The Age of Liberalism Thesis

The Age of Liberalism Thesis
Historians have often referred to the 20th century as an “Age of Liberalism.” The New Deal set an agenda that even Republican Presidents could not totally avoid. Franklin D. Roosevelt forged an alliance between organized labor, northern African-Americans and southern Democrats that allowed the Democrats to put a stranglehold over politics. During the 1960s, cracks in the liberal coalition emerged over the issues of Vietnam and Civil Rights. These issues helped polarize society further during the 1960s making it increasingly difficult for moderates to hold power. The final breakup of the liberal coalition occurred in 1980 when Ronald Reagan won the presidency by arguing that liberal reforms were responsible for economic stagnation.

The Nixon-Kennedy Debates

Nixon-Kennedy Debates
On 26 September 1960, 70 million U.S. viewers tuned in to watch Senator John Kennedy of Massachusetts and Vice President Richard Nixon in the first-ever televised presidential debate. It was the first of four televised "Great Debates" between Kennedy and Nixon. The Great Debates marked television's grand entrance into presidential politics. They afforded the first real opportunity for voters to see their candidates in competition, and the visual contrast was dramatic.

The Election of 1960

JFK Foreign Policy Issues
See hand out

Kennedy’s Domestic Agenda
The New Frontier During the campaign, Kennedy called for an extensive program of New Deal style social and economic reforms. After a narrow victory in the 1960 election, Kennedy focused his attention on the economy and foreign policy (relatively non-controversial issues).

New Frontier Aid to education, federal support of health care, urban renewal, and civil rights Congress did not pass Achieved roll back in steel prices Economy stimulated by increased spending for defense and space Peace Corps Alliance for Progress (Land reform and economic development)

The JFK Assassination Moments before the assassination
LBJ being sworn into office on Air Force One

The assassination of John F
The assassination of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, took place on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, USA at 12:30 p.m John F. Kennedy was fatally wounded by gunshots while riding with his wife Jacqueline in a presidential motorcade through Dealey Plaza. “Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald” … that was the conclusion of multiple government investigations, including the ten-month investigation of the Warren Commission of 1963–1964 and the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) of 1976–1979. The assassination is still the subject of widespread speculation and has spawned numerous conspiracy theories, though none of these theories have been proven.

The Other America (1962) by Michael Harrington
Poverty in America 11 million people had less than a 6th grade education 1/5 of all families lived below poverty line ½ of all female-headed households lived below poverty line ½ of all households headed by adults over 65 lived below poverty line 80% of all non-white farm families lived below poverty line In 1963, Welfare payments for a family of 4 were $1,920/year; poverty level for that year was $3,000/year.

Johnson’s “Great Society”
“We have the power to shape the civilization that we want. We stand at the edge of the greatest era in the life of any nation. For the first time in world history, we have the abundance and the ability to free every man from hopeless want… This nation has man’s first chance to create a Great Society.” -Lyndon B. Johnson, June, 1964 In 1966 President Johnson asked Congress for 200 pieces of legislation; Congress approved 181 of them! The President’s proposals sought to remedy almost every ill that was thought to afflict Americans.

The Johnson Treatment Lyndon B. Johnson saw poverty as the major domestic problem in the country. In 1996, the release of his secretly recorded tapes of the president's White House telephone calls reveal, he pulled strings and applied his infamous powers of persuasion -- called the "Johnson Treatment" -- to make sure that his solution to poverty was put in place.

The Great Society: Civil Rights
Program Year What it did… Civil Rights Act 1964 Segregation illegal and federal government more power to enforce school desegregation Equal Employment Commission End racial discrimination in employment 24th Amendment Banned poll tax Voting Rights Act 1965 In reaction to violence in Selma/King marches-no literacy tests and federal registrars

The Great Society: War on Poverty
Program Year What it did… Economic Opportunity Act 1964 included several social programs to promote the health, education, and general welfare of the poor Office of Economic Opportunity Anti-poverty agency with billion $ budget -self-help for poor: Head Start, Job Corps, literacy, legal programs, etc. Job Corps (Under OEO) no-cost education and vocational training program that helps young people ages get a better job, make more money, and take control of their lives. Legal Srvs. for the Poor Under OEO VISTA Volunteers in Service to America: resembled the Peace Corps-allowed fed. govt. to recruit, train, and fund vol. who spend 1 yr. living among poor. They work on anti-poverty programs. ,000 Americans nationally Model Cities 1966 Federal Urban aid program

The Great Society: Education
Program Year What it did… Elementary & Secondary Education Act 1965 Aid to poor districts Head Start Under OEO Federally funded pre-school education for low income children Upward Bound Federally funded college prep program for 1st generation college students. Both a summer program and monitored during the year. (I used to work for Upward Bound…amazing program for high school students!!!)

