John F. Kennedy and the Cold War

Essential Questions:What problems in the US did Kennedy face during his presidency and how did

he respond?Explain whether you think his actions

the right ones, and how did the American people respond to his

decisions?

A Restless America

• Americans were getting restless. Why?– The economy was in recession– The launch of Sputnik made Americans jealous– The U-2 incident– In addition, the USSR created long range missiles

making everyone think we were falling behind– And to top everything off, Cuba announced that it

too was aligning with the Soviets• Why was this particularly concerning???

The Candidates for 1960 Election

John F. Kennedy Richard M. Nixon

Major Differences

Kennedy• Kennedy was son of a

wealthy Boston business, and had relatives in congress.

• Kennedy attended Harvard University.

• Kennedy was Catholic.

Nixon• Nixon was born in California

into a family struggling to make a living.

• Nixon had to balance school and work to support family.

• Nixon was respected for his experiences as VP for Eisenhower.

The 1960 ElectionJFK vs Nixon

• The First Ever Televised Debate (influence of tv)– Kennedy had a strong campaign promising to get

America moving again, he came from a prestigious family, and was charismatic and attractive

– But he was 43, and a Roman Catholic, people were afraid that he tie church and state together

• September 26th – 70 million viewers tuned in– Nixon tried to attack JFK’s inexperience and age– Nixon appeared sweaty and uncomfortable

– Was recovering from a knee infection– JFK had been coached by tv producers and he looked

poised, confident, and he was much more articulate

• Martin Luther King was arrested for a sit-in with other African Americans

• Eisenhower did not intervene, Nixon took no stance, but JFK after hearing the sentencing of MLK called King’s wife to express his sympathy.

• He also asked his brother Bobby to convince the judge to release him on bail – The media exposure lead to a strong backing from the African American Community

John F. Kennedy and the State of America

• Became the 35th president in January 1961• America was entering its scariest point in the

Cold War, and he said that instead of taking the middle road, or shrinking away from the scare, the US should confront the “iron tyranny” of communism

• He invited people to his inauguration who were banned from places due to their color

• “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”

Issues That the New President Faced:• Cold War continued• Threat of Nuclear War• The Launch of Sputnik 1 ‘57• U-2 spy plane incident• Montgomery bus boycott – Brown v. BOE

decision did not end racial discrimination

Crisis Over Cuba

• Cuba is only 90 miles of the Florida coast

• Two weeks before JFK took office, Cuba became under the control of a new dictator with strong military aggression, Fidel Castro

Kennedy’s Cold War Strategies

• Focused attention on Cuba’s new communist regime headed by Fidel Castro.

• Charged that there was a “missile gap” making US inferior to SU in nuclear technology.

• First goal would be to build up the nation’s armed forces

Building the Nations Military

• Eisenhower’s defense policy had been increased funding and production of Nuclear Weapons

• Kennedy was more focused on the conflict against guerrilla forces.

• Thus he gave increased funding to US Army, Navy, and the Special Forces

• “Flexible response” defense policy that prepared US to fight any type of conflict

Special Forces – Green Berets

The Cuban Dilemma

• Castro claimed that “Revolutionaries are not born, they are made by poverty, inequality, and dictatorship” – He promised to eliminate these conditions in Cuba

• Castro seized three American-British oil refineries• Then he took away sugar farms and redistributed

the land to peasants • Our response: we enacted trade barriers (tariffs)

• Millions of Cubans went into exile or fled to America – primarily in Miami, FL

Result of Castro’s Partnership with SU• Thousands of upper class and middle class

people fled.• Later, and to this day, people constantly try to

escape in hopes of making it to US.• Many settled in Miami, FL.

Little Havana in Miami• The Cubans that have settled here in

American are strongly against communism and appreciate the US and are proud to be a part of this country.

The Bay of Pigs• 9 days after JFK took office, he found out about a plan that

Ike had begun with the CIA• Cuban exiles were being trained by our military, in case an

invasion was needed• On the night of April 17, 1961, 1300 to 1500 Cuban exiles

supported by US military landed on the island’s southern• We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship,

support any friend, oppose any for, to assure the survival and success of liberty– John F. Kennedy – what does this statement tell us about Kennedy?

