The New Frontier and The Great Society 1960-1968

1. The New Frontier and The Great Society 1960-1968

2. The Election of 1960 • 1st televised debates in history between Nixon and Kennedy • Kennedy was coached by TV producers and came across better than Nixon • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6Xn4ipHiwE

3. Kennedy wins the Election • Critics argue his smooth style lacks substance • Kennedy White House was known as Camelot for its glamour, culture, and wit • The First Lady (Jackie) was admired for her elegance and the family was constantly under a microscope.

4. The Best and The Brightest • JFK’s advisors were called “the best and the brightest” • Robert Kennedy (JFK’s brother) was named Attorney General

5. Flexible Response • JFK believes the US must redefine their nuclear strategy • Flexible Response- fight controversial wars and keep nuclear arms balanced • JFK increased defense spending in three areas • Strengthens conventional forces • Creates army Special Forces (Green Berets) • Triples nuclear capabilities

6. Bay of Pigs Invasion • Revolutionary Leader Fidel Castro declares himself communist and takes over Cuba 1959 • Eisenhower cuts off diplomatic relations • 10% of Cuban population goes into exile to US • Bay of Pigs Invasion- (April 1961) Cuban exiles and the CIA plan an invasion to topple Castro • Plan goes wrong- exile forces killed or imprisoned • JFK pays ransom in food and medicine • Mission is a public embarrassment

7. Cuban Missile Crisis • Nikita Khruschev sent weapons to Cuba, including nuclear missiles and US spy planes spotted them • JFK warned Khrushchev that a missile attack will trigger war on the U.S.S.R • Soviets avoid confrontation at sea and reach an agreement with the US • JFK and Khruschev were criticized for brinkmanship

9. Berlin Crisis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DQAuT1eIMk&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbE_9MdASDE&feature=related • 1961 20% of Germans fled to West Germany • Khrushchev wanted to close access roads to West Berlin and JFK refused • Soviets isolated West Germany from East Germany with the BERLIN WALL

10. HOTLINE • Khrushchev and Kennedy conscious of danger establish a Hotline-direct phones between the Whitehouse and Kremlin • Also a Limited Test Ban Treaty bans nuclear tests in the Atmosphere

11. The NEW FRONTIER • The New Frontier- Policies of Kennedy’s administration • By 1960 the U.S. was in a recession with 6% unemployment • JFK’s administration pushed for deficit spending to stimulate economic growth and received a 20% increase for defense spending and money for unemployment

12. Poverty Abroad • Peace Corps- program of volunteers assisting developing nations • Alliance for Progress- economic and technical assistance in Latin America (to prevent the spread of communism to LA)

13. Race to the Moon • In April 1961, Soviet Yuri a Gagarin was the first man in space • Soon after the US followed using satellite communications • July 1969 U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong was the 1st man to walk on the moon • School science programs grew, new technologies arise, and new industries

14. JFK’s ASSASSNATION • November 22nd, 1963 JFK was riding in a motorcade in Dallas and was shot in the back of the head by Lee Harvey Oswald • Oswald was killed the next day by Jack Ruby • The Warren Commission was created to investigate Kennedy’s assassination and concluded Oswald acted alone. • A 1979 reinvestigation concludes Oswald was part of the conspiracy • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5cCzDbtVnM • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpicOfFajNE&feature=related

15. The Great Society • Lyndon Baines Johnson takes office after Kennedy dies • “War on Poverty”- LBJ’s initiative • 1964 tax cuts, spurs economic growth • 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination • Economic Opportunity Act- focuses on education, job training, and small business loans… examples include: Job Corps, VISTA, Head Start, Community Action Program

16. 1964 Election • LBJ defeats Republican Barry Goldwater • 206 bills passed under LBJ • Elementary and Secondary Educaiton Act funds school materials • Medicare- low cost medical, hospital insurance for senior citizens • Medicaid- health insurance for welfare recipients • Creates Department of Housing and Urban Development

17. The Warren Court • Chief Justice Earl Warren affirms free speech and church-state separation • Reapportionment- way states redraw election districts by population • Court feels districts must have approximately equal population (shift of political power from rural to urban)

18. MIRANDA RIGHTS • Warren Court rulings expanded the rights of people accused of crimes • Illegally seized evidence cannot be used in court • Courts must provide legal counsel to poor • Suspect must be read rights before questioning (hopes to lead to a fair trial, but conservatives thing rulings handicap police investigations)

19. Miranda v. Arizona • In 1963, Ernesto Miranda was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona for stealing $8 from bank worker and charged with armed robbery. He already had a record for armed robbery, and a juvenile record including attempted rape, assault, and burglary. While in police custody he signed a written confession to the robbery, and to kidnapping and raping an 18-year-old woman 11 days before the robbery. After the conviction, his lawyers appealed, on the grounds that Miranda did not know he was protected from self-incrimination. • The case, Miranda v. Arizona, made it all the way to the Supreme Court, where the conviction was overthrown. In a landmark ruling issued in 1966, the court established that the accused have the right to remain silent and that prosecutors may not use statements made by defendants while in police custody unless the police have advised them of their rights, commonly called the Miranda Rights. The case was later re-tried, Miranda was convicted on the basis of other evidence, and served 11 years. He was paroled in 1972, and died in 1976 at the age of 34, after being stabbed in a bar fight. A suspect was arrested but chose to exercise his right to remain silent, and was released.