Kennedy Flashcards
(14 cards)
What was Kennedy’s actions with Berlin?
Met with Khrushchev and stood firm on all three issues; Loas, Berlin, Vietnam (Privately confided that Khrushchev had savaged him)
Kennedy was calm about the construction of the wall, said it showed khrushchev did not intend to seize the whole of Berlin
Kennedy instructed Dean Rusk to exploit the situation for propaganda as far as was possible
Kennedy travelled to WB to reiterate the US commitment to the city and gave a speech to 450,000 people in 1963
What happened in the bay of pigs?
This plan involved invading Cuba. Landing at the bay of pigs on 17th april 1961, the invasion was over in three days
It was a huge failure, poorly executed and ended in ultimate humiliation for Kennedy
What was Operation Mongoose?
It was a coordinated plan of policational sabotage, proposed assassination attempts on key political leaders
Number 1 being castro
What was the Tsar Bomba?
The USSR tested its largest nuclear bomb yet on the 30th October 1961.
Lead to the Limited Test Ban treaty - signed by USSR, USA, UK in august 1963 which outlawed testing in the atmosphere, underwater and in outer space due to concerns on the impact in the environment
When was the Berlin Wall built?
13th August 1961 - starting as a barbed wire
What is the vietcong?
Communist guerrilla force supplied by NV
Who was Ngo Dinh Diem?
President of south vietnam, assassinated in 1963 due to religious views against buddhists
The coup against Diem
1st November 1963, a coup was carried out against Diem. The US government admitted to being aware of the coup being planned
When was Kennedy assassinated?
22nd November 1963
What was operation BEEF up?
Increased the number of military advisors in Vietnam from 800 to 16,000 by the end of 1963
What was Strategic hamlets?
1962 - November 1963
Moving peasants out of their villages into American protected fortified hamlets to prevent the Vietcong targeting them
What was the battle of Ap Bac
2nd Jan 1963
First time the US were noticeably involved in the Vietnam war
Attacked a VC strong hold which meant US helicopters were sent to help. 5 were downed and this showcased to NV that America were not just there to advise SV
What was Kennedy’s foreign policy?
Europe, Berlin wall
Cuba, bay of pigs, cuban missile crisis
How did Kennedy’s personality help him win the election against Nixon?
He was young and charming
He did door to door campaigning
Had smart advisors
