1. JFK and the Cold War

2. SECTION 1: KENNEDY AND THE COLD WAR
The Democratic nominee for president in 1960 was a young Massachusetts senator named John Kennedy
He promised to “get America moving again”
Kennedy had a well-organized campaign and was handsome and charismatic
Senator Kennedy, 1958

3. FOCUS ON THE COLD WAR
From the beginning of his term in early 1961, JFK focused on the Cold War (Soviet relations)
JFK tripled our nuclear capability, increased troops, ships and artillery, and created the Green Berets (Special Forces)

4. CRISIS OVER CUBA
Just 90 miles off the coast of Florida, Cuba presented the first big test of JFK’s foreign policy
Openly Communist, Cuba was led by revolutionary leader Fidel Castro who welcomed aid from the USSR
Relations between the U.S. and Cuba were deteriorating

5. Quote from U.S. Commentator
BAY OF PIGS
In March 1960, Eisenhower gave the CIA permission to secretly train Cuban exiles for an invasion of Cuba
Kennedy learned of the plan only nine days into his presidency
JFK approved the mission
Results:
invaders killed or jailed Kennedy embarrassed
a public relations triumph for Castro
ransom paid for release of invader
“We looked like fools to our friends, rascals to our enemies and incompetents to the rest”
Quote from U.S. Commentator

6. THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
Castro had a powerful ally in Moscow
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev promised to defend Cuba with Soviet weapons
During the summer of 1962 the flow of Soviet weapons into Cuba – including nuclear – increased greatly

7. KENNEDY RESPONDS
American president John F Kennedy making his dramatic television broadcast to announce the Cuba blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis 
Kennedy made it clear the U.S. would not tolerate nuclear weapons in Cuba
When surveillance photos revealed nukes ready to launch in Cuba, JFK said the U.S. would respond to any attack from Cuba with an all-out nuclear retaliation against the Soviets

8. 13 DAYS Results: Khrushchev’s prestige damaged
For 13 days in October, 1962 the world stood still as the threat of nuclear war gripped the planet
When
more Soviet ships headed for the U.S. with weapons, JFK ordered a blockade
The first break in the crisis occurred when the Soviets ships turned back
Finally, Khrushchev agreed to remove the nuclear weapons from Cuba in exchange for a U.S. promise NOT to invade Cuba
Results:
Khrushchev’s prestige damaged
Kennedy criticized Cuban exiles switched allegiance from the Democratic party to the G.O.P.
Castro banned flights between Cuba and Miami

9. CRISIS OVER BERLIN
In 1961, Berlin, Germany was a city in great turmoil
In the 11 years since the Berlin Airlift, almost 3 million East Germans (Soviet side) had fled into West Berlin (U.S. controlled) to flee communist rule

10. SOVIETS SEEK TO STOP EXODUS
The Soviets did not like the fact that East Berliners were fleeing their city for the democratic west
Their departure hurt the economy and the prestige of the USSR
Just after midnight on August 13, 1961 the Soviets began construction of a 90-mile wall separating East and West Berlin
East Germany begins construction on the Berlin Wall, which becomes a primary symbol of the Cold War and Soviet oppression

12. EASING TENSIONS
Both Khrushchev and Kennedy began searching for ways to ease the enormous tension between the two superpowers
In 1963 they established a hot line between the White House and the Kremlin
Later that year, the superpowers signed a Limited Test Ban Treaty that served to ban nuclear testing in the atmosphere