Kennedy Flashcards
1
Q
Years John F Kennedy served as president
A
1961 to 63
2
Q
What challenges did the new frontier offer
A
challenges regarding both foreign and domestic policy, including fighting the cold war, science and space, ignorance and prejudice and poverty and surplus
Kennedy stated that if these challenges were met they would bring about a version of the ‘American dream’ that emphasised ‘public interest’
3
Q
How much did K win the presidential election of 1960 by?
A
Closest win of the 20th century by 119,450 votes
Kennedy won by 0.17% of the popular vote
Nixon won more states
4
Q
Kennedy’s strength for his election campaign
A
- War hero
- Young, handsome, tall - change from old, unmotivated Ike
- Appeared as a charismatic, likeable, modern day family man
- his campaign was driven by television and the media
- 13 years of experience in congress including 7 in the senate
- Support from northern democrats and catholics
- Appealed to AAs - promised improving their lives as a priority
- Father’s wealth and popularity was extremely beneficial to his campaign - came from a family of wealthy politicians
- Win much to do with the errors of Eisenhower and Nixon (explained in Nixon’s failures)
- Looked far better on TV than Nixon and had a talent for debating, whilst Nixon looked sideways at cameras and projected shiftiness Kennedy looked confident and focussed directly on the cameras
- He ran a clever campaign, he did and said the right things - e.g. he attacked Nixon and Eisenhower for having neglected America’s defences and allowing a missile gap to develop between the USA and the USSR
5
Q
Nixon’s weaknesses during his election campaign
A
- Associated with Ike - after 8 years people desired change
- Older and less charismatic than Kennedy
- Spends much of his campaign having to defend the actions of Ike
- As Nixon had been Eisenhower’s succeeder, as well as Eisenhower himself being the out-going republican president he should’ve supported Nixon in his campaign but this was not the case, he was preoccupied with defending his own presidential record against Kennedy’s attacks on his policies against defence and poverty - PROVED DIVISIONS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
- Nixon had made his experience in governing central to his campaign, when Ike was asked for an example of any of Nixon’s ‘major ideas’ that he had adopted, Ike responded with ‘give me a week and I might think of one’ - this damaged Nixon’s campaign and his claim to huge amounts of government experience
- Nixon had ignored the advice of Eisenhower to avoid televised debates as this would just give Kennedy free advertising - Kennedy looked far better on television and debated more effectively
6
Q
Nixon’s strengths during his election campaign
A
- 13 years of experience in government and 8 years as vice president
- extensive experience in foreign policy - visits to Africa, South America, Vietnam and Moscow
- He had pledged to campaign in every state
- reputation as a staunch anti-communist
- Extremely strong support from california
7
Q
What does the narrow election victory of 1960 show?
A
Kennedy wasn’t as popular as people thought - supports view that Kennedy was all style and no substance
UNCONVINCING VICTORY
8
Q
How and why didn’t Eisenhower support Nixon in his presidential campaign?
A
- Some question as to whether Eisenhower believed Nixon had the capability of being president
- He was a tired old man who became irritated at the fact that Nixon had refused to allow Eisenhower to campaign for him until a month before the election
9
Q
What did Kennedy’s and Nixon’s policies involve?
A
They were both very similar
Both promised to end the cold war - however, this was unconvincing on Nixon’s behalf given the fact that he was a member of a party that was supposed to have already dealt with the cold war
Both concerned for policies involving extending the economic prosperity experienced during the 1950s to all sections of society, inc those in ethnic minorities
10
Q
Because there were little differences between the policies of N + K what was the election campaign mainly focussed around?
A
Presentation
11
Q
What was said to have been the 1st of the 2 final reasons for Kennedy’s success?
A
A call Kennedy placed to MLK’s wife when he was imprisoned during a sit-in in Atlanta. This incident was advertised heavily during Kennedy’s campaign and in the end it helped to secure MLKs release
In the end K won 70% of the black vote
12
Q
What was said to have been the 2nd of the 2 final reasons for Kennedy’s success?
