1960s & Kennedy1960s & Kennedy

Unit 9: Notes #1Unit 9: Notes #1

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Mrs. WillisMrs. Willis

Kennedy Becomes Kennedy Becomes PresidentPresident

John F. KennedyJohn F. Kennedy was the democratic was the democratic candidate in the 1960 candidate in the 1960 presidential electionpresidential election– Richard Nixon was the Richard Nixon was the

Republican candidateRepublican candidate He was a member of He was a member of

the US House of the US House of Representatives and a Representatives and a Democratic Senator Democratic Senator from Massachusetts from Massachusetts before running for before running for presidentpresident

Kennedy v. NixonKennedy v. Nixon

Kennedy and Nixon Kennedy and Nixon were roughly the same were roughly the same age age – Kennedy appealed to Kennedy appealed to

the public more and the public more and tried to bring new ideas tried to bring new ideas into the presidencyinto the presidency

Kennedy adopted the Kennedy adopted the phrase “new frontier” phrase “new frontier” to describe his to describe his campaigncampaign– He believed that the He believed that the

U.S. had fallen behind U.S. had fallen behind the Sovietsthe Soviets

1960 Election1960 Election

The election of The election of 1960 was close 1960 was close – Kennedy became Kennedy became

the youngest and the youngest and first Catholic first Catholic presidentpresident

Kennedy’s inaugural Kennedy’s inaugural address focused on address focused on his theme of change his theme of change and also took a and also took a strong anti-strong anti-communist tonecommunist tone

1960 Presidential 1960 Presidential InaugurationInauguration

Castro’s CubaCastro’s Cuba Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba in Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba in

19591959 Once in power, Castro seized private Once in power, Castro seized private

businesses, began making anti-American businesses, began making anti-American speeches and signed a trade agreement speeches and signed a trade agreement with the Soviet Union in Feb 1960with the Soviet Union in Feb 1960– The U.S. responded by cutting off all economic The U.S. responded by cutting off all economic

and diplomatic ties w/ Cubaand diplomatic ties w/ Cuba The CIA believed that an invasion of The CIA believed that an invasion of

Cuba would inspire the people to rise up Cuba would inspire the people to rise up against Castroagainst Castro– They began to secretly train Cuban exiles for They began to secretly train Cuban exiles for

the purpose of overthrowing Castrothe purpose of overthrowing Castro

U.S. Relations with U.S. Relations with CubaCuba

During the 1960 During the 1960 campaign, Kennedy campaign, Kennedy learned of the CIA’s plan learned of the CIA’s plan to overthrow to overthrow Fidel Fidel CastroCastro

President Eisenhower President Eisenhower had authorized this had authorized this project in hopes of riding project in hopes of riding Cuba of Castro’s Cuba of Castro’s communist regimecommunist regime– Kennedy would give the Kennedy would give the

final approval for the final approval for the missionmission

Bay of Pigs InvasionBay of Pigs Invasion The The Bay of Pigs InvasionBay of Pigs Invasion was a was a

complete disastercomplete disaster The The New York TimesNew York Times reported the plan reported the plan

to invade a week before it happened & to invade a week before it happened & Kennedy denied the storyKennedy denied the story– On April 15, 1961 the first air strike failedOn April 15, 1961 the first air strike failed– Castro’s troops captured the Cuban exilesCastro’s troops captured the Cuban exiles– In Dec. 1962 Kennedy negotiated their In Dec. 1962 Kennedy negotiated their

release for $52 million in food and medical release for $52 million in food and medical supplies to Cubasupplies to Cuba

Instead of eliminating the threat of Instead of eliminating the threat of communism, the Bay of Pigs incident communism, the Bay of Pigs incident actually strengthened Castro’s ties to actually strengthened Castro’s ties to the Soviet Unionthe Soviet Union

U.S. Relations with the U.S. Relations with the Soviet UnionSoviet Union In June 1961, Kennedy met with In June 1961, Kennedy met with

Khruschev, the Soviet premier, to Khruschev, the Soviet premier, to try to ease tensions try to ease tensions

Instead Khruschev demanded that Instead Khruschev demanded that the U.S. recognize Communist East the U.S. recognize Communist East Germany as an independent nation Germany as an independent nation and withdraw from West Berlinand withdraw from West Berlin– Kennedy refusedKennedy refused

Problems with BerlinProblems with Berlin

West Berlin had long been a West Berlin had long been a problem for the Soviet Unionproblem for the Soviet Union– In the first half of 1961 alone 200,000 In the first half of 1961 alone 200,000

East Germans escaped communism East Germans escaped communism by slipping past guards to safety in by slipping past guards to safety in West BerlinWest Berlin

Kennedy’s advisers were Kennedy’s advisers were concerned that East Germany concerned that East Germany might try to use force to gain might try to use force to gain control of West Berlincontrol of West Berlin