Camelot and the New Camelot and the New Frontier: The Kennedy Frontier: The Kennedy

YearsYears

A presidential election that results in defeat of the A presidential election that results in defeat of the party in power usually indicates the failure of the party in power usually indicates the failure of the party in power to have dealt effectively with the party in power to have dealt effectively with the nation’s problems, rather than indicating the nation’s problems, rather than indicating the positive appeal of the winning candidate and his positive appeal of the winning candidate and his party platform. Assess the validity of this party platform. Assess the validity of this generalization with reference to TWO of the generalization with reference to TWO of the elections in which the party in power was defeated: elections in which the party in power was defeated: 1912, 1920, 1932, 1952, 1960, 1968. (80) 1912, 1920, 1932, 1952, 1960, 1968. (80)

Describe and account for changes in the American Describe and account for changes in the American presidency between 1960 and 1975, as symbolized presidency between 1960 and 1975, as symbolized by Kennedy’s “Camelot”, Johnson’s “Great Society” by Kennedy’s “Camelot”, Johnson’s “Great Society” and Nixon’s Watergate. In your answer, address and Nixon’s Watergate. In your answer, address the powers of the presidency and the role of the the powers of the presidency and the role of the media. (03B) media. (03B)

I. The 1960 Election:I. The 1960 Election:Nixon vs. KennedyNixon vs. Kennedy

(after long, brutal primary between JFK + LBJ (after long, brutal primary between JFK + LBJ (including accusations of Addison’s and (including accusations of Addison’s and

possibility of death in office))possibility of death in office))

The Issues: Foreign PolicyThe Issues: Foreign Policy

Nixon:Nixon: Contends that Contends that

"American prestige "American prestige is at an all-time is at an all-time high," thanks to high," thanks to the efforts of the the efforts of the Eisenhower Eisenhower administration. administration.

Kennedy:Kennedy: Citing a loss of Citing a loss of

prestige, declares prestige, declares that America that America needed a more needed a more activist and activist and imaginative imaginative approach to approach to international international affairs. affairs.

The Issues: EconomyThe Issues: Economy

Nixon:Nixon: Urges economic Urges economic

growth through a growth through a combination of combination of private enterprise private enterprise and individual and individual initiative. initiative.

Kennedy:Kennedy: Calls for increased Calls for increased

government government intervention to intervention to stimulate the stimulate the economy. economy.

The Issues: DefenseThe Issues: Defense

Nixon:Nixon: Asserts that the Asserts that the

U.S. has U.S. has maintained military maintained military standing with the standing with the Soviet Union, and Soviet Union, and that military that military spending should be spending should be watched carefully watched carefully for excess for excess

Kennedy:Kennedy: Argues that a Argues that a

"missile gap" "missile gap" favoring the Soviet favoring the Soviet Union makes an Union makes an increase in defense increase in defense spending spending necessary necessary

Issues: OtherIssues: Other Kennedy’s Catholicism Kennedy’s Catholicism

(servant to the Pope?)(servant to the Pope?) America’s spiritual America’s spiritual

and cultural malaise and cultural malaise (indefinite feeling of (indefinite feeling of uneasiness)uneasiness)

JFK’s image = vigor, JFK’s image = vigor, glamour, etc.glamour, etc.

Skillful in his use of Skillful in his use of media, especially TV media, especially TV (first televised debate: (first televised debate: radio vs. TV)radio vs. TV)

Election ResultsElection Results Hotly contested: very closeHotly contested: very close

• Kennedy wins by 113,000 out of 68 million castKennedy wins by 113,000 out of 68 million cast Claims of voter fraudClaims of voter fraud

• Illinois, TexasIllinois, Texas Nixon publicly claims that he will not Nixon publicly claims that he will not

contest for “good of nation”contest for “good of nation”• Has others file lawsuits, write articles, etc.Has others file lawsuits, write articles, etc.• Pattern he (+ others) will use later in Pattern he (+ others) will use later in

PresidencyPresidency Swift Boat Vets for TruthSwift Boat Vets for Truth AARP is gay-loving troop-hatersAARP is gay-loving troop-haters

Kennedy the Cold WarriorKennedy the Cold Warrior

McCarthy era vision (Dems soft on McCarthy era vision (Dems soft on communism)communism) Kennedy Kennedy üüber-Cold ber-Cold Warrior—stronger than Eisenhower Warrior—stronger than Eisenhower (missile gap)(missile gap)

Bay of Pigs and escalation in Bay of Pigs and escalation in VietnamVietnam• Would he have continued?Would he have continued?

““Let every nation Let every nation know, whether it know, whether it wishes us well or ill, wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any that we shall pay any price, bear any price, bear any burden, meet any burden, meet any hardship, support any hardship, support any friend, oppose any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure foe, in order to assure the survival and the the survival and the success of liberty.”success of liberty.”

