Domestic Policies of the 1960s

New Frontier & Congress

• JFK’s Campaign Slogan– “There are new frontiers for America to conquer… not

frontier on a map, but frontiers of the mind, the will, & the spirit of man”

Vice President LBJ is seen as the more experienced & wiser politician while President JFK is the “kid”

Kennedy’s Policies

• New Frontier– Conservative mood– No clear mandate (authorization to act without

Congress)

• Successful Domestic Policies– Area Redevelopment Act: help economically

distressed regions– Minimum wage up to $1.25/hour

Space Race• 1961 Soviet’s launch 1st

human into space• U.S. astronaut John

Glenn followed 1 year later

• Man on the moon– “This nation should commit

itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon & returning him safely to the earth. No single space project… will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space… But in a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the moon… it will be an entire nation”

Earl Warren

• Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

– Controversial court rulings changed American society

– Considered 2nd to John Marshall as the most important chief justice

Warren Court Major Decisions

Baker v. Carr Urban voters required equal protection under 14th Amendment

Westberry v. Sanders & Reynolds v. Sims

Legislative district needed equal populations: “1 person, 1 vote”

Mapp v. Ohio Search warrants required

Warren Court continued

Gideon v. Wainwright Free lawyers if you can’t afford one

Escobedo v. Illinois Right to lawyer during questioning

Miranda v. Arizona “Right to remain silent”

Engel v. Vitale Banned formal prayer in schools

JFK Assassination

• Dallas, TX– Atmosphere different in

South because of Civil Rights

• Key Figures– JFK & Jackie– Gov. Connelly & Mrs.

• Key Places– Dealey Plaza– Texas Schoolbook

Depository Warehouse

Things to consider…

• Problems– Parade route published– Open-air convertible– Motorcade – Car arrangement

• Events– Abraham Zapruder captures on film– Lee Harvey Oswald– Ex-sniper; FBI had a file; Communist associations

JFK’s Assassination

• Gun shots– 1st shot missed– 2nd shot hit JFK in

upper back/neck > exited neck > went through seat to Connelly’s upper shoulder > exited just below chest > into right hand then thigh

• 3rd shot– Hit JFK in back of

head– All 3 shots fired in 7

seconds– Jackie begins to crawl

out of car … to collect brain matter

– Motorcycle cop rushes to push her back on top of JFK

Legacy

• Nation grieved for loss as much as for hope & potential– Funeral procession on

TV with rider-less horse

– Most memorable scene = son Jack saluting casket

– JFK became larger than life

Who did it??

• Oswald & Ruby– Oswald kills another cop when pulled over– Oswald arrested, killed by nightclub owner

Jack Ruby

• Warren Commission– Investigation by Earl Warren– Concluded that Oswald acted alone despite

“shady” characteristics

Hmm… Coincidence?

• Lincoln– Elected to Congress in

1846– Elected President in 1860– Secretary named

Kennedy– Andrew Johnson born in

1808– John Wilkes Booth born in

1839– Shot in a theater named

‘Ford’– Booth ran from the

theater & was caught in a warehouse

• Kennedy– Elected to Congress in

1946– Elected President in

1960– Secretary named Lincoln– Lyndon Johnson born in

1908– Lee Harvey Oswald born

in 1939– Shot in a car called

‘Lincoln’ (made by Ford)– Oswald ran from a

warehouse & was caught in a theater

Connections continued…

• Both men…– Have last names with 7 letters– Were concerned with civil rights– Their wives lost children while living in the White

House– Shot on a Friday – Shot in the head– Assassinated by Southerners– Succeeded by Southerners… (both named

Johnson)– Both assassins were known by 3 names & total

15 letters– Booth & Oswald were assassinated before their

trials