Chapter 20 Section 1 Kennedy and the Cold War

The Election of 1960 Voters restless in 1960 Economy in recession Soviets developed Sputnik I and long range missiles

The Election of 1960 Democratic nominee for President-John F. Kennedy

The Election of 1960 Republican opponent- Richard Nixon

The Election of election closest since 1888 JFK wins

Kennedy the Candidate Well organized campaign

Kennedy the Candidate Had to overcome obstacles Only 43-many though inexperienced Catholic- People were afraid he would be too influenced by the Pope

Televised Debate Nixon/Kennedy debate was the 1 st televised debate between presidential candidates

Televised Debate People didn’t seem to care about experience-cared more about looks and speech

Televised Debate Nixon lost the image battle JFK was coached by TV producers – looked better than Nixon

Televised Debate Gave JFK a boost in the polls

Kennedy and King October 1960-Atlanta police arrest MLK Jr. King sentenced to 4 months hard labor

Kennedy and King JFK phoned King’s wife to express sympathy

Kennedy Takes Command Cold War occupied much of JFK’s attention

Kennedy Takes Command Blasted republicans for allowing Communism to move to Cuba

Kennedy Takes Command Eisenhower relied on threat of massive retaliation

Kennedy Takes Command Developed a policy of Flexible response –Developing American non-nuclear forces in case there was a minor conflict

Kennedy Takes Command Flexible Response resulted in an increase in military spending

Kennedy Takes Command Tripled nuclear capabilities of the US

Crisis Over Cuba Cuba 90 miles from the US Eisenhower cuts off diplomatic relations w/ Cuba 1/3/61

The Cuban Dilemma Castro promised democracy Led a guerrilla war against dictator Fulgencio Batista

The Cuban Dilemma US recognized new Castro govmt Believed Castro was a freedom fighter

The Cuban Dilemma Broke up commercial farms and made them communes

The Cuban Dilemma Others said Castro betrayed the Revolution

The Bay of Pigs Summer Eisenhower gave CIA permission to secretly train hundreds of Cuban exiles

The Bay of Pigs Approved the plan Promised air support to Cuban exiles April 17, ,400 Cuban exiles landed in Southern Cuba

The Bay of Pigs Nothing worked A prior air strike failed to knock out the Cuban air force – even thought the CIA said it did

The Bay of Pigs The commandos that did reach the island were met by 20,000 Cuban soldiers backed by Soviet jets and tanks

The Bay of Pigs Castro turned this into a public relations triumph

The Bay of Pigs JFK embarrassed

The Bay of Pigs JFK negotiated w/ Castro for the return of the captured commandos

Cuban Missile Crisis Cuba had a powerful ally in the Soviet Union

Cuban Missile Crisis JFK told Soviets the US would not tolerate offensive nuclear weapons in Cuba

Cuban Missile Crisis Some of these sites contained missiles ready to launch

Cuban Missile Crisis October 22, JFK informs nation of the Soviet missiles in Cuba

Cuban Missile Crisis For the next 6 days- the world faced the possibility of nuclear war

Cuban Missile Crisis 20,000 US troops assembled in Florida- largest invasion force ever assembled in the US

Cuban Missile Crisis Soviet Ships suddenly stop to avoid confrontation

Cuban Missile Crisis Crisis damaged Khrushchev’s prestige Criticized for backing down from the US

Cuban Missile Crisis JFK criticized as well

Cuban Missile Crisis Others believed JFK had been too soft

Effects of the Cuban Missile Crisis Many Cuban exiles blamed Democrats for “losing” Cuba and became Republicans

The Berlin Crisis Crisis emerged shortly after bay of Pigs fiasco

The Berlin Crisis In 11 years since Berlin Airlift- 3 million east Germans (20% of the E. German population) fled to West Berlin

The Berlin Crisis Khrushchev threatened to close off West Berlin

The Berlin Crisis US nuclear power prevented the Soviets from closing off Berlin

The Berlin Crisis Berlin wall ended Berlin crisis Further aggravated Col War tension

Searching for Ways to Ease Tensions April JFK proposed the creation of a hotline between Washington DC and Moscow The 2 leaders could now communicate directly should a crisis arise

Searching for Ways to Ease Tensions Limited Test Ban Treaty- barred nuclear testing in the atmosphere