John F. Kennedy's Domestic Reform

One of the most influential and historically significant decades in American history occurred during the 1960s when Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson held office. These presidents’ domestic reform goals reflected more similarities than differences. Most of the domestic reform legislation enacted by Johnson originated with the Kennedy administration. Kennedy’s legislative agenda, known as the “New Frontier” included increased federal aid for education, reduced taxes in an effort to stimulate the economy, racial equity, increased accessibility of medical care through federal programs, and federal involvement in environmental protection issues (“Domestic”). Following the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963, Johnson adopted and promoted many of Kennedy’s unfinished domestic reform plans, under the name of “The Great Society” (Brinkley, 698). For example, Johnson succeeded at reducing the taxes, funding the education, and implementing the federal medical care program that Kennedy started. Overall the domestic reform plans of each president contain more similarities than differences and, although Johnson proved to be more successful, Kennedy instigated a majority of the …show more content…
Kennedy’s trademark successes were his ability to increase minimum wage, enforce the Clean Air Act of 1960, and the creation of the Peace Corps (“Domestic”). Kennedy’s successes could be attributed to his compelling personality and dynamic reform plan. However, Kennedy’s attempts to lower taxes, fund education, and implement a federal medical care system went unrealized, in part, due to “a Congress dominated by a coalition of Republicans and conservative Democrats” (Brinkley, 698). Kennedy may have attained more of his reform goals had he been able to complete his term in office and possibly pursue a second