THE 1960'S

John F. Kennedy

Democratic 35th President of the United States (1961–1963), known for his leadership during the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the launch of major domestic initiatives like the New Frontier, known for charisma and used television as a campaign advantage

Richard Nixon

Republican Vice President under Eisenhower and later the 37th President (1969–1974); in the 1960s, he was Kennedy’s opponent in the 1960 election.

Robert McNamara

Former president of Ford Motor Co., Secretary of Defense under Kennedy and Johnson, key architect of U.S. military strategy during the Vietnam War.

Nikita Khrushchev

Ally to Castro, Soviet Premier during the early 1960s, opposed Kennedy during the Berlin Crisis and the Cuban Missile Crisis, promised to defend Cuba with soviet weapons including nuclear ones,

Sputnik

The world’s first artificial satellite, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, sparking the U.S.-Soviet space race that defined the 1960s.

Flexible Response

Kennedy’s military strategy that called for a range of options—conventional and nuclear—to respond to international crises rather than relying solely on nuclear weapons, created the US Special Forces or Green Berets.

military-industrial complex

Phrase popularized by President Eisenhower warning of the growing influence of the defense industry; became relevant in the 1960s as defense spending soared.

Fidel Castro

Communist leader of Cuba, whose alliance with the Soviet Union led to major Cold War confrontations with the U.S., Eisenhower cut diplomatic relations with him, promised democracy to Cubans in the 50’s as well as ridding of poverty, equality, and dictatorship, he seized 3 American and British oil Refineries,

Berlin Wall

Barrier built in 1961 by Communist East Germany to prevent East Berliners from fleeing to the West; a powerful symbol of Cold War division.

The Bay of Pigs

Eisenhower had trained Cuban Exiles to invade Cuba, Kennedy let it happen, failed 1961 U.S.-backed invasion of Cuba by anti-Castro exiles, which embarrassed the Kennedy administration.

Cuban Missile Crisis

1962 confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba; brought the world to the brink of nuclear war, ended by the US removing missiles from Turkey

Hot line

Direct communication link established in 1963 between Washington and Moscow to reduce the risk of accidental nuclear war.

Limited Test Ban Treaty

1963 agreement between the U.S., Soviet Union, and Britain to ban nuclear tests in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater.

New Frontier

Kennedy’s domestic and foreign policy agenda, aiming to address poverty, space exploration, and civil rights.

Alan Shepard

First American astronaut to travel in space (1961), part of NASA’s Mercury program.

Recession

Economic downturn; the U.S. experienced a brief recession at the beginning of the 1960s.

Mandate

The authority granted by voters to act as their representative; Kennedy initially lacked a strong mandate due to his narrow election win.

Peace Corps

Volunteer program established by Kennedy in 1961 to send Americans abroad to assist with development and promote goodwill in developing nations of Asia, Africa, and Latin America

Alliance for Progress

Kennedy’s initiative to provide economic aid to Latin America to counter communist influence.

NASA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U.S. space agency leading the space race against the Soviet Union.

The Other America

Influential 1962 book by Michael Harrington that exposed poverty in the U.S. and inspired Johnson’s War on Poverty.

November 22, 1963

Date of President Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, Texas.

Lee Harvey Oswald

Accused assassin of President Kennedy, was killed by night club owner Jack Ruby

Jack Ruby

Nightclub owner who killed Lee Harvey Oswald two days after Kennedy’s assassination.

Warren Commission

Presidential commission led by Chief Justice Earl Warren to investigate Kennedy’s assassination; concluded Oswald acted alone.

Lyndon B. Johnson

Became the 36th President after Kennedy’s assassination; known for the Great Society programs and escalation of the Vietnam War.

Economic Opportunity Act

1964 law creating programs like Job Corps, VISTA, and Project Head Start to fight poverty as part of Johnson’s War on Poverty.

VISTA

Volunteers in Service to America, a national service program created by the Economic Opportunity Act to fight poverty domestically.

Head Start

Early childhood education program for low-income children, started as part of Johnson’s War on Poverty.

Great Society / programs

Johnson’s set of domestic programs aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice; included Medicare, Medicaid, and education reforms.

Medicare

Federal health insurance program established in 1965 for people 65 and older.

Medicaid

Federal and state health insurance program for low-income Americans, established in 1965.

Silent Spring

1962 book by Rachel Carson that raised awareness about environmental pollution, exposed dangers of pesticide DDT, and led to the modern environmental movement.

Unsafe at Any Speed

1965 book by Ralph Nader criticizing the auto industry’s disregard for safety.

Immigration Act of 1965

Abolished the national origins quota system, opening U.S. immigration to people from all over the world.

Warren Court

Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren, known for landmark decisions expanding civil rights and liberties, banned prayer in public schools and brought about change in federal and state reapportionment, and the criminal justice system

Reapportionment

Redrawing legislative districts to ensure equal representation; major issue decided by the Warren Court.

Baker v. Carr

1962 Supreme Court case establishing the principle of “one person, one vote” in legislative districting.

Gideon v. Wainwright

1963 Supreme Court case guaranteeing the right to legal counsel for criminal defendants.

Escobedo v. Illinois

1964 Supreme Court case expanding the rights of the accused, including the right to counsel during police interrogations.

Miranda v. Arizona

1966 Supreme Court case requiring police to inform suspects of their rights (“Miranda rights”).

Counterculture

Youth movement in the 1960s rejecting mainstream values, advocating peace, love, and alternative lifestyles.

Haight-Ashbury

San Francisco neighborhood that became the center of the hippie movement and counterculture.

Timothy Leary

Psychologist and advocate for psychedelic drug use, especially LSD, as a path to personal enlightenment.

The Beatles

British rock band whose music and cultural influence shaped the 1960s.

Woodstock

1969 music festival in New York; iconic symbol of the counterculture and music of the era.

Hippie

Member of the counterculture, often associated with peace, love, communal living, and psychedelic music and drugs.

Bob Dylan

Folk musician and songwriter whose lyrics reflected social and political issues of the 1960s.

Joan Baez

Folk singer and activist closely associated with the civil rights and antiwar movements.

Jimi Hendrix

Influential rock guitarist known for his innovative style and performance at Woodstock.

The Doors

American rock band known for their psychedelic sound and provocative lyrics.

Pop Art / Andy Warhol

Art movement of the 1960s characterized by imagery from popular culture; Andy Warhol was a leading figure known for works like the Campbell’s Soup Cans.

Robert Kennedy

Appointed attorney general by John Kennedy

Neil Armstrong

First man to walk on the moon

Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965

provided federal aid to help public and parochial schools purchase textbooks and new library materials