Transcript JFK Powerpoint File - Learn District 196

John F. Kennedy
The 35th U.S. President 1961-1963
Vice President: Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ)
Notes Directions:
 Copy only the blue text.
 On your paper, number 1-3. I have a few
questions about the 1960 presidential
election.
The 1960 Election: Question 1
 International Relations
As the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet
Union wore on, opinions varied as to whether and
how America should exert a leadership role in the
world.
 Candidate #1: Contends that "American prestige is
at an all-time high," thanks to the efforts of the
Eisenhower administration.
 Candidate #2: Citing a loss of prestige, declares that
America needed a more activist and imaginative
approach to international affairs.
1960 Election: Question 2
 The Economy
The nation was experiencing an economic recession
as the 1950s came to an end. Strategies about how
to best stimulate the economy sparked debate.
 Candidate #1: Urges economic growth through a
combination of private enterprise and individual
initiative.
 Candidate #2: Calls for increased government
intervention to stimulate the economy.
1960 Election: Question 3
 Defense Spending
Much attention was paid to what constituted adequate military
preparedness during the Cold War. While there was general
agreement that the U.S. should match the Soviets' military
strength, opinions as to how best to accomplish this task varied.
 Candidate #1: Asserts that the U.S. has maintained military
standing with the Soviet Union, and that military spending
should be watched carefully for excess.
 Candidate #2: Argues that a "missile gap" favoring the Soviet
Union makes an increase in defense spending necessary.
Results of the 1960 Election
Popular Votes
 Kennedy [D]
 34,227,000
 Nixon [R]
 34,109,000


Electoral Votes
- Candidate 2
(49.7%)
303
- Candidate 1
(49.5%)
219
In 1962, Nixon lost the California gubernatorial race. He
claimed “you won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore” –
however, he would make one of the greatest political
comebacks in American history!
White House Tapes (11/1962): Pat Brown and JFK on
Nixon’s farewell speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeA41pyRZY8

“Checkers” Speech: 1952: (3 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhQD2UFCIbY
John F. Kennedy
Astrological Sign: Gemini
Nicknames: “Jack” an “JFK”
Quote: “Forgive your enemies, but never forget their
names.”
Did You Know?
Kennedy received “vitamin shots” from Dr. Max
Jacobson, aka Dr. Feelgood, to make his back pains
go away. The shots were loaded with amphetamines.
Kennedy’s Election
 John F. Kennedy – from a wealthy, politically powerful family
 Good looking, young, and comfortable in front of the television
cameras
 People felt Kennedy represented the future
 Election of 1960 (Kennedy vs. Nixon)

Adopted the term “new frontier”

Played on the nation’s Cold War fears

Claimed the nation’s prosperity was not reaching the poor

Rallied the African American vote when Kennedy called Coretta
King after Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested; Robert
Kennedy persuaded the judge to release King.

One of the closest elections in history
Inaugural address, January 20, 1961
 And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what
your country can do for you - ask what you
can do for your country….
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what
America will do for you, but what together we
can do for the freedom of man.

John F. Kennedy, Inaugural address,
January 20, 1961
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLmiOEk59n8 12:15
He also promised that man would walk on the moon by the end of the decade.
It happened in 1969! Conspiracy? Don’t ask Buzz Aldrin.
The Punch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOo6aHSY8hU
Kennedy Takes Office
Inaugural Address
• Focused on change
• Strong anti-Communist tone
• Did not specify his domestic policy goals because so much
division existed over domestic issues
Kennedy’s Advisors
• Gathered a group some called “the best and the brightest” as
his advisors
• Most of Kennedy’s advisors were young.
• Closest advisor was his brother, Robert (“Bobby”) Kennedy
• Cabinet members had less influence than White House
advisors.
JFK, White House Tapes: Upset about a bed (swearing):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGfEtlRa3oM&feature=related
Top Left: JFK
Top Right: RFK (Attorney
General)
Bottom Left: Robert McNamara
(Secretary of Defense)
Bay of Pigs Invasion – CIA Disaster!
Background
• Fidel Castro
was in power in
Cuba.
• Came to power
after a guerrilla
war, promised to
restore people’s
rights and
freedoms
• Once in power,
he seized
private
businesses and
made overtures
to Soviet Union.
Kennedy
• Kennedy learned
that the CIA was
training troops to
invade Cuba and
topple Castro.
• His advisors were
mixed.
• Kennedy was
worried about
Communism
spreading to
Latin America.
• Kennedy gave
the go-ahead.
The Invasion
• Bay of Pigs
invasion failed.
• Information was
leaked early.
• Air strikes failed.
• Castro prepared
for a land attack.
• Invaders were
captured and
ransomed back
to United States.
• Strengthened
Castro’s ties to
the Soviet Union
Fidel Castro
“If surviving assassination attempts were an Olympic event, I would win the gold medal."
 Fabian Escalante, Castro’s




