Chapter 30THE TURBULENT SIXTIES

America Past and PresentAmerica Past and PresentEighth EditionEighth Edition

Divine Divine Breen Breen Fredrickson Fredrickson Williams Williams Gross Gross Brand Brand

Copyright 2007, Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman

Kennedy Intensifies the Cold War

• John F. Kennedy a "Cold Warrior"John F. Kennedy a "Cold Warrior"• Kennedy advisors supported U.S. hard Kennedy advisors supported U.S. hard

line against Russialine against Russia

Flexible Response

• Arms buildupArms buildup• Conventional armed forcesConventional armed forces• The nuclear arsenalThe nuclear arsenal• Special Forces Special Forces

• U.S. strength tempted new U.S. strength tempted new administration to challenge U.S.S.R. administration to challenge U.S.S.R.

Crisis over Berlin

• 1961: Khrushchev renewed threat again 1961: Khrushchev renewed threat again to give Berlin to East Germanyto give Berlin to East Germany

• Kennedy’s responseKennedy’s response• Announce crisis on nationwide televisionAnnounce crisis on nationwide television• Call up the National GuardCall up the National Guard

• Soviets built Berlin WallSoviets built Berlin Wall

Containment in Southeast Asia

• Kennedy saw Southeast Asia as focus Kennedy saw Southeast Asia as focus of U.S.-Soviet rivalry of U.S.-Soviet rivalry • Supported Saigon’s Diem regimeSupported Saigon’s Diem regime• Sent 16,000 American military "advisors" Sent 16,000 American military "advisors"

• November, 1963: Coup against Diem November, 1963: Coup against Diem • Kennedy acceptedKennedy accepted• Coup further destabilized South VietnamCoup further destabilized South Vietnam

• U.S. involvement in Vietnam deepenedU.S. involvement in Vietnam deepened

Containing Castro:The Bay of Pigs Fiasco

• Kennedy supported “anti-Castro forces Kennedy supported “anti-Castro forces in exile”in exile”

• Bay of Pigs invasion a part of 1960 CIA Bay of Pigs invasion a part of 1960 CIA plan under Eisenhower plan under Eisenhower

• April, 17 1961: InvasionApril, 17 1961: Invasion• 1,400 Cuban exiles land without expected 1,400 Cuban exiles land without expected

U.S. military supportU.S. military support• Defeated within 48 hoursDefeated within 48 hours

• Kennedy took responsibility in defiant Kennedy took responsibility in defiant speech against “communist speech against “communist penetration”penetration”

Containing Castro:The Cuban Missile Crisis

• October, 1962: Soviet nuclear missiles October, 1962: Soviet nuclear missiles confirmed in Cubaconfirmed in Cuba

• Planned to blockade, invade CubaPlanned to blockade, invade Cuba• U.S. imposed naval blockade, world U.S. imposed naval blockade, world

appeared to be on the brink of nuclear appeared to be on the brink of nuclear warwar

• Khrushchev agreed to remove missiles Khrushchev agreed to remove missiles in exchange for public statement that in exchange for public statement that U.S. would not invade Cuba and private U.S. would not invade Cuba and private assurance that U.S. Jupiter missiles in assurance that U.S. Jupiter missiles in Turkey would be removedTurkey would be removed

Containing Castro:The Cuban Missile Crisis

• PoliticalPolitical• Kennedy’s popularity soaredKennedy’s popularity soared• Democrats gained in Congressional Democrats gained in Congressional

electionselections

• Diplomatic effectsDiplomatic effects• Moderation of the Cold WarModeration of the Cold War• Russians began naval, nuclear buildupRussians began naval, nuclear buildup

The New Frontier at Home

• Kennedy staff competent, activist Kennedy staff competent, activist • Seeks legislative and economic reform Seeks legislative and economic reform • JFK the administration's greatest assetJFK the administration's greatest asset

The Congressional Obstacle

• Congress controlled by Southern Congress controlled by Southern Democrat-Republican coalitionDemocrat-Republican coalition

• Coalition blocked far-reaching reformCoalition blocked far-reaching reform• Kennedy did not challenge CongressKennedy did not challenge Congress

Economic Advance

• Economic stimulationEconomic stimulation• Increased space and defense spending Increased space and defense spending • Informal wage and price guidelines Informal wage and price guidelines

• 1962: U.S. Steel forced to lower prices1962: U.S. Steel forced to lower prices• 1963: Tax cut spurred one of the 1963: Tax cut spurred one of the

longest sustained advances in U.S. longest sustained advances in U.S. historyhistory

• Kennedy's economic policies doubled Kennedy's economic policies doubled growth, cut unemployment growth, cut unemployment

