A New Generation
A New GenerationA New Generation
John F. Kennedy and a New Generation, by David Burner, discuss his presidency with regards to his youth, style and courage, as opposed to his actual achievements. Many people feel that Kennedy's term was full if image boosting events and lacked substance and outstanding accomplishments. Kennedy appealed to the public with his style and looks. Kennedy, a Roman Catholic, appealed to certain groups which formed the solid support of the family's power. Many groups, such as Jews, blacks, blue-collar democrats, Hispanics, and Asians supported him because he "represents a partial fulfillment of a national promise that Americans even of recent immigrant background might reach for wealth, homes, education for their children, or an ideal of justice" (Burner 1). Like Franklin D. Roosevelt and his fireside chats, JFK made the voters responsive to the "air of easy confidence" he portrayed (Burner 48).
In 1960, Kennedy ran for the presidency with Senator Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas, against Republican Vice President Richard M. Nixon. The debates between Nixon and Kennedy were televised. Burner believes that "Nixon's biggest error turned out to be agreeing to this series of four debates" (Burner 53). Nixon appeared dull and unattractive, while Kennedy performed with maturity and style. He pledged to "get the country moving again" with his New Frontier policy (Kennedy et al 597). Kennedy won by a narrow margin and became the youngest president elected to office, as well as the first Roman Catholic accomplishments was the formation of the Peace Corps, which sent young American volunteers abroad to help less developed nations raise their standard of living. This organization did more than combat the Cold War, it created nations. Although this
was an important organization, many feel that it was created to maintain the support of the younger American and to add to his image as a people pleaser.
The space programs were another successful accomplishment ok JFK. Unlike Eisenhower who was "unworried about the missile race with the Russians," JFK promoted a multi billion dollar project to land a man on the moon (Burner 38). In response to the launching of Sputnick, many Americans feared Russian superiority. They began to reflect on American systems, and believed that they were inadequate to train scientists and technicians. The students lacked and "appetite for achievement" (burner 43). JFK satisfied the people in 1969, when two American astronauts tackled the task and waled on the moon.
The Civil Rights movement has been an opening for years. President Eisenhower dealt with an issue in Little Rock, Arkansas, which required federal troops to address a segregation in schools. Yet, Burner believes that Kennedy's civil rights had a "tone which was superior to that of the Eisenhower years" (Burner 126). Kennedy supported blacks to earn their votes. He supported the Greensboro, North Carolina lunch counter sit in, and the...
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