1. Unit 7, Day 1

2.  As the election of 1960 approached, Americans were growing concerned with the growing rivalry between the U.S. and Soviet Union. Civil rights were also an issue that needed to be addressed.  Though the two candidates, Nixon and Kennedy had similar backgrounds, they also had major differences.  Kennedy was from a wealthy family, whereas Nixon had to work as a teenager.  Many people also respected Nixon for his role as Eisenhower’s vice-president.

3.  Ultimately, it was television that made the difference between the two candidates.  In televised debates, Nixon appeared disheveled and had recently been released from the hospital.  Kennedy, however, looked relaxed, freshly tanned and younger.  Those that watched the debate on TV believed that Kennedy had won, whereas those who had listened on the radio thought Nixon had won.  The election was won by Kennedy by ~120,000 votes.

5.  During Eisenhower’s presidency, Cuba had fallen to the communist leader Fidel Castro.  Many also believed that there was now as ‘missile gap’ between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.  This meant that the Soviets were out producing the U.S. in nuclear weaponry.

6.  Kennedy encouraged and inspired hope in the American people.  “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”  Around the world, Kennedy used ‘missions of peace’ to improve relations.  Under his presidency, the Peace Corps began in 1961 and provided technical, educational and health services to ‘Third World’ countries.  The Alliance for Progress provided economic aid, specifically to Latin America.

7.  Although the U.S. originally attempted to have peace with Cuba, it soon became clear that would not happen.  Wealthy and middle-class Cubans had fled to Miami to escape Castro’s regime.  Under Eisenhower, some of these exiles had been trained for an invasion of Cuba.  In a failed attempt known as the Bay of Pigs invasion, these exiles and few CIA members were outnumbered and unprepared. ▪ This turned many Cubans against Kennedy.

8.  Tensions heightened between the two when the CIA discovered the Soviets building missile sites in Cuba.  Kennedy enacted a naval blockade (‘quarantine’) of Cuba (publicly) while working behind the scenes with Krushchev to negotiate a tradeoff.  After 6 days, the standoff between the two ended.  After the Cuban Missile Crisis, public opinion of Kennedy grew, and a “hot line” was installed between the Soviet Union and the U.S.  The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty banning above ground nuclear weapons testing was also signed.

9.  When Krushchev and Kennedy attended a conference in 1961 aimed at alleviating tensions, the opposite happened.  Krushchev wanted to merge West Berlin with East Germany. However, Kennedy would not give up the zone to occupation.  The Berlin Wall became a visible sign of the tensions, separating East and West Berlin.

10.  Which event from Kennedy’s presidency had the greatest impact on the Cold War and why?