Moving Slowly on Civil Rights

• Downplay civil rights legislation to avoid Downplay civil rights legislation to avoid alienating Southern Democrats alienating Southern Democrats

• May, 1961: Federal marshals sent to May, 1961: Federal marshals sent to protect Birmingham freedom ridersprotect Birmingham freedom riders

• 1962: Federal marshals, National 1962: Federal marshals, National Guard to University of MississippiGuard to University of Mississippi

• 1963: Deputy attorney general faced 1963: Deputy attorney general faced down George Wallace at University of down George Wallace at University of AlabamaAlabama

"I Have a Dream"

• May, 1963: Violent police suppression May, 1963: Violent police suppression of nonviolent protestors in Birminghamof nonviolent protestors in Birmingham• Kennedy intervened on side of blacksKennedy intervened on side of blacks• Congress asked for civil-rights lawsCongress asked for civil-rights laws

• August, 1963: MLK led march on August, 1963: MLK led march on WashingtonWashington

• Kennedy record disappointing to Kennedy record disappointing to supporters, ultimately effectivesupporters, ultimately effective

The Supreme Court and Reform

• Defendants’ rights in criminal casesDefendants’ rights in criminal cases• Gideon vs. Wainwright, Esobedo vs. Gideon vs. Wainwright, Esobedo vs.

Iliionois, Miranda vs. ArizonaIliionois, Miranda vs. Arizona

• Legislative reapportionment of statesLegislative reapportionment of states• 1962: 1962: Baker vs. CarrBaker vs. Carr establishes "one establishes "one

man, one vote" man, one vote"

• Greater social justice achievedGreater social justice achieved• Rights of the underprivileged protectedRights of the underprivileged protected• Dissent and free expression protectedDissent and free expression protected

• Engle vs. VitaleEngle vs. Vitale banned school prayer banned school prayer

"Let Us Continue"

• November 22, 1963: JFK assassinated November 22, 1963: JFK assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald by Lee Harvey Oswald

• Lyndon Johnson promised to continue Lyndon Johnson promised to continue Kennedy's programsKennedy's programs

• Johnson ultimately exceeded Johnson ultimately exceeded Kennedy’s record on economic, racial Kennedy’s record on economic, racial equalityequality

Johnson in Action• Poor image on television Poor image on television • Effective manager of CongressEffective manager of Congress• Spring, 1964: Kennedy's tax cut passedSpring, 1964: Kennedy's tax cut passed• July 2: Civil Rights Act July 2: Civil Rights Act

• Banned public segregationBanned public segregation• Established Equal Employment Established Equal Employment

Opportunity Commission to lessen job Opportunity Commission to lessen job discriminationdiscrimination

• Protected voting rightsProtected voting rights• Amended to include women in an attempt Amended to include women in an attempt

to reduce support for itto reduce support for it

The Election of 1964

• 1964: Johnson launched “war on 1964: Johnson launched “war on poverty” topoverty” to• Programs included Head Start, Job Corps, Programs included Head Start, Job Corps,

Community Action ProgramsCommunity Action Programs• Encouraged self-help Encouraged self-help • Reduced poverty Reduced poverty

• Johnson won landslide election against Johnson won landslide election against Republican Barry GoldwaterRepublican Barry Goldwater

The Triumph of Reform

• 1965: Great Society legislation 1965: Great Society legislation advanced beyond New Dealadvanced beyond New Deal

• Medicare Medicare • Medicaid Medicaid • Elementary and Secondary Education Elementary and Secondary Education

ActAct• Voting Rights ActVoting Rights Act

African American Voter Registration Before and After Passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1964

The Second Great Migration:A Theoretical Example

Johnson Escalates the Vietnam War

• Hawkish foreign policy continuedHawkish foreign policy continued• 1965: Troops sent to Dominican 1965: Troops sent to Dominican

RepublicRepublic• Determined not to "lose" Vietnam to the Determined not to "lose" Vietnam to the

CommunistsCommunists

The Vietnam Dilemma

• 1964: Saigon on the verge of collapse1964: Saigon on the verge of collapse• Johnson’s initial responseJohnson’s initial response

• Refused to send American combat forcesRefused to send American combat forces• Economic aidEconomic aid• Military advisersMilitary advisers• Covert actionsCovert actions

• August 1964: Gulf of Tonkin Resolution August 1964: Gulf of Tonkin Resolution gives Johnson authority to escalate in gives Johnson authority to escalate in VietnamVietnam

Southeast Asia and the Vietnam War

Escalation

• U.S. effort intended to bring Hanoi into U.S. effort intended to bring Hanoi into peace negotiationspeace negotiations

• Policy of secrecy and deceit to assure Policy of secrecy and deceit to assure Americans of Vietnam’s insignificance Americans of Vietnam’s insignificance and keep Vietnam from endangering and keep Vietnam from endangering the Great Societythe Great Society

