What important events occurred during the presidency of John F. Kennedy? Notes #58

What important events occurred during the presidency of John F. Kennedy? Notes #58

John F. Kennedy was elected president in 1960.

First televised presidential debates between Kennedy and Richard Nixon; first debate (out of four) was seen by 80 million viewers

Under Kennedy, the U.S. continued a foreign policy of containment. President Harry S. Truman (1945–1953) President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961)

For example: in 1961, Kennedy authorized the (failed) Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba by the U.S. to remove communist dictator Fidel Castro from power. Captured CIA agents from the failed Bay of Pigs invasion

In response to this (failed) invasion, Cuba allied itself with the Soviet Union for protection from the U.S. . . . Castro with Soviet Union communist leader Nikita Khrushchev

. . . and the Soviet Union began setting up nuclear missilesin Cuba.

After the U.S. discovered that there were nuclear missiles in Cuba, Kennedy ordered a naval blockade to isolate Cuba from the Soviet Union.

This Cuban missile crisis was resolved in 1962 when the Soviet Union removed its nuclear missiles from Cuba (after coming to an agreement with the U.S.) . . .

. . . and caused Kennedy to create the Peace Corps (volunteer program)to provide support to developing nations of the world.

Under Kennedy, the U.S. space program was expanded. U.S. lands on the moon (July 20, 1969)

Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and Vice PresidentLyndon B. Johnson became president. Johnson sworn in as president on Air Force One (November 22, 1963) Kennedy assassinated in Dallas, Texas (November 22, 1963)

Lee Harvey Oswald; Kennedy’s assassin Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas Jack Ruby; murdered Oswald 2 days after the Kennedy assassination

What important events occurred during the presidency of John F. Kennedy? Notes #58