1. 1961-1963

2.  First Irish Catholic President  Elected in 1960  Narrowly defeated Republican Richard Nixon  Took office in January of 1961

3.  Kennedy came from a wealthy Irish family  His father had been Ambassador to England  Kennedy was a war hero in World War II  He wrote a Pulitzer Prize winning book: Profiles in Courage  He had a very elegant wife : Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy

4.  Named his programs The New Frontier  First crisis was the Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)  Created the Peace Corps to help other countries and improve America’s image  Created the program for exploration to the Moon

5.  CIA informed Kennedy that former President Eisenhower had approved a plan to help Cuban Exiles go back and invade Cuba to overthrow Fidel Castro

6.  CIA Asked Kennedy for Air Cover  Kennedy refused to order Air Cover because he thought the Soviet Union would see this as a U. S. Attack on one of their Allies. Then the Soviets might launch Missiles at the U. S.  The Bay of Pigs Invasion was a failure and a huge embarrassment to Kennedy.

7.  In October of 1962 Kennedy learned the Soviet Union was installing Nuclear Missiles in Cuba, 90 miles from Florida

8.  Kennedy ruled out an immediate attack on Cuba because he did Not want war with the Soviet Union (Cuba’s Ally)

9.  Kennedy demanded that the Missiles be Removed from Cuba  Kennedy used a Naval Blockade to surround Cuba and prevent any more missile parts delivered to Cuba

11.  Soviet ships that had threatened to Run the Blockade suddenly turned around  U. S. promised Not to invade Cuba  Soviets removed Missiles from Cuba  U. S. removed Missiles from Turkey

12.  Sent Green Berets to Vietnam  Denounced the Berlin Wall but did not want to go to war over It  Negotiated and Signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty with the Soviet Union