1. Election of 1960 - The Candidates
Richard Nixon (R)
John F. Kennedy (D)
More experience
Ike’s popularity
Face for Radio
Inexperienced
Charismatic
Youthful - Camelot
similar positions on many issues
1st TV prez debate – NEW POLITICS
Kennedy “wins” debate & election – controversy. . .
youngest elected st Catholic
New Frontier: policies of JFK - Peace Corps, Alliance for Progress, Tough on Communism.

2. The Cuban Dilemma
1959 Cuban Revolution – Castro overthrows Batista (US friendly Dictator)
1960 Fidel Castro: “I’m Communist”
Aligned with USSR- 90 miles from United States
Takes U.S. properties
US: Stop the spread of
communism

3. Counter Revolution in Cuba
Operation Mongoose
1961 Cuban exiles/CIA plan invasion: GOAL….. Overthrow Castro- Bay of Pigs Invasion
Plans go wrong – AIRPOWER
exile forces killed/taken prisoner
RESULT: Humiliation

4. Participants in the Bay of Pigs invasion after their capture by the forces of Fidel Castro (1961).

5. The Berlin Crisis
1961: 20% of Germans flee to W. Berlin – Impact on East?
Khrushchev: close access roads to W.Berlin
RESULT: USSR isolates W. Berlin from E. Germany w/ Berlin Wall
JFK did little

7. A young woman and her boyfriend talking to the woman’s mother, who is on the east side of the Berlin Wall (1962).

8. Space Race!! April 1961 - Yuri A. Gagarin (USSR): first in space
May Alan Shepard (USA): first American in space
July 1969 Neil Armstrong (USA): 1st to walk on moon

9. Astronaut John Glenn, Jr
Astronaut John Glenn, Jr., standing in front of the spacecraft Friendship 7.

10. A New Military Policy Defining a Military Strategy
JFK believes must redefine nation’s nuclear strategy
Flexible response—fight conventional wars, keep nuclear arms balanced
JFK increases defense spending in three areas:
strengthens conventional forces
creates army Special Forces (Green Berets)
triples nuclear capabilities