Rachel Carson: Silent Spring
Rachel Louise Carson (May 27, 1907 – April 14, 1964) was an American marine biologist and nature writer whose writings are credited with advancing the global environmental movement. Silent Spring spurred a reversal in national pesticide policy—leading to a nationwide ban on DDT and other pesticides

The Great Society: Environment
Program Year What it did… Water Quality Act 1965 All examples of regulations for environmental quality. Air Quality Act Clean Water Restoration Act 1966

The Great Society: Government
Program Year What it did… Dept. of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) 1965 Model Cities, improve coordination of existing urban programs and provide additional funds National Endowment for the Humanities & Arts Federal funds for the arts and humanities. (This program is paying for me to attend 2 amazing programs this year. ) Dept. of Transportation 1966 Ralph Nader- Unsafe at Any Speed -Motor Vehicle Safety Act 1966 -Highway Safety Act 1966 -$375 M for large scale urban public reorganization of rail projects and fed. transport. agencies

The Great Society: Health Care (7th)
Program Year What it did… Medicare 1965 Health care to ages 65+ Medicaid Health care to poor/disabled

The Great Society: Immigration
Program Year What it did… Immigration & Nationality Act 1965 Abolished national origins quotas in immigration law

Pros and Cons Pros Help for millions of ignored Americans Cons
Unrealistic to eliminate poverty, too costly, and inefficient

Beautify America First Lady-Lady Bird Johnson
(December 22, 1912 – July 11, 2007) Throughout her life, she was an advocate for beautification of the nation's cities and highways and conservation of natural resources, and made that her major initiative as First Lady.

The Vietnam War 1960-1973 War of containment
North Vietnam (Communist) vs. South Vietnam (Pro- West) Allies of North: U.S.S.R., People’s Republic of China Allies of South: U.S., South Korea North wanted to reunify with the South after the country was split in two at the 1954 Geneva Conference 1960- “Viet Cong” (North) invaded Southern Vietnam and the war began The Vietnam War was entered to try and curb the spread of communism. The First Indochina war got the French out of the country, but the Second Indochina war was a conflict between North and South Vietnam.

The Vietnam War (cont.) 1964- Gulf of Tonkin- North Vietnam accused of attacking U.S. destroyers Lead to a large increase in U.S. involvement Gulf of Tonkin Resolution- the President has the right to “prevent further aggression” from the North Vietnamese The number of troops sent to Vietnam skyrocketed (500,000) U.S. made very few gains American troops fought a conventional war, while the Vietnamese were fighting an ideological war U.S. tried to achieve their goals with as few American deaths as possible Vietnamese didn’t care how many people had to die for their cause Brutal warfare with many casualties on both sides

The Vietnam War (cont.) 1968-
Tet Offensive- North Vietnam attacked U.S. and pushed them back (U.S. eventually regained the territory) Portrayed as a huge loss by American media

Vietnam By 1968 the war in Vietnam reached its peak. With 543,000 troops deployed. That same year, the Vietcong’s Tet Offensive seemed to demonstrate the un winnable of the war.

1968:A Year of Crisis MLK shot and riots across the US
RFK shot as he campaigned in CA Violence at Democratic Convention in Chicago in 3-way race between McCarthy, Nixon, Wallace. White backlash-Wallace (shot also) marshaled opposition to liberal Nixon/Agnew- “hawk”- peace with honor, law and order

The Assassination of RFK
Robert Kennedy

1968 Democratic National Convention
“The Whole World is Watching!”

1968:A Year of Crisis People had enough of counterculture protests, violence, permissiveness, and drugs. Tide against New Deal Liberalism and federal government intervention =conservatives on top

The Vietnam War (cont.) 1968 My Lai Massacre- A Vietnamese town suspected of harboring enemies was brutally murdered by U.S. soldiers

The Vietnam War (cont.) 1968 Nixon took office- promised to get America out of the war Vietnamization- Bring U.S. troops home and leave the majority of the fighting to the Vietnamese