II. Soviet-American TensionsII. Soviet-American Tensions JFK an ardent Cold Warrior, but over time JFK an ardent Cold Warrior, but over time

displayed caution/ pragmatismdisplayed caution/ pragmatism Alliance for Progress (LA Marshall Plan; “peaceful Alliance for Progress (LA Marshall Plan; “peaceful

revolution”) & Peace Corps (1961)revolution”) & Peace Corps (1961) Build pro-USA nations in Third World + Build pro-USA nations in Third World +

counterinsurgency (Green Berets) to defeat counterinsurgency (Green Berets) to defeat revolutionaries: Congo (1960+1), Brazil (1964; revolutionaries: Congo (1960+1), Brazil (1964; ITT and Joao Goulart; Nixon + ITT and Allende ITT and Joao Goulart; Nixon + ITT and Allende 1974)1974)

Few successes; aid goes through native eliteFew successes; aid goes through native elite resent attempt to impose US modelsresent attempt to impose US models

JFK test ban to halt JFK test ban to halt nuclear proliferation nuclear proliferation (1963)(1963)• JCS: test behind the JCS: test behind the

moonmoon Arms race accelerates: Arms race accelerates:

largest, fastest defense largest, fastest defense buildup in peace timebuildup in peace time• JFK increase nuclear JFK increase nuclear

weapons by 150% (1964)weapons by 150% (1964) Accepts Berlin wall Accepts Berlin wall

(1961) to avoid war: “a (1961) to avoid war: “a wall is a hell of a lot wall is a hell of a lot better than a war”better than a war”• ““I am a jelly donut!”I am a jelly donut!”

But not reallyBut not really

III. Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)III. Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961) JFK cont. Ike’s plan for exile invasionJFK cont. Ike’s plan for exile invasion Invasion quickly falters (no air support)Invasion quickly falters (no air support) Key: Cubans Key: Cubans notnot support exiles support exiles

• Compare Iraq Compare Iraq In response, Castro moves closer to In response, Castro moves closer to

USSRUSSR JFK vow topple Castro JFK vow topple Castro• US seen as weak, anti-LAUS seen as weak, anti-LA

CIA’s Op Mongoose (sabotage, CIA’s Op Mongoose (sabotage, assassination)assassination)

JCS plan for invasionJCS plan for invasion

IV. Cuban Missile Crisis (Oct. 1962)IV. Cuban Missile Crisis (Oct. 1962) Castro: Soviet help deter USCastro: Soviet help deter US Khrushchev: missiles will deter invasion, Khrushchev: missiles will deter invasion,

improve USSR position in arms race improve USSR position in arms race (missile gap), improve USSR position LA(missile gap), improve USSR position LA

When U-2 reveal missiles, JFK rejects When U-2 reveal missiles, JFK rejects quiet diplomacyquiet diplomacy demands removal of demands removal of missilesmissiles

Some suggest air strike; JCS want full Some suggest air strike; JCS want full invasioninvasion

JFK: naval quarantineJFK: naval quarantine

Announce it on TV; put military on high Announce it on TV; put military on high alertalert

After days of brinkmanship, a compromiseAfter days of brinkmanship, a compromise Secret deal: USSR remove Cuban missiles; Secret deal: USSR remove Cuban missiles;

USA pledge USA pledge nono invasion & remove Turkey invasion & remove Turkey missilesmissiles• Still debate on JFK’s actions during crisis: Still debate on JFK’s actions during crisis:

McNamara; JFK caused crisis; impact VietnamMcNamara; JFK caused crisis; impact Vietnam After crisis, Test Ban Treaty (1963); hot After crisis, Test Ban Treaty (1963); hot

lineline Tensions in Europe cool, but Cold War Tensions in Europe cool, but Cold War

continue in arms race & Third World continue in arms race & Third World (Vietnam)(Vietnam)• New book: CubaNew book: Cuba JFK et.al. create theory of JFK et.al. create theory of

uberCommunistsuberCommunists Papa Doc in Haiti, Trujillo in Papa Doc in Haiti, Trujillo in Dominican RepublicDominican Republic

V. Domestic PoliciesV. Domestic Policies New Frontier: Reps & conservative Dems stall it in New Frontier: Reps & conservative Dems stall it in

Congress (lack of mandate)Congress (lack of mandate) JFK put less effort into domestic issues: pushed to JFK put less effort into domestic issues: pushed to

Civil Rights by RFKCivil Rights by RFK BUT: extension Social Security, water pollution, BUT: extension Social Security, water pollution,

expansion + increase min. wage, free trade, expansion + increase min. wage, free trade, reform welfare (decrease dependence), Area reform welfare (decrease dependence), Area Redevelopment, tax cuts (Keynesian Redevelopment, tax cuts (Keynesian demanddemand--side)side)

Despite few legislative successes, JFK able to Despite few legislative successes, JFK able to inspire idealism (Peace Corps, moon mission)inspire idealism (Peace Corps, moon mission)

AssassinationAssassination Johnson, CRM, Great Society Johnson, CRM, Great Society (achievement Kennedy goals +)(achievement Kennedy goals +)