April 25, 2018 U.S. History Agenda: DO NOW: Term Matching NOTES #58: What important events occurred during the presidency of John F. Kennedy?
What important events occurred during the presidency of John F. Kennedy? Notes #58
John F. Kennedy was elected president in 1960.
First televised presidential debates between Kennedy and Richard Nixon; first debate (out of four) was seen by 80 million viewers
Under Kennedy, the U.S. continued a foreign policy of containment. President Harry S. Truman (1945–1953) President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961)
For example: in 1961, Kennedy authorized the (failed) Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba by the U.S. to remove communist dictator Fidel Castro from power. Captured CIA agents from the failed Bay of Pigs invasion
Castro with Soviet Union communist leader Nikita Khrushchev In response to this failed invasion, Cuba allied itself with the Soviet Union for protection from the U.S. . . . Castro with Soviet Union communist leader Nikita Khrushchev
. . . and the Soviet Union began setting up nuclear missiles in Cuba.
After the U.S. discovered that there were nuclear missiles in Cuba, Kennedy ordered a naval blockade to isolate Cuba from the Soviet Union.
This Cuban missile crisis was resolved in 1962 when the Soviet Union removed its nuclear missiles from Cuba (after coming to an agreement with the U.S.) . . .
. . . and caused Kennedy to create the Peace Corps (volunteer program) to provide future support to developing nations of the world.
Under Kennedy, the U.S. space program was expanded. U.S. lands on the moon (July 20, 1969)
Johnson sworn in as president Kennedy assassinated in Dallas, Texas Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson became president. Johnson sworn in as president on Air Force One (November 22, 1963) Kennedy assassinated in Dallas, Texas (November 22, 1963)
Lee Harvey Oswald; Kennedy assassin Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas Jack Ruby; murdered Oswald 2 days after Kennedy assassination