Ike, JFK, and LBJ

Eisenhower’s military background → General in World War II

Eisenhower and Civil Rights → Slow to act; believed movement was inspired by communism

Military-Industrial Complex → Term coined by Eisenhower warning of private companies influencing war decisions

JFK’s famous quote → “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

Kennedy presidency nickname → Camelot — youthful, glamorous, idealistic

Peace Corps → Program created by JFK to improve America’s image abroad

Start of Space Race → Soviets launched satellite; U.S. responded with moon landing goal

U.S. Moon Landing → Promised by JFK; achieved in 8 years

Bay of Pigs Invasion → Failed CIA-led attempt to overthrow Castro in Cuba

Cuban Missile Crisis → 13-day standoff over Soviet missiles in Cuba; avoided nuclear war

JFK and Civil Rights → Initially hesitant, called for Civil Rights bill before assassination

JFK assassination → Murdered in Dallas, Nov 22, 1963

Johnson’s early life → Grew up poor, taught impoverished children

The Great Society → LBJ’s domestic program to reduce poverty and expand rights

Key parts of Great Society → Medicare, Medicaid, HUD, NEA, EEOC

Civil Rights Act of 1964 → Outlawed discrimination in jobs, schools, hospitals, etc.

Voting Rights Act of 1965 → Banned poll taxes and literacy tests in the South

War on Poverty → LBJ’s effort with Head Start, food stamps, etc.; cut poverty rate to 13%

Hart-Celler Act → Ended quota system; immigration based on skills and family

Brinkmanship → Cold War policy of pushing close to nuclear war

MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) → Cold War doctrine of total destruction deterring war

Hydrogen Bomb → More powerful than atomic bomb

Berlin Wall (1961) → Built to stop East Berliners from fleeing to the West; lasted until 1989