JFK domestic policy
Background:
1960 election victory:
● Eisenhower errors
- Did not promote Nixon’s candidacy. Instead was furiously defending own presidential record against
Nixon’s attacks.
- Agreed huge spending cuts with congress to ensure a federal surplus in 1960 even though Nixon warned
it could cause a recession and damage his campaign
- Left nixon looking weak when he refused to refute jfk’s inaccurate accusation of the missile gap, left
Nixon looking weak on defence
- Nixon made his presidential record central to his campaign, but when a reported asked Eisenhower for
an example of a major idea of Nixon’s that he had adopted, Eisenhower said ‘if you give me a week i
might think of one’
● Nixon errors
- Did not let Eisenhower campaign for him until october 1960
- Rejected eisenhower’s advice that he avoid giving kennedy free advertising through agreeing to debate-
Nixon is sweaty, tired, ill. Bad performance. Failed to appear ‘presidential’
- Foolishly campaigned in all 50 states (resulting exhaustion left him looking unattractive on televised
debates)
- Bad running mate- henry cabot lodge. Lost southern white votes by promising the appointment of a black
cabinet member
- Did not act over MLK’s arrest after an Atlanta sit in 1960. Alternatively, kennedy helped secure MLK’s
release.
➢ Nixon- strong civil rights record.
➢ 3 weeks before election- MLK arrested
➢ Nixon calls White House behind the scenes to release MLK.
➢ Kennedy calls Coretta King to offer his support.
➢ JFK father calls judge to secure release of MLK.
➢ Nixon’s support from black voters fell off.
➢ Eisenhower refused to intervene when asked by Nixon.
● JFK successes
- Unlike Nixon, he was an exceptionally personable candidate.
- Youth and charisma was a change after the grandfatherly Eisenhower.
- Looks and family brought unprecedented glamour to White House
- Wealthy- could relate to other elites. Also helped with his image & helped him pay for advertising TV
Commercials.
- Appeared presidential and confident in first TV debate.
- Offered new frontier vision
- Vice president LBJ created a balanced ticket. Vast experience in congress and won votes in the south.
- Modern campaign- jingle . Campaign manager- brother Bobby. Campaign funded by his Dad. Frank
Sinatra ‘HIgh Hopes’ campaign song.
- Emphasised that not everyone participated in the American dream. overcame issue of not being able to
relate to Public because of his wealth. 7% unemployment at the time.
- Turned Youth into an advantage- encapsulated it in his campaign theme ‘lets get the country moving
again’. Dynamic contrast to Eisenhower and stagnation. Critical of Eisenhower’s downfalls to make
himself look better
- However-
1. Addison's disease- life threatening hormonal imbalance. Colitis, chronic Prostatitis. Needed large
quantities of medicine, impacted his personality and performance. Not fit to run?
2. Undistinguished career in congress vs NIxon’s vast experience as vice president. Not
experienced as a politician.
3. Irish American- would be the first.
4. Catholic- fears that orders would be taken from the Pope and traditional values may interfere.
Anti Catholicism remained strong (influx of Catholics immigrants in 19th century generated great
anti catholic prejudice in the US)
- Hubert Humphrey tried to use anti-catholic promotion against JFK.
- JFK Live television debate with protestant ministers to deal with anti-catholic fears.
- Assured voters that his first loyalty was the country, not the rome.
Background:
1960 election victory:
● Eisenhower errors
- Did not promote Nixon’s candidacy. Instead was furiously defending own presidential record against
Nixon’s attacks.
- Agreed huge spending cuts with congress to ensure a federal surplus in 1960 even though Nixon warned
it could cause a recession and damage his campaign
- Left nixon looking weak when he refused to refute jfk’s inaccurate accusation of the missile gap, left
Nixon looking weak on defence
- Nixon made his presidential record central to his campaign, but when a reported asked Eisenhower for
an example of a major idea of Nixon’s that he had adopted, Eisenhower said ‘if you give me a week i
might think of one’
● Nixon errors
- Did not let Eisenhower campaign for him until october 1960
- Rejected eisenhower’s advice that he avoid giving kennedy free advertising through agreeing to debate-
Nixon is sweaty, tired, ill. Bad performance. Failed to appear ‘presidential’
- Foolishly campaigned in all 50 states (resulting exhaustion left him looking unattractive on televised
debates)
- Bad running mate- henry cabot lodge. Lost southern white votes by promising the appointment of a black
cabinet member
- Did not act over MLK’s arrest after an Atlanta sit in 1960. Alternatively, kennedy helped secure MLK’s
release.
➢ Nixon- strong civil rights record.
➢ 3 weeks before election- MLK arrested
➢ Nixon calls White House behind the scenes to release MLK.
➢ Kennedy calls Coretta King to offer his support.
➢ JFK father calls judge to secure release of MLK.
➢ Nixon’s support from black voters fell off.
➢ Eisenhower refused to intervene when asked by Nixon.
● JFK successes
- Unlike Nixon, he was an exceptionally personable candidate.
- Youth and charisma was a change after the grandfatherly Eisenhower.
- Looks and family brought unprecedented glamour to White House
- Wealthy- could relate to other elites. Also helped with his image & helped him pay for advertising TV
Commercials.
- Appeared presidential and confident in first TV debate.
- Offered new frontier vision
- Vice president LBJ created a balanced ticket. Vast experience in congress and won votes in the south.
- Modern campaign- jingle . Campaign manager- brother Bobby. Campaign funded by his Dad. Frank
Sinatra ‘HIgh Hopes’ campaign song.
- Emphasised that not everyone participated in the American dream. overcame issue of not being able to
relate to Public because of his wealth. 7% unemployment at the time.
- Turned Youth into an advantage- encapsulated it in his campaign theme ‘lets get the country moving
again’. Dynamic contrast to Eisenhower and stagnation. Critical of Eisenhower’s downfalls to make
himself look better
- However-
1. Addison's disease- life threatening hormonal imbalance. Colitis, chronic Prostatitis. Needed large
quantities of medicine, impacted his personality and performance. Not fit to run?
2. Undistinguished career in congress vs NIxon’s vast experience as vice president. Not
experienced as a politician.
3. Irish American- would be the first.
4. Catholic- fears that orders would be taken from the Pope and traditional values may interfere.
Anti Catholicism remained strong (influx of Catholics immigrants in 19th century generated great
anti catholic prejudice in the US)
- Hubert Humphrey tried to use anti-catholic promotion against JFK.
- JFK Live television debate with protestant ministers to deal with anti-catholic fears.
- Assured voters that his first loyalty was the country, not the rome.