A
The first ever televised debate, 6 weeks before the election, watched by 74 million people
Kennedy appeared as a young, charismatic, energetic man. He was well-tanned having just returned from campaigning in Florida and caught the public eye in his blue suit.
Nixon appeared as a tired, grey old man. He had just suffered a knee injury and was recovering from the flu. He appeared as particularly worn out probably given the fact that he had been carrying out his promise to campaign in all 50 states
13
Q
When did Kennedy introduce his new frontier?
A
Through a speech in July 1960
14
Q
Why is it difficult to judge Kennedy’s level of success?
A
His premature death in 1963 - he is remembered as a ‘great president in the making’
15
Q
Why is it difficult to judge Kennedy’s success - particularly in domestics?
A
Particularly with domestic policies results take years to become clear, with such a short presidency it is difficult to judge his effectiveness particularly due to the fact that many of his bills introduced were actually forced later through Johnson
16
Q
Summary of K in domestics
A
He had some moderate success and adopted a highly liberal and interventionist approach to domestic policies whilst trying to also cut taxes to stimulate the economy
17
Q
Where were Kennedy’s priorities
A
Foreign policy - global image and US reputation abroad was the most significant thing to him
18
Q
Where were Kennedy’s priorities
A
Foreign policy - global image and US reputation abroad was the most significant thing to him
Domestically he wanted a united society in order to strengthen the US as a whole to fight communism abroad
19
Q
Problem Kennedy faced with domestic policies?
A
Opposition from congress - dominated by conservatives
If policies were passed by congress, they would often be watered down
Kennedy was a young, new president serving his first term. He therefore lacked influence over key figures in congress
e.g. rejected Kennedy’s proposal for federal funding for elementary and secondary school education in 1961
20
Q
How many of Kennedy’s policies for domestic policies were passed by congress?
A
35 of 58
21
Q
New frontier policies and the US economy
A
- Focussed on the creation of new, better paid jobs and providing housing for low-income and retired Americans:
1. $3.19 billion spent on a Housing act introduced which constructed 100,000 new homes and provided 420,000 construction jobs
2. Increased minimum wage further by a whole dollar an hour
3. Focussed on increasing extra welfare and unemployment benefits
4. Focussed on protection of workers: - 1962 executive order
- 1962 contract work hours
- 1962 safety standards act
These acts established standards for working hours and safety and provided federal employees with collective bargaining rights
22
Q
New frontier policies and welfare
A
- social security benefits increased by 20%
- School lunch act provided free lunches and free milk for low income Americans
- increased funding for foster care and the disabled
- the benefits system was extended to cover 5 million more Americans
KENNEDY WENT FURTHER THAN ANY PRESIDENT BEFORE HIM TO IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM OF UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE
-Introduction of medicare which provided universal healthcare for the elderly - increased funding for nursing homes
- millions of children vaccinated through social security act of 1963
23
Q
New frontier policies and NASA
A
- Kennedy provided an extra $9 billion for NASA for the purpose of putting a man on the moon by the end of the 60s
- During Kennedy’s 3 year presidency 6 men were put into space including Alan Shepard
24
Q
New frontier policies and women’s rights
A
Kennedy established the presidential commission on the status of women in December 1961 and invited Eleanor Roosevelt to chair it
- The commissions final report, ‘American women’ published in 1963 outlined problems regarding discrimination against women in the workplace and recommended advances such as paid maternity leave
- Kennedy signed the equal pay act into law in 1963 which allowed 171,000 women to claim $84 million worth of pay over the next 10 years
25
Why was the new frontier particularly popular?
Appealing as it tarnished the Eisenhower era of 'selfish complacency'
26
Overall which areas of society had the 38 acts passed by congress covered?
women's rights, civil rights, welfare, economy, specifically housing and unemployment, education,
27
Main failure of new frontier
Extension of social reform acts already implemented - success can be questioned
None of his major reform initiatives such as tax cuts and civil rights became law during his time in office. Many of his ideas were fulfilled during Johnson's presidency through the Great society
28
Why can it be argued that Kennedy's inability to persuade congress to pass all his 'new frontier' measures was a failure in itself?
