JFK, Johnson, and Nixon’s Domestic Policies
JFK - New Frontier
Kennedy's domestic policies were designed to stimulate international trade, reduce
unemployment, provide medical care for the aged, reduce federal income taxes, and
protect the civil rights of AAs.
Civil Rights
JFK aimed to make the USA a fairer society and give equal rights to AAs (African
Americans).
Successes:
- Appointed 5 federal judges, including Thurgood Marshall, the first ever AA SC justice.
- Threatened the state of Louisiana with legal action for refusing to fund schools that
weren’t segregated.
- Oct 1962 - sent 23,000 government troops to ensure that AA student James Merdith
would be able to attend university in Mississippi.
Failures:
- 1963 - Introduced Civil Rights Bill which aimed to give AAs equality in housing and
education. This bill was defeated (but later passed under LBJ).
- However, before 1963, JFK was hesitant to do much in terms of Civil Rights as he
didn’t want to alienate southern conservatives - whose votes he relied on in
Congress.
The Economy
Introduced a general tax cut in order to boost consumer spending.
Established public works projects such as new roads and public buildings. Cost $900m.
Gave grants to high tech companies to invest in equipment.
Limited prices and wages to control inflation.
Successes:
- Increased spending on defence and space technology, creating jobs. Promised a
man on the moon by the end of the decade.
- Increased the minimum wage.
Failures:
- Lots of unemployment in old industries such as steel, coal, and iron.
- The economic boom was dependent on government spending.
- Unemployment 2x as high amongst AAs.
Social Reforms
Manpower and Training Act - provided retraining for the long-term unemployed.
Area Redevelopment Act - allowed the federal government to give loans and grants to states
with long term unemployment.
Successes:
- Increased minimum wage from $1 to $1.25 an hour.
- Housing Act - provided cheap loans for the redevelopment of inner cities.
- Social Security Act - gave greater financial help to the elderly and unemployed.
Failures:
, - JFK’sMedicare Plan - aimed to have a cheap system of state health insurance. This
was rejected by Congress.
- Slum clearance created housing shortages in inner-cities.
- Minimum wage only helped those who already had jobs.
- The poorest people could not afford to pay back housing loans.
Opposition to the New Frontier:
- Even though Democrats controlled both houses of Congress, JFK was cautious.
- JFK’s biggest opponents were Southern Congressmen (including Democrats) who
disliked his civil rights policy.
- Some opposed the extension of federalism and the increased government spending.
In conclusion, JFK’s domestic policies were partly successful - some of the bills he wanted to
pass were blocked by Congress limiting his power to implement his domestic policies. Some
of his other domestic policies were unsuccessful such as the minimum wage which only
helped those who had a job. Although, arguably these policies may have been more
successful if JFK had a longer time in office and his legislation wasn’t constantly blocked by
Congress.
Johnson - Great Society
LBJ’s domestic policy aims included greater racial equality, the end of poverty,
educational reform, modern housing, and the end of urban decay.
Civil Rights
LBJ was determined to pass civil rights legislation even if it meant losing the South for a
generation or more.
Successes:
- 1964 Civil Rights Act - banned discrimination in public places, federally assisted
programmes, and in employment.
- 1965 Voting Rights Act - banned racial based discrimination in voting and outlawed
methods to suppress voting such as literacy tests and poll taxes.
- 1967 - The SC declared all laws banning mixed marriages to be removed.
Failures:
- Civil rights protests and race riots continued.
- Even though laws had changed, there was still much that had to be done in order to
ensure that the laws were enforced,
- AAs constituted of 10% of the population, but 46% were unemployed.
- 1964-1968 - 200 race riots in US cities. Thousands of AAs were seriously injured and
many injured.
The Economy
LBJ aimed for a total elimination of poverty.
Successes:
- Cut taxes to increase consumer spending.
- Appalachian Recovery Plan - provided federal funds for the development of the
mountainous region.
- Office of Economic Opportunity - set up schemes to help poor people in inner cities.
