1. JFK & the Cold War

2. JFK and the Cold War
“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
JFK – Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961

3. The Election of 1960 TV Debate Impacts Voters JFK
wealthy, handsome, charismatic
Only 43
Roman Catholic
Kennedy looked and spoke better than Nixon, but weak against Communism
Nixon more experienced
8 years as Vice President
Former Governor
Huge Anti-Communist

4. TELEVISED DEBATE AFFECTS VOTE
On September 26, 1960, Kennedy and Nixon took part in the first televised debate between presidential candidates
Kennedy looked and spoke better than Nixon
Journalist Russell Baker said, “That night, image replaced the printed word as the national language of politics”

5. JFK: CONFIDENT, AT EASE DURING DEBATES
Television had become so central to people's lives that many observers blamed Nixon's loss to John F. Kennedy on his poor appearance in the televised presidential debates
JFK looked cool, collected, presidential
Nixon, according to one observer, resembled a "sinister chipmunk"

6. 1960 Presidential Election

7. THE KENNEDY MYSTIQUE The first family fascinated the American public
For example, after learning that JFK could read 1,600 words a minute, thousands enrolled in speed- reading courses
Jackie, too, captivated the nation with her eye for fashion and culture

8. THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST
JFK surrounded himself with what one journalist described as the “best and the brightest” available talent
Of all of his elite advisors who filled Kennedy’s inner circle, he relied most on his 35-year-old brother Robert, whom he appointed attorney general
RFK was John’s closest friend and advisor

9. A New Military Policy
Flexible response – increased defense spending in order to boost conventional military forces – nonnuclear forces such as troops, ships, and artillery – and to create an elite branch of the army called the Special Forces, or Green Berets. He also tripled the overall nuclear capabilities of the U.S.
Goal – allow the U.S. to fight limited wars around the world while maintaining a nuclear balance of power with the Soviets

10. Flexible Response
Challenged Eisenhower’s idea of “massive retaliation”
Pushed for the use of conventional weaponry and military to combat Communism
U.S. couldn’t rely on nuclear arsenal to protect itself

11. Crises over Cuba The Cuban dilemma Fidel Castro comes to power in 1959
Puts on mass public trials and executions
U.S. denounces Cuba and accepts thousands of Cuban refugees
Castro seizes U.S. businesses and Eisenhower cuts off imports of Cuban sugar
1960 – Cuba signs a trade treaty with the Soviet Union

12. The Bay of Pigs
In March 1960 Ike orders CIA to train Cuban exiles for an invasion of their homeland
JFK notified of plan 9 days into his presidency
JFK continues with the plan
The plan: day before the invasion, planes would attempt to wipe out Castro’s air force, then exiles would land at the beach, and the Cuban people would rise up against Castro and overthrow him

13. Quote from U.S. Commentator
Bay of Pigs (Cont.)
Plan failed: JFK failed to provide the necessary resources to help the exiles and they were rounded up by Castro’s men
It turned out to be a disaster when in April, 1961, 1,200 Cuban exiles met 25,000 Cuban troops backed by Soviet tanks and were soundly defeated
“We looked like fools to our friends, rascals to our enemies and incompetents to the rest”
Quote from U.S. Commentator

14. The Cuban Missile Crisis
In an attempt to counter any new American intervention and to improve the Soviet position in the nuclear arms race, Castro and Kruschchev devised a daring plan: installation of Soviet missiles and nuclear bombers in Cuba

15. Cuban Missile Crisis
Oct. 14, 1962 – U-2 flights showed 65 sites for offensive medium-range ballistic missiles – could reach the U.S. in 3 minutes
When surveillance photos revealed nukes ready to launch in Cuba, JFK said the U.S. would respond to any attack from Cuba with an all-out nuclear retaliation against the Soviets
JFK ordered a naval quarantine of the island (used the word “quarantine” rather than “blockade” since blockade was an act of war)
Oct. 22 – went on national television informing the Soviets of American policy and demanded their retreat
American forces around the globe went on alert
The world was on the brink of nuclear war