As noted by Neustadt, presidential power is the 'power to persuade' Kennedy's failures to persuade congress were unimpressive and his successes can therefore only be seen to be mediocre
29
Main success of New frontier
Brought social issues to the centre of government attention and laid out policies and ideas for the great society
30
Subsidiary reason for why his domestic failures
- more concern for foreign policy + couldn't avoid issues abroad e.g. iproblems in Cuba, Berlin and Vietnam dominated much of his time
- lack of economic necessity
31
Evidence Kennedy was sympathetic for civil rights through his election campaign?
Phoned Coretta King and had MLK released after he was jailed during the sit-ins of the 1960s
32
Evidence Kennedy was sympathetic for civil rights through employment?
- Used his executive power effectively and put pressure on his administration to employ more black people
- 40 AAs were appointed to top posts
- 5 AAs appointed as federal judges
- Kennedy established the Committee on equal employment opportunity (CEEO) designed to ensure equal employment opportunities for federal employees
33
Actions of Bobby Kennedy - was it more his brothers doings than Kennedy's?
- Bobby Kennedy appointed Attorney General who brought about 57 lawsuits against illegal violations of black voting rights compared to Eisenhower's 6
- Asked the national guard and state troopers to intervene and protect those involved in the freedom rides
- sent 500 marshals to help James Meredith enrol at the University of Mississippi
TAKE NOTE: JFK responded to clashes against the 500 marshals by sending US army regulars to re-enforce the marshals
- Put pressure on the supreme court to desegregate lunch counters and pass ruling on inter-state bussing
- Actions and response to the freedom rides of 1961
34
Evidence Kennedy was sympathetic for civil rights through his sport?
He put pressure on the Washington redskins, the last baseball team not to have appointed any black players to sign 3 black members
- Called Coretta King during his election campaign - could suggest he had a concern for civil rights movement, even before he became president
- The progress he made was relatively impressive given the huge amounts of white opposition from white citizens councils
35
Evidence Kennedy was didn't have sympathy for civil rights?
- His actions were often symbolic e.g. calling Coretta King during his election campaign or reactionary meaning he only responded to events after something significant happens and doesn't respond off his own accord, as well as this he waited until 1963, the final year of his presidency to really commit himself to the cause suggesting civil rights was never a priority to him
- Kennedy opposed Eisenhower's 1957 civil rights act
- Didn't refrain from appointing segregationists judges - made up 20% of his deep south judicial appointments
- Only introduced civil rights bill in 1963 due to cold war context and America's image deteriorating abroad
- Provided limited funding to the EEOC
36
Which promises did Kennedy fail to keep during his presidency?
- Housing - stated he would eliminate social deprivation in housing with a 'stroke of a pen' and when that didn't happen campaigners responded through sending thousands of pens to the Whitehouse to remind him
37
Why might Kennedy have had little interest in civil rights?
Preoccupied with foreign affairs that couldn't be ignored
38
What civil rights bill did Kennedy introduce?
Bill which ended all legal segregation in 2963
39
Situation in the South for AAs which led to sit-ins?
By 1960s the promise if desegregation that followed the 'brown vs board' ruling had practically vanished. African Americans were living under Jim Crow Laws which stated separate, but equal facilities. They couldn't access education, transport and even restaurants on an equal basis to white Americans
40
What was the response to the lack of promised progress for AAs in 1960?
Young people began to take matters into their own hands through a grassroots movement
41
Why were young people particularly well-suited to the role in the grassroots movement?
No children to support, no financial responsibilities or jobs to hold and were willing to put themselves in danger for their own beliefs
42
How did young people carry out their protests through the grassroots movement?
