Notes on the 1960 Election and JFK's Presidency

ELECTION OF 1960

  • Candidates:

    • John F. Kennedy (Democrat, MA)

    • Richard Nixon (Republican, CA)

  • Key Factors in Election:

    • The Debates: First-ever televised debates, impacting public perception.

    • Nixon's Failures: Lackluster performance and health issues during debates.

    • Kennedy's Successes: Youthful charisma and effective campaigning strategies.

    • Scandals affecting both candidates.

  • Outcome:

    • Kennedy wins with 303 electoral votes vs Nixon's 219.

    • Popular vote: Kennedy 34,227,000 vs Nixon 34,108,646.

EISENHOWER'S FAREWELL

  • Military-Industrial Complex: A warning about the growing influence of military contractors on policy making.

JFK'S CHALLENGES

  • Key Issues Facing JFK:

    • The Cold War: Tensions with the Soviet Union.

    • Civil Rights: Growing movement seeking equality.

    • Hostile Democrats: Resistance from within the party.

JFK'S CABINET

  • Key Appointments:

    • Secretary of State: Dean Rusk

    • Secretary of Defense: Robert McNamara

    • Attorney General: Robert Kennedy

“NEW FRONTIER” INITIATIVES

  • Goals:

    • Space Exploration: Aim for a moon landing by 1970.

    • Social Progress: Various initiatives aimed at improving education, healthcare, and poverty.

    • Peace Corps: Promoting global peace and aid.

    • Flexible Response: Addressing military engagements more provide a spectrum of responses rather than a default to nuclear options.

SPACE EXPLORATION

  • Significant Events:

    • April 12, 1961: Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space.

    • May 5, 1961: Alan Shepard becomes the first American in space.

SOCIAL PROGRESS INITIATIVES

  • Civil Rights: Addressing racial discrimination and supporting legislation for voter rights.

  • Education Aid: Funding for public education.

  • Medical Care: Advocacy for wider access to healthcare.

  • Urban Development: Creation of the Department of Urban Affairs to tackle urban social issues.

ECONOMIC CRISIS

  • Actions Taken:

    • Tax cuts to stimulate economic growth.

    • Increased government spending on public works and defense.

CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

  • Freedom Riders: Spearheaded by SNCC and CORE aimed at desegregating interstate travel.

    • Major incidents occurred in Birmingham and Rock Hill.

  • James Meredith's Enrollment at Ole Miss:

    • October 1962, faced violent opposition.

  • Birmingham Protests (May 1963):

    • MLK's strategies and confrontations with “Bull” Connor's police.

  • Kennedy's Proposals:

    • Call for a civil rights bill following the death of Medgar Evers and reflecting on Birmingham events.

MARCH ON WASHINGTON

  • August 28, 1963: Over 200,000 people gathered.

    • Highlighted by MLK's "I Have A Dream" speech.

FOREIGN POLICY

  • Flexible Response Strategy: Focus on a variety of responses to international issues, including special operations.

  • Bay of Pigs Invasion:

    • April 15-19, 1961: CIA-backed plan failed due to lack of popular support and forewarning.

  • Cuban Missile Crisis:

    • Oct 14, 1962: Discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba leading to a naval blockade and high tensions.

    • Solutions included the removal of missiles from Cuba & Turkey and establishment of a U.S.-Soviet hotline.

VIETNAM

  • U.S. Involvement:

    • Increasingly deepening commitment with advisors sent in 1961.

  • Struggles: Internal conflict within South Vietnam and challenges to policy, leading to escalating military presence.

KEY QUOTES/IDEAS

  • Kennedy: Proposes civil rights initiatives in response to civil unrest and evolving societal demands.

  • George Wallace's Stance: Firm resistance to desegregation, symbolizing the ongoing struggle against civil rights.

  • Kennedy’s Reaction to Violence: Calls for strengthened civil rights legislation in response to national tragedies affecting civil rights leaders.