Unit 7 Section 1 Kennedy

Election of 1960 John F. Kennedy, Democrat vs. Richard Nixon, Republican First televised debate Charismatic young Kennedy captures public imagination, wins very close election Promises action to confront Communism

Crises Over Cuba 1959, Communist Fidel Castro seizes power in Cuba Just 90 miles from US – a major thorn in side of Washington Seizes American businesses; many Cubans go into exile in US Castro soon being aided by Soviet Union

Bay of Pigs CIA plots to remove Castro fail Eisenhower authorizes military invasion by Cuban exile army, backed by CIA; JFK approves plan, April, 1961 Exile army lands at Bay of Pigs, is rapidly defeated by Cuban forces Humiliating loss for US and Kennedy; drives Castro further into arms of Soviets

Berlin Wall Berlin is a divided city; millions of Germans fleeing into West from Soviet sector Soviets demand US leave Berlin, JFK refuses August, 1961, Soviets construct Berlin Wall to keep East Germans from leaving Further aggravates tensions, becomes symbol of oppressiveness of Communism East German soldier Conrad Schumann defects into West Berlin.

Cuban Missile Crisis* Following Bay of Pigs, Castro fears further US intervention, agrees to secret placement of Soviet nukes October, 1962, US spy planes discover missiles JFK demands removal, sets up blockade Ultimate example of brinkmanship as Khrushchev tests Kennedy Missiles ultimately removed by Soviets for promise of no US invasion explained *click for numerous primary sources on the Cuban Missile Crisis

Cooling the Cold War Following Cuban Missile Crisis, both Kennedy and Khrushchev look to ease tensions Set up hot line for direct communication Sign Limited Test Ban Treaty to ban above ground nuclear testing

Camelot Years 1960 election of Kennedy brings hope and optimism to many Americans “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” Kennedy Mystique – family captures imagination of the world; young, charming, and glamorous Jacqueline Kennedy as fashion icon The “Best and Brightest” advisers – Robert Kennedy as most influential 1

New Frontier JFK’s program for progress called “New Frontier” Calls on Americans to advance scientific achievement and space travel, fight ignorance, prejudice, and poverty Proposes medical care for elderly, urban renewal, educational aid Resistance by Republicans and Southern Dems made it difficult to achieve results Lacked mandate based on slim margin of victory in ‘60 – politically “played it safe”

New Frontier Economic program based on deficit spending Boost military spending by 20% Creates Peace Corps to help combat foreign poverty, promote friendship abroad Alliance for Progress to offer economic and technical aid to Latin America Click on the image for a clip of JFK introducing the Peace Corps

New Frontier 1963, JFK starts to focus more on domestic issues Begins to advocate for Civil Rights in the South, elimination of poverty Introduces Civil Rights Bill to Congress – becomes law after his death

The Race to the Moon 1962, Kennedy challenges America to be the first to reach the moon Alan Shepard – first American in space – 1961 John Glenn – first man to orbit the earth – 1962 NASA’s APOLLO Program achieves goal of moon landing, July 20th, 1969 Neil Armstrong – 1st man on the moon One small step for man

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Kennedy Assassination November 22, 1963 JFK is shot and killed in Dallas Shots fired from Texas Schoolbook Depository Lyndon B. Johnson becomes President Lee Harvey Oswald, former marine, is charged Rifle is recovered with prints Had previously lived in Soviet Union Killed by Jack Ruby prior to trial

Kennedy Dies

Oswald Johnson takes oath

Unanswered Questions Conspiracy Theories Magic Bullet, Grassy Knoll, Warren Commission investigates crime – 1963 Determine Oswald acted alone House Select Committee on Assassinations – 1979 Believe that JFK was killed as a result of conspiracy Probable that four shots were fired; at least one from another gunman

From http://www.sptimes.com