John F. Kennedy - The economy Flashcards
Kennedy’s Economic issues
JFK benefitted from the 1958 & 1960 recession as it damaged the republican reputation, but inherited a slow recovery of 6% unemployment - JFK wanted to ‘get America moving again’.
However, a public dispute with Steel president, Roger Blough led to rising steel prices, with threats to place steel factories abroad after Kennedy was accused of being ‘anti-business’.
Kennedy also ignored advice about the rising costs of Medicare. Economic issues were Kennedys main area of weakness in his reelection campaign for 1964.
Kennedy’s economic policy - tax cuts
Kennedy cut income tax in 1963 to 20-91%, and cut corporation tax from 52% to 47%, - led to swift growth. Despite opposition from bipartisan republicans claiming this would lead to spending cuts, JFK said ‘a rising tide lifts all boats’ - 60% of Americans approved of tax cuts.
At the Economic Club of New York 1962, JFK said he was committed to cutting taxes as they took purchasing power away from individuals and businesses.
By 1966, the economy grew at 6.6 % and unemployment fell to 4%.JFK increased the minimum wage and continued Eisenhowers spending on infrastructure.
Feminine Mystique - women’s rights
Betty Friedan wrote the ‘Feminine Mystique’ in 1963, documenting ‘the problem that has no name’ - women can’t desire destiny in having glory in their femininity.
- They learnt truly feminine women don’t want careers, higher education, or political careers, but seek this in a husband.
A suburban housewife was healthy, beautiful and only concerned her husband and children - she was free to choose automobiles, appliance and clothes. However, these young housewives were unhappy.
‘I feel empty somehow, I feel as if I don’t exist’.
Described suburbs as ‘comfortable concentration camp’, and used happy pills, tranquillisers, and alcohol to drown their sorrows.
Statistics to support women’s rights
The proportion of women attending college in comparison to men fell from 47% ,1920 to 35%, 1958. by the mid 50s 60% dropped out of college as they feared too much education would be a marriage bar.
Employment inequality demonstrated as 80% of teachers were women, but only 10% were principles. 7% were doctors, and 3% lawyers - Women were expected to do ‘female occupations’ such as nursing and teaching, and were expected to resign after pregnancy.
Women had to have a credit card in their husbands name, and couldn’t get into highly regarded universities such as Harvard, Columbia and Yale until 1969.
SDS and the New Left
SDS was established in 1960 by Thomas Hayden and other University of Michigan students, inspired by the Beat Generation & student participation in civil rights.
In 1962, representatives of SDS, SNCC, CORE and Student Peace Union met at Port Huron, Michigan.
Called for students to:
*change the political and social system *Liberate poor, racial minorities, and those enslaved by conformity *Support a peaceful foreign policy
They called for a ‘participatory democracy’ and ‘New Left… consisting of young people’, but didn’t receive national attention until 1965 anti-Vietnam protests, where Port Huron statement said the American Dream was an illusion for some Americans during JFK years.
Women in the SDS
SNCC leader Stokely Carmichael said the best position for women in the movement was horizontal to men.
In 1964, 33% of SDS members were women, but only 6% leadership, and they faced sexual harassment in civil rights organisations such as SNCC and SDS.
Although SDS approved of pro-women rights, there was contempt for gender equality from disillusioned men.
