The document summarizes key events and developments in the US during the 1960s. It discusses JFK's New Frontier program, the economic prosperity and political assassinations of the early 1960s. It then outlines the escalation of the Vietnam War, rise of radical social movements and counterculture, and LBJ's Great Society programs. The summary concludes by noting the polarization over the Vietnam War and Nixon's election in 1968.

1. The Sixties: Progress or Decline? Part OneMr. Shore

2. JFK and “The New Frontier”“The torch is being passed to a new generation”New Frontier program: aid to education, federal support of health care, urban renewal and civil rightsKennedy supports tax cuts to stimulate economic growthThe economy grew and was further stimulated by new defense programs and space explorationKennedy’s goal is to land on the moon by end of the decade

3. Prosperity and TurmoilPostwar economic prosperity peaked in the the ’60sPolitical Assassinations: JFK, Martin Luther King, Robert KennedyRace Riots and TensionsWar in Vietnam escalatesStudent Riots, Protests & Anti-Capitalist RadicalismModern Conservative Movement Mobilizes

4. “Camelot Comes to Washington”1960 Election: Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts vs. Vice President Richard NixonRichard Nixon was respected for his years of service as President Eisenhower’s VP and was known as a diplomatic statesman, a strong advocate of capitalism against communism and a tough, smart campaigner. Nixon more respected than liked. Nixon from California chose Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. of Massachusetts as running mate.JFK ran in tough Democratic primaries principally against Senate Majority Leader, Lyndon Baines Johnson of Texas. Kennedy was a charming, handsome and charismatic young Senator from Massachusetts

5. Election of 1960JFK was the second candidate after Al Smith to be a Roman Catholic. Many Protestant Americans feared the President would “take orders” from the Pope. Kennedy affirmed his commitment to a strict separation of church and stateThe youthful Kennedy chose Johnson as his running mateKennedy and Johnson did NOT have a close relationship. LBJ viewed the Kennedys and the people around Kennedy as Ivy League, “pin-striped” elitists.

6. Election of 1960 (cont)Kennedy and Nixon had four televised debatesMost people who heard the debates on radio thought Nixon had wonFor the TV audience, Kennedy was considered the clear winner—showing more grace, charm and humor. Nixon appeared stiff, nervous and relatively humorlessThis was the first televised presidential debate and showed the enormous power of TV and visual media in politics

7. The IssuesNixon defended the peace and prosperity of the Eisenhower yearsNixon emphasized the need for continuity and experienced leadership during times of international tensionKennedy promised to “get America moving again”Kennedy attached the Republicans as weak on military affairs and permitting a “missile gap” that allowed the Soviets to gain potential superiority over the US. In reality, the US still had a lead in missiles

8. Kennedy wins by a slim majorityIn one of the closest elections in US history, Kennedy one by a mere 100,000 votes.Widespread charges and identified cases of fraudulent Democratic votes by party machines in Chicago and throughout TexasCases of “dead voters” and multiple votes by the same peopleNixon chose not to challenge the election results and conceded to KennedyLingering feeling by Republicans of a “stolen election”

9. Popularity of JFKYoungest president elected at 43 years oldJacqueline “Jackie” Kennedy—young, beautiful First LadyTwo young children—Caroline and JFK, Jr “John-John”President’s brother, Robert Kennedy, is the Attorney-GeneralKennedy believes it has “the best and the brightest” on its team: Robert McNamara (Defense), John Kenneth Galbraith (economic advisor), Pierre Salinger (speechwriter)

10. Kennedy’s Foreign PolicyUS leadership in the world“Peace Corps” and “Alliance for Progress”Failed “Bay of Pigs” Invasion of Cuba (1961)Emboldened Soviets build the Berlin WallThe Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)—US establishes a naval blockade of Cuba to counter the building of nuclear missile sites in Cuba. Showdown with Soviet Union could have led to a nuclear war.Khrushchev removed missiles after US pledge not to invade Cuba and the downgrading of US base in Turkey

