Kennedy and the Cold War
Chapter 20 section 1
Election 1960Democratic nominee
John KennedyPromised active leadership
Get America moving again
Republican nomineeRichard Nixon
John F. KennedyWell organized campaignWealthy familyHandsome and charismatic43 years oldRoman Catholic
InexperiencedHaving a Roman Catholic in the White House
would either:Have the pope be involved in American Policy Closer ties between church and state
TelevisionSeptember 26, 1960
First television debate70 million viewers
Nixon was an expert in Foreign PoliciesKennedy was coached by producersTelevision age
Civil RightsOctober Atlanta, GeorgiaPolice arrested Reverend Martin Luther King
Jr.Officially arrested on a minor traffic violation
Kennedy called Coretta Scott King
http://microsites.jfklibrary.org/presidentsdesk/#/secretTapes
CamelotNovember 1960
Closest since 1884Won by fewer than 119,00 votes
New era in the White HouseGraceEleganceWit
Critics said that his smooth style lacked substance
CamelotKing Arthur’s mythical court
Military PolicyFocused on the Cold WarCommunism was gaining loyalties
Asia, Africa, Latin AmericaCuba
Redefine the nation’s nuclear strategyEisenhower relied on massive retaliation to
deter Soviet aggression and imperialism
KennedyFlexible response
Increased spending in order to boost conventional military forces and to create an elite branch of army
Nonnuclear forces such as troops, ships, and artillery
Special forces/ Green Berets
CubaJanuary 3, 1961Fidel Castro
Revolutionary leaderOpenly declared himself a communistWelcomed aid from the Soviet Union
President Eisenhower cut off diplomatic relations
1956-1959Castro used guerrilla movement to topple
dictator Fulgencio BatistaUnited States recognized the new
governmentWere suspicious
Bay of PigsMarch 1960
Eisenhower gave permission to CIA to train exiles for a Cuban invasion
Kennedy learned of the plan 9 days after his electionHad doubts, but approved it
April 17, 19611300- 1500 Cuban Exiles
They had the support of the United StatesWas a huge disaster“Free Havana”
Cuban Missile Crisis1962
Soviets giving Cuba weapons increases Nuclear weapons
October 14Pictures taken of Soviet missiles in Cuba
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Soviets offered to remove the missiles in return for Americas pledge not to invade Cuba
KhrushchevDamaged prestige
KennedyCriticized for practicing brinkmanship
Berlin WallA concrete wall topped with barbed wire that
severed the city in two parts3 million East Germans went into West BerlinA symbol of Communist oppression
Easing TensionHot line
1963Between White House and Kremlin
Limited Test Ban TreatyBarred nuclear testing in the atmosphere
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