16. Nuclear Chicken JFK pushes for naval blockade Goal: The Problem:
Seize any ships going into/out of Cuba
Force the immediate removal of missiles
The Problem:
A direct attack on Soviets would be an act of war
The existence of the missiles were an act of war

17. 13 DAYS
For 13 days in October, the world stood still as the threat of nuclear war gripped the planet
War seemed imminent
The first break in the crisis occurred when the Soviets ships turned back from the blockade

18. Cuban Missile Crisis (Cont.)
Eventually, the Presidents had worked out a secret agreement
Khrushchev said that he would remove the missiles if the U.S. agreed not to attack Cuba and removed its missiles from Turkey
Kennedy publicly agreed to the 1st and privately to the second
Was this necessary? Should Kennedy have gone on T.V. or negotiated privately?

19. The Fallout
“We’re eyeball to eyeball, and I think the other fellow just blinked.” –Dean Rusk, Secretary of State
Russia blinks!
Russia removes missiles from Cuba
U.S. removes missiles from Turkey
Quarantine ends, but embargo begins
The Problems:
Khrushchev forced from office
Kremlin begins nuclear expansion
U.S. and Russia agree to test ban treaty
Establish direct communication link: the red phone

20. CRISIS OVER BERLIN
In 1961, Berlin, Germany was a city in great turmoil
In the 11 years since the Berlin Airlift, almost 3 million East Germans (Soviet side) had fled into West Berlin (U.S. controlled) to flee communist rule

21. SOVIETS SEEK TO STOP EXODUS
The Soviets did not like the fact that East Berliners were fleeing their city for the democratic west
Their departure hurt the economy and the prestige of the USSR
Just after midnight on August 13, 1961 the Soviets began construction of a 90- mile wall separating East and West Berlin
East Germany begins construction on the Berlin Wall, which becomes a primary symbol of the Cold War and Soviet oppression

22. Trying to Ease Tensions
Both Khrushchev and Kennedy began searching for ways to ease the enormous tension between the two superpowers
Two Agreements
1. Direct hotline between the White House and the Kremlin
2. Signing of the Limited Test Ban Treaty – called for an end to all nuclear tests in the ocean, the atmosphere and outer space – by the end of the year, 113 other nations had signed the treaty

23. The Peace Corps JFK’s call for American international volunteerism
The Peace Corps is a volunteer program to assist developing nations in Asia, Africa and Latin America
The commitment:
Spend 2 years in developing nations
Specialize in education, agriculture, irrigation, sewage treatment, or health care
Promote democracy and American influence
Remains one of the most lasting legacy’s of JFK’s presidency

24. RACE TO THE MOON
On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space
Meanwhile, America’s space agency (NASA) began construction on new launch facilities in Cape Canaveral, Florida and a mission control center in Houston, Texas

25. The Space Race JFK’s promise to be the first to the moon
1962: NASA sends John Glenn, first American in space
Used Saturn V rocket to propel out of Earth’s orbit
1969: Saturn V rocket launches Apollo 11
First successful moon landing
Neal Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins

26. “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”
A MAN ON THE MOON
Armstrong
By July 20, 1969, the U.S. would achieve its goal
An excited nation watched as U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the moon
Space and defense-related industries sprang up in Southern and Western states
Kennedy’s vision succeeded
“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”

27. KENNEDY ADDRESSES INNER CITY BLIGHT AND RACISM
In 1963, Kennedy called for “a national assault on the causes of poverty”
He also ordered his brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy to investigate racial injustice in the South
Finally, he presented Congress with a sweeping civil rights bill and a sweeping tax cut bill to spur the economy

28. The Arrival in Dallas
JFK, LBJ, and families arrive in Dallas for a political rally
The families separate for an escorted drive in downtown Dallas
Shots fired: JFK shot in the head and the throat
Eyewitnesses argue about the number and locations of shots

29. Three-year old John Kennedy Jr
Three-year old John Kennedy Jr. salutes his father’s coffin during the funeral

30. LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON BECOMES PRESIDENT
The Vice-President, Lyndon Baines Johnson, became President after JFK was assassinated
The nation mourned the death of the young president while Jackie Kennedy remained calm and poised
A somber LBJ takes the oath of office aboard Air Force One with the Jackie next to him