11. Kennedy’s Foreign Policy (cont)1963—Nuclear Test Ban TreatyUS-Soviet arms race continuesKennedy travels to West Berlin: “As a free man, I take pride in the words, Ich bin ein Berliner”Kennedy speech in Berlin has electrifying impact—very much like Pres. Reagan’s famous line, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”Proxy wars in Africa and Southeast Asia.US adopts a “flexible response” policy—increased the reliance on special forces in third world countriesDangerous new adventurism because conflict was no longer a matter of massive retailiation

12. The Kennedy AssassinationKilled by a sniper (Lee Harvey Oswald) in an open-air motorcade in Dallas on November 22, 1963Vice President Johnson sworn in as President on Air Force OneConspiracy theories require President Johnson to appoint Chief Justice Earl Warren to establish a Commission to determine the truth of JFK’s assassinationWarren Commission supports lone killer (Oswald) finding and finds no basis for conspiracy

13. President JohnsonPersuaded Congress to pass an expanded version of Kennedy’s Civil Rights billPersuaded Congress to pass Kennedy’s tax cut that sparked an increase in jobs, consumer spending and a long period of economic expansion in the SixtiesLBJ declares “War on Poverty”—inspired by popularity of socialist Michael Harrington’s book, The Other AmericansOffice of Economic Opportunity, Head Start, Job Corps, Community Action Program

14. Election of 1964Republicans choose Senator Barry Goldwater to run against LBJRonald Reagan makes his major political debut as a supporter of GoldwaterGoldwater writes a manifesto for restoring limited government and against the growing welfare state in The Conscience of a ConservativeLBJ wins in a landslide promising an expansion of the New Deal called “The Great Society”

15. LBJ’s “Great Society” ProgramsCreation of Medicare, health care for the elderlyCreation of Medicaid, government paid health for the poorElementary and Secondary Education ActNew immigration law allowing more Asians and Latin Americans to emigrate to USNational Foundation of the Arts and HumanitiesTwo new cabinet positions: Department of Transportation and Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentIncreased subsidies for higher educationIncreased funding for public housing and crime preventionIncreased federal funding of welfare

16. Civil Rights Acts & 24th Amendment1964—Segregation illegal in all public places1965—Voting Rights Act ended literacy tests and provided federal registrars in areas of known discrimination24th Amendment—abolished poll tax

17. Racial Conflict1962—James Meredith, a black Air Force veteran, attempted to enroll in the University of Mississippi400 Federal Marshall and 3000 troops were needed to control mob violence and permit Meredith to attend1963—Governor George Wallace of Alabama also tried to block a black student. Wallace declared: “Segregation now and forever!”Civil Rights activists and Freedom RidersMLK nonviolent march in BirminghamMLK’s famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”

18. MLK and the 1963 March on WashingtonMLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech“We Shall Overcome” becomes the Civil Rights unofficial “anthem”Voting Rights March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama with both blacks and many whitesWhite police violence against marchers

19. “BLACK POWER”Many blacks reject an identity they viewed as imposed by a white, racist society and that blacks themselves had internalizedBlacks who tried to assimilate into mainstream society (which was more of a possibility in a country seeking to be “color-blind”) were considered “Uncle Toms”A black Muslim, Elijah Muhammad, establishes the Nation of Islam (calls for black nationalism and whites are “Ice People” as opposed “Sun People” who are people of colorMalcolm X becomes a contrasting icon to MLK

20. Radicalism and RiotsStudent Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)Stokely Carmichael, chairman of SNCC, repudiates nonviolence and embraces “black power” and black separatismIn 1966, “Black Panthers” organized by Huey Newton, Bobby Seale and others as a militant, revolutionary socialist movement for black separatism and nationalismBlack Panther slogans: “Get whitey”, “Burn baby, burn”

21. Radicalism and Riots (Cont)Race Riots in major cities from 1964 to 19681965 riots in the Watts area of Los AngelesMassive destruction of private property—stores, schools, homes and apartments…etc.Rift begins that begins to strain the traditional political support of Jewish American for black due to growing anti-Semitism of black radicals and targeting of Jewish stores and property in black communities during riots. Radical blacks hostile to the prominent role of Jews in New York public schools

