The End of Camelot and the Great Society
The Assassination of JFK - 11/22/1963
- JFK & LBJ in Dallas Texas campaigning for reelection.
- JFK is shot in the head while he rode in the back of the open air limo
- Marxist supporter Lee Harvey Oswald is accused of being the lone assassin
- Conspiracies abound
Oswald’s Murder
- Oswald is murdered by Jack Ruby within 48 hours of JFK’s death
- Oswald was being transferred and was in policy custody at the time of his death
- Conspiracy theories emerge
The Warren Commission
- It was thought Oswald was murdered to protect others involved in the assassination of JFK
- The Warren Commission set up to investigate the assassination & they concluded Oswald was the lone killer
- Conspiracy theories persist to this day
- Only limited files have been released pertaining to the assassination of JFK
LBJ’s swearing in ceremony on board Air Force One
- LBJ was sworn in as President moments after JFK’s assassination.
- At the time of this image, JFK’s body was already loaded into the cargo hold of the plane.
- Jackie Kennedy is still in her pink suit covered in blood as a witness to LBJ’s Oath of Office
The Great Society: A War on Poverty
- The Great Society was LBJ’s platform - Goal: The lift Americans out of poverty
- In 1964 19% of the US population lived in poverty
- 23% of people 18 and under
- 28% of people 65+
- Appalachia was considered the poorest region of the country
- 1964 Poverty line for a family of 4 was $3,128/yr
| Health and Welfare | Education | The War on Poverty | Consumer and Environmental Protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare(1965): established a comprehensive health insurance program for all elderly people; financed through Social Security | The elementary and secondary education act(1965): targeted aid to students and funded related activities such as adult education and education counseling | The office of Economic Opportunity (1964): oversaw many programs to improve life in inner cities, including the Job corps, and education and training program for at risk youth | The Water Quality Act and Clean Air Act: supported the standards and goals for water and air quality |
| Medicaid(1965): funded by federal and state governments provided health and medical assistance to low income families | Higher Education Act: supported college tuition scholarships, student loans, and work study programs for low and middle income students | Housing and Urban Development Act: Established new housing subsidy programs and made federal loans and public housing grants easier to obtain | The Highway Safety Act: supported highway safety by improving federal, state, and local coordination and by creating standards for emergency medical technicians |
| Child Nutrition Act: established a school breakfast program and expanded the school lunch program and milk program to improve children’s poor nutrition. | Project Head Start: Funded a preschool program for the disadvantaged | Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act: Helped revitalize urban areas through a variety of social and economic programs | The fair packaging and labeling Act: required all consumer products to have true and informative labels |
Results of the Great Society
- The number of poor did increase
- The deficit increased
- Created a Republican backlash that led to more conservative leaders & ideas
- LBJ would do a lot for civil rights, but some said it wasn’t enough (next lesson)
- Wasn’t as effective due to Vietnam