The Cold War:The Cold War:The Presidency of John The Presidency of John

Fitzgerald KennedyFitzgerald KennedyMr. Bach

Hudson High SchoolUnited States History

1960 Presidential 1960 Presidential ElectionElection

•Senator John F. Kennedy (Democrat)

•Vice President Richard M. Nixon (Republican)

Senator John F. Senator John F. KennedyKennedy

• Came from a wealthy Massachusetts family

• Roman Catholic (concerned American Protestants)

• Young and Charismatic (43 years old)

Vice President Vice President Richard NixonRichard Nixon

• Came from a modest California family

• Raised a Quaker

• Linked to the older Eisenhower administration

1960 Presidential 1960 Presidential DebateDebate

•Television helped enhance the charismatic qualities of Kennedy versus Nixon

1960 Presidential 1960 Presidential ElectionElection

Kennedy = 49.7%; Nixon = 49.6%

Welcome to CamelotWelcome to Camelot

• JFK’s presidency represented American hope for the future

• The President and First Lady had tremendous charisma

John Jr. and CarolineJohn Jr. and Caroline

The Berlin CrisisThe Berlin Crisis• Khrushchev wished to test

the new president• Problem for the Soviets – East

Berliners defecting into West Berlin.

• Soviets positioned troops in East Berlin to demonstrate a potential armed takeover of the city

Berlin WallBerlin Wall•JFK answers by bringing US troops into West Berlin.

•Khrushchev orders the construction of a wall separating the two cities.

Berlin WallBerlin Wall

““The Moon Shot”The Moon Shot”•Kennedy gives NASA and the US a mission with his “moon shot” speech in 1961.

•Invigorates NASA and stimulates interest in science in the US.

Mercury SevenMercury Seven

Cuban RevolutionCuban Revolution• Guerrilla

Leader Fidel Castro overthrows US-supported Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959.

Castro Turns to Castro Turns to CommunismCommunism

• Castro started to seize private businesses (including American owned) on the island.

• Made overtures to the Soviet Union and made anti-American speeches.

Cuban TradeCuban Trade• Soviet Union

opens up a trade agreement with Cuba.

• President Eisenhower had cut off all trade with Cuba.

Assassination Assassination AttemptsAttempts

• CIA with Mafia hitmen try to assassinate Castro (including an attempt with an exploding cigar)

CIA Training for CIA Training for InvasionInvasion

• Cuban Exiles trained by CIA to invade Cuba and overthrow Castro

• JFK gives the go-ahead for the invasion

Air Strike ProblemsAir Strike Problems• Old US

Bombers piloted by Cuban Exiles used to destroy Cuba’s air force (fails)

• Exposes US connection to invasion

Land Invasion DisasterLand Invasion Disaster• Bay of Pigs land

invasion fails – Castro alerted

by air strikes– Cuban Exiles

given no air support •Are

captured and tortured

ResultsResults• Castro

strengthens his ties to Khrushchev for protection

Kennedy’s Greatest Kennedy’s Greatest FailureFailure