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Kennedy’s Foreign Policy

Kennedy’s Foreign Policy. p. 866-870. Kennedy’s “New Direction”. Kennedy continued the anti-Communist policy that was used by Eisenhower & Truman. Increased spending on nuclear weapons - U.S. is still competing with the Soviet Union .

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Kennedy’s Foreign Policy

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  1. Kennedy’s Foreign Policy p. 866-870

  2. Kennedy’s “New Direction” • Kennedy continued the anti-Communist policy that was used by Eisenhower & Truman. • Increased spending on nuclear weapons - U.S. is still competing with the Soviet Union. • Kennedy tries to convince Nikita Khrushchev, the Soviet leader, to agree to ban nuclear testing.

  3. Guerrilla Warfare • Used by Communist groups to take control of their nation’s government. • Often funded by the Soviet Union. • Definition: fighting by small bands using tactics such as sudden ambush. • Kennedy introduced flexible response to fight guerrilla wars. • U.S. top military unit was created… The Green Berets.

  4. Guerrilla Warfare

  5. The Green Berets http://www.groups.sfahq.com/sf_heraldry/ballad_gb_heraldy.htm

  6. “In an April 11, 1962, White House memorandum for the United States Army, President Kennedy showed his continued support for the Special Forces, calling the green beret • "a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom." • To honor his memory, Special Forces soldiers pay their respects to late President Kennedy by laying a wreath and green beret on his tomb every November twenty-second, the date of his assassination.” http://www.specialoperations.com/Army/Special_Forces/SF_Info/Story.htm

  7. Peace Corps • Kennedy signed an executive order on March 1, 1961 creating the Peace Corps. • Provides aid to countries that might find Communist economic promises appealing. • By 1963, over 5,000 volunteers were working in more than 40 countries. http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whatlike

  8. They dig wells and build houses. Teach children and their parents how to read. They're America's Peace Corps Volunteers. 170,000 strong since 1961 when a young president challenged a new generation to become global citizens, to help make the world a better place. The responsibility for peace, he said, is the responsibility of our entire society. The Peace Corps: a president's idea, a generation's commitment. Democracy did it.

  9. Bay of Pigs Invasion • Fidel Castro, the new leader (and still leader 2009) of Cuba, became allies with USSR. • U.S. recruited Cuban refugees, or exiles (people who had fled the new Cuban gov.) to overthrow Castro • On April 17, 1961, about 1,500 CIA-trained trained refugees landed at the Bay of Pigs in southern Cuba. • It did not go smoothly & Kennedy decided not to provide American air support. • Cuban forces then stopped the invasion. • Kennedy was blamed - an embarrassment!

  10. Fidel Castro

  11. The Berlin Wall • 16 years after WWII, Germany was still divided. • The Soviet Union remained in control of East Germany, and Berlin (in the middle of EG) was still divided among Soviet Union, Great Britain, France, & the U.S. • In 1961, Premier Khrushchev told Kennedy that the West must move out of Berlin. • The U.S. said “Uh…NO!” and sent troops to Berlin to protect the city. • After more fled from EG to WG, East Germany & Soviets closed the border & built the Berlin Wall.

  12. http://www.dailysoft.com/berlinwall/xgraphics/photographs/history/grenzanlagen.jpghttp://www.dailysoft.com/berlinwall/xgraphics/photographs/history/grenzanlagen.jpg

  13. Cuban Missile Crisis • In October 1962, an American spy plane flying over Cuba, discovered that the Soviets were building launching sites for nuclear missiles. (See map p. 869) • Kennedy met secretly with advisers to make a plan for the Cuban Missile Crisis. • Two Options: • 1. Invade Cuba 2. Bomb missile sites • On October 22, Kennedy revealed the “Secret” to the American public. • Kennedy ordered the navy to blockade Cuba until the Soviets removed the missiles. Read quote p. 869. • Soviet ships continued to approach as the WORLD waited nervously. • Five days later, the Soviets turned back and withdrew missiles.

  14. Hot Line • After an almost nuclear war (WWIII), the U.S. and Soviet Union created a direct telephone line, called the Hot Line. • It allowed the leaders of both countries to communicate instantly in time of crisis.

  15. Space Race Continued • Sputnik beat us in space. • Yuri Gagarin, a soviet cosmonaut, was first person in space • Alan Shepard, Jr. became first American in space (a month after USSR) • Kennedy asked Congress for money to fund NASA (National Aeronautics & Space Administration). • John Glenn orbited the earth in 1962. • The Apollo Project landed the Eagle spacecraft on the moon, and Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon - July 20, 1969. • Soviets 2 United States 4 WE WIN!!

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