1. THE NEW FRONTIER AND THE GREAT SOCIETY
KENNEDY AND JOHNSON LEAD AMERICA IN THE 1960S

2. Learning Objectives: Section 1 Kennedy and the Cold War
1. Identify the factors that contributed to Kennedy’s election in 1960.
2. Describe the new military policy of the Kennedy administration.
3. Summarize the crises that developed over Cuba.
4. Explain the Cold War symbolism of Berlin in the early 1960s.

3. SECTION 1: KENNEDY AND THE COLD WAR
The Democratic nominee for president in 1960 was a young Massachusetts senator named John Kennedy
He promised to “get America moving again”
Kennedy had a well-organized campaign and was handsome and charismatic
Senator Kennedy, 1958

4. Kennedy 1 and the Cold War
SECTION
Kennedy 1 and the Cold War
The Segregation System
The Election of 1960
• Americans fear U.S. falling behind Soviets militarily
• John F. Kennedy discusses Catholicism openly,
allays public worries
• First televised presidential debate between
Kennedy, Richard Nixon
• Nixon is foreign policy expert
• Kennedy coached by TV producers, comes across
better than Nixon
Kennedy and Civil Rights
• JFK takes stand on arrest of Martin Luther King, Jr;
wins black vote
Continued . . .
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5. REPUBLICAN OPPONENT: RICHARD NIXON
The Republicans nominated Richard Nixon, Ike’s Vice-President
The candidates agreed on many domestic and foreign policy issues
Two factors helped put Kennedy over the top: T.V. and Civil Rights
Nixon hoped to ride the coattails of the popular President

6. TELEVISED DEBATE AFFECTS VOTE
On September 26, 1960, Kennedy and Nixon took part in the first televised debate between presidential candidates
Kennedy looked and spoke better than Nixon
Journalist Russell Baker said, “That night, image replaced the printed word as the national language of politics”

7. JFK: CONFIDENT, AT EASE DURING DEBATES
Television had become so central to people's lives that many observers blamed Nixon's loss to John F. Kennedy on his poor appearance in the televised presidential debates
JFK looked cool, collected, presidential
Nixon, according to one observer, resembled a "sinister chipmunk"

8. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
A – What effect do you think the televised debate would have on American politics?
Voters would begin making decisions based on a candidate’s perceived image rather than on his or her stand on the issue.

9. JFK’S OTHER EDGE: CIVIL RIGHTS
A second major event of the campaign took place in October, 1960
Police arrested Martin Luther King for conducting a “Sit-In” at a lunch counter in Georgia
King was sentenced to hard labor
Sit-Ins were non-violent protests over the policy of whites-only lunch counters in the South

10. JFK, NIXON REACT DIFFERENTLY TO KING ARREST
While the Eisenhower Administration refused to intervene, JFK phoned King’s wife and his brother, Robert Kennedy, worked for King’s release
The incident captured the attention of the African-American community, whose votes JFK would carry in key states
King
Kennedy

11. KENNEDY WINS CLOSE ELECTION

12. CLOSEST ELECTION SINCE 1884
Kennedy won the election by fewer than 119,000 votes
Nixon dominated the west, while Kennedy won the south and the east coast
RMN
JFK

13. Guided Reading:
1. What were some of the factors that helped John F. Kennedy win the presidency?
Kennedy's poise during the TV debate;
coming to the aid of Martin Luther King, Jr.;
his good looks and charisma;
his well-organized campaign;
Kennedy's frankness about the religious issue;
the Kennedy family's wealth
Voter restlessness; an economic recession;

14. The Camelot Years The Kennedy Mystique The Best and the Brightest 1
SECTION
The Camelot Years
The Kennedy Mystique
• Kennedy wins presidency in close election
• Critics argue his smooth style lacks substance
• Kennedy White House known as Camelot for its
glamour, culture, wit
• First Lady admired for her elegance; constant
articles about family
The Best and the Brightest
• JFK’s advisers called “the best and the brightest”
• Brother Robert Kennedy named attorney general
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15. “ASK NOT . . .”
In his inaugural address, JFK uttered this famous challenge: “Ask not what your country can do for you --- ask what you can do for your country”
Delivered Friday, January 20, 1961

