KENNEDY AND CUBA

Mr. Marinello * US History

The election of 1960

Vice President Richard Nixon was the Republican nominee

MA Senator John Kennedy was the Democratic nominee

Kennedy was seen as more charismatic than Nixon First televised Presidential debate

Kennedy Wins

Despite voters concerns about John Kennedy’s catholic faith they elected him be the President Extremely close election Difference of .10% of the vote

Both Kennedy and Nixon supported Civil Rights reforms but Kennedy gained support by intervening when Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested.

Nixon is written off as a political has-been.

Camelot

Kennedy the youngest President elected to office, 43 years old.

He had a young family and a young wife Jacqueline “Jackie” Kennedy Caroline and John Jr.

Many American felt a youth and vigor in the White House

Kennedy’s term is seen as a fairytale time in DC

Kennedy and the Cold War

Almost immediately after coming into office Kennedy was forced to deal with issues on the global stage.

In his inauguration he said: “Let every nation know, whether it wishes

us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

What does this quote tell us about Kennedy’s foreign policy? 

Kennedy and the Cold War

Kennedy believed that America could gain standing in the world by helping poor nations develop Created the Peace Corp in March of

1961 Wanted to give young Americans

an opportunity to serve underdeveloped nations for a short time

The Space Race

In 1957, the Soviet Union launched an artificial satellite called “Sputnik” First time this was accomplished

Americans were afraid of being technologically outperformed by the Soviets Leads to a race between the US and USSR to

see who could advance faster in space development

In May of 1961 Kennedy promises that American will land a man on the moon The “Moon Shot Speech”

Kennedy and Cuba

In 1959 Communist revolutionaries lead by Fidel Castro overthrew the Cuban government.

In 1961, Kennedy authorized a military invasion of the island of Cuba by exiled Cubans in an attempt to overthrow Castro. Called the “Bay of Pigs” invasion

Kennedy does not provide air support for the troops and they are quickly subdued by Castro’s forces

Seen as a major military blunder for Kennedy

Effects of the Bay of Pigs

Castro lost all trust in Kennedy, expected more invasions.

Kennedy begins to ramp up sanctions against Cuba

In September of 1962 Kennedy signs an embargo that bans all trade between Cuba and the United States.

Tension with the Cubans (Soviets) was at an all time high.