The Vietnam War (cont.) 1971- Pentagon Papers leaked to the press
Showed that the U.S. had deliberately expanded its involvement in Vietnam This was happening while Pres. Lyndon Johnson was telling the American people that the U.S. would not expand its involvement 1973- Ceasefire signed U.S. removed all troops No provisions for POW’s or MIA’s War resumed between North and South Vietnam 1975- North Vietnam defeated South Vietnam Public outraged when Pentagon Papers came out, only added fuel to the protestor’s fire Ceasefire was not the end of the war between North and South Vietnam, eventually North won

Results 3 million Vietnamese died 58,000 Americans died
$150 million spent on the war Under funding for Great Society programs

Social/Cultural Changes
The 1960’s and 1970’s Social/Cultural Changes

Student Movement/New Left
Various liberal groups identified with black struggles Radical political movement of the 1960’s and 70’s Mostly comprised of college students Social activists Beliefs Anti- Draft Pro- Civil Rights Anti- Traditional values (family, complacency) Rebelled with sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll Opposed authority (Anti- Establishment)

The New Left Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) was, a student activist movement in the U.S. that was one of the main iconic representations of the country's New Left. The organization developed and expanded rapidly in the mid-1960s before dissolving at its last convention in 1969. SDS was the organizational high point for student radicalism in the United States and has been an important influence on student organizing in the decades since its collapse. Participatory democracy, direct action, radicalism, student power, shoestring budgets, and its organizational structure are all present in varying degrees in current national student activist groups. Though various organizations have been formed in subsequent years as proposed national networks for left-wing student organizing, none has approached the scale of SDS, and most have lasted a few years at best. The New Left was the group that would eventually challenge the government about its actions in Vietnam through protests

Port Huron Statement SDS political manifesto, was adopted at the organization's first convention in 1962, based on an earlier draft by staff member Tom Hayden. Criticized the political system of the U. S. for failing to achieve international peace Criticized racial discrimination, economic inequality, big businesses, trade unions and political parties. Suggested a series of reforms: a greater democracy by reshaping two genuine parties a stronger power of citizens with citizens’ lobbies higher involvement of workers in business management enlarged public sector and an increased welfare with notably a “program against poverty.” advocated as well non-violent civil disobedience as the means by which student youth could bring forth a "participatory democracy."

Berkeley 1964 Police Car Sit-in The Free Speech Movement (FSM) was a student protest which took place during the school year on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley

What’s Wrong with Free Speech?

The Protests

The First D.C. Rally April 17, 1965
One month after the U.S. sent its first troops to Vietnam Staged by the Leftist group, Students for a Democratic Society 16,000 people picketed outside the White House “No More War” “We Want Peace Now” Only 4 arrests made The first inkling that the American public would not sit idly by while the government drained resources into Vietnam

March on the Pentagon October 21, 1967
Culmination of 5 days of protests organized by the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam Famous speakers came to address the crowd (Robert Lowell, Benjamin Spock) The protest escalated when the leaders of the Youth International Party announced they were going to “exorcise” the Pentagon People surrounded the building and chanted spells to try and drive out the “evil war spirits” “LBJ, Pull Out Now, Like Your Father Should Have Done.” Tear gas was released into the crowd 2,500 troops guarded the Pentagon 681 arrested Chaotic protest became even more frenzied when troops began releasing tear gas into the crowd

March on the Pentagon (cont.)
Some pictures from the protest Protestors facing down Army troops (on right)

The Moratorium Rally (D.C.)
November 15, 1969 America’s biggest anti- war demonstration ever 250, ,000 protestors present A little less wild LBJ was out of office and Nixon had initiated his “Vietnamization” plan Police had learned how to handle protests 3,000 Police 9,000 Army troops 200 Lawyers 75 Clergymen Protest was peaceful for the most part 135 arrests made

The Moratorium Rally (cont.)
The Moratorium Rally was the largest anti-war protest in U.S. history

Kent State In response to Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia
Didn’t want to be drafted May 1, Day One Huge demonstration on the College’s commons Around midnight rowdy bikers began throwing bottles and vandalizing cars in the street Approximately 100 students joined in Police eventually got the situation under control

Kent State (cont.) May 2, 1970- Day Two
State of Emergency declared in Kent Ohio Governor, James A. Rhodes, called in the National Guard Demonstrations continued on campus Reserve Officer Training Corps building was set on fire Fire men and police were pelted with rocks by the surrounding crowd 10:00 p.m.- National Guard set up camp on Kent State’s campus Used tear gas and arrested the protestors At least one person was bayoneted May 3, Day Three More protests Curfew imposed on students

