The American Age
Eras of the New Frontier and the Great Society
1961-1969
Before John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960 in a dramatically close
election, he promised a "New Frontier" of domestic social and economic
reform. As President he offered a wide agenda of legislative proposals to
realize this goal. The major proposals included establishing a volunteer
Peace Corps to assist underdeveloped countries, raising the minimum wage
and broadening its coverage, raising Social Security benefits, providing
medicare, providing federal aid to education, creating a federal department
of urban affairs, and giving greater powers to the federal government to
deal with economic recessions. The Congress and the country were not
ready to adopt all of this program, however. The Peace Corps was
established, Social Security benefits and the minimum wage were raised,
and a historic housing law was enacted, but little else was enacted.
Kennedy's term was tragically shortened by an assassin's bullet in November
1963.
Kennedy brought an eager and able throng of people anxious to serve under
him. One of the most notable among them was Arthur J. Goldberg, special
counsel to the AFL-CIO and considered the leading labor lawyer in the
country. Kennedy named Goldberg to be his Secretary of Labor. Known as
the "Davey Crockett of the New Frontier", Goldberg became involved in a
wide range of social and cultural issues in the Kennedy Administration. He
was instrumental in improving cultural life in the Capital and in beginning
redevelopment of the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor from Capitol Hill to the
White House. In the labor sphere, Goldberg concentrated on dealing with
labor relations problems and on improving equal employment
opportunities.
, Early in his term Goldberg had to bring bad news on two fronts to the
country: unemployment rose to 6.8 percent in January 1961; and, in March
the "steel gap" closed and the Russians finally matched American steel
production. Later in the year, however, the economy was in better shape.
George Meany, president of the AFL-CIO, said that under Goldberg's
leadership the Department came closer to realizing its mission of promoting
the welfare of working people "than it has at any time in my ... experience in
Washington." Goldberg left the Department in September 1962 to become
an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Collective bargaining was Secretary Goldberg's main interest and he actively
made the "good offices" of the federal government available to help settle
or prevent strikes. In February 1961 President Kennedy created an advisory
committee on labor- management relations to help the Administration
devise sound labor policies. While he was Secretary, Goldberg helped
mediate many disputes, particularly in the defense-related aerospace
industry and the crucial transportation industry (railroads, shipping and
airlines). Much to the delight of the culturally- minded First Lady Jacqueline
Kennedy, Goldberg settled a strike against the New York Metropolitan
Opera in time to prevent a cancellation of the 1961-1962 season.
As the first Jewish Secretary of Labor, Goldberg was strongly conscious of
the rights of minorities. He committed the Department to actively
protecting the rights of blacks and others. He actively implemented
Executive Order 10925 requiring the executive branch of the government to
encourage equal employment opportunity for all. Within the Department,
he took steps to abolish the segregation of facilities for black employees
that until then was widespread in Washington's government offices. He
instituted programs to promote better career opportunities for minority
employees of the Department which his successors built upon. These
programs became models for the rest of the government and for the private
sector.
Eras of the New Frontier and the Great Society
1961-1969
Before John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960 in a dramatically close
election, he promised a "New Frontier" of domestic social and economic
reform. As President he offered a wide agenda of legislative proposals to
realize this goal. The major proposals included establishing a volunteer
Peace Corps to assist underdeveloped countries, raising the minimum wage
and broadening its coverage, raising Social Security benefits, providing
medicare, providing federal aid to education, creating a federal department
of urban affairs, and giving greater powers to the federal government to
deal with economic recessions. The Congress and the country were not
ready to adopt all of this program, however. The Peace Corps was
established, Social Security benefits and the minimum wage were raised,
and a historic housing law was enacted, but little else was enacted.
Kennedy's term was tragically shortened by an assassin's bullet in November
1963.
Kennedy brought an eager and able throng of people anxious to serve under
him. One of the most notable among them was Arthur J. Goldberg, special
counsel to the AFL-CIO and considered the leading labor lawyer in the
country. Kennedy named Goldberg to be his Secretary of Labor. Known as
the "Davey Crockett of the New Frontier", Goldberg became involved in a
wide range of social and cultural issues in the Kennedy Administration. He
was instrumental in improving cultural life in the Capital and in beginning
redevelopment of the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor from Capitol Hill to the
White House. In the labor sphere, Goldberg concentrated on dealing with
labor relations problems and on improving equal employment
opportunities.
, Early in his term Goldberg had to bring bad news on two fronts to the
country: unemployment rose to 6.8 percent in January 1961; and, in March
the "steel gap" closed and the Russians finally matched American steel
production. Later in the year, however, the economy was in better shape.
George Meany, president of the AFL-CIO, said that under Goldberg's
leadership the Department came closer to realizing its mission of promoting
the welfare of working people "than it has at any time in my ... experience in
Washington." Goldberg left the Department in September 1962 to become
an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Collective bargaining was Secretary Goldberg's main interest and he actively
made the "good offices" of the federal government available to help settle
or prevent strikes. In February 1961 President Kennedy created an advisory
committee on labor- management relations to help the Administration
devise sound labor policies. While he was Secretary, Goldberg helped
mediate many disputes, particularly in the defense-related aerospace
industry and the crucial transportation industry (railroads, shipping and
airlines). Much to the delight of the culturally- minded First Lady Jacqueline
Kennedy, Goldberg settled a strike against the New York Metropolitan
Opera in time to prevent a cancellation of the 1961-1962 season.
As the first Jewish Secretary of Labor, Goldberg was strongly conscious of
the rights of minorities. He committed the Department to actively
protecting the rights of blacks and others. He actively implemented
Executive Order 10925 requiring the executive branch of the government to
encourage equal employment opportunity for all. Within the Department,
he took steps to abolish the segregation of facilities for black employees
that until then was widespread in Washington's government offices. He
instituted programs to promote better career opportunities for minority
employees of the Department which his successors built upon. These
programs became models for the rest of the government and for the private
sector.
