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JFK Delivers "New Frontier" Speech
New Frontier Speech Video -Acceptance speech to the Democratic National Convention
-Showed that JFK firmly belived in civil rights, women's rights, and welfare payments for the needy
-Used the phrase "New Frontier" to encourage America to support him in this new path he wanted to pave for the people -
JFK Speaks at Houston Ministers' Conference
Houston Ministers' Conference Video -JFK spoke about his Catholic religion how it would interact with his presidential duties
-He explained that he would support freedom of religion, just as it says in the Constitution
-The audience, Protestant clergy, were concerned as to whether Kennedy could make important decisions without using Papal influence -
JFK Debates Richard Nixon on Television
First Kennedy-Nixon Debate Video --First televised debate between presidential candidates
-Radio listeners believed Nixon won because his points were stronger and he seemed to have more knowledge and experience
-Television viewers believed Kennedy won solely because he looked good on television -
Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis Video -The Communist leader of Cuba welcomed the Soviet Union into his country
-The Soviet Union brought nuclear weapons into Cuba. Kennedy would not stand for this and planned to remove the Soviet missile sites in Cuba.
-The United States, armed with missiles of their own, headed towards Cuba. The Soviet Union stopped their ships and promised to remove their missiles if the U.S. would not invade Cuba. -
JFK Wins Election in 1960
Kennedy Election Video -Democrat John F. Kennedy defeats Republican Richard M. Nixon
-Kennedy won by fewerd than 119,000 votes
-Youngest man elected President
-First and only Catholic President -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
Bay of Pigs Invasion Video -The Eisenhower administration ordered the CIA to train Cuban exiles in support of them rebelling and overthrowing Fidel Castro
-Kennedy agreed with the terms of this operation just a few days after he was elected
-The invasion went from April 17-April 19th and it failed miserably; embarrassment to Kennedy -
Freedom Riders Attacked in Alabama
Freedom Riders Video -"Freedom riders" were civil rights activists who would legally take public transportation down south and test the newly anti-segregation laws
-The KKK slashed the bus's tires and bombed them
-Hopes of burning and beating these activists to death ultimately failed because the klan members escaped after feeling threatened by their own destruction. -
Berlin Wall is Constructed
Berlin Wall Construction Video -An overwhelming amount of East Berliners tried to escape the communism to democratic West Berlin
-The Soviet Union tried to prevent the U.S. from accessing West Berlin but the U.S. refused to give up their pathways
-A concrete wall was constructed to separate West from East Berlin and guards were placed outside to prevent further migration -
Kennedy Addresses the Nation about Civil Rights
Civil Rights Address Video -First time a President called on Americans to participate in civil rights in order to achieve equality amongst Americans
-Kennedy strongly supported the equality of blacks to whites
-Many legislations were passed such as desegregated schools and welfare to help out the blacks in their quest to achieve civil rights -
JFK Assassinated in Dallas, Texas
JFK Assassination Conspiracies Video -Kennedy started losing popular vote because of his activities in the civil rights movement
-JFK was shot while he was riding through the town of Dallas in an open-air car. Communist supporter, Lee Harvey Oswald was charged with the murder, although there are still many conspiracies to his death and many questions are still left unanswered
-Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in after the assassination