Kent State (cont.) The National Guard was sent in to maintain order on Kent State’s campus

Kent State (cont.) May 4, 1970- Day Four Pre-planned rally commenced
Approx. 2,000 people present National Guard told them to disperse People refused Troops sprayed the crowd with tear gas Crowd began throwing rocks and chased the National Guard off campus “Pigs off Campus!” After being chased up a hill by the angry protestors, the National Guard opened fire on the crowd Firing lasted 13 seconds 4 dead 9 wounded Huge public outcry against the government---allowed children to be slaughtered

The National Guard was chased up a hill by angry students
Kent State (cont.) The National Guard was chased up a hill by angry students A shocked student grieves over a dead body, shot down by the National Guard

Ohio by Neil Young

Fourth D.C. Rally In response to Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia and the Kent State shootings Goal: Close down Washington D.C. on May 3, 1971 Shut off all access routes to the city The protestors would come in waves so if one wave got arrested the next would be there to take its place March on the Pentagon, the Capitol, and the Justice Department Two weeks before May Day, 1971 Over 200,000 people attended peaceful rallies in D.C. As May 3 approached many left, leaving only the die- hard radicals (organized by the People’s Coalition for Peace and Justice)

The Fourth D.C. Rally (cont.)
Once again, angry crowds not afraid to face down armed troops

As May 3 approached, the Police prepared to arrest huge numbers of people Fill- in- the- blank arrest forms (to arrest people faster) Polaroid cameras would be used to take pictures of perpetrators so the Policeman could remember him later in court New “flexi- cuffs” with officer’s badge number already on them “Arrest teams” created to streamline the arresting process Arresting officer Handcuffing officer Transporting officer

May 2, 1971 Police announced over a loudspeaker that the 30,000 protestors camping out in West Potomac Park must vacate Reason: “violation of their permit” (use of drugs) Only 12,000 people remained after the announcement May 3, 1971 Police used tear gas to keep streets open 7,000 people arrested- the record to date 155 injuries Protestors plan was thwarted and D.C. stayed open

Contemporary American Politics 1976-2009
Carter H.W. Bush W. Bush Ford Reagan Clinton Obama

Contemporary Politics
During the past 30 years, Presidents from both parties have struggled to balance the ideals of the Great Society with national security concerns. Every American leader from Johnson to G.W. Bush has found it difficult to provide both “guns” and “butter.” During the 1970s high federal spending on Vietnam and the Great Society resulted in high inflation, precisely at the moment when American industrial productivity was declining. The resulting “stagflation” created a complex economic problem that proved unresponsive to most traditional methods of regulating the economy.

Richard Nixon: Domestic Policy
Many of Nixon’s policies seemed liberal or even progressive. How can historians characterize them? Affirmative Action Bakke v. Regents of Univ. of CA Environmental Programs EPA, Endangered Species Act Worker/Consumer Protections OSHA Women’s Rights (Supported ERA) Funding for Arts

Stagflation: Recession + High Inflation
Economic Problems Stagflation: Recession + High Inflation Causes Declining Productivity Increased Global Comp. Trade Deficits Large Work Force High Labor Costs High Gov Spending High Energy Costs

Richard Nixon: Economic Policy
Devolution: Turning administration over to states govs Block Grants to States Ended Gold Standard… Free floating exchange devalued U.S. dollar… foreign goods become expensive… inflation Price freezes on agricultural goods… shortages/inflation. More Problems… Fighting a recession only makes inflation worse… And Fighting inflation makes a recession worse.

Richard Nixon: Foreign Policy
Secret Plan: Vietnamization Détente: “Easing of Tensions” -Goal: Isolate Vietnam, Exploit Differences between USSR & China Nixon Doctrine: U.S. allies should no longer expect U.S. to send troops to support them SALT I Treaty: Arms Limits War Powers Act: Pres 90 days to seek Congressional approval Nixon & Kissinger

Only President to Resign Office!
The Watergate Scandal Enemies Lists CREEP (Committee to Re Elect the President) The Plumbers “Saturday Night Massacre” Woodward & Bernstein Articles of Impeachment Abuse of Power Obstruction of Justice Contempt of Congress Only President to Resign Office!

