JFK & the Cold War

JFK and the Cold War “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.” JFK – Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961

The Election of 1960 TV Debate Impacts Voters JFK wealthy, handsome, charismatic Only 43 Roman Catholic Kennedy looked and spoke better than Nixon, but weak against Communism Nixon more experienced 8 years as Vice President Former Governor Huge Anti-Communist

TELEVISED DEBATE AFFECTS VOTE On September 26, 1960, Kennedy and Nixon took part in the first televised debate between presidential candidates Kennedy looked and spoke better than Nixon Journalist Russell Baker said, “That night, image replaced the printed word as the national language of politics”

JFK: CONFIDENT, AT EASE DURING DEBATES Television had become so central to people's lives that many observers blamed Nixon's loss to John F. Kennedy on his poor appearance in the televised presidential debates JFK looked cool, collected, presidential Nixon, according to one observer, resembled a "sinister chipmunk"

1960 Presidential Election

THE KENNEDY MYSTIQUE The first family fascinated the American public For example, after learning that JFK could read 1,600 words a minute, thousands enrolled in speed- reading courses Jackie, too, captivated the nation with her eye for fashion and culture

THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST JFK surrounded himself with what one journalist described as the “best and the brightest” available talent Of all of his elite advisors who filled Kennedy’s inner circle, he relied most on his 35-year-old brother Robert, whom he appointed attorney general RFK was John’s closest friend and advisor

A New Military Policy Flexible response – increased defense spending in order to boost conventional military forces – nonnuclear forces such as troops, ships, and artillery – and to create an elite branch of the army called the Special Forces, or Green Berets. He also tripled the overall nuclear capabilities of the U.S. Goal – allow the U.S. to fight limited wars around the world while maintaining a nuclear balance of power with the Soviets

Flexible Response Challenged Eisenhower’s idea of “massive retaliation” Pushed for the use of conventional weaponry and military to combat Communism U.S. couldn’t rely on nuclear arsenal to protect itself

Crises over Cuba The Cuban dilemma Fidel Castro comes to power in 1959 Puts on mass public trials and executions U.S. denounces Cuba and accepts thousands of Cuban refugees Castro seizes U.S. businesses and Eisenhower cuts off imports of Cuban sugar 1960 – Cuba signs a trade treaty with the Soviet Union

The Bay of Pigs In March 1960 Ike orders CIA to train Cuban exiles for an invasion of their homeland JFK notified of plan 9 days into his presidency JFK continues with the plan The plan: day before the invasion, planes would attempt to wipe out Castro’s air force, then exiles would land at the beach, and the Cuban people would rise up against Castro and overthrow him

Quote from U.S. Commentator Bay of Pigs (Cont.) Plan failed: JFK failed to provide the necessary resources to help the exiles and they were rounded up by Castro’s men It turned out to be a disaster when in April, 1961, 1,200 Cuban exiles met 25,000 Cuban troops backed by Soviet tanks and were soundly defeated “We looked like fools to our friends, rascals to our enemies and incompetents to the rest” Quote from U.S. Commentator

The Cuban Missile Crisis In an attempt to counter any new American intervention and to improve the Soviet position in the nuclear arms race, Castro and Kruschchev devised a daring plan: installation of Soviet missiles and nuclear bombers in Cuba

Cuban Missile Crisis Oct. 14, 1962 – U-2 flights showed 65 sites for offensive medium-range ballistic missiles – could reach the U.S. in 3 minutes When surveillance photos revealed nukes ready to launch in Cuba, JFK said the U.S. would respond to any attack from Cuba with an all-out nuclear retaliation against the Soviets JFK ordered a naval quarantine of the island (used the word “quarantine” rather than “blockade” since blockade was an act of war) Oct. 22 – went on national television informing the Soviets of American policy and demanded their retreat American forces around the globe went on alert The world was on the brink of nuclear war