chief bodyguard, claims that
the CIA has attempted to
assassinate Castro 638
times!
Exploding cigars
Deadly fungi infested scuba
suit.
Mafia style shootings.
Poison pills.
 CASTRO FALLS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
D2IKNPFdvII&feature=related
The Cuban Missile Crisis
Buildup
Crisis
Begins

U.S. actions in the Bay of Pigs and Berlin crises encouraged
hard-line leaders in the Soviet Union.

The Soviets were worried about another invasion of Cuba and
U.S. nuclear missiles placed in Turkey.

Kennedy was worried about accusations of being “soft on
communism.”

A U.S. U-2 spy plane detected Soviet surface-to-air missiles
(SAMs) in Cuba.

The Soviets argued that the SAMs were defensive missiles and
swore that they didn’t have offensive missiles in Cuba.

Later U-2 flights showed that the Soviets had lied.
The Cuban Missile Crisis

Managing
the
Crisis
Effects
of the
Crisis
Kennedy assembled a group of advisors, known as the ExComm, to help him
plan a response.

ExComm military members favored an air strike, perhaps followed
by a land invasion of Cuba.

Others argued for a naval blockade. Kennedy agreed with this
plan.

The world watched as Soviet ships carrying missile parts approached the
naval blockade. They turned back.

Khrushchev agreed to dismantle the missiles if the United States pledged to
never invade Cuba.

Both Kennedy and Khrushchev took steps to ease tensions between their
countries.

They set up a hotline to allow direct communication during times of crisis.

The Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was signed, ending atmospheric and
underwater testing of nuclear weapons.
Cuba Travel Today

Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control: Cuba Sanctions
http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/cuba/cuba.shtml

Trading With The Enemy Act (1917) & Cuban Assets Control Regulations (1963):

Only pre-cleared “professionals” and those visiting family members may go.

Spend less than $100 a day.

May face a $250,000 fine and 10 years in prison if above act violated.

According to the State Department, the U.S. has increased watch of American
travelers to Cuba through Canada and Mexico.
How did Kennedy’s foreign policy
reflect his views of the world?
Kennedy’s
Foreign
Policy
Peace
Corps
Alliance
for
Progress

Believed in peace that did not have to be enforced with weapons
of war

Believed in peace for Americans and for all men and women
around the world

Trained and sent volunteers to Africa, Asia, and Latin America to
serve for two years

Most volunteers were young college graduates

Increased goodwill toward the United States

Offered billions of dollars in aid to Latin America to build schools,
hospitals, roads, power plants, and low-cost housing

Intended to counter communism’s influence
Kennedy Foreign Policy and the Cold
War
 Kennedy also followed the Cold War policies of his predecessors.
 He continued the nuclear arms buildup begun by Eisenhower.
 He continued to follow Truman’s practice of containment.
 In opposition to “massive retaliation” he developed the strategy of
flexible response.

Strengthening conventional American forces so the nation
would have other options than nuclear weapons in times of
crisis
Kennedy’s New Frontier
 Americans were struck by the youth and vitality of the Kennedy White House.
 Kennedy’s public image was often different than reality.
 Kennedy’s narrow victory in 1960 left him without the clear mandate he needed to
work well with Congress.
 The New Frontier came to be symbolized by the exploration of space.
The Kennedy Legacy
Foreign
Relations

Some felt the drama of the Kennedy presidency was more
evident than its achievements.

However, in foreign affairs, relations with the Soviet Union had
improved.

The Peace Corp produced goodwill toward the United States.

Kennedy did not have much success with domestic issues.
Domestic
 He acknowledged that the nation’s social, economic, and
Achievements
environmental problems would take many years to solve.
Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty & Speech
 President Kennedy told
Americans in August
1963:
“We all inhabit this small
planet. We all breathe
the same air. We all
cherish our children’s
future, and we are all
mortal.”
November 22, 1963
Dallas, Texas
JFK & Marilyn Monroe
 “Happy Birthday, Mr.
President.”
 http://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=xYfoj4IGrr4