Kennedy and the Cold War

The Election of 1960 Why are elections ending in the year “0” considered unlucky?

Kennedy’s problems in the election: Born to wealth Catholic Youth (youngest inaugurated president at 43…who else?) In October, just before the election, while MLK was in jail, JFK called King’s wife to offer condolences and encouragement, and had his brother, Robert Kennedy persuade a judge to release King This was told from pulpits of black churches and Kennedy won by 120,000 of 69 million votes.

Kennedy emphasized his youth and the need for change with his “New Frontier” program, while Nixon was stuck defending Ike’s administration Kennedy’s inaugural speech very hawkish on containment of communismKennedy’s inaugural speech very hawkish on containment of communism

Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans-born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty. John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961

Kennedy gathered top advisors to help with his programs Many of Kennedy’s advisors were young, in their 30s, such as Speech writer Ted Sorenson and his 36 year old brother, Robert, whom he made attorney general Kennedy’s cabinet was, on average, 10 years younger than Eisenhower’s (the new generation)

Kennedy learned, during the campaign, that the CIA was, at Eisenhower’s direction, preparing 1500 Cuban exiles to invade Cuba and overthrow Castro Castro had come to power in Cuba by overthrowing an unpopular dictator, Batista, and had taken over many businesses, including those owned by Americans When Castro signed a trade agreement with the Soviets, Eisenhower cut off diplomatic and economic ties with Cuba The CIA hoped that the people of Cuba would be inspired by an invasion and turn against Castro

Kennedy had been critical of Ike for not taking a tougher stand on Cuba The CIA assured JFK that the invasions would succeed Total disaster. NY Times leaked the plans a week before the invasion. When things flee apart, Kennedy cancelled air strikes that had been planned The invasions was doomed. Castro was forewarned and ready

Kennedy was urged to rescue the invaders and overthrow Castro, but feared Russian-US relations might be worsened. Kennedy obtained the release of the captured Cuban invaders by giving Cuba 52 million dollars in food and medical aid The Bay of Pigs strengthened the Cuban peoples feelings for Castro, and the Cuban link with the Soviet Union The US end up with the Soviets in the Western Hemisphere!!

The Berlin Crisis Kennedy feared a Soviet response to Cuba in the form of an invasion of Europe. Khrushchev saw Kennedy’s lack of intervention in Cuba as weakness. Khrushchev tested American resolve by demanding that westerners leave Berlin U.S. refusal led to Khrushchev initiating the building of the Berlin Wall The Berlin Wall ended travel between the two sides of Berlin

The Berlin Wall