Nuclear Chicken JFK pushes for naval blockade Goal: The Problem: Seize any ships going into/out of Cuba Force the immediate removal of missiles The Problem: A direct attack on Soviets would be an act of war The existence of the missiles were an act of war

13 DAYS For 13 days in October, 1962 the world stood still as the threat of nuclear war gripped the planet War seemed imminent The first break in the crisis occurred when the Soviets ships turned back from the blockade

Cuban Missile Crisis (Cont.) Eventually, the Presidents had worked out a secret agreement Khrushchev said that he would remove the missiles if the U.S. agreed not to attack Cuba and removed its missiles from Turkey Kennedy publicly agreed to the 1st and privately to the second Was this necessary? Should Kennedy have gone on T.V. or negotiated privately?

The Fallout “We’re eyeball to eyeball, and I think the other fellow just blinked.” –Dean Rusk, Secretary of State Russia blinks! Russia removes missiles from Cuba U.S. removes missiles from Turkey Quarantine ends, but embargo begins The Problems: Khrushchev forced from office Kremlin begins nuclear expansion U.S. and Russia agree to test ban treaty Establish direct communication link: the red phone

CRISIS OVER BERLIN In 1961, Berlin, Germany was a city in great turmoil In the 11 years since the Berlin Airlift, almost 3 million East Germans (Soviet side) had fled into West Berlin (U.S. controlled) to flee communist rule

SOVIETS SEEK TO STOP EXODUS The Soviets did not like the fact that East Berliners were fleeing their city for the democratic west Their departure hurt the economy and the prestige of the USSR Just after midnight on August 13, 1961 the Soviets began construction of a 90- mile wall separating East and West Berlin East Germany begins construction on the Berlin Wall, which becomes a primary symbol of the Cold War and Soviet oppression

Trying to Ease Tensions Both Khrushchev and Kennedy began searching for ways to ease the enormous tension between the two superpowers Two Agreements 1. Direct hotline between the White House and the Kremlin 2. Signing of the Limited Test Ban Treaty – called for an end to all nuclear tests in the ocean, the atmosphere and outer space – by the end of the year, 113 other nations had signed the treaty

The Peace Corps JFK’s call for American international volunteerism The Peace Corps is a volunteer program to assist developing nations in Asia, Africa and Latin America The commitment: Spend 2 years in developing nations Specialize in education, agriculture, irrigation, sewage treatment, or health care Promote democracy and American influence Remains one of the most lasting legacy’s of JFK’s presidency

RACE TO THE MOON On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space Meanwhile, America’s space agency (NASA) began construction on new launch facilities in Cape Canaveral, Florida and a mission control center in Houston, Texas

The Space Race JFK’s promise to be the first to the moon 1962: NASA sends John Glenn, first American in space Used Saturn V rocket to propel out of Earth’s orbit 1969: Saturn V rocket launches Apollo 11 First successful moon landing Neal Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins

“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” A MAN ON THE MOON Armstrong By July 20, 1969, the U.S. would achieve its goal An excited nation watched as U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the moon Space and defense-related industries sprang up in Southern and Western states Kennedy’s vision succeeded “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”

KENNEDY ADDRESSES INNER CITY BLIGHT AND RACISM In 1963, Kennedy called for “a national assault on the causes of poverty” He also ordered his brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy to investigate racial injustice in the South Finally, he presented Congress with a sweeping civil rights bill and a sweeping tax cut bill to spur the economy

The Arrival in Dallas JFK, LBJ, and families arrive in Dallas for a political rally The families separate for an escorted drive in downtown Dallas Shots fired: JFK shot in the head and the throat Eyewitnesses argue about the number and locations of shots

Three-year old John Kennedy Jr Three-year old John Kennedy Jr. salutes his father’s coffin during the funeral

LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON BECOMES PRESIDENT The Vice-President, Lyndon Baines Johnson, became President after JFK was assassinated The nation mourned the death of the young president while Jackie Kennedy remained calm and poised A somber LBJ takes the oath of office aboard Air Force One with the Jackie next to him