Short Presidencey Of Kennedy

On September 26, 1960, CBS televised the first of four debates between Republican Richard Nixon and Democrat John F. Kennedy. Nixon was a veteran campaigner who gained political experience as a member of Congress and as Eisenhower's Vice President, but was not in good shape. Because of a serious knee injury, Nixon showed up a little "under the weather." Senator Kennedy, on the other hand, breezed into the studio looking fresh and relaxed. Who won the debated is still being disputed. As a result of the debate, television became the communications vehicle of choice for politicians. In the election of 1960, Kennedy proved that being different can be a good thing. He was the youngest man ever to be elected and was also a catholic. He campaigned hard and proclaimed that it was time to "get America moving again". Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson won a very narrow victory. Although the electoral vote was 303 to 219 in Kennedy's favor, he won by fewer than 119,000 popular votes out of nearly 69 million votes. Accusations were made that the Democrats had won through fraud. Kennedy entered office without a strong mandate, but took office with confidence. In Kennedy's domestic programs, he established the "New Frontier" It referred to Kennedy's proposals to improve the economy, assist the poor, and speed up the space program. In the spring of 1962, the U.S. Steel Company raised its price by $6 a ton. Business leaders became angry and the stock market fell in its steepest drop since the Great Crash of 1929 when Kennedy tried to say that the price raise was unjustifiable. To help the economic slump, Kennedy proposed a large tax cut over three years, but the proposal got stuck in congress. Kennedy was also eager to take action against poverty and inequality. Although his plans for education aid and medical care for the elderly failed in congress, congress did pass an increase in minimum wage and the Housing Act of 1961 which provided $4.9 billion for urban renewal and the 24th amendment. In June, 1963, Congress passed the equal Pay Act that added