1960s America History

06/01/2026 - The Turbulent Decade

  • Election of 1960- John F. Kennedy (Democrat) senator from mass vs. Richard Nixon (Republican)
    Eisenhower's V.P. in one of the closest elections in American history JFK wins popular vote.

  • JFK: 49.7%

  • Nixon: 49.5%

  • Came into office with a pledge of a "New Frontier", which was going to be America's path both foreign and domestic. The creation of the Peace Corps is an example of this Peace Corps- On September 22nd, 1961, Kennedy signed congressional legislation creating a permanent peace corps that would "promote world peace and friendship".

  • These young American volunteers who were part of the peace corps are the embodiment of this new, young, and eager Americans who want to participate in their nations present and future.

  • These young people would also serve in the Kennedy Cabinet.

  • JFK stacks his cabinet with young advisors, nicknamed "Whiz Kids"

  • Kennedy believed in a fresh perspective, wanted Ivy League educated individuals. "You can't beat brains" claimed Kennedy.

  • His brother Robert would be named Attorney General of the United States.

06/01/2026 - The Bay of Pigs

  • January ist 1959 Fidel Castro overthrows dictator Batista.

  • Initial American feelings on Castro are lukewarm, however Castro officially aligns himself with communism and the Soviet Union and this greatly alarms the United States due to the fact that Cuba is only 90 miles south of Florida.

  • April 17th 1961- A previously named CIA backed plan to send CIA trained Cuban rebels to overthrow
    Castro begins.

  • JFK initially pledges American support but then at the last minute withdraws American naval and

  • Aircraft support.

  • These 13 days would be the closest that the world would ever come to an all out Nuclear World

  • October 14th- Several nuclear missile launch pads are discovered by American U-2 spy planes, near town of San Cristobal Cuba.

  • This is very alarming given the fact that Cuba is only 90 miles south of Florida.

  • Gives the Soviet Union "Ist Strike" capabilities.

06/01/2026 - The Missiles of October

- October 22nd- JFK orders naval blockade of cuba.

  1. Soldiers on Cuba arm missiles.

  2. U.S. readies B-52 bombers with Nukes.

  3. Soviet ships steam toward the blockade.

  • JFK addresses nations about blockade and serious threat of full scale Nuclear War.

  • U.S. readies plan for invasion of Cuba.

  • U-z spy planes continue flying over Cuba, more launch pads are discovered.

  • October 24th- Soviet ships stop short of blockade line, "The other fellow just blinked. \

  • October 27th- 12 noon- U-2 spy plane shot down by SAM (Surface to air missile site)

  • Pilot Rudolf Anderson is killed.

  • 3:40pm- 2nd U-2 Plane is shot at, able to return and land safely in Florida.

  • JFK promises no retaliatory action but firing on another plane will result in an American response.

  • Khrushchev (Soviet Premier) sends coded messages to JFK promising that the attack was not ordered by him, and he desires to end the standoff.

06/01/2026 - The Missiles of October

  • October 28th- Khrushchev agrees to dismantle weapons and bring them back to the Soviet Union.

  • JFK promises to not invade Cuba.

  • JFK secretly promises to Khrushchev that the U.S. will dismantle several missiles sites in Turkey.

  • Long Term Results:

  1. Never again is the world going to come that close again to WWIII.

  2. All nukes had "fail safes" installed allowing them only to be armed by high-ranking officials rather than individual soldiers.

  3. Limited nuclear test ban treaty is signed. 1963- ended testing of nuclear weapons in atmosphere and

  4. A "Hot Line" was established so both leaders could speak directly to each other during a time of crisis.

06/04/2026 - Tragedy in Dallas

  • November 22nd 1963: President Kennedy is assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald.
    He is shot while riding in the car with his wife and Governor Connally of Texas.
    He is shot in Dealey Plaza.
    It completely shocks the nation and becomes a "remember when" moment.
    Lyndon Johnson is sworn in as president on air force one in front of President Kennedy's now widow Jaclyn Kennedy.
    It was one of the first historic events where Americans participated through their televisions, millions watched in what would become a national funeral.

  • Many Americans believed that

  • Oswald would also kill Dallas Police Officer JD Tippit that same day.

  • 2 Days later Lee Harvey Oswald is shot and killed on National T.V. by Jack Ruby.

  • Almost immediately conspiracies broke out on whether the assassination was some type of elaborate plot.

In addition there was footage of the assassination taken by a man named Abraham Zapruder (Zapruder Film), rather than clearing up on controversy people see what they want to see.

06/08/2026 - Lyndon B. Johnson

  • Vice President Johnson being sworn in aboard air force one with the fallen president Kennedy in the Cargo hold.
    LBJ (as he comes to be known) is going to turn a national tragedy into his own political opportunity
    He will easily win the election of 1964 as the man who will carry on the legacy of JFK.
    However, Johnson wants his own legacy and has his own vision for the future of the United States.
    Lyndon Johnson would win the presidential election of 1964
    Lyndon Johnson wanted his legacy to be "The Great Society"

  • The main goals of the Great Society were ending poverty. Reducing crime, abolishing inequality and improving the environment and quality of life for all Americans.

  • It was the ambitious series of domestic programs since the days of the new deal.