Outbreaks of racial violence in the summer of 1965 force a further evolution of the civil rights movement as the African-American liberation struggle reaches a crucial phase. President Kennedy, realizing that civil rights must be his legacy, increasingly begins to view the ongoing war in Vietnam as a distraction he can no longer afford--but ending the conflict proves more difficult than anyone anticipated. In the summer of 1966, Kennedy suffers a terrible personal tragedy that crystallizes his priorities for the remainder of his term in the White House.

Content Warning: this episode contains a brief discussion of racially-motivated violence.

Length: 27:23

Show Notes For This Episode

Next Episode: May 23, 2021