The Politics of the 1960’sThe Politics of the 1960’sThe Politics of Consensus-A The Politics of Consensus-A

Continuations of Truman and Continuations of Truman and Eisenhower PoliciesEisenhower Policies

““Democracy is never a final achievement. It is a call Democracy is never a final achievement. It is a call to untiring effort, to continual sacrifice and the to untiring effort, to continual sacrifice and the willingness, if necessary to die in its defense.”willingness, if necessary to die in its defense.”

John F. Kennedy—March 19, 1963John F. Kennedy—March 19, 1963

John F Kennedy and the New Frontier- “The John F Kennedy and the New Frontier- “The Triumph of Style over Substance”Triumph of Style over Substance”

A. The Kennedy MystiqueA. The Kennedy Mystique

1. Rhetorical Style of heroism 1. Rhetorical Style of heroism and self-sacrificeand self-sacrifice

2. Election of 1960-First 2. Election of 1960-First Television CampaignTelevision Campaign

a. Barely defeated Nixona. Barely defeated Nixon

B. Height of the “American B. Height of the “American Century” ideologyCentury” ideology

Kennedy-Nixon TV DebateKennedy-Nixon TV Debate

1. Economic Programs-tax cuts for 1. Economic Programs-tax cuts for wealthywealthya. early “trickle down a. early “trickle down

theory”theory”C. Primary Interest was Foreign C. Primary Interest was Foreign

PolicyPolicy1. Cold War Warrior1. Cold War Warrior2. Rhetoric of 2. Rhetoric of

anticommunismanticommunism3. Bay of Pigs Fiasco [1961]3. Bay of Pigs Fiasco [1961]4. Cuban Missile Crisis 4. Cuban Missile Crisis

[1962][1962]

D. The Myth of “Camelot”D. The Myth of “Camelot”

E. LegacyE. Legacy1. never seemed to understand 1. never seemed to understand

the struggle of normal peoplethe struggle of normal people2. Ultimate “Imperial President”2. Ultimate “Imperial President”3. Called young people to serve 3. Called young people to serve

and encompassed civil rights and encompassed civil rights appealedappealed

D. Assassination-Dallas TexasD. Assassination-Dallas Texas1. Nov. 22, 19631. Nov. 22, 1963

Lyndon Johnson becomes the 36Lyndon Johnson becomes the 36thth President of the United States aboard President of the United States aboard

Air Force OneAir Force One

The Election of 1964The Election of 1964Race Relations Main IssueRace Relations Main Issue

Barry Goldwater ® -ArizonaBarry Goldwater ® -Arizona

                

                                 

VS

                                                 

L. B. Johnson61%

B. M. Goldwater

Lyndon Johnson and “The Great Lyndon Johnson and “The Great Society”Society”

A. Civil Rights Bill of 1964A. Civil Rights Bill of 1964

B. Voting Rights Bill of 1965B. Voting Rights Bill of 1965

1. Kennedy Legacy1. Kennedy Legacy

C. Legislation included:C. Legislation included:

1. Employer Discrimination1. Employer Discrimination

2. Affirmative Action2. Affirmative Action

3. Elimination of 3. Elimination of de jure de jure segregation segregation in the Southin the South

Signing the Civil Rights Bill July 2, 1964Signing the Civil Rights Bill July 2, 1964

D. The Psychology of the Skirmish on D. The Psychology of the Skirmish on Poverty [“War on Poverty”]Poverty [“War on Poverty”]

1. Tax cut for wealthy1. Tax cut for wealthy

2. Individual Basis2. Individual Basis

3. Defining of Poverty3. Defining of Poverty

a. family of 4 at $3000 or lessa. family of 4 at $3000 or less

b. poverty as a “real state”b. poverty as a “real state”

4. Combating Poverty 4. Combating Poverty

a. sought to cure the psychology a. sought to cure the psychology of poverty instead of economicsof poverty instead of economics

5. Subculture of Poverty5. Subculture of Poverty-elimination was through -elimination was through

educationeducation- “Headstart” and “Upward - “Headstart” and “Upward Bound”Bound”

6. End Result 6. End Result -Blamed poor people for -Blamed poor people for being poorbeing poor-failed to address the problem -failed to address the problem of misdistribution of incomeof misdistribution of income-emphasized individual -emphasized individual opportunity instead of massive opportunity instead of massive programs for employmentprograms for employment

The Consequences of Vietnam on The Consequences of Vietnam on the War on Povertythe War on Poverty

A. Turned Great Society into a “skirmish on A. Turned Great Society into a “skirmish on poverty”poverty”

* Great Society might have worked * Great Society might have worked had it not been for Vietnam?had it not been for Vietnam?