Kennedy and the Cold War

1. Kennedy and the Cold War

4. The Great Debates 1st Televised Debate 1

8. Presidential Campaign Kennedy: Came from politically powerful Massachusetts family War hero Represented the future Nixon: Self-made man from a small town Ties Eisenhower tied him to the past 2

9. Election of 1960 • JFK capitalized on their differences • Adopted the term “New Frontier” • Played on Nation’s Cold War fears • Showed concern for poor 3

10. Election of 1960 • Defended Eisenhower’s record • Made him appear tied to the past 3

11. Catholic Candidate • Some Protestant voters concerned • Fears that JFK might put views of Catholic Church over those • of American public 4

12. Election Day • One of the closest in history • JFK became youngest (43 years) President in history • Popular vote separated by 120,000 votes • Electoral 303-219 5

13. Kennedy and MLK JFK’s support for Martin Luther King won him the support of black voters 6

14. JFK takes Office • Inaugural address focused on • theme of change • Also strong anti-Communist tone 7

15. “The Best and the Brightest” • Young, well educated experts • in their fields • Closest advisor RFK, brother • and youngest ever Attorney • General (36) 8

16. Bay of Pigs Invasion • CIA had been training 1,500 Cuban exiles in Central America to invade • Cuba to overthrow Fidel Castro • Many had been recruited in south Florida 9

17. Background of Invasion • Came to power in 1959 after a 2 year • guerilla war against Fulgencio Batista • Batista was a U.S. backed dictator • Castro promised to restore rights and • freedoms • Once in power he seized private businesses • Began making anti-American speeches • Eisenhower cut economic and diplomatic ties Fidel Castro 10

18. Invasion of Cuba • Plan hatched by CIA under Eisenhower • JFK • Considered Castro’s Communism • a threat to all Latin America • Had criticized IKE for inaction during • presidential campaign • Felt he would look weak if he backed • down 11

19. Disaster • Plans leaked to New York Times a • week before, JFK denied story • April 15, 1961 • Unmarked US bombers failed to • take out Cuban air force • JFK cancelled airstrikes scheduled • for next two days • Land invasion April 17th • Castro’s troops were waiting • for invaders 12

20. Result of Bay of Pigs • Total failure • Castro viewed as hero in Cuba • 1,200 invaders captured • Strengthened ties between Cuba • and the Soviet Union 13

21. Kennedy’s New Frontier • America struck by Kennedy youth and vitality 14

22. Jackie Kennedy 15

23. Kennedy and Congress • New Frontier: name given to his plans for change • Conservative Congress (didn’t favor change) • Narrow victory, no mandate (authorization to act) 16

24. The Space Program • Direct result of Cold War Crises • Soviets 1st man in space 1961 • May, 1961 proposal to Congress: • “ This nation should commit itself • to achieving the goal, before this • decade is out, of landing a man on • the moon and returning him safely • to earth…” • John Glenn 1962 17

26. The Warren Court • Series of controversial rulings which greatly extended individual rights • and freedoms • Brown v Board (1954) • Baker v Carr (1962) • Engel v Vitale (1962) • Abington School District v Schempp (1963) • Gideon v Wainwright (1963) • Miranda v Arizona (1966) • Roe v Wade (1973) not technically a “Warren Court” • decision 18

27. The Kennedy Assassination • 1964 campaign approaching • JFK flew to Dallas to win support of southern Democrats • November 22, 1963 19

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30. Texas Schoolbook Depository • Three Shots fired • President Kennedy and • Texas Governor Connolly • hit 22

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38. Lee Harvey Oswald 31

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40. Jack Ruby Tried and convicted of the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald 33

41. Warren Commission 34

42. Computer Generated Simulation