16. THE CAMELOT YEARS
During his term in office, JFK and his beautiful young wife, Jacqueline, invited many artists and celebrities to the White House
The press loved the Kennedy charm and JFK appeared frequently on T.V.
The Kennedys were considered American “Royalty” (hence “Camelot” reference)

17. THE KENNEDY MYSTIQUE The first family fascinated the American public
For example, after learning that JFK could read 1,600 words a minute, thousands enrolled in speed-reading courses
Jackie, too, captivated the nation with her eye for fashion and culture

18. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
B – What factors help explain the public’s fascination with the Kennedys?
The press portrayed the Kennedy as a young attractive, energetic, and stylish couple;
attention to arts and culture;
Kennedy’s eloquence;
television;
an admiring press.

19. THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST
JFK surrounded himself with what one journalist described as the “best and the brightest” available talent
Of all of his elite advisors who filled Kennedy’s inner circle, he relied most on his 35-year-old brother Robert, whom he appointed attorney general
RFK was John’s closest friend and advisor

20. A New Military Policy Defining a Military Strategy 1
SECTION
A New Military Policy
Defining a Military Strategy
• JFK believes must redefine nation’s nuclear
strategy
• Flexible response — fight conventional wars,
keep nuclear arms balanced
• JFK increases defense spending in three areas:
- strengthens conventional forces
- creates army Special Forces (Green Berets)
- triples nuclear capabilities
Continued . . .
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21. FOCUS ON THE COLD WAR
From the beginning of his term in early 1961, JFK focused on the Cold War (Soviet relations)
JFK tripled our nuclear capability, increased troops, ships and artillery, and created the Green Berets (Special Forces)

22. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
C – What was the goal of the doctrine of flexible response?
To allow the U.S. to fight limited wars around the world while maintaining a nuclear balance of power with the Soviets.

23. Crises over Cuba The Cuban Dilemma The Bay of Pigs 1
SECTION
Crises over Cuba
The Cuban Dilemma
• Revolutionary leader Fidel Castro declares
himself communist
- seizes U.S. properties; Eisenhower cuts off
diplomatic relations
• 10% of Cuban population goes into exile; mostly
to U.S.
The Bay of Pigs
• Cuban exiles, CIA plan invasion to topple Castro
• Plans go wrong; exile forces killed, taken prisoner
• JFK pays ransom in food, medicine; mission is
public embarrassment
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24. CRISIS OVER CUBA
Just 90 miles off the coast of Florida, Cuba presented the first big test of JFK’s foreign policy
Openly Communist, Cuba was led by revolutionary leader Fidel Castro who welcomed aid from the USSR
Relations between the U.S. and Cuba were deteriorating

25. Quote from U.S. Commentator
BAY OF PIGS
In March 1960, Eisenhower gave the CIA permission to secretly train Cuban exiles for an invasion of Cuba
Kennedy learned of the plan only nine days into his presidency
JFK approved the mission
It turned out to be a disaster when in April, 1961, 1,200 Cuban exiles met 25,000 Cuban troops backed by Soviet tanks and were soundly defeated
“We looked like fools to our friends, rascals to our enemies and incompetents to the rest”
Quote from U.S. Commentator

26. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
D – What were the consequences of the failed invasion for the United States?
Failure to oust Castro,
loss of world prestige,
embarrassment for JFK,
ransom for captured commandos.