Started on 1st February 1960, they would protest through using no weapons but their bodies and wallets
They would sit in the 'whites only' sections in restaurants, ask to be served, and refuse to move
Within a month 50,000 students in 30 venues across 7 states had replicated the movement
Also led to the formation of SNCC - the student non-violent co-ordinating committee which was led by ella baker
43
What did the sit ins of the 1960s provoke?
Violent reactions from members of white citizens councils and therefore huge attention from the media
44
Explain the events of the freedom rides
In the atmosphere of the sit-ins, CORE, the congress of racial equality aimed to push the movement further by repeating their own version of the journey or reconciliation
that happened in 1947
Freedom rides consisted of 7 black and 6 white riders, they set out from Washington in the North to New Orleans in the south with the goal to test the 1960 Boynton v Virginia supreme court ruling that restaurants and waiting rooms along the bus routes would be desegregated. if they reached New Orleans in the south without incident it would mean Kennedy was reacting and progress was being made
Rides eventually extended to involving 300 riders by September 1961
45
What did the freedom rides of 1961 provoke?
Violence and intimidation from white citizens councils particularly at the town of Aniston
TV images of badly beaten, riders such as James Peck circulated the US media and were broadcasted globally
46
What was Bobby Kennedy's response to the freedom rides?
Bobby Kennedy initially called for a 'cooling off' period but this was ignored and the rides continued.
Firstly he forced Democrat Governor of Alabama, John Patterson to protect the riders as well as having similar deals with the governor of Mississippi and Louisiana
He then demanded that the Interstate Commerce commission enforce their own ruling of desegregation of interstate buses
47
How did the Freedom rides end?
By November 1961, the ICC, interstate commerce commission had enforced desegregation in interstate travel and facilities
The CORE campaign had been a huge success in gaining international attention through demonstrating the power and influence of the grassroots movement
48
Main reason for Kennedy's involvement in civil rights
Most likely to do with protecting international reputation given the cold war context - he stated freedom riders were unpatriotic in exposing US domestic problems internationally during the cold war
Whenever Kennedy reacted it was with the goal to protect US image internationally, for example beaten freedom riders, for example James Peck were circulating the worldwide media it was damaging US reputation
49
Significance of Kennedy's inaugural address of 1961
Heavily based upon foreign policy and his promise to stand up to communism. He spoke in a privileged, inspiring tone, promising things were going to happen but providing no specific details - all style over substance
50
Specific goals of Kennedy's New Frontier in foreign policy
Goals in 'peace and war' he specifically recognised the failures of the containment policy using the Cuban revolution of 1959 as an example of failure. Claimed the Republicans had let things 'drift' and the USSR was now winning the cold war as a result
Develop US nuclear weapons, stated there was a growing 'missile gap' between the USA and the USSR and that US power had diminished during Ike's presidency and through having Krushchev in a position of power
He inherited tense relations with the USSR
51
What did Kennedy believe regarding foreign policy
Americans should be prepared to go to war to protect freedom
52
Why was Krushchev struggling to stay in power when Kennedy became president?
Failures in foreign policy - specifically in Berlin - during the 1950s over 2 million East germans had fled to West germany, mainly due to the higher quality of life in the west. This was depleting the economic situation in the East and reducing Krushchev's own power. He needed success abroad to maintain his position of power and Berlin was a perfect target for him.
53
When did Kennedy and Krushchev meet for the first time + significance of this?
Vienna summit in June 1961
They discussed the ongoing problem in Berlin, which Ike had failed to settle, problems in Indochina and the situation in Cuba.
Summits like this were supposed to eradicate tensions between the two powers, however, when Krushchev threatened Kennedy over the situation in Berlin tensions between the two powers increased significantly leading to them both increasing defence expenditure
Krushchev saw Kennedy as being young, naive and vulnerable and believed he could be easily pushed around
54
When was the Berlin wall built
Soon after the Vienna Summit in August 1961 the east Germans sealed off their hundred-mile frontier from West Berlin with fences and 4 days later erected a 30 mile wall between the east and the west
55
What did the building of the Berlin wall mean?
