Kennedy's Domestic Policies

1960 Presidential Election

Economic Policy under Kennedy

• Kennedy wanted to get 'America moving again'
• Eisenhower had left America with inflation at 3.5% and unemployment at 6.5%
• Economic growth was his priority - he wanted the strengthen America's position in the world
• He also wanted to prioritise unemployment
• 1962 Trade Expansion Act cut tariffs to encourage trade
• He cut taxes for business under Revenue Act - this gave $1 billion in tax credits for new equipment and investment
• Foreign policy also had a big impact on the American economy
• He increase defence spending by 20% - he doubled the NASA budget
• he used power of his office to further the growth of federal spending
• States were encouraged to apply for and spend federal grants for housing, schools, highways etc.
• unemployment fell to 5.3% by start of 1964
• Kennedy wanted price rises and wage increases to be in line with Increased productivity
• Steel industry had 3% rise in productivity - workers accepted a 2.5% wage increase
• US Steel increased prices and others followed

Kennedy and Social Policy

• Even though the 1950s was seen as a period of affluence, many American still lived in poverty - family of 4 living on an income $3000 per year
• 1960 senate report - 8 million old people had incomes of less than $1000 per year
• Military found a third of recruits medically unfit - down to poor living conditions
• Average rural wage - less than 50 cents an hour
• Poverty was spread across America
• He continued policies made by Truman and Eisenhower - increased minimum wage
• 1962 Manpower Development and Training Act gave $435 million for school and job-based training
• 1961 Area redevelopment Act - gave grants and loans for training, development, community facilities
• $500 million spent on various schemes and programmes
• This act was criticised for not providing sufficient jobs
• Kennedy did not achieve much in practical terms
• Housing Act helped property developers more than the poor.
• He was criticised for not having a women in his cabinet
• 1963 Equal Pay Act passed - this did not cover all women - however, 171,000 women benefitted and was passed through congress without any opposition

Social Policy Continued

• Kennedy found it difficult to make any significant achievements in health and education
• A healthcare system was proposed which was funded by payroll tax
• Proposal for education reform was passed by senate - house rejected this
• 1963 Higher Education Facilities Act - gave $145 million grants and graduate schools in science, language and engineering

Pressure for Social Change

Civil Rights under Kennedy 1961-63

• How did Kennedy improve Civil rights;
• Appointments
• -Kennedy was shocked by how few blacks were working for the federal government
• -40 blacks were appointment to top positions
• -In government 5 black Federal court judges (Thurgood Marshell)
• -20% of judicial appointments - segregations
• Justice Department
• -Robert Kennedy in charge - Attorney General
• -57 suits against obstructions to Black voting
• -Louisiana threatened with contempt of court - they refused to give funds to segregated schools
• Symbolic Gestures
• -More Blacks invited to the white House
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
• -Aimed to ensure fair employment for federal employees
• -Promoted greater equality at the Lockheed aircraft plant in Georgia and was limited elsewhere

Civil Rights Under Kennedy 1961-63

• Housing
• -Executive Order 11063 in 1962 - prohibited discrimination in the sale, leasing rental or other disposition of properties and facilities
• Civil Rights Bill
• -Kennedy took his time with bill
• -February 1963 a moderate bill was introduced - aimed ti guarantee desegregation in public places
• -Bill got stuck in Congress - Robert Kennedy tried to push it

1961 Freedom Rides

• Desegregation of transport across the south - racists mobs attacked protestors - Kennedy reluctant to Act
• 63% of Americans opposed freedom riders
• Interstate Commerce Commission - terminals and buses should be integrated

1961 Voter Registration

• SNCC (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee)
• They helped voters register in Mississippi
• Kennedys didn't want to help - Felt that SNCC were being overly proactive

James Meredith and the Uni of Mississippi

• 1962
• Meredith wanted a uni education - he applied for the University of Mississippi
• Uni did not want him - they were forced through legal action
• Robert Kennedy sent 500 Marshals to protect him
• Angry class saw 2 people shot and 1/3 of the Marshalls injured
• National Guard and Army sent in

University integration in Alabama 1963

• Last state to start desegregation in Universities
• Kennedy sent in troops, Marshals and National Gaurds
• Kennedy declared Black inequality as immoral

Birmingham, Alabama 1963

• Protestors against segregation were attacked
• Justice Department representatives sent to negotiate a settlement
• Birmingham public facilities desegregated and black employment prospects improved

March on Washington 1963

• Kennedy opposed to the march at first - criticism of his Civil Rights record
• In the end he supported it
• He made sure it was interracial, peaceful and supportive of his Bill