The Stormy Sixties: 1960-1968 Notes
Kennedy’s “New Frontier” Spirit
John F. Kennedy's inaugural address (January 20, 1961) exuded glamour and vitality, marking a new era of American politics.
Kennedy, the youngest president elected, assembled a young and dynamic cabinet, including his brother Robert F. Kennedy as attorney general.
Robert Kennedy aimed to reform the FBI, which was heavily focused on internal security matters rather than addressing organized crime and civil rights issues.
J. Edgar Hoover, the long-serving director of the FBI, resisted these proposed changes, leading to tensions within the administration.
Robert S. McNamara, a former Ford Motor Company executive, became the Secretary of Defense, bringing a new approach to military strategy and management.
Kennedy's New Frontier inspired high expectations and a sense of optimism, especially among the younger generation, promising progress and innovation.
The Peace Corps was established as a symbol of American idealism, sending volunteers to assist developing nations.
Kennedy's inaugural address included the famous and inspiring line, "Ask not what your country can do for you: ask what you can do for your country," which resonated deeply with the American public.
Kennedy and his Harvard-educated lieutenants radiated confidence and intellectual prowess.
The New Frontier at Home
Kennedy faced significant challenges in Congress due to fragile Democratic majorities and resistance from conservative factions.
Southern Democrats and Republicans often joined forces to block or impede the progress of New Frontier proposals.
Kennedy strategically expanded the House Rules Committee to gain more control over the legislative agenda and promote his program.
Key medical and education bills encountered strong opposition and stalled in Congress, hindering Kennedy's domestic policy agenda.
Kennedy aimed to revitalize the economy and address the economic downturns experienced during Eisenhower's later years.
In early 1962, his administration successfully negotiated a noninflationary wage agreement in the steel industry, with the expectation that companies would maintain stable prices.
Steel management unexpectedly announced significant price increases, leading to a highly publicized and intense clash with Kennedy, who condemned the decision as detrimental to the nation's economic stability.
Kennedy supported a general tax-cut bill designed to stimulate the economy by increasing disposable income and encouraging consumer spending.
Kennedy promoted a multibillion-dollar project with the ambitious goal of landing a man on the Moon before the end of the decade, aiming to restore America’s prestige and technological leadership in the space race after Soviet Sputnik successes.
In July 1969, NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin successfully landed on the moon, fulfilling Kennedy's vision and marking a historic achievement.
Rumblings in Europe
Kennedy engaged in a crucial meeting with Soviet premier Khrushchev in Vienna in June 1961, seeking to establish a working relationship amid Cold War tensions.
Khrushchev, however, threatened to make a separate peace treaty with East Germany, potentially cutting off Western access to Berlin and escalating the crisis.
In response to the growing refugee crisis and the increasing flow of East Germans to the West, the Soviets constructed the Berlin Wall in August 1961, physically dividing the city and preventing further population drain.
The “Wall of Shame”