GOAL 11 NEW FRONTIER/GREAT SOCIETY/CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

1. GOAL 11 NEW FRONTIER/GREAT SOCIETY/CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

2. The Election of 1960

3. First televised presidential debates • Era of televised politics began • TV used in campaigns since 1948, 1960 was the first time that a majority of Americans used TV as a voting tool • A decade of growth, early years of the Cold War and the atomic age- Americans looked to the future with excitement and anexity

4. Republican candidate Richard Nixon • Democratic candidate John F. Kennedy • Both candidates wanted to lead the nation • Candidates were very different • Kennedy a Catholic from wealth in Massachusetts • Nixon a Quaker from California, from a family that struggle financially

5. Kennedy appeared outgoing and relaxed • Nixon was formal and stiff in manner • Both parties used the TV • Spent large sums of money for television ads • Democrats spent over $6 million, the Republicans over $7.5 million • Critics of the campaigns- the “processed politician has finally arrived” Eric Sevareid

6. Main Issues

7. The two main issues were the economy and the Cold War • Candidates had different styles but little differences on the two issues • Both wanted to boost the economy and both were “Cold Warriors”- stop the threat of Communism • Kennedy stated the nation faced dangerous threats from the Soviets

8. Cuba- Castro was aligning with the Soviet Union • Kennedy- US had a “missile gap” was behind the Soviets in nuclear weapons • In reality US was not behind except in rocketry • Kennedy – the nation was complacent, time to get the US moving again • Nixon- the US was on the right track, “I’m tired of hearing our opponents downgrade the US”

9. Nixon- Democrats fiscal policy would cause inflation • Nixon felt he was the only candidate with the foreign policy experience to guide the US

10. Catholic Faith

11. Kennedy was attacked for his religion • The US had not had a Catholic president • Kennedy addressed the issue in public; “I believe in an America where the separation of Church and State is absolute”

12. TV Debates

13. The four televised debates influenced the outcome of the election • One of the closest elections in history to date • Kennedy won the popular vote by 119,000 out of 68 million votes • Electoral vote 303-219 • In some states a few thousand votes could have swung the electoral vote in the favor of Nixon

14. Kennedy Mystique

15. JFK captured the imagination and hearts of the American public like few other presidents • Kennedy’s youth and optimism connected with many citizens • Kennedy reinforced this impression with his inauguration speech • January 20, 1961- cold day- Kennedy rose to take the oath of office without a coat or hat

16. “The torch has been passed to a new generation” asked fellow citizens to take an active role in making the US a better place. • “ask not what your country can do you-ask what you can do for your country” • Kennedy, wife Jacqueline, children Caroline and John- this extended family was perfect for media coverage • Media followed them everywhere

17. JFK was a master of the media, especially television • Kennedy’s charisma inspired many on his staff

18. Kennedy Takes Office

19. Once in office Kennedy wanted to put in place a legislative agenda called the New Frontier • Wanted to: increase aid to education, provide health insurance to the elderly, create a Department of Urban Affairs • Kennedy found that transforming ideals into legislative action would be difficult • Democrats with majorities in both Houses of Congress- Kennedy struggled to push through many of his programs

20. Kennedy had trailed Nixon in many Democratic districts- had not helped many Democrats get elected- those who did win did not feel they owed Kennedy their positions • Southern Democrats- large part of Democratic majority saw the New Frontier as too expensive and with the Republicans were able to defeat many of Kennedy’s proposals • Senator Everett Dirksen, Republican minority leader from Illinois claimed Kennedy’s efforts to increase the power of the federal government would push the nation down an ominous path

21. Successes and Setbacks

22. US economic growth slowed by the end of the 1950s • 1960-61 GNP growth rate was 2% • Unemployment was at 7% • To increase economic growth and create jobs Kennedy turned to deficit spending • Persuaded Congress to spend more on defense and space exploration

23. Deficit spending over time caused inflation • To stop inflation, Kennedy wanted to increase business production and efficiency • Asked business not to raise prices and labor leaders to hold off on pay raises • Sec. of Labor Arthur Goldberg convinced labor leaders in the steel industry to reduce demands for wage increases

24. 1962 the steel industry raised prices • JFK threatened the steel industry, Dept. of Defense would buy cheap steel from foreign companies, had the Dept. of Justice investigate to see if the steel industry was guilty of price fixing • The steel companies backed down and cut prices

25. Even though this was a victory, it hurt Kennedy with business • To move the economy, JFK looked at supply-side economics, asked Congress for a tax cut • Critics: the tax cut would only help the rich • JFK- lower taxes, businesses expand create new jobs, tax cut would stimulate the economy and help all Americans • Congress would not cut taxes, afraid it would fuel inflation

26. Congress did support Kennedy in raising the minimum wage • Passed the Area Redevelopment Act, money for poor areas- helped clear slums and build low-income housing