The communist East was now divided from the pro-Western West and moving between the east and the west was strictly controlled and anyone caught without a permit faced imprisonment. Many of those who tried crossing were shot
56
How did Kennedy respond to the construction of the berlin wall?
He was relatively calm and interpreted it as a success given the fact that Krushchev wasn't trying to obtain control over the entirety of Berlin
57
How was the building of the Berlin wall a success for Kennedy?
- The wall signified that Krushchev wasn't trying to take over the whole of Berlin - this was better than war
- can be said it actually reduced tensions in Europe significantly
58
How was the building of the Berlin wall a success for Krushchev?
- He saw Kennedy's lack of resistance to the building of the war as a success for the USSR, his initial impressions of Kennedy as a young, inexperienced, naive president had been proved true - potentially could've been seen to have encouraged his adventurism in Cuba
- Stopped East Germans escaping and brought about a sense of stability to some extent in Germany
59
Events after the building of the wall
June 1963 Kennedy travelled to Berlin to reiterate the US commitment to the city, giving one of his most famous speeches and stressing US commitment to freedom across the world - strengthened his image after the building of the wall which was as a weak president who could easily be pushed around
60
Main failure for Kennedy with the building of the berlin wall
Unresponsive despite the fact that it undermines his values of freedom and democracy
Increased US and USSR tensions significantly - soon after both powers resumed nuclear testing
61
Why did Kennedy escalate involvement in Vietnam?
- to stand up to chinese and soviet aggression
- assert himself as a strong, successful leader
- didn't want to be accused of 'losing' Vietnam and face the criticism Truman had faced in 1949
62
What did Kennedy wrongly assume about the Vietnamese people?
They all wanted rid of communism
Failed to win the 'hearts and minds' of the Vietnamese people
The vietnamese people and the vietcong both had the same interests - they were fighting for their own freedom rather than in favour of communism
63
Kennedy's initial actions in Vietnam
Continued to support Diem through advice, ideas and military advisors
In 1960 there was around 800 US military advisors in Vietnam, by 1963 there was 23,000
64
Failure regarding US policy in Vietnam
Kennedy never wanted the US advisors to engage in war themselves - he wanted Vietnam to fight it's own war however, the conflict becomes increasingly Americanised and it becomes more and more clear the only way to succeed in Vietnam would be to get involved directly, the AVRN (23,000 US advisors and 250,000 strong south Vietnamese army) struggled intensely to defeat the 12,000 Vietcong opposing them
65
Initial problems with Diem
- extremely uncooperative and difficult to work with, Kennedy increased US involvement significantly due to Diem's incapability or perhaps unwillingness to defeat the communist Vietcong
- The Americans supported Diem because of the fact that he was the best, if not only South Vietnamese leader
- once US realised military approach was not working the Kennedy administration attempted to encourage Diem into introducing social, economic and political reforms which would make the regime more popular - this regime was rejected by Diem and the US media became increasingly critical of him
66
What was the purpose of the 'strategic hamlets' programme
Goal was to counter the effective propaganda and recruitment drive of the Vietcong
The programme involved moving Vietnamese people from their villages into areas protected by the south Vietnamese military and away from the influence of the Vietcong however, this was resented by the Vietnamese people and could be said to have actually increased support for the Vietcong - their influence remained strong and they treated the peasants with respect, providing them with food
67
Later problems regarding Diem
- Diem led an extremely brutal regime against the Buddhist majority - this made him an extremely unideal figurehead for resistance to communism in the name of democracy
- In 1963 Diem's government banned the use of buddhist religious flags in celebration of the Buddhas birthday. Demonstrations followed as 100,000 Buddhists marched in protest, when protestors resisted the ban to celebrate the annual buddhist festival the SV government fired upon the crowd, killing 9 people
In response to the killings, Duc a senior Buddhist Monk, doused himself in petrol and calmly burnt himself to death, further suicides of monks followed and the Diem regime, in particular Diem's sister responded extremely unsympathetically.
