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Kennedy Presidency

Kennedy Presidency . 1960 Election. John F. Kennedy Senator from Massachusetts and political novice Harvard Educated Powerful family War Hero, wounded in battle Won the Pulitzer Prize for “Profiles in Courage” Suffered from Addison’s disease, few people new Richard M. Nixon

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Kennedy Presidency

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  1. Kennedy Presidency

  2. 1960 Election • John F. Kennedy • Senator from Massachusetts and political novice • Harvard Educated • Powerful family • War Hero, wounded in battle • Won the Pulitzer Prize for “Profiles in Courage” • Suffered from Addison’s disease, few people new • Richard M. Nixon • Vice President of the US • Lead the witch hunt against communist in the 1950s, which lead to his nomination for VP

  3. 1960 Election Continued • “We stand today on the edge of a New Frontier – the frontier of unknown opportunities and perils – a frontier of unfulfilled hopes and threats” – JFK

  4. Three events that shaped the election • A Catholic Candidate • Religion was a political liability, his opponents suggested he would receive his orders from the Pope • “The separation of church and state is absolute” - JFK • “No catholic prelate would tell the president – should he be a Catholic – how to act and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote” – JFK • Effectively neutralized the religion questions

  5. Three events that shaped the election Continued

  6. Three events that shaped the election Continued • The Debate • First television debate • Few policy differences arose and people who listened to debate said Nixon won • People who watched the debate said Kennedy won – demonstrates the importance of style in debates • Nixon was uncomfortable, sick, sweating, and looked angry • Kennedy was calm and joyful • Kennedy’s popularity shot up

  7. Three events that shaped the election Continued • Civil Rights • Strong Civil Rights Position lead to increase number of minorities registering and voting in election • Spoke on behave of Martin Luther King Jr. when he was arrested and sentenced to form months of jail for “trespassing” at an all white restaurant – secured Kings release and ensured the African American Vote

  8. Election Results • Kennedy won with only by 118,574 out of 68 million cast. The electoral vote was 303 to 219. Resulting in one of the closest elections in history.

  9. Inauguration • “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for you country” – JFK

  10. Bay of Pigs • Members of congress and some in the general public wondered if Kennedy would be “tough” on communism • CIA trained 1,500 anti-Castro Cubans for an invasion of Cuba – CIA assured Kennedy it would be a success and an open rebellion would against Castro would result • Invasion force landed on April 17, 1961, it was poorly planned and executed and resulted in a failure • It embarrassed the US and Kennedy

  11. Vienna Conference • Kennedy met Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to discuss US/Soviet relations • Khrushchev bullied and browbeat Kennedy because of his youth and inexperience and threatened to limit western access to Berlin – this stunned Kennedy • Kennedy called up reserves and national guard units to active duty • Khrushchev build the Berlin Wall and separated east and west Berlin

  12. Cuban Missile Crisis • The failure of the Pay of Pigs and Kennedy’s refusal to commit troops to over through Castro lead Khrushchev to believe he could install ballistic missiles in Cuba without US intervention • October 14, 1962 discovered missile sites were under construction in Cuba, though it violated no treaty, Kennedy decided weapons must be removed • Khrushchev misjudged Kennedy’s response

  13. Cuban Missile Crisis Continued • Kennedy chose a Blockade of Cuba instead of a missile strike – labeled it a quarantine to avoid an act of war – this would force the Soviets to shoot first • Wed Oct 24, five soviet ships – with missiles aboard – stopped at the line and turned around • Khrushchev said Kennedy had pushed humankind “to the abyss of a world missile-nuclear war” – most people believed nuclear war was imminent and it was barley avoided

  14. Cuban Missile Crisis Continued • The US agreed to remove its missiles form Turkey and not to invade Cuba, the Soviets agreed to keep missiles out of Cuba • Tension between the US and USSR eased after this point

  15. Kennedy and Vietnam • Kennedy allowed Ngo Dinh Diem to be overthrown because of his treatment of his people • September 1963 Kennedy Said • “In the final analysis it's their war. They’re the ones who have to win it or lose it. We can help them as advisers but they have to win it” • In October Kennedy announced the US would withdraw from Vietnam by 1965

  16. Assassination • November 22, 1963 Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas Texas while he was riding in a car with his wife • Official story is Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, but much debate exist today about how and why Kennedy was assassinated • Lyndon B. Johnson became president, his first official act was to reverse Kennedy’s decision about Vietnam and commit the US to protecting South Vietnam

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