Chapter 28: The New Frontier and the Great

Society

Questions to ConsiderWhat issues and events

helped Kennedy win in 1960?

What was the Kennedy mystique?

What factors help explain the public’s fascination with the Kennedy’s?

What was the goal of the doctrine of flexible response?

Crises over CubaFrom 1956-1959 Fidel Castro

led communist guerilla movement (with aid from the Soviet Union) to overthrow Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista

Upon coming to power, seized American and British oil refineries; broke up commercial farms

Political repression and exile

Bay of Pigs Invasion

Map of Cuba used during President’s meetings with political

and military advisors

U-2 Photography of a truck convoy approaching a deployment of Soviet

Medium Range Ballistic Missiles near Los Palacios at San Cristobal

Medium Range Ballistic Missile Field Launch Site, San Critobal No.

1, 14 October 1962

CIA Briefing board for JFK showing range of Soviet Medium Range Ballistic

Missiles

CIA reference photograph of Soviet Medium Range Ballistic Missile (SS-4) in Red Square

What led Kruschev to erect the Berlin Wall (1961)?

Piece of Berlin Wall

Checkpoint Charlie

Path of Berlin Wall

Questions for Discussion

Why did Kennedy have difficulty achieving many of his New Frontier goals?

Why did Kennedy want to invest in foreign aid?

What effect did the space program have on other areas of American life?

In what directions did President Kennedy seem to be taking his administration in 1963?

Peace Corps Assignment

Task: Write a job description to recruit people to join the Peace Corps

Purpose: To explore the purpose of the Peace Corps and the dedication of its volunteers

Directions: Use library resources and/or the Internet to research the work that Peace Corps volunteers do. Write an ad for a specific job in a specific country, giving a description of the work involved and listing qualifications needed by applicants. Ad should include photos or drawings of volunteers doing similar work.

Kennedy AssassinationNovember 22, 1963: Kennedy

visiting Texas; meeting with governor to try and mend relations with states’ Democratic Party

Lee Harvey Oswald: • Dishonorable discharge

(marine)• Briefly lived in Soviet Union• Upon return to US, active

support of Castro

November 24, 1963: while being transferred, Dallas nightclub owner, Jack Ruby, shot Oswald

Conspiracy Theories??Warren Commission

• Created November 29, 1963• Objective report of the facts of the

Kennedy assassination• Conclusion: Lee Harvey Oswald

acted alone• Findings have proven to be

controversial

Conspiracy theories:• More than one gunman• CIA conspiracy• Secret Service conspiracy• Organized crime• Lyndon Johnson• Cuban Exiles• Soviets