1960 Presidential Election April 15, 2014

1960 Presidential Election Democrat –John F. Kennedy Republican –Richard M. Nixon Similarities Born in 20th century Navy (WWII) Enter Congress 1946 Foreign affairs/ against Communism Differences JFK –Wealthy family/ gov’t –Harvard graduate/Catholic Nixon –No wealth (work & school) –VP to Eisenhower

TV huge impact 4 televised debates JFK: great speaker/ appearance/ confident ISSUE: Civil Rights Movement Weeks before election –King imprisoned for protest Nixon: did nothing JFK: called King’s wife –Work behind scene to get King bail JFK wins election (tight) –One of largest voter turnout –68 million voters –Won by 120,000

Kennedy wins 1960 campaign Against Communism/ fights for Civil Rights –Inaugural Address “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay ANY price, bear ANY burden, support ANY friend, oppose ANY foe to assure the survival and success of liberty” –Challenges Americans “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country” Build up ALL military Promote Pro-Democracy –3rd World Countries Africa, Asia, & Latin America developing countries Aid $$$ will limit communism Peace Corps (1961) –U.S. volunteers in 3rd world (medical/ education)

Red Scare Continues: Cuba March 11, 2015

Soviets argue –Capitali$m creates poverty & inequality Americans argue –Communism creates dictators/ no rewards for hard work Cuba 1959: Castro takes over Cuba –90 miles away from U.S. –Forms COMMUNIST gov’t/ Worries Americans –Thousands wealthy/ middle class Cubans leave Eisenhower tried to form relationship –U.S. businesses in Cuba (ex: Hershey) CIA plan invasion to overthrow Castro –Recruit Cuban exiles & train Exile: enforced removal from native country Nov. 1960: Kennedy elected President –Plan unexecuted

April 1961: Kennedy decides to implement plan Called Bay of Pigs Invasion –U.S. trained Cuban exiles to attack Cuba & overthrow Castro Badly mismanaged –Soldiers poorly equipped for invasion –Out of 1400 soldiers 1100 died/ captured Strengthens Cuba –Makes U.S. look bad In response to Bay of Pigs Invasion… 1962: Cuban Missile Crisis –Soviets build nuclear missile sites in Cuba (Khrushchev) –Protect Castro from another invasion

Major east coast cities could be hit Kennedy demands removal of missiles and blockades Cuba –Prevent Soviets from sending missiles Tense for 6 days –Nuclear war possible Agreement US agrees to remove missiles in Italy & Turkey aimed at Soviet Union USSR agrees to remove missiles in Cuba