27. Expanding Women’s Rights

28. No female cabinet members • Kennedy did have women in his administration, helped women make some gains • Esther Peterson, assistant Sec. of Labor and director of the Women’s Bureau of the Dept. of Labor • 1961, the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women, called for federal action to stop gender discrimination and the right of women to equally paid employment

29. JFK issued an executive order ending gender discrimination in federal civil service employment • 1963 signed the Equal Pay Act for women • The Commission influenced state governments to have similar groups and women began to work together to further their interests

30. New View of the Disabled

31. 1961, JFK- President’s Panel on Mental Retardation • First report 112 recommendations, called for funding of research into developmental disabilities and educational and vocational programs for people with developmental disabilities • More residential rather than institutional treatment

32. Grants to provide prenatal services to women in low income groups to promote healthy pregnancies • Congress passed the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act, 1963 • Grant money for the construction of research centers, training for educational personnel, grants for states to construct mental health centers

33. 1962- Eunice Kennedy Shriver, JFK’s sister started a day camp at her home for children with mental disabilities • Camp Shriver- offered a chance for those with disabilities an opportunity to be physically competitive • This grew into the Special Olympics- first Special Olympics in Chicago in 1968

34. The Warren Court

35. In the 1960s the US Supreme Court became socially active • 1953 President Eisenhower nominated Earl Warren as Chief Justice • The Warren Court engaged in judicial activism • The Court shaped national policy by taking a strong stand on a number of issues

36. “One Man, One Vote”

37. One Court decision decided who would hold political power in the US • Reapportionment, 1960s more Americans lived in the suburbs and cities than rural areas • Many states had not changed their electoral districts to reflect the change • Tennessee, rural county, 2,340 voters had one representative in the state legislature

38. An urban county with 133 times more voters had only 7 representatives, the vote of the city resident counted for less than the vote of the rural resident • Issue went to court • Baker vs. Carr- Supreme Court got the case after a lower court stated the issue should be resolved with lawmaking

39. 14th Amendment gave Congress the power to enforce voting rights • 1962 Supreme Court ruled federal courts did not have jurisdiction, sent the case back to lower courts • 1964, Reynolds vs. Sims, the Supreme Court ruled the current apportionment system in most states was unconstitutional • The decision helped promote one man one vote

40. Warren Court required states to reapportion districts so that all voters would have equal weight • This shifted political power from rural often conservative areas to urban areas where citizens tended to be more liberal • Also boosted political power of African Americans and Hispanics who lived in cities

41. Extending Due Process

42. 1960s the Court used the 14th Amendment to require states to comply with the Bill of Rights • Due process, the law may not treat individuals unfairly, arbitrarily, or unreasonably, courts must follow proper procedures and rules when trying cases • 1961- Mapp vs. Ohio, state courts could not consider evidence obtained in violation of the 4th Amendment

43. 1963, Gideon vs. Wainwright, the Court ruled a defendant in a state court had a right to a lawyer, whether they could afford one or not • 1964, Escobedo vs. Illinois, Court ruled a suspect must have access to a lawyer and must be informed of the right to remain silent before questioning by the police • 1966, Miranda vs. Arizona, took Escobedo one step further, required authorities to immediately give suspects a warning, inform suspects they have a right to remain silent, anything they say may be used against them in court, they have a right to a lawyer, if they can not afford one, the court will appoint one for them

44. Miranda Rights- citizens, police and some Supreme Court members accused Warren of favoring criminals • Others saw the actions as promoting the rights of all citizens even the less privileged

45. Prayer and Privacy

46. 1962, Engle vs. Viatle, the Court ruled states could not impose official prayer on students in public schools, violation of Church and State, Establishment Clause • 1963, Abington School District vs. Schempp, the Court ruled against required Bible readings in public schools • 1965, Griswold vs. Connecticut, state law prohibited the sale and use of birth control devices violated a citizen’s right to constitutional privacy • The Warren Court decisions were controversial, some people supported the Court’s actions, other people were upset by the actions • The Supreme Court played a role in shaping National policy

47. Johnson Takes Office

48. America when Johnson took office appeared to be booming • Another side to America was one of hunger, inadequate housing and poor • 1962 Michael Harrington, The Other Side, truly poor numbered almost 50 million- city slums, Deep South, and Native American reservations • Harrington’s book influenced Johnson

49. Johnson decided to make the elimination of poverty a priority • Mange the economy so that prosperity could be permanent and the government could afford to fund new anti-poverty programs • Lyndon Baines Johnson decided to continue Kennedy’s plans • Johnson took the oath of office 2:38 P.M. on November 22, 1963 on Air Force One

50. Johnson had to show he could hold the nation together • Days after JFK’s death, Johnson appeared before Congress and asked that the ideas and ideals of JFK translate into action