JFK domestic policy Flashcards
The “best and brightest”
He wanted people with energy, but also tough. LBJ was chosen as his vice-president balancing the Democrat ticket with experience and youth. Bobby Kennedy served his older brother as Attorney General. McGeorge Bundy served as US National Security Advisor to JFK and LBJ. He was involved in the Bay of Pigs and Cuban Missile crises, but is primarily known for advocating escalation in Vietnam. Robert S. McNamara - Secretary of Defense. JFK’s group of people were frequently referred to as “Camelot”.
The “New Frontier”
Slogan describing the opportunities of the future.
JFK and the economy
JFK endorsed deficit spending to get the economy to recover out of the 1960 recession.
Introduced a Housing Act that created 420,000 jobs construction jobs. The minimum wage was increased increasing American’s worker’s wages by $175 million. $200 million extra was spent on welfare benefits than before applying to 750,000 children, while $780 million in increased unemployment benefits aided 3 million Americans. Kennedy cut individual and corporate tax in order to stimulate investment. Between 1961 and 1963, Kennedy added $23 billion to the national debt, however this was only an 8% increase.
Worker’s Rights under JFK
- 1962 Executive order provided federal employees bargaining right
- 1962 contract work hours and safety standards act, established standards for working hours and safety.
- Fair Labour Standards Act, protecting 2 million salaries.
Welfare
- Social security benefits increased 20%.
- Free school lunches under a School Lunch Act.
- Food stamp program launched feeding 250,000.
- Increased funding for disabled care.
Healthcare
- Medicare (for the elderly) was introduced along with funding for nursing homes.
- Millions of children were vaccinated with the social security Act of 1963.
Education
- Vocational education act of 1963.
- Educational Television facilities act of 1962.
Housing
$3.2 billion spent, with 100,000 new homes constructed while urban open spaces and public transit systems were supported.
Environment
1963 Clean Air Act, and expanded the national park system. He also increased funding of the prevention of water pollution.
Women’s rights
- established the Presidential Commission on the status of women in December 1961.
It recommended paid maternity leave and affordable childcare provision. - Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act on June 1963 allowing 171,000 women to reclaim pay.
The Space Race
Kennedy dedicated an additional $9 billion to NASA with the aim of a man on the moon by the end of the sixties.
Style over substance?
Promised much but achieved little. Kennedy adopted a liberal and interventionist stance while cutting taxes to stimulate the economy. It could be viewed the JFK didn’t have that huge domestic success, but his Presidency was cut short by his assassination on the 22nd November 1963. Many of his proposed bills were forced through by LBJ who utilised the public sentiment following his death.
Previous recessions
JFK benefitted from the recessions of ‘58 and ‘60, as they damaged the Republican’s reputation for economical competence. However, JFK did inherit a 7% unemployment rate. To counter this he cut tax rates, which led to economic growth by 1963. Many of his policies encouraged grater output/employment instead of huge spending like his Housing Act, but his policies did see an increase in the budget deficit.
Betty Friedan
1962 publication of The Feminine Mystique. There was an increasing wish for abortion rights and equality in the workplace.
Youth
Gangs began to develop in cities such as LA, Harlem. Youth rebellion began to increase as the youth population increased following the baby boom, and groups influenced fashion like the greasers.
