JFK

• John F. Kennedy won a narrow victory against Richard Nixon to become the 35th president of the United States


  1960
• John F. Kennedy

  A young and charismatic candidate
• Kennedy took office

  January 1961
• Kennedy

  One of the youngest and first Catholic presidents
• Kennedy's vision for America

  The New Frontier
• The New Frontier

  • Focused on optimism, scientific advancements, and addressing issues of poverty, inequality, and prejudice
  • especially education, poverty, health
• Despite having a majority in Congress, Kennedy faced opposition from conservative southern Democrats, resulting in limited success in implementing his reform policies
• poverty and JFK

  when JFK became president the US economy was suffering a major recession, farm income decreasing while unemployment increasing - unemployment reached peak of 7 % in 1961
• poverty and JFK

  when JFK became president the US economy was suffering a major recession, farm income decreasing while unemployment increasing - unemployment reached peak of 7 % in 1961

  • he increased the minimum wage from $1 per hour to $1.25
  • he increased social security benefits = more financial support for elderly and unemployed
  • established CEEO to make sure there was equal opportunity in government
  • made millions of dollars available to create new jobs
  • got housing act passed so that those in poor areas could get loans on house
• limits to JFK on poverty

  • his minimum wage reform only benefitted those who were in employment
  • the housing act was limited and the poorest people could not afford to repay the loans
  • the CEEO only helped people who already had a government job and not the unemployed or those in other industries
• healthcare and JFK

  • proposed medical insurance for the elderly and poor called Medicare (blocked by Congress)
  • raised money for research in mental health despitemental health not being a priority (his sister was born with an intellectual disability)
• education and JFK

  • establish Peace Corps, organisation that sent volunteers abroad to work as teachers,doctors and nurses, so successful w young people that it still exists
  • 1961- Kennedy wanted to introduce an education law that would increase federal aid to schools several groups opposed the idea, especially southern politicians who thought it would lead to more desegregation in schools
  • 1962- despite opposition, JFK sent troops to protect James Meredith the 1st first black person to enroll in Missippi University
• JFK was assasinated in november 1963 and was succeeded by LBJ his vice president