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The Kennedy Years

The Kennedy Years. The Election of 1960. Americans fear U.S. falling behind Soviets militarily First televised presidential debate John F. Kennedy Richard Nixon Nixon: foreign policy expert Kennedy supports Martin Luther King Jr. W ins black vote

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The Kennedy Years

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  1. The Kennedy Years

  2. The Election of 1960 • Americans fear U.S. falling behind Soviets militarily • First televised presidential debate • John F. Kennedy • Richard Nixon • Nixon: foreign policy expert • Kennedy supports Martin Luther King Jr. • Wins black vote • Kennedy appears more handsome/composed on tv

  3. Camelot • Kennedy wins presidency in close election • Some argue his smooth style lacks substance • Kennedy White House known as Camelot • Glamorous Culture • Advisers • “The Best and the Brightest” • Brother Robert Kennedy named Attorney General

  4. JFK and the Military • JFK wants new US nuclear strategy • Flexible response • Be able to fight conventional wars • Have nuclear capability • Increases defense spending in 3 areas • Strengthens conventional forces • Creates army special forces (Green Berets) • Triples nuclear capabilities

  5. Crisis Over Cuba • Cuban leader Fidel Castro is Communist • Publicly Criticizes US • Seizes U.S. ships • Eisenhower cuts off relations • The Bay of Pigs • CIA with Cuban exiles plan invasion to kill Castro • FAILS • Exile forces killed/taken prisoner • Public embarrassment for JFK

  6. Cuban Missile Crisis • Nikita Khrushchev sends weapons to Cuba • Including nuclear missiles • JFK warns Soviets • Missile attack will trigger war on U.S.S.R. • World on brink of nuclear war for almost two weeks • Eventually, agreement reached

  7. The Berlin Crisis • The Berlin Crisis • By 1961 20% of Germans flee to West Berlin • Standard of Living better in West B. • Makes East Berlin/Communism look bad • Khruschev wants to close roads to West Berlin • JFK refuses • Soviets build Berlin Wall • Separates E and W Berlin

  8. Easing Tensions • Khrushchev, Kennedy aware of danger of quick decisions • Establish hot line—direct phone between White House, Kremlin • Limited Test Ban Treaty bans nuclear tests in atmosphere

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