Chapter 20 Section 1
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Chapter 20 Section 1 Kennedy and the Cold War The Election of 1960 • Voters restless in 1960 • Economy in recession • Soviets developed Sputnik I and long range missiles The Election of 1960 • Democratic nominee for President-John F. Kennedy The Election of 1960 • Republican opponentRichard Nixon The Election of 1960 • 1960 election closest since 1888 • JFK wins Kennedy the Candidate • Well organized campaign Kennedy the Candidate • Had to overcome obstacles • Only 43-many though inexperienced • Catholic- People were afraid he would be too influenced by the Pope Televised Debate • Nixon/Kennedy debate was the 1st televised debate between presidential candidates Televised Debate • People didn’t seem to care about experience-cared more about looks and speech Televised Debate • Nixon lost the image battle • JFK was coached by TV producers – looked better than Nixon Televised Debate • Gave JFK a boost in the polls Kennedy and King • October 1960-Atlanta police arrest MLK Jr. • King sentenced to 4 months hard labor Kennedy and King • JFK phoned King’s wife to express sympathy Kennedy Takes Command • Cold War occupied much of JFK’s attention Kennedy Takes Command • Blasted republicans for allowing Communism to move to Cuba Kennedy Takes Command • Eisenhower relied on threat of massive retaliation Kennedy Takes Command • Developed a policy of Flexible response – Developing American non-nuclear forces in case there was a minor conflict Kennedy Takes Command • Flexible Response resulted in an increase in military spending Kennedy Takes Command • Tripled nuclear capabilities of the US Crisis Over Cuba • Cuba 90 miles from the US • Eisenhower cuts off diplomatic relations w/ Cuba 1/3/61 The Cuban Dilemma • Castro promised democracy • Led a guerrilla war against dictator Fulgencio Batista The Cuban Dilemma • US recognized new Castro govmt • Believed Castro was a freedom fighter The Cuban Dilemma • Broke up commercial farms and made them communes The Cuban Dilemma • Others said Castro betrayed the Revolution The Bay of Pigs • Summer 1960Eisenhower gave CIA permission to secretly train hundreds of Cuban exiles The Bay of Pigs • Approved the plan • Promised air support to Cuban exiles • April 17, 1961 1,400 Cuban exiles landed in Southern Cuba The Bay of Pigs • Nothing worked • A prior air strike failed to knock out the Cuban air force – even thought the CIA said it did The Bay of Pigs • The commandos that did reach the island were met by 20,000 Cuban soldiers backed by Soviet jets and tanks The Bay of Pigs • Castro turned this into a public relations triumph The Bay of Pigs • JFK embarrassed The Bay of Pigs • JFK negotiated w/ Castro for the return of the captured commandos Cuban Missile Crisis • Cuba had a powerful ally in the Soviet Union Cuban Missile Crisis • JFK told Soviets the US would not tolerate offensive nuclear weapons in Cuba Cuban Missile Crisis • Some of these sites contained missiles ready to launch Cuban Missile Crisis • October 22, 1961JFK informs nation of the Soviet missiles in Cuba Cuban Missile Crisis • For the next 6 daysthe world faced the possibility of nuclear war Cuban Missile Crisis • 20,000 US troops assembled in Floridalargest invasion force ever assembled in the US Cuban Missile Crisis • Soviet Ships suddenly stop to avoid confrontation Cuban Missile Crisis • Crisis damaged Khrushchev’s prestige • Criticized for backing down from the US Cuban Missile Crisis • JFK criticized as well Cuban Missile Crisis • Others believed JFK had been too soft Effects of the Cuban Missile Crisis • Many Cuban exiles blamed Democrats for “losing” Cuba and became Republicans The Berlin Crisis • Crisis emerged shortly after bay of Pigs fiasco The Berlin Crisis • In 11 years since Berlin Airlift- 3 million east Germans (20% of the E. German population) fled to West Berlin The Berlin Crisis • Khrushchev threatened to close off West Berlin The Berlin Crisis • US nuclear power prevented the Soviets from closing off Berlin The Berlin Crisis • Berlin wall ended Berlin crisis • Further aggravated Col War tension Searching for Ways to Ease Tensions • April 1963- JFK proposed the creation of a hotline between Washington DC and Moscow • The 2 leaders could now communicate directly should a crisis arise Searching for Ways to Ease Tensions • Limited Test Ban Treaty- barred nuclear testing in the atmosphere
