““I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support freeI believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. outside pressures. I believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in theirI believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way. own way. I believe that our help should be primarily through economic and financial aidI believe that our help should be primarily through economic and financial aid which is essential to economic stability and orderly political processes.” which is essential to economic stability and orderly political processes.”

-Harry S. Truman (Truman Doctrine)-Harry S. Truman (Truman Doctrine)

Truman’s Doctrine setTruman’s Doctrine set forth the precedent of American foreign policy over the forth the precedent of American foreign policy over the next couple decades. Indirectly, Truman accused the Soviets of being the next couple decades. Indirectly, Truman accused the Soviets of being the oppressors and vowed to protect the freedom of minority (third world) countries.oppressors and vowed to protect the freedom of minority (third world) countries.

Kennedy maintained the reputation as a “Cold Warrior” with objectives Kennedy maintained the reputation as a “Cold Warrior” with objectives presented to maintain global advantages to the United Statespresented to maintain global advantages to the United States

He ordered the naval and aerial quarantine on the Soviet shipment of He ordered the naval and aerial quarantine on the Soviet shipment of offensive missiles being shipped to Cuba (as part of the Cuban Missile offensive missiles being shipped to Cuba (as part of the Cuban Missile Crisis). Crisis).

Kennedy’s direct challenge to Soviet policy strengthened his Kennedy’s direct challenge to Soviet policy strengthened his image as the “Cold Warrior.” The Soviet retreat was a prelude to image as the “Cold Warrior.” The Soviet retreat was a prelude to their their innate fear of American technology and power (similar to the innate fear of American technology and power (similar to the United United States’ fear of the Soviets). States’ fear of the Soviets).

Within INCHES of nuclear holocaust

OPERATION: MONGOOSEMONGOOSE

BAY OF PIGS

ANADYR

The Soviets placed missiles on the The Soviets placed missiles on the island of their newly acquired communist island of their newly acquired communist Cuban ally as a “strategic defense move.” Cuban ally as a “strategic defense move.” The United States became uncomfortableThe United States became uncomfortablewith the proximity of these missiles to with the proximity of these missiles to US cities and demanded they be dismissed US cities and demanded they be dismissed sent back to the Soviet Union.sent back to the Soviet Union.

““This urgent transformation of Cuba into an important strategic base--by the This urgent transformation of Cuba into an important strategic base--by the presence of these large, long range, and clearly offensive weapons of presence of these large, long range, and clearly offensive weapons of sudden mass destruction--constitutes an explicit threat to the peace and sudden mass destruction--constitutes an explicit threat to the peace and security of all the Americas,” –JFK October 22, 1962security of all the Americas,” –JFK October 22, 1962

John F. Kennedy ordered a naval interception on Soviet ships transporting John F. Kennedy ordered a naval interception on Soviet ships transporting these Missiles to Cuba resulting in a Soviet retreat and careful efforts on both these Missiles to Cuba resulting in a Soviet retreat and careful efforts on both sides to avoid nuclear war. It was agreed that nuclear testing should be sides to avoid nuclear war. It was agreed that nuclear testing should be banned by both The United States and the Soviet Union. banned by both The United States and the Soviet Union.

The creation of communist countries represents a devastating blow to The creation of communist countries represents a devastating blow to capitalist economy (such as the United States’). Communist countries capitalist economy (such as the United States’). Communist countries are anti-capitalist, free-market doesn’t exist, and political and physical are anti-capitalist, free-market doesn’t exist, and political and physical oppression are abundant in communist countries. oppression are abundant in communist countries.

The spread of communism threatened Harry S. Truman’s idea of self-The spread of communism threatened Harry S. Truman’s idea of self-determination. Russian control of Eastern Europe takes away thedetermination. Russian control of Eastern Europe takes away thepeople’s rights to decide their own form of government.people’s rights to decide their own form of government.

Communist Soviet Union was in a political race with the United Communist Soviet Union was in a political race with the United States in the political persuasion of third world countries. Economic States in the political persuasion of third world countries. Economic aid was provided to these countries, post World War II, in an attempt aid was provided to these countries, post World War II, in an attempt to gain trust and potential economic futures (as well as the topic of to gain trust and potential economic futures (as well as the topic of regaining basic human rights).regaining basic human rights).

The fear of the Soviet Union spreading communism throughout central The fear of the Soviet Union spreading communism throughout central Asia and western Europe brought with it the fear of American economic Asia and western Europe brought with it the fear of American economic suffering. The loss of capitalist nations meant the loss of economic prospersuffering. The loss of capitalist nations meant the loss of economic prosperfor the United States, and a lost sense of security for Americans. for the United States, and a lost sense of security for Americans.

“ ‘“ ‘the Soviet Union has so powerful rockets to carry these nuclear the Soviet Union has so powerful rockets to carry these nuclear warheads that there is no need to search for sites for them beyond the warheads that there is no need to search for sites for them beyond the boundaries of the Soviet Union.’ [quoted by the Soviet government] That boundaries of the Soviet Union.’ [quoted by the Soviet government] That statement was false.” –JFK October 22, 1962statement was false.” –JFK October 22, 1962

The technology and raw power of the Soviet Union was far less superior to The technology and raw power of the Soviet Union was far less superior to that of the United States. In reality, the economy and central governmentthat of the United States. In reality, the economy and central governmentof the Soviet Union had depleted after World War II and it was only a matter of of the Soviet Union had depleted after World War II and it was only a matter of time before the Soviet Empire broke apart. time before the Soviet Empire broke apart.