• Johnson’s “sins” in Vietnam were Johnson’s “sins” in Vietnam were secrecy, deceit, and the refusing to secrecy, deceit, and the refusing to admit he had committed U.S. to admit he had committed U.S. to dangerous conflictdangerous conflict

Stalemate

• 1968: 500,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam 1968: 500,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam • War of attrition increased American War of attrition increased American

losses, enraged South Vietnameselosses, enraged South Vietnamese• Johnson’s tactics failed to win the warJohnson’s tactics failed to win the war• Americans gradually turned against the Americans gradually turned against the

warwar

U.S. Troop Levels in Vietnam (as of Dec. 31 each year)

Years of Turmoil

• Exceptional unrest at home Exceptional unrest at home • Continued escalation of Vietnam war Continued escalation of Vietnam war

The Student Revolt

• 1964: Student protest movement 1964: Student protest movement launched at Berkeleylaunched at Berkeley

• Challenged older generation’s Challenged older generation’s materialismmaterialism

• Vietnam War targetedVietnam War targeted• Widespread cultural uprisingWidespread cultural uprising• Students for a Democratic Society Students for a Democratic Society

fullest expression of student revoltfullest expression of student revolt

Protesting the Vietnam War

• October, 1967: 100,000 protesters October, 1967: 100,000 protesters besieged the Pentagonbesieged the Pentagon

• Demonstrations suppressed by a Demonstrations suppressed by a combination of force, concessionscombination of force, concessions

The Cultural Revolution

• Rejection of older values throughRejection of older values through• Sexual expressionSexual expression• ClothingClothing• DrugsDrugs• MusicMusic

• Some extremism provoked outrageSome extremism provoked outrage• Serious challenge to hypocrisy of Serious challenge to hypocrisy of

American societyAmerican society

"Black Power"

• 1964–1967: Riots in northern cities1964–1967: Riots in northern cities• Rise of militant leadersRise of militant leaders

• Black separatism Black separatism • Armed struggleArmed struggle

• MLK led anti-poverty crusadeMLK led anti-poverty crusade• April, 1968: MLK assassinatedApril, 1968: MLK assassinated• Militancy increased African American Militancy increased African American

pridepride

Ethnic Nationalism

• Multiple groups emulated African Multiple groups emulated African American movement American movement

• 1965: C1965: Céésar Chsar Cháávez organized National vez organized National Farm Workers' Association Farm Workers' Association

• Chicanos won federal mandate for Chicanos won federal mandate for bilingual educationbilingual education

Women's Liberation

• 1963: Friedan's 1963: Friedan's The Feminine MystiqueThe Feminine Mystique• New feminist activismNew feminist activism

• 1964 Civil Rights Act used to attack 1964 Civil Rights Act used to attack inequality in employmentinequality in employment

• Pro-choice advocacy on abortion Pro-choice advocacy on abortion • Sought to toughen enforcement of rape Sought to toughen enforcement of rape

lawslaws

• 1972: Congress sent Equal Rights 1972: Congress sent Equal Rights Amendment to the statesAmendment to the states

The Return of Richard Nixon

• 1968: A year of turmoil1968: A year of turmoil• Presidential electionPresidential election• Turning point in the Vietnam War Turning point in the Vietnam War • Massive protests in the streetsMassive protests in the streets

• Richard Nixon election demonstrated Richard Nixon election demonstrated desire for national reconciliationdesire for national reconciliation

Vietnam Undermines Lyndon Johnson

• 1968: Tet Offensive led to conclusion 1968: Tet Offensive led to conclusion that Vietnam war cannot be wonthat Vietnam war cannot be won

• March: Johnson announced he will not March: Johnson announced he will not seek another term as presidentseek another term as president

The Democrats Divide

• RivalsRivals• Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy • Robert Kennedy Robert Kennedy • Party leaders favored Hubert HumphreyParty leaders favored Hubert Humphrey

• Kennedy assassinated during campaignKennedy assassinated during campaign• 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago

besieged by antiwar protestorsbesieged by antiwar protestors• Democrats wounded in public opinionDemocrats wounded in public opinion

The Republican Resurgence

• Republicans united on Richard NixonRepublicans united on Richard Nixon• George Wallace’s third party candidacy George Wallace’s third party candidacy

drew Democratic votesdrew Democratic votes• Nixon won narrow victoryNixon won narrow victory

The End of an Era

• Election of 1968 ended 30-year era of Election of 1968 ended 30-year era of liberal reform, activist foreign policyliberal reform, activist foreign policy

• Americans sought less intrusive Americans sought less intrusive governmentgovernment