1960s & Kennedy Unit 9: Notes #1 5/8/14 Mrs. Willis

Kennedy Becomes President John F. Kennedy was the democratic candidate in the 1960 presidential election John F. Kennedy was the democratic candidate in the 1960 presidential election –Richard Nixon was the Republican candidate He was a member of the US House of Representatives and a Democratic Senator from Massachusetts before running for president He was a member of the US House of Representatives and a Democratic Senator from Massachusetts before running for president

Kennedy v. Nixon Kennedy and Nixon were roughly the same age Kennedy and Nixon were roughly the same age –Kennedy appealed to the public more and tried to bring new ideas into the presidency Kennedy adopted the phrase “new frontier” to describe his campaign Kennedy adopted the phrase “new frontier” to describe his campaign –He believed that the U.S. had fallen behind the Soviets

1960 Election The election of 1960 was close The election of 1960 was close –Kennedy became the youngest and first Catholic president Kennedy’s inaugural address focused on his theme of change and also took a strong anti-communist tone Kennedy’s inaugural address focused on his theme of change and also took a strong anti-communist tone

1960 Presidential Inauguration

Castro’s Cuba Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba in 1959 Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba in 1959 Once in power, Castro seized private businesses, began making anti-American speeches and signed a trade agreement with the Soviet Union in Feb 1960 Once in power, Castro seized private businesses, began making anti-American speeches and signed a trade agreement with the Soviet Union in Feb 1960 –The U.S. responded by cutting off all economic and diplomatic ties w/ Cuba The CIA believed that an invasion of Cuba would inspire the people to rise up against Castro The CIA believed that an invasion of Cuba would inspire the people to rise up against Castro –They began to secretly train Cuban exiles for the purpose of overthrowing Castro

U.S. Relations with Cuba During the 1960 campaign, Kennedy learned of the CIA’s plan to overthrow Fidel Castro During the 1960 campaign, Kennedy learned of the CIA’s plan to overthrow Fidel Castro President Eisenhower had authorized this project in hopes of riding Cuba of Castro’s communist regime President Eisenhower had authorized this project in hopes of riding Cuba of Castro’s communist regime –Kennedy would give the final approval for the mission

Bay of Pigs Invasion The Bay of Pigs Invasion was a complete disaster The Bay of Pigs Invasion was a complete disaster The New York Times reported the plan to invade a week before it happened & Kennedy denied the story The New York Times reported the plan to invade a week before it happened & Kennedy denied the story –On April 15, 1961 the first air strike failed –Castro’s troops captured the Cuban exiles –In Dec Kennedy negotiated their release for $52 million in food and medical supplies to Cuba Instead of eliminating the threat of communism, the Bay of Pigs incident actually strengthened Castro’s ties to the Soviet Union Instead of eliminating the threat of communism, the Bay of Pigs incident actually strengthened Castro’s ties to the Soviet Union

U.S. Relations with the Soviet Union In June 1961, Kennedy met with Khruschev, the Soviet premier, to try to ease tensions In June 1961, Kennedy met with Khruschev, the Soviet premier, to try to ease tensions Instead Khruschev demanded that the U.S. recognize Communist East Germany as an independent nation and withdraw from West Berlin Instead Khruschev demanded that the U.S. recognize Communist East Germany as an independent nation and withdraw from West Berlin –Kennedy refused

Problems with Berlin West Berlin had long been a problem for the Soviet Union West Berlin had long been a problem for the Soviet Union –In the first half of 1961 alone 200,000 East Germans escaped communism by slipping past guards to safety in West Berlin Kennedy’s advisers were concerned that East Germany might try to use force to gain control of West Berlin Kennedy’s advisers were concerned that East Germany might try to use force to gain control of West Berlin