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Kennedy and the Cold War

Kennedy and the Cold War. Section 19.1. The 1960 Election. Issues left over from Eisenhower: Sputnik I and Laika U2 incident Race Issues (Montgomery Bus Boycott, Birmingham, Selma, etc.) And… 22 nd Amendment didn’t let Eisenhower run again. The Candidates.

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Kennedy and the Cold War

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  1. Kennedy and the Cold War Section 19.1

  2. The 1960 Election • Issues left over from Eisenhower: • Sputnik I and Laika • U2 incident • Race Issues (Montgomery Bus Boycott, Birmingham, Selma, etc.) • And… • 22nd Amendment didn’t let Eisenhower run again

  3. The Candidates • JFK and Nixon square off for the presidency • Both are young (JFK – 1917, Nixon - 1913) • Both served in the Navy in WWII • Both elected in 1946 and JFK to the Senate in 1950 • Both anti-Communist

  4. Senator JOHN F. KENNEDY (D) • Came from a wealthy Massachusetts family • Roman Catholic (concerned Protestants) • Young and Charismatic (43) • Advocated a stronger stance towards Soviets • Emphasized stronger military and science programs • Played on the plight of the poor & African-Americans

  5. Assets – Kennedy’s Family

  6. Problems for Kennedy • His family – wealthy father an appeaser in WWII • Money supports him • Daddy had money in Hollywood, Whiskey, stock market, manager of a shipyard • His age (43) – says his energy is a plus but experience… • His faith – Irish Catholic; said he would be a president who is Catholic not a Catholic president

  7. Vice President RICHARD NIXON (R) • Came from a modest, working class California family • Raised a Quaker (no drinking, dancing, swearing…people thought he was too conservative) • Linked to the Eisenhower administration • Seen as resistant to change and “uncool” in the new times)

  8. The “Sweaty Debates” – Mr. Miser • First televised debates • JFK wins the image war • Tanned and makeup • Nixon wins among those who listened on radio • Looked sick and pale

  9. The Civil Rights Issue • As MLK in jail in Birmingham (1956 – after bus boycott) • JFK sends Robert F. Kennedy to help MLK • Nixon worked behind the scenes (felt it was inappropriate to act) • JFK wins the black vote

  10. The Actual Election • 68,835,000 votes cast • JFK wins by 119,000 • Hold on a minute… • Did Chicago mob throw the election? • Nixon refuses to challenge the outcome

  11. Kennedy = 49.7%; Nixon = 49.6%

  12. The Inauguration Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You, Ask What you Can Do For Your Country!!!

  13. A Different Kind of White House • Informal White House Advisors • Young, well-educated, experts (friends – not government people) • Cabinet • More experienced, well versed in the history of the government

  14. New Cold War Strategies • Claimed Eisenhower allowed a “missile gap” to happen and that USSR was winning • Eisenhower cautioned against militarism as the tail that wags the dog • Also claimed Eisenhower had relied on nuclear forces to much • Conventional forces were unprepared

  15. JFK’s Flexible Response • Move away from massive retaliation and brinksmanship • Build up special forces and conventional weapons to fight non-nuclear wars and provide non-nuclear deterrent • Is war more likely?

  16. Dealing with more Image Issues • Soviets claim to Asia, India, South America, and Africa that capitalism caused their poverty • The US is the CAPTALIST state

  17. America’s Soft Power • JFK wanted to improve US image in 3rd World • THIRD WORLD – countries that remained non-aligned with either NATO (First World) or the Communist Bloc (Second World) • Peace Corps 1961 – worked • Sent young Americans to do economic and social development work (2-year tours) • Alliance for Progress made to change Soviet and Cuban influence • In essence, Marshall Plan for Latin America • $20 billion in assistance and asked Latin Americans gov’ts to provide $80 billion in investment • Didn’t work

  18. The Post War Divide • Germany was divided into four economic zones that were supposed to work together to eventually reunite the country of Germany • At Potsdam, Truman, Stalin, and Attlee set out the principles of the Allied Control Council • Germany’s complete disarmament and demilitarization • Destruction of war potential • Rigid control of industry • Decentralization of the political and economic structure

  19. The Trouble with Berlin • Of the two Berlins, West was more prosperous, more economically strong • Berlin sat in the middle of Eastern Germany, 200 miles from the East and West Germany border • It became a place for Eastern Germans to flee to in order to find work or even to make it to West Germany

  20. The Monster • 13 August 1961 – “shock workers” shut off the border between East and West Berlin using barbed wire • 16 Aug – the barbed wire was replaced by concrete • The final wall was 4 m (13 ft) high and 111 m (364 ft) long • 300 watch towers with orders to shoot on sight • 190 people were killed on the eastern side of the Wall

  21. Get along with the voices…or get out

  22. Life under Castro – the real reason the US is not too fond of him • 1960 – Castro nationalized all US-businesses • Oil refineries, factories, and casinos • US enacted embargo

  23. Dealing with a Communist Cuba (hint…they don’t do it well) • CIA plans attempts on Castro’s life • Ex: Exploding cigars, fungal infected diving suits, mafia hits, ballpoint hypodermic syringe, the list goes on…) • Begs the question: Was Cuba behind the JFK assassination?

  24. CIA Invasion • Cuban exiles trained by CIA to invade Cuba and overthrow Castro • US would then announce its support and aid the rebels • JFK gives the go ahead

  25. Bay of Pigs Invasion (like I said, not well…) • April 1961 – 1,400 Cuban exiles trained by the CIA landed near the Bay of Pigs to overthrow Castro • Old US bombers piloted by Cuban exiles used to destroy Cuba’s air force • Castro alerted by air strikes and exiles given no more air support • 1,300 were captured and in 1962 Castro freed them for medical supplies and baby food (worth $52 million)

  26. Kennedy’s Greatest Failure

  27. Results of Bay of Pigs Castro strengthens ties to Khrushchev for protection Communism inches closer to the US mainland

  28. Cuban Missile Crisis (they’re like children really..) • Aug 1962 – the first rumors about Soviet missiles in Cuba began to surface in the US press Soviet ambassadors denied the missiles • 14 Oct 1962 – U-2 spy planes find the missiles

  29. The Tensions Continue to Rise • Kennedy knew they could not invade Cuba but needed to get rid of the missiles without any concessions • Decided to blockade Cuba • USSR said that was illegal and that they would test it • USSR sent ships toward the blockade but turned back at the last moment • Khrushchev sent a letter to Kennedy appealing to reason and trust to prevent a war

  30. Yay! Something done right! • Global thermal nuclear war averted • Nukes taken out of Cuba in exchange for the removal of the Turkey nukes • US public thinks JFK won

  31. Détente • Policy of Brezhnev • Relaxation of cold war tensions • Step back from war • A “Hot Line” was installed • Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1963) – ended above ground testing

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