JFK

Name a least two things you notice about the election information here.

The Election of 1960

In 1960, many Americans were worried about the future. The nation was in a recession [a short period of time when business activity decreases and unemployment increases] and it seemed the Soviet Union was gaining strength. Some wondered if the United States was losing the Cold War. John F. Kennedy, a Democrat, and Richard M. Nixon, a Republican, were running for president. Kennedy won. Two main factors led him to victory.

According to this passage who was running for president in 1960

• Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy

• Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon

• John F Kennedy and Richard Nixon

• Richard Nixon and Dwight D. Eisenhower

The Election of 1960

In 1960, many Americans were worried about the future. The nation was in a recession [a short period of time when business activity decreases and unemployment increases] and it seemed the Soviet Union was gaining strength. Some wondered if the United States was losing the Cold War. John F. Kennedy, a Democrat, and Richard M. Nixon, a Republican, were running for president. Kennedy won. Two main factors led him to victory.

According to this passage what was one of the things Americans were worried about?

• the environment

• a pandemic illness

• civil rights

• increasing strength of communist nations

Two Factors

The first factor that led to victory was a televised debate between the candidates. Kennedy impressed viewers with his forceful personality and his youthful looks. Nixon, on the other hand, appeared nervous and uneasy. The second factor was Kennedy’s response to the arrest of Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1960, Kennedy personally called King’s wife to express his sympathy. Kennedy also helped persuade the judge to release King from jail. This action helped win the support of many African American voters.

According to this passage what was one of the factors that led to JFK's victory?

Crisis in Berlin

In 1961, the city of Berlin was divided. East Berlin was under Communist control and West Berlin was under the control of the U.S., France, and Great Britain. Almost 3 million East Germans had already fled into West Berlin. Khrushchev, the Soviet Union leader, threatened to blockade land and air routes into West Berlin. President Kennedy warned against the action. Instead, Khrushchev built a concrete wall along the border of East and West Berlin. The wall, the Berlin Wall, prevented East Germans from escaping into West Berlin.

According to this passage what was the reason Kruschev threatened to block land and air routes into West Berlin

• Many Germans had already fled East Berlin

• It was a reaction to the unifying of France, Great Britian, and the U.S. in West Berlin

• He was protesting nuclear weapon testing

• Kruschev didn't like JFK's wife.

Kennedy Responds

“There are many people in the world who don’t understand what is the great issue between the free world and the Communist world. Let them come to Berlin. There are some who say that communism is the wave of the future. Let them come to Berlin. And there are some who say in Europe and elsewhere we can work with the Communists. Let them come to Berlin. And there are even a few who say that it is true that communism is an evil system, but it permits us to make economic progress. Lass’ sie nach Berlin kommen. Let them come to Berlin.”

John F. Kennedy, June 26, 1963

What will people see about the free world vs. communism if they come to Berlin?

A More Flexible Response

President John F. Kennedy also had to deal with Communist aggression. President Truman had practiced the policy of containment to keep communism from spreading. President Eisenhower had followed a policy of rollback – to force a change in governments and free countries from communism. Both were based on the belief in the domino theory which stated that if one nation fell to communism, others would follow. President Kennedy supported a buildup of weapons and troops to assist nations fighting communism as well as increasing the number of nuclear weapons. This would give the president a more “flexible response” to stopping communist aggression. Read the following descriptions of President Kennedy’s responses to stop the spread of communism.

Which of the following best describes the DOMINO THEORY?

• The falling nations should not be helped financially.

• The idea that if one nation falls to communism then the nations around it are at increased risk to fall to communism

• This is the theory that communism will help the economy worldwide.

• The idea that if you set up a bunch of dominoes your brother will knock them down before you are ready.

Peace Corps – Kennedy’s idea was to send university students to work in underdeveloped nations to help raise living standards and provide needed services. The idea became the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps promoted peace and friendship by sending volunteers to serve in poor areas of the world to provide aid and increase understanding between the American people and others around the world. In this way, underdeveloped nations would be less likely to embrace communism.

Support the Domino Theory – JFK pledged to fight against the spread of communism throughout the world, with the use of force, if necessary.

Green Berets – Kennedy supported the Special Forces, a small army unit created in the 1950s. Kennedy allowed the soldiers to wear “Green Beret” headgear. JFK sent several thousand military personnel to Vietnam. Included among them were the Green Berets.

Test Ban Treaty – 1963 - The U.S. and U.S.S.R. signed a treaty banning nuclear tests in the earth’s atmosphere. JFK expressed the following idea in a speech, “In the final analysis, our most basic common link is the fact that we all inherit this planet….” The arms race continued, however.

Hot Line – The U.S. and Soviet Union set up a two-way hot line linking the White House and the Kremlin. This special telephone hookup connected Kennedy with Khrushchev and allowed them to talk directly when a crisis arose.

Which of the flexible responses above do you feel would be the most helpful in helping JFK navigate The Cold War

Peace Corps – Kennedy’s idea was to send university students to work in underdeveloped nations to help raise living standards and provide needed services. The idea became the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps promoted peace and friendship by sending volunteers to serve in poor areas of the world to provide aid and increase understanding between the American people and others around the world. In this way, underdeveloped nations would be less likely to embrace communism.

Support the Domino Theory – JFK pledged to fight against the spread of communism throughout the world, with the use of force, if necessary.

Green Berets – Kennedy supported the Special Forces, a small army unit created in the 1950s. Kennedy allowed the soldiers to wear “Green Beret” headgear. JFK sent several thousand military personnel to Vietnam. Included among them were the Green Berets.

Test Ban Treaty – 1963 - The U.S. and U.S.S.R. signed a treaty banning nuclear tests in the earth’s atmosphere. JFK expressed the following idea in a speech, “In the final analysis, our most basic common link is the fact that we all inherit this planet….” The arms race continued, however.

Hot Line – The U.S. and Soviet Union set up a two-way hot line linking the White House and the Kremlin. This special telephone hookup connected Kennedy with Khrushchev and allowed them to talk directly when a crisis arose.

Which of the approaches above would help the poor areas of the world?

• Peace Corps

• Test Ban Treaty

• Green Berets

• Hot LIne

Bay of Pigs

John F. Kennedy’s first foreign policy crisis was in Cuba. The leader of Cuba, Fidel Castro, had taken power in 1959. Castro, a Communist, formed ties with Communist Soviet Union.

Kennedy approved a plan to remove Castro from power. The U.S. would supply air support for a group of Cuban exiles [Cubans who left Cuba] as they returned to Cuba to overthrow Castro. The attack failed. Many of the Cuban exiles were captured or killed.

The invasion was known as “The Bay of Pigs”, named for the bay on the south coast of Cuba. The failure of the operation left Kennedy and his administration extremely embarrassed. The purpose of the Bay of Pigs invasion was to keep the Soviet Union from possibly building a military base in Cuba. Instead, it pushed Fidel Castro into even stronger ties with the Soviet Union.

What caused the U.S. to consider an attack in Cuba

• Refugees were headed to invade the U.S.

• The Cubans built a wall to discourage mirgration

• Nuclear weapons were discovered in Cuba

• The rise to power of communist leader Fidel Castro