1. The 1960 Election Read carefully and complete the tasks in RED.

2. The state of America in 1960 Economic prosperity of the 50s continues The “50s” don’t end until 1964! The civil rights movement continued to intensify in 1960; sit-ins and boycotts The Cold War continues to be dangerous, as the U.S. and U.S.S.R. continue to “talk tough” and build more nuclear weapons Cuba had just become Communist; U-2 incident had chilled U.S./Soviet relations Economic prosperity of the 50s continues The “50s” don’t end until 1964! The civil rights movement continued to intensify in 1960; sit-ins and boycotts The Cold War continues to be dangerous, as the U.S. and U.S.S.R. continue to “talk tough” and build more nuclear weapons Cuba had just become Communist; U-2 incident had chilled U.S./Soviet relations

3. Richard Nixon: Republican 47 years old Eisenhower’s Vice President Was able to run for President touting the achievements of Ike Had a growing reputation in foreign affairs following the famous “Kitchen Debate” Eisenhower undermined him by joking about Nixon’s input into important decisions: "if you give me a week I might think of one."

4. John F. Kennedy: Democrat Senator from Massachusetts Wealthy, powerful political family Only 42 years old (43 at inauguration) Roman Catholic- a controversial issue in 1960 Do a Google search for JFK biographical information, fun facts, and photos of his family- what else should we know about this interesting man from a powerful family? Use these links too: http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/Life-of-John-F- Kennedy.aspx http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/Life-of-John-F- Kennedy.aspx http://www.biography.com/people/john-f-kennedy- 9362930 http://www.biography.com/people/john-f-kennedy- 9362930 http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnf kennedy http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnf kennedy http://millercenter.org/president/kennedy/essays/bi ography/2 http://millercenter.org/president/kennedy/essays/bi ography/2 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/feat ures/biography/kennedys-bio-john-fitzgerald/ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/feat ures/biography/kennedys-bio-john-fitzgerald/

5. More JFK biographical info/fun facts and pictures: what did you find?

6. The Great Debate 1 st televised Presidential debate in history September 26, 1960: 70 million viewers Do a Google and YouTube search for the first 1960 debate. Watch a few clips. Why was it so significant?

7. Civil Rights in 1960 Sit-ins spread: churches, beaches, motels, libraries, theaters (50,000 people participate) Boycotts of national chain stores like Woolworths “Jail, not bail;” non-violent passive resistance Sit-ins spread: churches, beaches, motels, libraries, theaters (50,000 people participate) Boycotts of national chain stores like Woolworths “Jail, not bail;” non-violent passive resistance

8. JFK’s electoral “tightrope” To win, he needed the support of the southern segregationists who were largely Democrats AND northern African Americans Vice Presidential choice from the South to reassure Southern Democrats: Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson, Texas JFK provides moderate support: endorses the sit-ins and promises to sponsor a civil rights bill when elected October, 1960: Martin Luther King, Jr. forces the two candidates to take a side: he gets arrested during closing days of the campaign at a sit-in in Atlanta; sentenced to four months of hard labor for violating his probation To win, he needed the support of the southern segregationists who were largely Democrats AND northern African Americans Vice Presidential choice from the South to reassure Southern Democrats: Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson, Texas JFK provides moderate support: endorses the sit-ins and promises to sponsor a civil rights bill when elected October, 1960: Martin Luther King, Jr. forces the two candidates to take a side: he gets arrested during closing days of the campaign at a sit-in in Atlanta; sentenced to four months of hard labor for violating his probation

9. What do the candidates do about the MLK situation? Nixon does nothing JFK calls Coretta Scott King and his brother arranges for his release on bail; King is released a day later Democrats print 2 million copies of pamphlet: “No- Comment Nixon vs. a Candidate With a Heart, Senator Kennedy” JFK wins 7 of 11 states in the South; 70% of African American vote- The African American vote decides the election in closest election of 20th Century (0.1%) Nixon does nothing JFK calls Coretta Scott King and his brother arranges for his release on bail; King is released a day later Democrats print 2 million copies of pamphlet: “No- Comment Nixon vs. a Candidate With a Heart, Senator Kennedy” JFK wins 7 of 11 states in the South; 70% of African American vote- The African American vote decides the election in closest election of 20th Century (0.1%)

12. JFK’s Inaugural Address-listen! In the history of the United States, from Washington to Obama, we have had 44 Presidents, and therefore 44 first-time inaugural addresses. In that time, only a handful of those addresses have stood the test of time, to be studied again and again: FDR, Reagan… and of course, JFK. It is a wonderfully written speech full of powerful rhetoric that deserves to be analyzed almost like a piece of literature, to decipher, read between the lines, and figure out what he really meant. It is also significant for what he says, but also what he doesn’t say. Remember that the two big issues facing the country in 1961 were the ongoing Cold War conflict and competition with the Soviet Union and the escalating civil rights movement here at home. Listen to it here and read along: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural.htm http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural.htm In the history of the United States, from Washington to Obama, we have had 44 Presidents, and therefore 44 first-time inaugural addresses. In that time, only a handful of those addresses have stood the test of time, to be studied again and again: FDR, Reagan… and of course, JFK. It is a wonderfully written speech full of powerful rhetoric that deserves to be analyzed almost like a piece of literature, to decipher, read between the lines, and figure out what he really meant. It is also significant for what he says, but also what he doesn’t say. Remember that the two big issues facing the country in 1961 were the ongoing Cold War conflict and competition with the Soviet Union and the escalating civil rights movement here at home. Listen to it here and read along: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural.htm http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural.htm

13. JFK’s Inaugural (cont.) Your 3 favorite lines: # of references to The Cold War: # of references to the civil rights movement: Your 3 favorite lines: # of references to The Cold War: # of references to the civil rights movement: