending more troops 180,000 by end of ,000 by end of 1965 American troops commanded by William Westmoreland Unhappy w/ ARVN troops; continues requesting more US troops Unhappy w/ ARVN troops; continues requesting more US troops 500,000 US troops in Vietnam by end of ,000 US troops in Vietnam by end of 1967 Fighting difficult (in jungles) Vietcong use guerilla attacks, hit-and-run tactics, etc. Vietcong use guerilla attacks, hit-and-run tactics, etc. Difficult for US to know difference between enemies and friends Difficult for US to know difference between enemies and friends Vietcong supplied by N.Vietnam thru Ho Chi Min trail Vietcong supplied by N.Vietnam thru Ho Chi Min trail Vietcong used threats on civilians, booby traps, tunnels, etc. Vietcong used threats on civilians, booby traps, tunnels, etc. US counters with “Hearts and Minds” approach (help out Vietnamese citizens in order to gain support) US counters with “Hearts and Minds” approach (help out Vietnamese citizens in order to gain support)

US uses napalm & agent orange to help with jungle fighting Problem of hitting innocent people Problem of hitting innocent people Troop morale gets low Troops engage in drug use/alcoholism Troops engage in drug use/alcoholism TV coverage sends footage home TV coverage sends footage home Protest of war begins Mainly led by Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) Mainly led by Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) Civil Rights leaders also call for change (disproportionate numbers of Af.Americans in service) Civil Rights leaders also call for change (disproportionate numbers of Af.Americans in service) Tet Offensive – turning point of the war (1968) North Vietnamese (Communists) attack US throughout S.Vietnam North Vietnamese (Communists) attack US throughout S.Vietnam Temporarily take over US bases, US Embassy Temporarily take over US bases, US Embassy US kills more NVA; turns back attack US kills more NVA; turns back attack Public opinion changes against the war Public opinion changes against the war LBJ decides not to run for re-election LBJ decides not to run for re-election Richard Nixon wins 1968 election; promises withdrawal of US troops

Nixon withdraws 1 st US troops in 1969 Calls policy “Vietnamization” Calls policy “Vietnamization” My Lai massacre by US Soldiers, 26 put on trial. Nixon bombs & invades Cambodia Goes against promise to reduce war Goes against promise to reduce war Leads to Kent State Tragedy Leads to Kent State Tragedy (Student protest that gets violent, 4 students shot and killed by Nat’l Guard) Nixon wins re-election in 1972, says “peace is at hand” US signs agreement to withdraw troops in 1973 All troops gone by March 29, 1973 S.Vietnam falls to communists in April 1975

Johnson’s Presidency Early Life Grew up in rural Texas; saw lots of poverty Grew up in rural Texas; saw lots of poverty Idolized FDR in early politics Idolized FDR in early politics Johnson’s Goals Major concern at home was poverty Major concern at home was poverty Johnson’s plan called Great Society (fights a “War on Poverty”) Johnson’s plan called Great Society (fights a “War on Poverty”) Medicare & Medicaid Medicare & Medicaid Headstart Headstart H.U.D. H.U.D. Tax cuts Tax cuts

Court Cases The Warren Court Mapp v. Ohio, 1961 – illegally seized evidence Gideon v. Wainwright, 1963 – free legal counsel for underprivileged Miranda v. Arizona, 1966 – legal rights of accused Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg BOE, 1971 – school districts can use forced bussing for integration

Nixon More conservative; “New Federalism” Gives more power back to state gov’ts Nixon too paranoid; uses power illegally FBI – wiretapped liberals FBI – wiretapped liberals CIA – list of anti-gov’t people CIA – list of anti-gov’t people IRS – tax audits of antiwar & civil rights activists IRS – tax audits of antiwar & civil rights activists Had an “enemies list” Had an “enemies list” Economy suffers during Nixon’s presidency stagflation stagflation Cold War Strategy Détente (easing of Cold War tensions) Détente (easing of Cold War tensions) Visits China and Soviet Union in 1972 Visits China and Soviet Union in 1972 SALT I – talks to limit ICBMs SALT I – talks to limit ICBMs

Watergate 5 men caught breaking into Democratic National HQ’s Men were members of Committee to Reelect the President (CRP) Nixon uses cover-up to keep top aides from being fired or dismissed Documents destroyed Documents destroyed $500,000 in bribes handed out $500,000 in bribes handed out CIA pressures FBI to stop investigation CIA pressures FBI to stop investigation Tape recordings of conversations Story cracked by newspaper reporters Nixon v. US, 1974 Nixon forced to surrender taped phone conversations Nixon forced to surrender taped phone conversations 18 minute gap on tape (had been destroyed) 18 minute gap on tape (had been destroyed) Congress begins impeachment process Nixon resigns before being impeached; Gerald Ford takes over as President