John F. Kennedy
His Life and Challenges
JFK’s early life.
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Born to a wealthy family in Brookline, Mass. on May 17th 1917.
Father Joseph had been Ambassador of Britain.
Graduated from Harvard in 1940 and entered the US Navy.
In August 1943, his PT boat 109 was rammed and sunk by Japanese
destroyer.
• Despite serious injuries he led his crew to safety through dangerous
waters off the Solomon Islands.
• His heroic actions won him the Naval and Marine Corps Medal.
Early political life
• Back from the war, Kennedy became the Democrat
representative for the Boston area.
• In 1953 Kennedy advanced to the Senate.
• During his time as Senator, suffered severe spinal problems
needing several operations.
• While in hospital wrote ‘Profiles in Courage’ which won him the
Pulitzer Prize in 1957.
• Became democrat Presidential representative in July 1960,
beating challenges from (including others) Lyndon B. Johnson.
The 1960 Presidential Election
• Between JFK and Republican candidate R. Nixon.
• 1st campaign to include live television debates.
• Debates now considered a turning point in US political history
as TV began to play a dominant role in politics.
• On 8th Nov. 1960, Kennedy beat Nixon in one of the closest
elections of the 20th century.
• In the popular vote Kennedy led by 49.7% to Nixon’s 49.5%. A
difference of a little over 100,000 votes.
The Kennedy ‘Mystique’
• People were completely taken with JFK.
• His youthful optimism won a huge number of votes.
• His inauguration speech (20/1/60) is still one of the greatest of all
time.
• He spoke of the need for all Americans to be active citizens,
famously saying, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask
what you can do for your country." He asked the nations of the world
to join together to fight what he called the "common enemies of man:
tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself".
Kennedy: Global Challenges
• The US confrontation with the USSR reached its
peak during Kennedy’s Presidency.
• Extended the policy of ‘CONTAINMENT’ of
communism on a global scale.
• Initiated many new programs to combat the
spread of communism.
Kennedy’s Containment Policies
1) The Peace Corps (1961): Young people sent to poor areas around
the world to teach English, improve water supplies and give medical
aid. Main objective:
• …that American generosity and help for the Third World would stop
these states looking to communism for help.
2) Food For Peace: surplus agricultural products were given to Third
World countries.
3) Military build-up: Kennedy promised to create a flexible military able
to respond to any threat from nuclear to guerilla. Military budget
increased by 15% in 1961.
Kennedy’s Containment Policies
4) The Berlin Wall: Built by USSR in 1961 to stop East Berliners
leaving for the political and economic freedoms of the West.
• Came to symbolize the oppression of communism throughout
the free world.
5) Ban on atmospheric testing: Despite increased spending, JFK
set up the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, signing a Test
Ban Treaty with the USSR in 1963.
• Also banned nuclear testing in the atmosphere, under water
and in space.
The Bay Of Pigs.
• Kennedy inherited and approved Eisenhower’s plan to invade
Cuba, insight a revolution against Castro.
• Castro had formed links with Soviet Union and had nationalized
many US businesses in Cuba.
• A group of CIA trained and led Cuban exiles (La Brigada)
landed at the Bay of Pigs in southern Cuba on 17th April 1963,
only 3 months into JFK’s presidency.
• The mission was a DISASTER…
The failure of the Bay of Pigs.
• Why did the mission fail?
1) La Brigada’s boat into a coral reef.
2) Kennedy refused to authorize air support, claiming it would lead to
possible war.
3) The uprising against Castro never happened
4) Within 2 days Castro had captured/killed ALL of the invaders.
5) Kennedy forced to give Cuba $53m of food/medicine to release
prisoners.
6) Huge embarrassment for Kennedy administration. Kennedy said:
• "We got a big kick in the leg and we deserved it. But maybe we'll
learn something from it."
The Cuban Missile Crisis, October 1962:
Introduction
• Following Bay of Pigs, Castro looks to USSR to offer
protection against future US invasion/attacks.
• Castro also required Soviet investment to rebuild ruined
economy.
• USSR willing to aid Cuba, offering protection to a close ally,
while it’s proximity would allow Soviet missiles to hit every
major US city.
• seen as a response to US placement of missiles in Turkey
and Italy.
The Cuban Missile Crisis:
The main events.
14th October: US U-2
spy plane photographs
missile sites on Cuba
16th October: First
meeting of EXCOM
committee of
military/politicians to
discuss response.
18th October: Kennedy
meets with Soviet
foreign minister,
Gromyko. Soviets say
they are just offering
Cuba defence help.
Decision time…
• What should Kennedy do?
