Chapter 21: The Kennedy and Johnson Years

Chapter 21 examines the political accomplishments of John F. Kennedy's New Frontier and Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society.

Section 1 reviews the presidencies of the idealistic John F. Kennedy and the determined Lyndon B. Johnson. The 1960 election placed the youthful and energetic Kennedy in the nation's top post. Although Kennedy's time in office was brief, he brought style and new vigor to the presidency. His administration was marked by the New Frontier, the space race, the Peace Corps, and tragedy in Dallas. Johnson assumed Kennedy's vision of social reform, and he launched his own Great Society program to fight poverty and racial injustice. Johnson's comprehensive reform package won legislative approval, but the war in Vietnam left his programs without adequate funding.

Section 2 describes the Warren Court era of liberal activism. America's liberal swing during the Kennedy and Johnson years was reflected in the decisions of the Supreme Court. Under Earl Warren, the Court handed down a series of historic decisions that affected the nation's political process, the civil liberties of individuals, and the operation of the criminal justice system. Many citizens greeted these decisions with harsh criticism, but the rulings endure as landmarks of the American judicial system.