John F. Kennedy 1961-1963

Significances of the 1960 Nixon Kennedy Campaign Television debate : Appearance versus substance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHGs4535W_o Main Issues: “missile gap” Kennedy’s Catholic religion Won by 100,000 votes, youngest to win via electoral college/last dem to take wh not from south

The Election of 1960 The election of 1960 was the closest since 1884; Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon by fewer than 119,000 votes.

Kennedy’s Inaugural Address Kennedy was the youngest person ever to be elected president. His youth helped provide the theme to his inaugural address: “Let the word go forth… That the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans… The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it…And so, my fellow Americans-ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country.”

The New Frontier President Kennedy’s legislative program to provide medical care for the elderly…. To rebuild blighted urban areas….

To aid education…. To bolster the national defense….

To increase international aid…. To expand the space program.

To provide volunteer assistance to developing nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. And to promote civil rights.

Started The Peace Corps Click to see what the Peace Corp is all about: https://www.peacecorps.gov/ Answer on your scratch paper after browsing the About and What Volunteers Do sections: In your words, what is the purpose of the Peace Corp? How many countries is the Peace Corp involved in? List 5 examples of what volunteers can do in other countries Your Thoughts: Why do you think there is more focus on military recruitment in America than opportunities in the Peace Corp?

The Camelot Years With JFK’s youthful glamour and his talented advisors, the Kennedy White House reminded many of a modern- day Camelot, the mythical court of King Arthur.

Crisis Over Cuba The first test of Kennedy’s foreign policy came in Cuba, just 90 miles off the coast of Florida. Revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro, openly declared himself a communist and welcomed aid from the Soviet Union.

The Bay of Pigs On the nights of April 17,1961, some 1500 Cuban exiles supported by the U.S. military landed on the island’s southern coast at Baja de Cochinos, the Bay of Pigs. The CIA and the exiles hoped it would trigger a mass uprising that would overthrow Castro. It didn’t! Cuban forces, backed by Soviet tanks and jet aircraft, easily repelled the exile invasion. Some of the exiles were killed, others imprisoned.

Cuban Missile Crisis In October, 1962, photographs taken by American planes revealed Soviet missile bases in Cuba-and some contained missiles ready to launch. They could reach U.S. cities in minutes.

What to do? Do nothing. Use diplomatic pressure to get the Soviet Union to remove the missiles. An air attack on the missiles. A full military invasion. The naval blockade of Cuba, which was redefined as a more restrictive quarantine.[12]

On October 22, Kennedy ordered a naval blockade of Cuba to prevent further deliveries of Soviet weapons. He also demanded that the Soviets remove the missiles. Khrushchev promised to challenge the blockade, calling it “outright banditry.”

Suddenly, on October 24, many of the Soviet ships stopped short of the blockade line, turned, and sailed home. “We’re eyeball to eyeball,” said Secretary of State Dean Rusk, “and I think the other fellow just blinked.” On October 28 Khrushchev agreed to dismantle the missile bases in response to Kennedy’s promise not to invade Cuba.

Soviet ships turned back at the last minute Soviet ship Poltava on its way to Cuba (CIA photo) Soviet ships turned back at the last minute

The Compromise Soviet missiles removed from Cuba Members of ExComm and JFK planning a compromise Soviet missiles removed from Cuba U.S. promises not to invade Cuba U.S. removed missiles from Italy and Turkey

Tragedy in Dallas In the fall of 1963, public opinion polls showed that Kennedy was losing popularity because of his advocacy of civil rights. On November 22, 1963, President and Mrs. Kennedy went to Texas to mend political fences with members of the state’s Democratic Party.

Crowds lined the streets of Dallas to greet the President. In front of them sat Texas Governor John Connelly and his wife Nellie.

As the car approached a state building known as the Texas State Book Depository, rifle shots rang out.

Kennedy was shot in the head. His car raced to a nearby hospital, where doctors frantically tried to revive him, but it was too late. The only footage of the assassination was filmed by Abraham Zapruder. This film would cause controversy until this day, leading to speculation of “2 shooters” and a conspiracy to kill the President.

On Sunday, Nov. 24, as millions watched live television coverage of alleged assassin Lee Harvey Oswald being transferred between jails, a nightclub owner named Jack Ruby broke through the crowd and shot and killed Oswald. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6PcVCqg3tg

Because there is not trial mystery and conspiracy theories abound Because there is not trial mystery and conspiracy theories abound. In 1963, the Warren Commission investigated and concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald had shot the president while acting on his own.