Chapter 20: The New Frontier and Great Society Section 2: The New Frontier

California Academic Standards: California Academic Standards: Students analyze the major social problems and domestic policy issues in contemporary American society Students analyze the major social problems and domestic policy issues in contemporary American society..5 Trace the impact of, need for, and controversies associated with environmental conservation, expansion of the national park system, and the development of environmental protection laws, with particular attention to the interaction between environmental protection advocates and property rights advocates..5 Trace the impact of, need for, and controversies associated with environmental conservation, expansion of the national park system, and the development of environmental protection laws, with particular attention to the interaction between environmental protection advocates and property rights advocates.

Objectives: Objectives: Following lecture and reading of this section, students will be able to: Following lecture and reading of this section, students will be able to: 1. Explain the public’s fascination with the Kennedys. 2. Summarize the domestic and foreign agenda of Kennedy’s New Frontier. 3. Describe the tragic and controversial chain of events surrounding Kennedy’s assassination.

May 5, 1961 Alan Shepard becomes the first American to travel into space May 5, 1961 Alan Shepard becomes the first American to travel into space The trip took 15 minutes but stood for the American spirit that said anything is possible The trip took 15 minutes but stood for the American spirit that said anything is possible JFK inspired many Americans, and shook the nation when he was assassinated JFK inspired many Americans, and shook the nation when he was assassinated What was the public’s fascination with the Kennedy’s? What was the public’s fascination with the Kennedy’s?

At his inauguration Kennedy invited people from all walks of life and all races to join him At his inauguration Kennedy invited people from all walks of life and all races to join him “And so my fellow Americans ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country.” “And so my fellow Americans ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country.” Kennedy gives special recognition to American art and culture inviting several artists, musicians, and celebrities to the White house to give performances Kennedy gives special recognition to American art and culture inviting several artists, musicians, and celebrities to the White house to give performances JFK appeared frequently on TV, which suited his personality JFK appeared frequently on TV, which suited his personality

The public is fascinated by the president and his family The public is fascinated by the president and his family People enrolled in speed reading classes because JKF read 1,600 words per minute People enrolled in speed reading classes because JKF read 1,600 words per minute Jacqueline influenced fashion of the day Jacqueline influenced fashion of the day The daughter Caroline and son John had their pictures throughout newspapers The daughter Caroline and son John had their pictures throughout newspapers JFK and his advisers reminded Americans of a play called Camelot, which opened in 1960 portraying King Arthur’s court JFK and his advisers reminded Americans of a play called Camelot, which opened in 1960 portraying King Arthur’s court

Kennedy surrounds himself with young, bright advisers who happened to be leaders of huge companies and knew how to get the job done Kennedy surrounds himself with young, bright advisers who happened to be leaders of huge companies and knew how to get the job done What was the domestic and foreign agenda of Kennedy’s New Frontier? What was the domestic and foreign agenda of Kennedy’s New Frontier? Kennedy outlines his New Frontier proposals that included medical care for the aged, rebuilding the inner city and aid to education Kennedy outlines his New Frontier proposals that included medical care for the aged, rebuilding the inner city and aid to education

But JFK has difficulty fulfilling many of them because he has to deal with a congress that is conservative, very similar to the congress Truman had to deal with when attempting to pass through his Fair Deal But JFK has difficulty fulfilling many of them because he has to deal with a congress that is conservative, very similar to the congress Truman had to deal with when attempting to pass through his Fair Deal He also lacked a popular mandate- or clear indication that voters approved of his plans- because he won the presidency by so little a margin He also lacked a popular mandate- or clear indication that voters approved of his plans- because he won the presidency by so little a margin

By now the economy was in recession so Kennedy tried to stimulate economic growth by increasing government spending (deficit spending, the basis for Roosevelt’s New Deal) and lowering taxes for companies and individuals By now the economy was in recession so Kennedy tried to stimulate economic growth by increasing government spending (deficit spending, the basis for Roosevelt’s New Deal) and lowering taxes for companies and individuals The thought was: more public spending would pump money into the economy and lowering taxes would give people the freedom to spend even more money The thought was: more public spending would pump money into the economy and lowering taxes would give people the freedom to spend even more money JFK passed a 20% expansion of military, raise of minimum wage to $1.25/hr and assistance to cities w/ high unemployment JFK passed a 20% expansion of military, raise of minimum wage to $1.25/hr and assistance to cities w/ high unemployment

The President creates the Peace Corps to aid developing nations, not liked at first because all the workers were young but eventually turned out to be very valuable The President creates the Peace Corps to aid developing nations, not liked at first because all the workers were young but eventually turned out to be very valuable Alliance for Progress, helped Latin American countries improve their living standards and prevented Castro (Cuba) from having influence in Latin America Alliance for Progress, helped Latin American countries improve their living standards and prevented Castro (Cuba) from having influence in Latin America Alliance for Progress built schools and improved sanitation and health, tried to break up large estates and give land to farm workers Alliance for Progress built schools and improved sanitation and health, tried to break up large estates and give land to farm workers

$12 billion later development occurred but fundamental reform failed $12 billion later development occurred but fundamental reform failed The Soviet-manned launch in 1961 spurs the development of the U.S. space program (NASA) The Soviet-manned launch in 1961 spurs the development of the U.S. space program (NASA) On July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong fulfilled JFK’s dream of landing a man on the moon On July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong fulfilled JFK’s dream of landing a man on the moon Kennedy turned his attention toward the issues of poverty and civil rights, especially in the south Kennedy turned his attention toward the issues of poverty and civil rights, especially in the south

What was the tragic and controversial chain of events surrounding Kennedy’s assassination? What was the tragic and controversial chain of events surrounding Kennedy’s assassination? In the fall of 1963 JFK had a 60% approval rating In the fall of 1963 JFK had a 60% approval rating He went to Dallas to meet with democrats to “mend fences” with them He went to Dallas to meet with democrats to “mend fences” with them Unexpectedly he received a warm greeting from the conservative republican state Unexpectedly he received a warm greeting from the conservative republican state

Then JFK was assassinated by a rifle shot while riding in the back seat of an open air limousine Then JFK was assassinated by a rifle shot while riding in the back seat of an open air limousine People react with grief to Kennedy’s assassination and are glued to their TVs watching the images People react with grief to Kennedy’s assassination and are glued to their TVs watching the images Viewers watched as LBJ somberly took the oath of office of president Viewers watched as LBJ somberly took the oath of office of president The alleged assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, is shot and killed by Jack Ruby on live television during a prison transfer The alleged assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, is shot and killed by Jack Ruby on live television during a prison transfer The Warren Commission concludes the Oswald acted alone The Warren Commission concludes the Oswald acted alone

Recent investigations have turned up conspiracies, the truth is nobody knows for sure Recent investigations have turned up conspiracies, the truth is nobody knows for sure Americans learned how sturdy the government was in its smooth transition to the next president Americans learned how sturdy the government was in its smooth transition to the next president An assassination in a dictatorship would have crippled a country but the U.S. was able to endure An assassination in a dictatorship would have crippled a country but the U.S. was able to endure

Close Close Aided by his talented band of advisers, Kennedy worked to boost the economy, address poverty abroad, and develop the U.S. space program. Aided by his talented band of advisers, Kennedy worked to boost the economy, address poverty abroad, and develop the U.S. space program. After an assassin’s bullet killed the President, the task of pushing through an ambitious domestic agenda fell to Lyndon Johnson. After an assassin’s bullet killed the President, the task of pushing through an ambitious domestic agenda fell to Lyndon Johnson.