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The Cold War in the 1950s: U.S.

The Cold War in the 1950s: U.S. Dwight Eisenhower takes over from Truman in 1953. Democrats charged Republicans for “missile gap” Eisenhower responded: Eisenhower Doctrine “MASSIVE RETALIATION” Enlarged defense spending; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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The Cold War in the 1950s: U.S.

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  1. The Cold War in the 1950s: U.S. • Dwight Eisenhower takes over from Truman in 1953. • Democrats charged Republicans for “missile gap” • Eisenhower responded: Eisenhower Doctrine • “MASSIVE RETALIATION” • Enlarged defense spending; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) • By 1962-63, the U.S. had 450 missiles and 2,000 bombers capable at striking the Soviet Union, compared to 50-100 ICBMS and 200 bombers that could reach the U.S.

  2. The Cold War in the 1950s: USSR • Nikita Khrushchev -1953. • He repudiates Stalin’s use of the vast Gulag (or labor camp complex) and attempts to separate Stalin’s “crimes” from true communism. • Repression and Dissent • Polish and Hungarian intellectuals and students held demonstrations calling for free elections, withdrawal of Soviet troops, etc. • 1956 – Soviet Crackdown in Hungary • Soviet tanks were sent in to crush dissent.

  3. The Cold War in the 1950s: USSR • October 4, 1957 – USSR launched the first satellite, Sputnik, into orbit. • The Sputnik launch confirmed the Soviet Union’s superpower status. • Two months earlier they had tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). • Khrushchev – “We will bury you”

  4. The Third World • By the middle of the 1960s, as the euphoria of decolonization evaporated and new states found themselves mired in debt and dependency, many Third World nations fell into dictatorship and authoritarian rule.

  5. THE JFK YEARS1960-1963 Nixon Debates Bay of Pigs Invasion Berlin Wall Thirteen Days Assassination

  6. John Fitzgerald Kennedy • Elected President in 1960 (Democrat) • First ever televised Presidential debates JFK vs. Nixon • JFK youngest President ever elected • Barely defeats Vice-President Richard M. Nixon • Nixon wanted to charge fraud in the election

  7. The Kennedys • Politically Prominent family – very wealthy • Father Joseph Kennedy one of the participants of 1938 Munich Conference (appeasement) • Reputation a problem for JFK (weakness) • Appoints brother Bobby (RFK) to Attorney-General • Kennedys not well liked or respected in the White house by old Eisenhower Gov’t people

  8. Containing Communism • Cuba is the thorn in the side of the USA • 90 miles off the coast of Florida • Castro’s radical Communist Gov’t a threat to the USA • CIA plan to invade Cuba and overthrow Castro in the works from Eisenhower years • Plan presented to JFK with full support from Joint Chiefs • JFK agrees to the plan

  9. Bay of Pigs InvasionApril 19, 1961 • 1,500 anti-Castro Cuban exiles land at Bay of Pigs, Cuba • CIA and JFK advisors sure a Cuban uprising would occur • Poorly planned and executed scheme fails miserably • Invasion force wiped out in 3 days – 1,200 captured • No such uprising – bad CIA Info • Castro solidifies power and popularity in the face of USA aggression

  10. “The USA looked like fools to our friends, like rascals to our enemies, and incompetents to everyone else” -New York Times on Bay of Pigs Invasion • JFK publicly accepts blame for the fiasco • JFK privately claims the CIA manipulated and lied to him • JFK cleans house at CIA but still is forming Cuba invasion plans • Tensions run high for JFK & Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev meeting 2 months later in Austria • JFK gets bullied by Khrushchev

  11. Berlin Wall • Khrushchev wary of USA aggression • Berlin is hot spot for Soviets • E. Berlin is poor and under strict rule • W. Berlin is wealthy and free • By 1961, 3 million had fled to the West • Khrushchev closes the border and erects a 12 foot, 96 mile wall - closes off the East from the West • Becomes ultimate symbol of harsh Communist rule and of the Cold War

  12. Beginning of a Crisis • USSR and Cuba challenge American Containment policy • Cuba secretly imports Nuclear missiles from Russia to resist another USA invasion • USA U-2 spy planes discover missiles Oct. 12, 1962 • USA already has Jupiter Missiles in Italy, England, & Turkey – which has angered Russia

  13. U-2 Pictures

  14. Range of the SS-4 Sandal Missile

  15. USA Reaction • JFK assembles a team to weigh options and solutions • Determine missiles will be operational in 13 Days • Military wants to strike Cuban Missile Sites • JFK staff afraid Joint Chiefs setting up for a war (redeem for Pigs) • JFK decides to blockade (quarantine) Cuba to stop missile shipments • Can still bomb missile sites if have to

  16. Cuban Missile Crisis • Horrible psychological effect on American public • Russia tries to run the blockade • USA running out of time, prepares to strike the missile sites • US U-2 spy plane shot down over Cuba

  17. Last Minute… • Russian ambassador cuts a secret deal with RFK to end crisis • 1. USSR removes missiles from Cuba • 2. USA pledges not to invade Cuba • 3. USA pledges to remove Jupiter missiles from Turkey in 6 months • The “Hot-Line” phone installed between USA and USSR

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