Chapter

Pages

Section 1 Objectives 1. Analyze how television coverage influenced the presidential election of Summarize how President Kennedy planned to stop the spread of communism. 3. Explain why the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba failed. 4. Describe how the Cuban missile crisis almost led to war.

Question Do you think television coverage affects politics positively or negatively? Does it help either the voters or the candidates?

The 1960 Campaign Republicans chose Richard Nixon as presidential candidate. Running mate Henry Cabot Lodge from Massachusetts. Democrats chose John F. Kennedy the young senator from Massachusetts. His running mate Lyndon B. Johnson senator from Texas. Johnson had tried for the Democratic bid and failed. Aides couldn’t believe he had chosen Johnson. Kennedy felt it was a good move based on population. Many people were concerned over his religious background of being Roman Catholic.

Television Coverage and The Election of 1960 Pre-debates: Nixon led in the polls Debates: showed a vibrant Kennedy and a weary Nixon; radio listeners thought Nixon won and television viewers thought Kennedy won. Post debates: Kennedy won the election with a narrow victory.

Spotlight You will conduct research on Fidel Castro or Nikita Khrushchev whom embodied communism to many Americans during the 1960s. You will write a biography on one of the above leaders. Your biography should emphasize political beliefs and careers.

Kennedy’s Foreign Policy Flexible response: Kennedy didn’t want to just have one response to the spread of communism. That is why he implemented the flexible response which would expand conventional military forces and establish special units like the Green Berets to assist countries struggling to fight communism. Foreign Aid: Programs were introduced to help developing countries and hopefully strengthen their dependence on the United States and push aside the Soviet Communist perspective. First program: Peace Corps, sent American volunteers into developing countries for two years. Second program: Alliance for Progress, lending aid to Latin American countries. With the lending of money (aid) countries were expected to support democratic values. Unfortunately, the idea was good but failed due to corrupt politicians and lack of motivation.

The Bay of Pigs Fidel Castro: Rebel leader in 1959 overthrew Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. When Castro seized power he established a Communist dictatorship with support from the Soviet Union. Castro: with his success would flaunt his Communist government being only 90 miles from the United States. Under the Eisenhower administration the CIA was training and financing a group of anti-Castro Cuban refugees who eventually would invade Cuba. Kennedy also approved this plan to proceed.

April 17, 1961: The Bay of Pigs was an extremely poor site for an invasion. Sharp coral reefs sank a number of landing craft before they reached the shore. The swampy terrain made it difficult for invading soldiers to find cover from enemy fire. Also, floodlights from a nearby apartment complex illuminated the beach where the rebels landed, ruining their expected nighttime advantage. 1,500 rebels stormed the beach the U.S. naval and air support never showed up to back them up. At the last minute Kennedy changed his mind about support. The rebels were put down in within 72 hours and 1,200 prisoners were taken. Kennedy took full responsibility for the invasions collapse. The invasion pushed the relationship closer between the Cuban leaders and the Soviets.

The Berlin Crisis Nikita Khrushchev felt that Kennedy was weak and this was an opportunity to make demands. At a summit meeting Khrushchev made the demands for the removal of all troops from West Berlin and recognize the sovereignty of communist East Germany. By August, 1961 the East Germans erected barb wire to keep the people in East Berlin. Eventually the East Germans erected a wall, which became known as the Berlin Wall symbol of the Cold War. When Kennedy traveled to West Berlin to see the newly erected Berlin Wall. Shortly after his arrival he delivered a rousing indictment of communism to a crowd of West German citizens. “Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect, but we have never had to put a wall up to keep our people in…All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words I am a Berliner.”

The Missiles of October Khrushchev continued to push the Kennedy administration in regard to nuclear buildup. Castro asked the Soviets for military defensive weapons. The Soviets also gave the Cubans offensive weapons that would reach U.S. cities. Timeline of Events: Summer, 1962: CIA monitored the Soviet buildup of weapons. October 14: U-2 spy planes took pictures of ballistic missile launching pads that could reach U.S. cities within minutes. October 22:Kennedy appeared on national television to announce that any armed ships bound for Cuba and the U.S. Navy would forcibly turn them away. The U.S. demanded the removal of Soviet missiles.

Over the next few days each side was building up military defenses. October 24: Kennedy was notified that Soviet ships had stopped dead in the water. Before reaching the blockade the ships had turned around and sailed home. Secretary of State Dean Rusk: said, “We’re eyeball to eyeball, and I think the other fellow just blinked.” October 28: Khrushchev agreed to dismantle the missile bases in response to Kennedy’s promise not to invade Cuba.

Cuban Missile crisis: turning point in the U.S.-Soviet relations. 1963: Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty-the United States, Soviet Union, and Great Britain all agreed to end testing nuclear bombs in the atmosphere and underwater. Hot Line: set up between U.S. and Soviet Union so they could speak directly during a crisis.