JFK & THE COLD WAR JFK

Election of 1960 Nixon-Kennedy First televised debates JFK: coached, wore makeup Nixon: sweating, 5 o’clock shadow Radio vs. TV viewers

1960 Campaign MLK Jr. arrested for sitting at segregated lunch counter in GA King sentenced to 4 months Eisenhower refused to intervene, Nixon ignored the event JFK called King’s wife RFK persuaded judge to release MLK on bail Helped capture African-American votes

The Camelot Years Inaugural speech: “ask not what your country can do for you…” National obsession with Kennedy family Jackie became fashion icon JFK speed reader (1,600 wpm) so thousands enrolled in speed reading classes

JFK & Cold War Eisenhower had emphasized containment, domino theory, hard-line, deterrence JFK wanted to move away from threatening the use of nuclear war Focused on conventional military forces, created Green Berets Called “flexible response”

CUBA 90 miles off Florida coast! Castro wins control in 1959 Nationalizes US & British oil refineries, US sugar farms Congress enacts embargo Cuba relies on Soviet aid JFK had said Republicans let Cuba go communist

BAY OF PIGS Eisenhower had approved plans for US-sponsored invasion of Cuba CIA trained 1500 Cuban exiles for invasion JFK learned of plan only 9 days after taking office, but approved it April 17, 1961: US-sponsored exiles landed on Bahía de Cochinos

Bay of Pigs Cont’d US air strike to take out Cuban air force failed Advance group sent to distract Cuban forces never arrived 25,000 Cuban troops waiting when commando unit of exiles arrived Soviet tanks and jets JFK negotiated with Castro, sent $53 mil in food & medical supplies in exchange for release of exiles Mission said to have blown up in JFK’s face

Cuban Missile Crisis October 14-28, 1962 U2 surveillance of Cuba revealed construction of bases for Soviet missiles MRBM’s have range of 1200 miles, could have reached as far as Washington DC US/USSR on the brink of nuclear war!

Berlin Crisis Wall built surrounding West Berlin 1961 Khrushchev threatened to close off all access, JFK said “we can not & will not allow the communists to drive us out of Berlin” JFK visits, gives speech June 26, 1963 “There are some who say communism is the wave of the future. Let them come to Berlin.” “Ich bin ein Berliner.”

Reducing Tensions Kennedy & Khrushchev agreed to tone down tensions between the two countries Hot Line: between White House & Kremlin to communicate if issues arise Limited Test Ban Treaty: prohibited nuclear testing in the atmosphere (only underground)

Peace Corps One of JFK’s campaign promises Volunteer assistance to developing countries By 1968, 35,000 volunteers in 60 nations Helped promote democracy & improved America’s image in the world to countries in danger of falling to communism

Race to Moon April 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became first man in space JFK proposed sending a man to the moon by the end of the decade as part of “New Frontier” NASA built launch facilities at Cape Canaveral & mission control at Houston Apollo program designed with goal of landing on moon July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins

November 22, 1963 Kennedy & wife went to Dallas to meet with TX Republicans Driving in motorcade in limo Shots fired from TX School Book Depository DOA by the time limo arrived at the hospital, LBJ took oath on AF1 Lee Harvey Oswald charged with murder, prints on rifle Warren Commission set up to investigate conspiracy theories (CIA, communists, Cubans); found that may have been a low level conspiracy and that Oswald probably did not act alone