JFK - New Frontier
Kennedy's domestic policies were designed to stimulate international trade, reduce
unemployment, provide medical care for the aged, reduce federal income taxes, and
protect the civil rights of AAs.
Civil Rights
JFK aimed to make the USA a fairer society and give equal rights to AAs (African
Americans).
Successes:
- Appointed 5 federal judges, including Thurgood Marshall, the first ever AA SC justice.
- Threatened the state of Louisiana with legal action for refusing to fund schools that
weren’t segregated.
- Oct 1962 - sent 23,000 government troops to ensure that AA student James Merdith
would be able to attend university in Mississippi.
Failures:
- 1963 - Introduced Civil Rights Bill which aimed to give AAs equality in housing and
education. This bill was defeated (but later passed under LBJ).
- However, before 1963, JFK was hesitant to do much in terms of Civil Rights as he
didn’t want to alienate southern conservatives - whose votes he relied on in
Congress.
The Economy
Introduced a general tax cut in order to boost consumer spending.
Established public works projects such as new roads and public buildings. Cost $900m.
Gave grants to high tech companies to invest in equipment.
Limited prices and wages to control inflation.
Successes:
- Increased spending on defence and space technology, creating jobs. Promised a
man on the moon by the end of the decade.
- Increased the minimum wage.
Failures:
- Lots of unemployment in old industries such as steel, coal, and iron.
- The economic boom was dependent on government spending.
- Unemployment 2x as high amongst AAs.
Social Reforms
Manpower and Training Act - provided retraining for the long-term unemployed.
Area Redevelopment Act - allowed the federal government to give loans and grants to states
with long term unemployment.
Successes:
- Increased minimum wage from $1 to $1.25 an hour.
- Housing Act - provided cheap loans for the redevelopment of inner cities.
- Social Security Act - gave greater financial help to the elderly and unemployed.
Failures:
, - JFK’sMedicare Plan - aimed to have a cheap system of state health insurance. This
was rejected by Congress.
- Slum clearance created housing shortages in inner-cities.
- Minimum wage only helped those who already had jobs.
- The poorest people could not afford to pay back housing loans.
Opposition to the New Frontier:
- Even though Democrats controlled both houses of Congress, JFK was cautious.
- JFK’s biggest opponents were Southern Congressmen (including Democrats) who
disliked his civil rights policy.
- Some opposed the extension of federalism and the increased government spending.
In conclusion, JFK’s domestic policies were partly successful - some of the bills he wanted to
pass were blocked by Congress limiting his power to implement his domestic policies. Some
of his other domestic policies were unsuccessful such as the minimum wage which only
helped those who had a job. Although, arguably these policies may have been more
successful if JFK had a longer time in office and his legislation wasn’t constantly blocked by
Congress.
Johnson - Great Society
LBJ’s domestic policy aims included greater racial equality, the end of poverty,
educational reform, modern housing, and the end of urban decay.
Civil Rights
LBJ was determined to pass civil rights legislation even if it meant losing the South for a
generation or more.
Successes:
- 1964 Civil Rights Act - banned discrimination in public places, federally assisted
programmes, and in employment.
- 1965 Voting Rights Act - banned racial based discrimination in voting and outlawed
methods to suppress voting such as literacy tests and poll taxes.
- 1967 - The SC declared all laws banning mixed marriages to be removed.
Failures:
- Civil rights protests and race riots continued.
- Even though laws had changed, there was still much that had to be done in order to
ensure that the laws were enforced,
- AAs constituted of 10% of the population, but 46% were unemployed.
- 1964-1968 - 200 race riots in US cities. Thousands of AAs were seriously injured and
many injured.
The Economy
LBJ aimed for a total elimination of poverty.
Successes:
- Cut taxes to increase consumer spending.
- Appalachian Recovery Plan - provided federal funds for the development of the
mountainous region.
- Office of Economic Opportunity - set up schemes to help poor people in inner cities.