Gerald Ford -Issued Nixon a full pardon -Popularity dropped
-Solid Democratic Majority in 1974 Mid-term Election -Use of veto… Many congressional overrides -Anti-inflation policies caused worst recession in since 1930s

1976 Election

Jimmy Carter: Domestic Policy
Washington Outsider Dept of Energy Environmentalism Alaska Reserves Toxic Waster Fund Alternative Energy & Conservation Dept of Education

Jimmy Carter: Economic Policy
Continued Stagflation Loosening credit caused inflation Tightening credit caused recession Deregulation: Airline, Trucking, Banking, Communications… Carter began in 1978, but Reagan reaped economic benefit

Jimmy Carter: Foreign Policy
-Human Rights Emphasis Panama Canal -Covert Ops in Afghanistan Continue Détente -Iranian Hostage Crisis Camp David Accords

1984 Election

Reagan: Domestic Policy
Washington Outsider… Actor… Simple Message “New Right” Tapped into Evangelical Christians, Fiscal Conservatives, Anti-Communist Nationalists Small Government… attacked welfare, social spending, business & environmental regulations Family Values

Reagan: Economic Policy
Supply-side Tax Cuts Increased Defense Spending Massive Deficit Spending FED tightened credit… Deregulation Savings & Loans : Recession : Expansion

Ronald Reagan: Foreign Policy
Reagan Doctrine: U.S. will aid “freedom fighters” trying to overthrow communism “Evil Empire:” Bipolarism Lebanon Grenada INF Treaty Iran-Contra Scandal Bombing of Libya

1988 Presidential Election

George H.W. Bush: Domestic Policy
Americans w Disabilities Act AIDS Clean Air Act of 1990 Clarence Thomas Supreme Court Controversy L.A. Race Riots

George H. W. Bush : Economic Policy
Continued Deficits & Debt Post Gulf War Recession Trade Deficit

George H.W. Bush: Foreign Policy
Fall of Communism Tiananmen Square Massacre in China Invasion of Panama Desert Storm Deter Iraqi Aggression Stability in Mid-East Protect oil resources

1992 Presidential Election

We’ve Decided to Adopt

1996 Election

Bill Clinton: Domestic Policy
Brady Bill: Gun Control Welfare Reform Hate Crimes Law Multiculturalism Americorps Y2K Problem Domestic Terrorism Oklahoma City Unabomber Columbine Shooting

Bill Clinton: Economic Policy
NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) Globalization Defense Spending Cuts Budget conflicts w/ GOP Balanced Budget by 2000 “It’s the economy stupid!” Economic Expansion: , Dot-Com Boom

Bill Clinton: Foreign Policy
Human Rights Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, & Kosovo Rwanda Iraq: Sanctions, Inspections & Bombings War on Drugs Terrorism First World Trade Center Bombing, African Embassy Bombings, U.S.S. Cole Bombing

Bill Clinton: Impeachment
Ken Starr Investigations -Whitewater -Paula Jones -Monica Lewinsky Impeachment Charges -Perjury -Obstruction of Justice Partisan Vote… no removal

The Teflon President -Clinton’s approval rating remained above 60% even at the height of the impeachment process. -Polls showed that most Americans disapproved of impeachment. -Voting occurred along party lines. -House of Reps achieved simple majority needed to impeach. -Senate fell far short of the 2/3 majority needed to remove the President.

George W. Bush: Economic Policy
Tax Cuts, Return to Supply-side Bankruptcy Reform Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)

George W. Bush: Domestic Policy
-No Child Left Behind -Domestic War on Terror Airport Security Dept. Homeland Security -Faith-Based Initiatives -Social Security Reform -Medicare Prescription Benefit -Arctic Drilling/Energy

George W. Bush: Foreign Policy
China Spy Plane Crisis War on Terror Bush Doctrine: Go after any country that supports or harbors terrorists… “Axis of Evil” Afghanistan Preemption 2nd Gulf War Terrorism, WMD, Democracy Unilateralism: Kyoto Treaty, “Star Wars,” International Criminal Court, Geneva Accords, Iraq…

Election of 2000

Florida: Election of 2000 Results by County

Election of 2000 Gore wins nation-wide popular vote
Florida Election Disputed Confusion Caused by Butterfly Ballots in Palm Beach & Dade Counties Recount ordered by Florida State Supreme Court Bush v. Gore (2000) U.S. Supreme Court Orders Recount to End… Bush wins

2004 Election

2004 Election Results by County

3D 2004 Election Results

Ohio: 2004 Election Results by County

2008 Election Map

2008 Presidential Election by County

2008 Election Map by County Relative to Population

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