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Kennedy & the Cold War

Kennedy & the Cold War. Chapter 15 Section 1. Lecture Focus Question. How did Kennedy respond to the continuing challenges of the Cold War?. Richard Nixon Republican nominee Supported fight against communism Energetic & passionate VP for Eisenhower

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Kennedy & the Cold War

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  1. Kennedy & the Cold War Chapter 15 Section 1

  2. Lecture Focus Question • How did Kennedy respond to the continuing challenges of the Cold War?

  3. Richard Nixon Republican nominee Supported fight against communism Energetic & passionate VP for Eisenhower Came from a working family in Yorba Linda, CA John F. Kennedy Democratic nominee Supported fight against communism Energetic & passionate Attended Harvard Came from a wealthy family in Boston, MA Election of 1960

  4. Nixon Underweight Clothes too big Pale & tired “Easy Shave” melting in heat of lights Spoke to JFK JFK Rested & tanned Newly tailored suit Spoke to cameras, audience of voters! Televised Debate

  5. Kennedy Wins • Key factor → televised debates

  6. JFK’s New Cold War Strategies • JFK = 1stpres born in 20th century • “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country” • Flexible response: defense policy that prepared the U.S. to fight in any size/type of conflict

  7. JFK’s New Cold War Strategies Cont. • Peace Corps: sent U.S. volunteers around the world to provide technical, education, health services to developing countries • Alliance for Progress: promoted economic assistance to Latin America

  8. 1959: Fidel Castro comes to power in Cuba Strong ties to U.S.S.R. 1961: Bay of Pigs Invasion U.S. plan to overthrow Castro Total disaster U.S. accepts defeat and loses respect from other countries Communism in Cuba

  9. The Berlin Crisis • 1961: JFK and Krushchev meet → peace treaty? • Berlin becomes center of discussion • Meeting = disaster • JFK takes action • Doubled number of men drafted into army • Increased spending for defense • American people prepared: fallout shelters • 1961: Soviets build the Berlin Wall to divide E & W Berlin

  10. BERLIN WALL

  11. Cuban Missile Crisis • U.S. intelligence discovery: • Soviets building missile bases in Cuba! • Cuba = 90 miles from Key West, FL • 4 possible responses • Negotiate with the Soviets • Invade Cuba • Blockade Cuba • Bomb the missile sites

  12. The Loneliest Job in the World

  13. The Ultimate Decision • JFK decides on a naval “quarantine” • “Blockade” would be an act of war • He told Americans: “The path we have chosen for the present is full of hazards… The cost of freedom is always high -- and Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender.”

  14. Disaster Averted

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