• You are the EXCOM committee, your options
are…
1. Do nothing and allow the missiles to be put on Cuba
2. Airstrike on the Cuban missile sites to ensure that
they could not fire any nuclear weapons
3. Invade Cuba and ensure that it can never be used for
such a site
4. Blockade Cuba with US warships to block any Soviet
ships from entering Cuba with the nuclear weapons
5. Start a nuclear attack on Cuba and if necessary the
Soviet Union
Kennedy’s Options
Positive
Negative
Do nothing and allow
the missiles to be put
on Cuba
• Avoids war
• Still got missiles in Turkey
• USA would be in danger of
attack
• JFK look weak – SU would
have won
Airstrike on the Cuban
missile sites to ensure
that they could not fire
any nuclear weapons
• No missiles on Cuba
• JFK look like strong leader
• Loss of life
• Start a war – SU could
attack in Europe (Berlin) –
start a nuclear war
• Cuba could rebuild sites
Invade Cuba and the
country over to ensure
that it can never be
used for such a site
• No missiles in Cuba
• You get rid of threat for
good – kill Castro
• Show JFK strength
• Could start a World War –
you are being aggressive
• Could be large number of
US casualties – might fail
Blockade Cuba with US
warships to block any
Soviet ships from
entering Cuba with the
nuclear weapons
• Stop any missiles from
getting to Cuba
• Not starting a war – making
the SU make the next move
• If it works JFK look strong
• Relying on no missiles on
Cuba already
• Still leave the problem in
Cuba – Castro still there
• Relying on SU to turn back
Start a nuclear attack
on Cuba and if
necessary the Soviet
Union
• Destroy the known world –
SU and Cuba would be
destroyed
• Would have started the
most destructive war in
world history.
The Cuban Missile Crisis:
The main events.
22nd October: Kennedy
announces crisis on TV,
along with intention to
BLOCKADE Soviet
ships heading for Cuba.
23rd October: Kennedy
bans boarding of Soviet
ships. US intelligence
says missiles ready by
26th.
24th October: Soviet
ships going to Cuba
have missiles onboard,
Soviet nuclear
submarines in the
Caribbean.
Decision time…
• What should Khrushchev do?
• You are in the Kremlin advising the Russian
Premier on his next move…
1. Turn Soviet ships back
2. Tell ships to continue on their present course
– call America’s bluff
3. Try and do a deal with JFK – missiles in Cuba
for missiles in Turkey
4. Invade Berlin to create a distraction
5. Support ships with submarines in the area – do
not turn back
Khrushchev’s
Options
Turn Soviet ships
back
Positive
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Avoid War
Seen as a peacemaker
Negative
• Seen as weak
• Castro still in danger
• US still have missiles in Turkey
Tell ships to
continue on their
present course –
call America’s bluff
• Seen as strong
• JFK would have to start war
• Could be war
• If stopped still no missiles on
Cuba
Try and do a deal
with JFK – missiles
in Cuba for missiles
in Turkey
• No war
• Seen as a peacemaker
• It makes SU safer – SU will
lose nothing
• Still not got missiles in Cuba
• Castro still in danger
• Relying on JFK to do a deal
Invade Berlin to
create a distraction
• Seen as strong
• Might get missiles into
Cuba
• Nuclear war
Support ships with
submarines in the
area – do not turn
back
• Seen as strong
• JFK start war
• Could lead to war
• If stopped, no missiles in Cuba
The Cuban Missile Crisis:
The main events.
25th
October: At the UN,
US Ambassador
Stevenson confronts
Soviet ambassador with
evidence of missiles.
Missiles reday to be
fired within 5 hours.
27th October: U-2 spy
plane shot down over
Cuba. US military
demands invasion as
reprisal.
28th October: Kennedy
holds his nerve.
Khrushchev agrees to
remove missiles if US
agrees not to invade
Cuba. Secret deal also
sees USA remove
missiles from Turkey.
The Cuban Missile Crisis:
The Consequences
• The Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world the closest it had ever been to
nuclear war.
• It also pushed the two countries to learn to work together. As the White
house-Kremlin HOTLINE is set up.
• In August of 1963 the USA and the Soviet Union finally came together to
ban the testing of nuclear weapons.
• In addition many historians argue that the crisis persuaded Kennedy that
PEACE was the only choice.
• Khrushchev viewed as weak in the USSR and was replaced in 1964 by
Brezhnev: a new leader who was committed to building up Soviet military
and weapons.
• The USA also engaged in a weaponry build up which lasted until the
1980’s to match Brezhnev’s build-up.