Camelot

The Kennedy years

Election 1960

• Ike’s popularity won’t rub off on Nixon– Despite rep as statesman• Diplomatic travels to Europe, S. Am• Stood up to Khrushchev in kitchen debates

– Merits of Capitalism v. Communism• Age 47- tough, seasoned

– Alger Hiss

• Kennedy- Charismatic, young MA senator– Just got nomination– Picked Southerner LBJ (party leader)

Debates

• 4 on TV• JFK seemed more vigorous, confidant– Attacked Eisenhower Admin for• Recent recession• Missile gap• Moving too slowly on Civil Rights

Election– Religion is an issue– Helped in cities– Nixon did better in rural Protestant areas

• Republicans charged ballot box stuffing in Illinois and TX

New Frontier

• Domestic Policy– Torch being passed to new generation– Plan: to aid education– Fed support of health care– Urban renewal– Civil rights• Languished in Congress

– Most passed as part of LBJ’s Great Society Program later on

Economy

• JFK faced down US Steel execs on inflationary prices– Got roll back– Established wage + price guide posts– Spending increased for defense, space exploration– Commitment to land on moon by end of decade

Foreign Affairs

• Peace Corps -61: to recruit young Ams for tech aid to developing nations

• Alliance for Progress- to org land reform & econ development for L.A.

• Trade Expansion Act ‘62: authorized tariff reductions w/ new Euro Econ Community (Common Market)

Bay of Pigs

• Worst mistake of presidency– CIA scheme – planned under Ike• To use Cuban exiles- CIA trained- to invade, overthrow

Castro• Expected big public support

– April 61: landing: Bay of Pigs» No General uprising» No air/ sea support» Trapped on beach» Exiles surrender» Eventually ransomed for food, medicine, cash» Cuba turns to USSR for aid, protection

Berlin Wall

• Trying to shake off embarrassment of B of P– JFK agrees to meet Khrushchev Summer 61: Vienna– Kh threatens JFK there to remove US forces from W/ Berlin– US refused– Aug. E. Germs w/ soviet backing built wall

• Around W. Berlin• JFK calls up reserves- no effort to stop wall• 63: goes to Berlin to assure it of US support• “Freedom has many difficulties + democ is not perfect but we

have never had to put up a wall to keep our people in…..– …as a free man I can take pride in the words: Ich bin ein Berliner”– Berlin Wall: symbol of cold war until pulled down: 1989 by rebellious E.

Gs

Cuban Missile Crisis• 62: U2 spy planes discover Russians building underground

silos in Cuba• JFK puts up naval blockade: Quarantine of Cuba until

missiles removed– If Russia challenges US ships: nuclear war likely– Several days’ tension– Khrushchev agrees to remove missiles 4 pledge not to invade

Cuba• And secret agreement to remove US missiles in Turkey in 6 months• Effects:

– telecommunications ‘Hot Line’ established in DC Moscow To talk thru future crises

– Nuclear Test Ban treaty signed 63 by US, USSR, 100 others to end testing in atmosphere, above ground, under sea

– New round of arms races starts for developing missile, warhead superiority

Flexible Response

• Many brushfire wars– Africa,– SE Asia

• Insurgents there armed & trained by Soviets• Congo (Zaire)• Laos, Vietnam convince JFK to adapt Flex Resp- moving away

from Dulles’ idea of massive retaliation, reliance on nukes– JFK & McNamara increased spending on conventional arms &

mobile military forces– Also increased temptation to sent elite forces like Green Berets

into combat in 3rd world

Assassination in Dallas• 2.5 yrs: one brief shining moment– Nov 22, 63: Dallas, TX– Went to heal rift in Dem party before election year– Stunned Amers glued to TV

• Saw replay of murder on tape• Saw alleged assassin gunned down (Lee Harvey Oswald) 2 days

later by Jack Ruby who dies later in jail of Cancer– Warren Commission headed by Ch Justice Earl Warren

concludes:• Oswald acted alone• Unanswered qs lead to dozens of conspiracy theories

– Possible involvement by organized crime, Castro, CIA, FBI

– Beginning of Credibility Gap