Kennedys Presidency

Communism and the Cuban Missile CrisisKennedys PresidencyElection 1960ControversyTelevised debatesYoung and optimisticCatholicOne of the closest elections in history

Ask not what your country can do for youask what you can do for your country.

Space RaceSoviets ahead in technological advances1st to orbit earthSputnikPush for U.S. competitionApolloOne small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.

Berlin WallFlood of Germans pouring into West BerlinKrushchev demands America leave Berlin Kennedy refusesWall built blocking movement between 2 sides of the city. Visible symbol of Cold War

Bay of Pigs InvasionCastro presidentSeeks aid from SovietsU.S. tries to train Cuban exiles to overthrow communist CastroAttack is failure and embarrassment for U.S.

Cuban Missile CrisisSoviets aiding CubaAmerican spy planes photograph long range missiles in CubaPose dangerous threat to U.S. citiesAmerica is in panic3 options seem evident: Try to resolve diplomatically with SovietsCreate a blockade against the Soviets stopping them from bringing any more weaponsMilitary action: attackHow should JFK respond to threat of nuclear war? San Cristobal, Cuba Oct. 15, 1962

MRBM or SS4

IRBM or SS5

Range of missiles

Air strike/invasion of CubaThe US bombs and invades CubaThe Soviet Union attacks and takes over West BerlinNATO (including the US) go to war with the Soviet Union Both the Soviet Union and the US launch their nuclear missiles against each other 12Estimated results of Nuclear WarEach explosion produces a fireball which radiates intense light (flash) for about 10 seconds: all exposed combustible material ignites up to ranges of 2 to 5.5 miles; second degree burns to exposed skin and fires are produced up to 4 to 11.5 miles away. The atmospheric shock wave (blast) from each explosion causes partial or complete destruction of all buildings within 1 to 3 miles and causes moderate damage and 50% injuries or deaths at 3.5 to 9.5 miles in the 10 to 40 seconds following detonation. Ten hours later, in the U.S. about 110,000,000 people have died altogether. In the U.S.S.R. about 40,000,000 have been killed.A month later a total of 140,000,000 Americans have died

13DiplomacyKhrushev realizes that he can push the US without the US respondingHe decides to test the US further and takes West BerlinNATO(including the US) declare warBoth the Soviet Union and the US launch their nuclear missiles14Blockade-the actual decisionIf you were Khrushev, how would you respond to the US blockade?Khrushev denounced as act of warAll ships carrying missiles were turned backKrushev sent a letter to JFK proposing that the USSR would dismantle its missiles in Cuba if the Americans removed their missile installations in Turkey.Secret communications between both leaders led to a diffusion of the situation.

15What Now?NegotiationsWhat does the US have to negotiate?Missiles in TurkeyRemove blockadePromise not to invade Cuba16