JFK Election of 1960 NixonKennedy First televised debates

JFK

Election of 1960 • Nixon-Kennedy • First televised debates • JFK: coached, wore makeup • Nixon: sweating, 5 o’clock shadow • Radio vs. TV viewers

1960 Campaign • MLK Jr. arrested for sitting at segregated lunch counter in GA • King sentenced to 4 months • Eisenhower refused to intervene, Nixon ignored the event • JFK called King’s wife • RFK persuaded judge to release MLK on bail • Helped capture African. American votes

The Camelot Years • Inaugural speech: “ask not what your country can do for you…” • National obsession with Kennedy family • Jackie became fashion icon • JFK speed reader (1, 600 wpm) so thousands enrolled in speed reading classes

JFK & Cold War • Eisenhower had emphasized containment, domino theory, hard-line, deterrence • JFK wanted to move away from threatening the use of nuclear war • Focused on conventional military forces, created Green Berets • Called “flexible response”

CUBA • 90 miles off Florida coast! • Castro wins control in 1959 • Nationalizes US & British oil refineries, US sugar farms • Congress enacts embargo • Cuba relies on Soviet aid • JFK had said Republicans let Cuba go communist

BAY OF PIGS • Eisenhower had approved plans for US-sponsored invasion of Cuba • CIA trained 1500 Cuban exiles for invasion • JFK learned of plan only 9 days after taking office, but approved it • April 17, 1961: US-sponsored exiles landed on Bahía de Cochinos

Bay of Pigs Cont’d • US air strike to take out Cuban air force failed • Advance group sent to distract Cuban forces never arrived • 25, 000 Cuban troops waiting when commando unit of exiles arrived • Soviet tanks and jets • JFK negotiated with Castro, sent $53 mil in food & medical supplies in exchange for release of exiles • Mission said to have blown up in JFK’s face

Cuban Missile Crisis • October 14 -28, 1962 • U 2 surveillance of Cuba revealed construction of bases for Soviet missiles • MRBM’s have range of 1200 miles, could have reached as far as Washington DC • US/USSR on the brink of nuclear war!

Berlin Crisis • Wall built surrounding West Berlin 1961 • Khrushchev threatened to close off all access, JFK said “we can not & will not allow the communists to drive us out of Berlin” • JFK visits, gives speech June 26, 1963 • “There are some who say communism is the wave of the future. Let them come to Berlin. ” • “Ich bin ein Berliner. ”

Reducing Tensions • Kennedy & Khrushchev agreed to tone down tensions between the two countries • Hot Line: between White House & Kremlin to communicate if issues arise • Limited Test Ban Treaty: prohibited nuclear testing in the atmosphere (only underground)

Peace Corps • One of JFK’s campaign promises • Volunteer assistance to developing countries • By 1968, 35, 000 volunteers in 60 nations • Helped promote democracy & improved America’s image in the world to countries in danger of falling to communism

Race to Moon • April 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became first man in space • JFK proposed sending a man to the moon by the end of the decade as part of “New Frontier” • NASA built launch facilities at Cape Canaveral & mission control at Houston • Apollo program designed with goal of landing on moon • July 20, 1969 • Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins

November 22, 1963 • Kennedy & wife went to Dallas to meet with TX Republicans • Driving in motorcade in limo • Shots fired from TX School Book Depository • DOA by the time limo arrived at the hospital, LBJ took oath on AF 1 • Lee Harvey Oswald charged with murder, prints on rifle • Warren Commission set up to investigate conspiracy theories (CIA, communists, Cubans); found that may have been a low level conspiracy and that Oswald probably did not act alone