• He supports having a strong military to keep his people safe

Bay of Pigs• Eisenhower had broken diplomatic relations with

Cuba, and had authorized CIA to plan an invasion to overthrow Castro.

• A pressured Kennedy implemented plan on April 17, 1961.

• A CIA-led force of Cuban exiles attacked Cuba in the Bay of Pigs invasion.

• Why Agree?He wanted to remove a communist leader who posed a severe threat being so close to the US.

Outcome of Bay of Pigs

• Was terribly mismanaged • Poorly equipped forces• No protective cover• All but 300 of 1,400 invaders were killed or

captured• Strengthened Castro’s position in Cuba – made his

people proud• Was a huge embarrassment to US and Kennedy

who took full responsibility

The Cuban Missile Crisis• In August of 1962, US intelligence discovered that the

Soviets were building nuclear missile sites in Cuba. • Major East Coast cities were in danger• Kennedy demanded that they be removed• He blamed the Premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita

Khrushchev.• Kennedy announced that he approved a naval

blockade (Quarantine) of Cuba to prevent the SU from completing the bases.

Outcome of Cuban Missile Crisis

• Behind the scenes, Kennedy worked toward a diplomatic settlement.

• He said he would remove US missiles in Turkey and Italy if the Soviets removed their missiles from Cuba.

• After 6 intense days, Khrushchev agreed to the blockade and removed the missiles.

• Hot line telephone system was created between Moscow and DC to improve communications.

Battle of the Nukes

The Berlin Wall

• East Germany was losing workers to West Germany – Why?• Soviet Union had control of the East at this time,

meaning communism - poverty• US had presence in West to end communism in

East.• Khrushchev wanted the US to recognize the

formal division of Germany and end its military presence in the West

• Kennedy Refused

Meeting and Result• The two met at a conference in Vienna in June

1961, and some threatening words are exchanged

• It was clear that neither would waiver• Once home, both Kennedy and Khrushchev

establish new plans.• Kennedy asks congress for more spending on

military• Khrushchev builds the Berlin Wall to symbolize the

division

Back to South America

• The Alliance for Progress• Promised to resurrect America’s “Good

Neighbor” policy toward Latin America.• In the 50s, the Latin American view of US had

declined – thought we had too much influence in their region.

• We promised economic assistance to Latin America.

• But it was not successful!

Pursuing New Initiatives in the “Third World”

• Developing nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America was one of Kennedy’s goals – Why?– These were the countries that were not aligned

with the US or Soviet Union– Kennedy believed that by establishing democracy

in these countries, communism would be prevented

• Thus, he initiated programs to economically and politically help these countries

The Peace Corps• Created in 1961, the Peace Corps sent American

volunteers around the world on “missions of freedom” to assist developing countries

• Worked to provide technical, educational, and health services.

• Was a success!

Tragedy in Dallas

• On a sunny morning in November, JFK and Jackie were in Texas to mend political fences

• He and Jackie rode in the back of an open limousine with the Texan Governor and his wife

• Two shots rang out and JFK fell back, he was shot

• He was rushed to the hospital, but it was too late

• Kennedy just minutes before he was assassinated November 22, 1963.

Lee Harvey Oswald• 24 year old ex-marine had a suspicious past• He was given a dishonorable discharge, and moved

to the Soviet Union for a bit, he also supported Castro

• He was being transferred from prisons on Nov. 24th when a nightclub owner named Jack Ruby shot and killed Oswald

Conspiracy????• In 1963, the Warren Commission determined

that Lee Harvey acted alone• Then in 1979, further investigation showed

that he was in fact working with one maybe two other men

• Plot by anti-Castro Cubans?• Communist sponsored attack?• Conspiracy by the CIA?• We may never know.

John F. Kennedy and the Cold War

Answer the Essential Questions:What problems in the US did Kennedy face during his presidency and how did

he respond?Explain whether you think his actions

the right ones, and how did the American people respond to his

decisions?