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Chapter 20 Section 1 Kennedy & The Cold War
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1960 Election John F. Kennedy vs. Richard Nixon Kennedy- Senator of Massachusetts; Nixon- VP TV changes election; Nixon more experienced but Kennedy looks better on TV 1 st presidential debate Kennedy is young and Catholic Civil Rights; MLK is arrested, Eisenhower does nothing, RFK talks to judge gets MLK released. Earns votes from African-Americans
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Camelot Kennedy brings a new era to the White House; wit, charm, charisma. Press loved him, young and inspiring Artists, celebrities surround president Young wife & family fascinated the public Kennedy surrounds himself with “the best & the brightest” advisers including his brother Robert Kennedy (attorney general)
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Kennedy
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The Cold War Soviets are gaining favor with economically less-developed countries of Asia, Africa & Latin America (Cuba) Develops new strategy- flexible response- broadening the range of retaliation Using Nukes as the only response like committing suicide Increases spending on troops, artillery, ships (green berets)
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Crisis over Cuba Eisenhower cuts off ties when revolutionary leader Fidel Castro comes into power Castro publicly declares he’s a communist; seeks aid of Soviet Union U.S. trusts Castro at first, but falls apart Seizes American & British oil refineries, American sugar companies- the U.S. erects trade barriers Many Cubans saw Castro as another tyrant, others liked him; 10% went into exile
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Bay of Pigs U.S. supported invasion of Cuba by exiles Fails from the beginning: air raid is unsuccessful, advance troops never make it ashore, main commandos face heavy Cuban resistance Makes Kennedy look bad, embarrassed- but he takes responsibility Pays ransom for prisoners ($53 million in supplies)
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Cuban Missile Crisis Khrushchev promises Castro support; begins to send weapons to Cuba summer of 1962 Nuclear missiles America wouldn’t tolerate offensive weapons Spy planes revealed nuclear missile bases in Cuba; missiles could reach U.S. in minutes Notifies Americans about what is happening U.S. Navy blocks Soviet ships coming into Cuba; works, ships stop Khrushchev says he’ll remove missiles
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Cuba spy pictures
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Crisis in Berlin Berlin Wall cuts the city in half; Kennedy stands strong on stopping spread of Communism 1961, 20% Berlin’s population fled to West Germany to flee Communist rule Khrushchev and Kennedy disagree about Germany; Kennedy won’t budge- wall erected
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Berlin Wall
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Try to ease tension Split-second decision making is the difference between nuclear war or peace Kennedy & Khrushchev establish a hot line- dedicated phone line between White House & Kremlin so they could communicate at once Later, U.S. & Soviets agree to a Limited Test Ban Treaty- barred testing in the atmosphere
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