22. Student Radicalism1962—Establishment of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) led by Tom HaydenPort Huron Statement—universities should be governed through participatory democracy. Called for a “New Left” that counters “American imperialism”, capitalism, traditional bases for authority, traditional family structure and gender roles, traditional curriculum, scholarship and standards of academia. Stresses the vanguard role of youth and socialists in creating “community” and “economic democracy”SDS spinoffs include anti-Communist League for Industrial Democracy, non-violent Worker Student Alliance, communist Progressive Labor Party, the violent Revolutionary Youth Movement and Weather Underground

23. RadicalismSDS calls their cause the Free Speech MovementBerkeley students demand more “relevant” curriculum as well as rule changes such as permission to drink on campus and dorm visits by persons of the opposite sexBy 1968, SDS factions called for a “white fighting force” to be allied with the “Black Liberation Movement” to achieve “the destruction of US imperialism and achieve a classless world: world communism.”Radicals fight Chicago police at 1968 Democratic National Convention which becomes a violent mob fight

24. RadicalismUniversities across the country were disrupted or closed down by student demonstrations and antiwar (Vietnam) protestsUse of explosives at various public sites such as Haymarket Square in ChicagoWeather Underground: “Days of Rage” in October, 1969Violence escalates through 1970

25. CountercultureThe “Hippies”Rebellious style of clothes and appearance—long hair, beards, beads, jeansGenerational music—Folk/protest music of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan; Rock and Roll—”The Beatles”; “The Rolling Stones”; Jim Morrison; Janis JoplinCommunal Living and “free sex”Drugs seen as “expanded consciousness”—use of hallucinogens such as LSD. Prof. Timothy Leary extols virtues of LSD and other drugs to see a “deeper” reality

26. CountercultureWidespread use of marijuanaExperimentation with a wide range of mind-altering drugsInevitably many became addicted or were never able to cope with daily lifeGrowing acceptance of casual sex and multiple partners before marriage (made easier with contraceptives and antibiotics)Renewed feminist movement that challenged all traditional ideas of the role of women’s sexuality and identityBetty Friedan, The Feminine MystiqueEstablishment of National Organization of Women (NOW)The iconic event: Woodstock Music Festival

27. The Vietnam War2.7 million Americans served in Vietnam58,000 died in the warKennedy sent “military advisors” and a small contingent of about 16,000 combat troopsPresident Johnson gets formal authority to commit US troops to defend South Vietnam by Congress in the Gulf of Tonkin resolution in 1964General popular support for defending democracies against Communist aggression in the region

28. The War EscalatesRemember the “Flexible Response Doctrine”Prolonged air attacks over North Vietnam—”Operation Rolling Thunder” in 1965By end of 1965 there are over 185,000 US troops in Vietnam led by General William WestmorelandIncremental increase of troops to 485,000 in 1967 to peak of 540,000 in March, 196916,000 had died by this pointNation deeply polarized: Hawks vs. DovesWar takes turn for the worse due to N. Vietnam’s successful Tet Offensive in 1969

29. War ProtestsIncreasingly angry and violent war protestsSome protestors even target returning veteransPeace Movement allies with some counterculture—”Make Love, Not War”Public opinion divided. Many believe the failure of US policy is due to its incremental nature and failure to use overwhelming forceCountry experiences inflation because of both new domestic spending and expenses of warLBJ is unpopular and demoralizedProtesters chant outside White House: “Hey, hey, LBJ—how many kids did you kill todayLBJ decides NOT to run for another term in 1968

30. Election of 1968Democrats nominate VP Hubert Humphrey to head the ticket at raucous Convention with riots outside the Conventional HallSenator Robert Kennedy had been assassinated after winning the California primaryGovernor George Wallace tapped into white resentment over civil rights and racial violence as well as those offended by the CountercultureRichard Nixon reemerges to become the Republican nomineeNixon wins election.