27. Guided Reading: 2. What were the results of the Bay of Pigs?
Invaders killed or jailed;
Kennedy embarrassed;
a public relations triumph for Castro;
ransom paid for release of invaders

28. continued Crises over Cuba1
SECTION
continued Crises over Cuba
The Cuban Missile Crisis
• Nikita Khrushchev sends weapons to Cuba,
including nuclear missiles
• JFK warns Soviets that missile attack will trigger
war on U.S.S.R.
• Soviets avoid confrontation at sea; reach
agreement with U.S.
Kennedy and Khrushchev Take the Heat
• Khrushchev’s prestige severely damaged in
U.S.S.R.
• JFK criticized for brinkmanship, also for not
ousting Castro
• Cuban exiles switch to GOP; Castro bans flights
to and from Miami
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29. THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
Castro had a powerful ally in Moscow
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev promised to defend Cuba with Soviet weapons
During the summer of 1962 the flow of Soviet weapons into Cuba – including nuclear – increased greatly

30. KENNEDY RESPONDS
American president John F Kennedy making his dramatic television broadcast to announce the Cuba blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis 
Kennedy made it clear the U.S. would not tolerate nuclear weapons in Cuba
When surveillance photos revealed nukes ready to launch in Cuba, JFK said the U.S. would respond to any attack from Cuba with an all-out nuclear retaliation against the Soviets

34. 13 DAYS
When
more Soviet ships headed for the U.S. with weapons, JFK ordered a blockade
The first break in the crisis occurred when the Soviets ships turned back
Finally, Khrushchev agreed to remove the nuclear weapons from Cuba in exchange for a U.S. promise NOT to invade Cuba
For 13 days in October, 1962 the world stood still as the threat of nuclear war gripped the planet

35. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS
E – What were the results of the Cuban missile crisis?
Kennedy staved off war;
Krushchev’s prestige tarnished;
Many Cuban exiles blamed Democrats for “losing Cuba” and switched allegiance to GOP;
Castro limited exiles’ access to Cuba.

36. Guided Reading: 4. What were the effects of the Cuban missile crisis?
Khrushchev's prestige damaged;
Kennedy criticized;
Cuban exiles switched allegiance from the Democratic party to the G.O.P.;
Castro banned flights between Cuba and Miami

37. Crisis over Berlin The Berlin Crisis 1
SECTION
Crisis over Berlin
The Berlin Crisis
• By % of Germans flee to West Berlin; economic drain on East
• Khrushchev wants to close access roads to West Berlin;
JFK refuses
• Soviets isolate West Berlin from East Germany with Berlin Wall
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38. CRISIS OVER BERLIN
In 1961, Berlin, Germany was a city in great turmoil
In the 11 years since the Berlin Airlift, almost 3 million East Germans (Soviet side) had fled into West Berlin (U.S. controlled) to flee communist rule

39. SOVIETS SEEK TO STOP EXODUS
The Soviets did not like the fact that East Berliners were fleeing their city for the democratic west
Their departure hurt the economy and the prestige of the USSR
Just after midnight on August 13, 1961 the Soviets began construction of a 90-mile wall separating East and West Berlin
East Germany begins construction on the Berlin Wall, which becomes a primary symbol of the Cold War and Soviet oppression

41. MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS F – What led Khrushchev to erect the Berlin wall?
Communists wanted to stop the flow of East German refugees into West Berlin and further isolate the thriving city.

42. Guided Reading: 3. How was Berlin crisis resolved?
The Berlin Wall built;
the flow of refugees reduced

43. continued Berlin Crises1
SECTION
continued Berlin Crises
Searching for Ways to Ease
Tensions
• Khrushchev, Kennedy conscious of danger of quick decisions
• Establish hot line—direct phone between White House, Kremlin
• Limited Test Ban Treaty bans nuclear tests in atmosphere
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44. EASING TENSIONS
Both Khrushchev and Kennedy began searching for ways to ease the enormous tension between the two superpowers
In 1963 they established a hot line between the White House and the Kremlin

45. Guided Reading: 5. Why was the hot line installed?
To enable U.S. and Soviet leaders to communicate at once should another crisis arise

46. Limited Test Ban Treaty
In 1963, superpowers signed a Limited Test Ban Treaty that served to ban nuclear testing in the atmosphere

48. Guided Reading:
6. What would the Limited Test Ban Treaty eventually do?
Ban the explosion of nuclear devices in the atmosphere