John F. Kennedy and the Cold War1960-1963

Lingering Issues

• Sputnik Launched in 1957• Long-range missile development in USSR• U-2 Spy Plane- 1960• Cuba aligns with Soviet Union

Sputnik 2 and Laika

Election of 1960

• Richard Nixon (R) – Vice President• John F. Kennedy (D) – Senator MA• Issues:

– Cold War, Economy, Civil Rights*

*The help of television, along with JFK’s stance on the CRM, won him the election

Civil Rights and the Election

• As you know, JFK backed a Civil Rights Act which would be passed a year after his death

• In 1960, JFK and brother/campaign manager Robert persuaded judge to release MLK on bail for sit-in– 1 month before election day

• Gained the approval of African Americans

Nixon-Kennedy Debates• First televised debate

– 70 million viewers– 67 million in 2012; 43 million

watched the Academy Awards• JFK wins by a slim margin

– Who won the debates?- People felt differently depending on whether they heard or saw the debate. (1:46)

• Youngest elected president (43)• Only Catholic president

“That night, image replaced the printed word as the

natural language of politics.- Journalist

JFK’s New Frontier• Kennedy’s Inaugural Address

– “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you– ask what you can do for your country”.

• The American public took on a fascination for the Kennedy’s comparing them to the likes of Camelot

JFK’s New Frontier

• “Best and the brightest”– JFK’s cabinet: Harvard dean, Ford Motor

Company president, president of Rockefeller foundation, etc.

• Deficit spending for government programs:– Space race– Defense funding

• “Flexible” response– Don’t rely on nuclear weapons

• Expand Troops, ships, AND nukes

Kennedy’s Flexible Response

• Developed alternatives to nuclear war• Defense spending increased:

– 1940: 18%– 1950: 32%– 1960: 52%– 2000: 16%

• Green Berets created– “Special Forces”

• Despite “alternatives”, JFK came closer than ever to an all-out nuclear war…

1959 - Fidel Castro Takes Power• Led Cuban Revolution with promise of democracy• 90 miles off coast of Florida• Batista fled in exile to Florida

“Revolutionaries are not born, they are made by poverty, inequality, and

dictatorship.”- Castro

Soviet Influence• Castro openly declared to be a communist• Castro regime received Soviet Aid and

nationalized US companies• The US cut off relations in 1961

– Eisenhower (January)– JFK would enter office immediately after this

• Castro then:– seized 3 American and British oil refineries– broke up commercial farms into communes

worked by formerly landless peasants… sounds like?

April 1961 – Bay of Pigs Invasion• Cuban exiles in Miami trained by CIA attempt an

overthrow (approved by Eisenhower)– JFK learned of this 9 days after election, but approved.

• 1,500 exiles are met by 25,000 Cubans on 4/17/61 at the Bay of Pigs (Southern coast)– Advance mission to “distract” never made it– Air strike didn’t eliminate Cuban Air Force– Soviet tanks and air support met main unit

• Failed US invasion of Cuba• JFK and US embarrassed

Americans “look like fools to our friends, rascals to our enemies, and incompetents

to the rest.”- NY Times

Cuban Missile Crisis

• Soviet offensive nuclear weapons in Cuba– Oct. 1962- Pictures showed bases with ready-

to-launch missiles– Could reach U.S. in seconds (“Medium Range

Ballistic Missiles”)• JFK warned that any attack from Cuba

meant all-out attack on USSR

Cuban Missile Crisis• For several days, nuclear war seemed imminent• Soviet ships continued to Cuba (carrying missiles?)• U.S. Navy prepared to “quarantine”- prevent any

ships from coming within 500• Meanwhile, troops gathering in FLA for land invasion• Soviets eventually stopped

Results

• “We are eyeball to eyeball, and the other fellow just blinked…”- Secretary of State

• Compromise:– No land invasion (USA)– Khrushchev removes missiles– USA removes missiles from Turkey

• “For a moment, the world had stood still, and now it was going around again.”- Robert Kennedy

• Khrushchev's reputation takes a blow; Kennedy criticized for escalation without “peace talks”

• Cuban crisis still unresolved, though the US-Cuban relationship may strides in the near future.

Berlin Crisis• 1950-61:

– 3 million East Germans fled to West Germany– 200,000 from East Berlin to West Berlin (Effect?)– The only way to stop them was by force

• August 1961 – Berlin Wall constructed– East Germany sealed off by its leader– 32,000 combat and engineer troops build the wall– Border police control the area– Fell in 1989

Became a canvas to “mock”

communism using “dark” art.

Escape and you’d be shot.

Tensions Slightly Eased

• Hot line between USA and “The Kremlin” allowed two leaders to call immediately when an issue arose

• Limited Test Ban Treaty barred nuclear testing in the atmosphere in 1963

Aka the “red phone,” though it wasn’t actually

red.

Nov. 22, 1963: JFK killed in Dallas • Kennedy travels to Dallas to begin re-election campaign

– Motorcade through Dealey Plaza, downtown Dallas– 12:30pm shots fired– JFK killed – Texas Governor wounded

• Sniper - 6th floor Texas School Book Depository– Lee Harvey Oswald arrested 2 hours later in a movie theater– Oswald killed 3 days later – Jack Ruby– LBJ sworn in on Air Force One

Warren Commission• Pivotal Questions:

– Did Oswald act alone?– Was this assassination a bigger conspiracy?

• Established by Pres. Johnson to investigate• Headed by Chief Justice Earl Warren• Concluded Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone

House Select Committee on Assassinations

• Established 1976 - investigate MLK and JFK assassinations• Concluded Oswald killed JFK / most likely part of a conspiracy

Potential Conspirators

• C.I.A - embarrassment from Bay of Pigs• Cuban exiles - upset over US turning

their back after failed invasion• Mafia - Lost business in Cuba

Conclusion

• What were JFK’s biggest triumphs and failures?

• Why is his death surrounded by so many questions?

• In your opinion, was he a “good” president?