Presidential Agendas: JFK, LBJ, Nixon, Carter

JFK: 35th President (1961-1963)

Presidential Agenda: New Frontier

  • Sought to cut taxes for consumers and businesses.
  • Increased social security benefits from 33 to 40 dollars.
  • Raised the minimum wage from 1 to 1.25 dollars.
  • Established the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961.
  • Funded the Alliance for Progress to improve health and education in Latin America.

Cold War Policy

  • Aimed to stop the spread of communism.
  • Recognized the threat posed by Cuba's proximity to Florida.
  • The Bay of Pigs invasion on April 17, 1961, was a humiliation for the U.S.

Space Race

  • Competition between the USA and USSR.
  • The Soviets launched Sputnik.
  • John Glenn orbited Earth three times aboard Friendship 7.

Assassination

  • Won in a landslide against Goldwater (labeled as an extremist).
  • Americans wanted JFK’s legacy continued.
  • Daisy Ad was significant in the election.

LBJ: 36th President (1963-1969)

Presidential Agenda: Great Society

  • Sought to continue JFK's legacy.

Great Society Initiatives

  • Economic Opportunity Act: Provided job opportunities for youth, loans to businesses, and anti-poverty measures.
  • Water Quality Act of 1967: Ensured clean water.
  • Aimed to reduce suffering.
  • Increased the role of the Federal government.
  • Prioritized the Vietnam War over domestic policies, contributing to his downfall.

Richard Nixon: 37th President (1969-1974)

Presidential Agenda: New Federalism

  • Served as VP under Eisenhower.
  • Lost the 1960 election.
  • Defeated Humphrey in the 1968 election, with George Wallace as a spoiler.

Domestic and Environmental Policies

  • Established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  • Enacted the Clean Air and Water Act.
  • Implemented New Federalism: aimed to reduce the size of government and give money to cities and states.

Foreign Policies

  • May 22, 1972: USA and USSR signed SALT I, limiting long-range missiles each country could possess.
  • Détente: Improved relations with the USSR and China.
  • First US President to visit China on Feb 22, 1972.
  • Vietnamization Policy (1969-1975): Gradually withdrew US troops and trained Vietnamese forces to fight.

Jimmy Carter: 39th President (1977-1981)

Presidential Agenda

  • Carter v. Ford: Carter won (290-240 electoral votes).
  • Entered the Presidency with an 8% unemployment rate, 6% inflation rate, and 9% interest rate.
  • Americans shifted blame from Ford to Carter for the economy.

Challenges

  • Oil shortage led to increased oil prices.
  • Yom Kippur War (Between Egypt and Israel).
  • Iranian Hostage Crisis.

Policies

  • Launched the National Energy Program (April 1977): Focused on oil conservation and alternative energy sources.
  • Addressed the oil shortage, which led to high price increases and inflation.
  • Americans blamed Carter for the economic situation.

Foreign Policy Achievements

  • Camp David Accords: Egypt recognized Israel as a country, and Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt.
  • SALT II treaty: Aimed to ease tensions between the US and USSR.

Argo Movie Info

  • Yaftali Said: 1950 Prime minister of Iran
  • Mosadegh Shahs: Monarchs
  • US put Shah Pahlabi in charge
  • Shah went to US for Cancer treatment, Iran was overtaken by Ayatollah.
  • Studio 6 is the studio that filmed Argo.