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Camelot and the Cold War. Election of 1960. I liked Ike Country in economic recession, losing Cold War (Korea, Sputnik, U-2, Cuba aligns with USSR) Country in a funk Your opponents…. In this corner…. Wearing the long face (and nose) Richard Milhous Nixon Vice President
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Election of 1960 • I liked Ike • Country in economic recession, losing Cold War (Korea, Sputnik, U-2, Cuba aligns with USSR) • Country in a funk • Your opponents…
In this corner… • Wearing the long face (and nose) • Richard Milhous Nixon • Vice President • Former Governor of California • Commie hunter Nixon Nose
And in this corner… • Wearing the young, good looking face • John Fitzgerald Kennedy • Senator (Massachusetts) • War Hero • Catholic • A chance at a new America (New Frontier)
The Television Election • First televised debate • On radio Nixon wins • On television Kennedy cleans up • Nixon unshaven, sweaty • Kennedy stylish, groomed by television experts (style over substance?) • Kennedy wins election (by fewer than 120,000 votes)
Camelot • Mythical place – Ideal • Kennedy’s invite artists, celebrities, athletes to the White House • Kennedy’s become trend setters • Soon Camelot would need to show its military might
Cuba • 1950’s • US supports government led by Fulgencio Batista • Fidel Castro • Leads successful communist revolution (1959) • U.S. recognizes new government until Castro communizes • US places embargo (stops trading) on Cuba • Cuba looks to USSR for aid
Bay of Pigs invasion • 1960 – JFK approves CIA attempt to overthrow Castro • Bad intelligence • Attempt was a failure • Humiliating for U.S. • Kennedy takes blame – endears him to public
Cuban Missile Crisis • Bay of Pigs invasion convinces Khrushchev (Russian Dictator) that U.S. can’t compete with USSR • US spy plane discovers missile sites • Becomes threat to US (too close) • October 22, Kennedy informs America
Cuban Missile Crisis • JFK sends blockade to Cuba (won’t allow Russian ships into Cuba) • US troops mobilize in Florida – ready for WWIII (nuclear war) • 13 day stand off • Khrushchev backs off after US promises not to invade Cuba • “We are eyeball to eyeball, and the other fellow just blinked.”