It was an embarrassment for the Kennedy administration to have any association with Diem. News of the suicides circulated the worldwide media, leading to worldwide opposition against US politicians and journalists. this was particularly damaging given the cold war context. As well as this, how did Kennedy expect to win over the support of the Vietnamese people whilst also supporting and sponsoring such a hated leader
68
Key turning point in US involvement in Vietnam
Kennedy appointed Henry Cabot Lodge as the new US ambassador in South Vietnam in August 1963
69
What did the influence of lodge lead to?
He was convinced Diem had to be removed from power as soon as he became ambassador in August 1963. After continuous prompting by Lodge the US government imposed a freeze on loans to south Vietnam and threatened to fully withdraw military aid
70
Mistake Kennedy made after Lodge's removal of US aid to Vietnam
Kennedy could've easily completely withdrawn US support for Vietnam at this point because of how outraged the US people were at the actions of Diem against the Buddhist community
However, he continued US involvement through looking into replacing Diem's government
71
Explain events of Diem's assassination
From August to November 1963 Lodge worked closely with AVRN generals to remove Diem from his position of power.
The Kennedy administration, as well as the CIA, despite being fully aware of the coup planned against Diem, did not warn Diem of the matter.
After the murder of Diem and his younger brother there was rejoicing in the streets of Saigon
72
Overview of Kennedy's involvement in Vietnam
- disastrous, if anything he had worsened the situation and Vietnam was even more communist now than it had been in 1960
- Because of the Kennedy administration's indirect involvement in the assassination of Diem, Johnson inherited an extremely difficult situation and felt morally obliged to continue US escalation in Vietnam
73
Kennedy's reputation regarding foreign policy
Rep as a war hero and anti-communist who showed his support for the Truman doctrine
74
Events in Cuba in 1959
Jan 1959 left wing socialist Fidel Castro led a revolution and overthrew the pro-American Cuban dictator Batista, tis meant that a socialist country was extremely close to American, specifically within 100 miles of Florida
75
What did Castro do once he had gained control in 1959?
He nationalised 100s of American businesses and as a result Cuban allies of the Batista regime fled to the US
76
Eisenhower's actions in Cuba
July 1960 Ike imposed economic sanctions on Cuba and instructed the CIA to build up a Cuban exile military force to invade Cuba and overthrow Castro. However, his plans couldn't be fully implemented before his term came to an end
KENNEDY THEREFORE INHERITED THE SITUATION IN CUBA
77
Why did Kennedy proceed with Ike's plans in cuba despite warnings not to do so by the CIA?
He believed that third world countries, such as Cuba were the new cold war arena
he couldn't abandon Eisenhower's plan, he was a war hero and had led the allies in Europe during WW2
Kennedy had promised during his election that he would not allow Cuba to become a base for the Soviets in the Caribbean
Using Cuban exiles seemed a quick, cheap, easy way to get rid of Castro
78
Why was the bay of pigs a failure?
- Castro was extremely popular in Cuba, far more liked than Batista had been, particularly in the bay of pigs area where he frequently enjoyed going on holidays. The Cuban exiles therefore failed to persuade the local population to stand up against Castro
- It is believed some of the Cuban exiles were not actually exiles at all and had warned Castro of the upcoming events
- the invasion was primarily led by the exiles and had received minimal aid from the US
79
Results of the failure of the Bay of pigs invasion (Kennedy)
All of the exiles were either killed or captured
Kennedy suffered worldwide humiliation but to his amazement his approval ratings were still at 82% by the American people
80
Results of the failure of the Bay of pigs invasion (Soviets)
Castro moved closer to the Soviets and eventually announced himself as a communist - Kennedy had worsened the situation significantly
- Kennedy appeared as weak, vulnerable and inexperienced to Krushchev and proceeded to bully Kennedy over issues in Berlin at the Vienna summit
81
What did the failure at the bay of pigs lead to?
The cuban missile crisis of 1962
82
Explain events of Cuban missile crisis
- August 1962 Soviet missiles arrived in Cuba, Krushchev had claimed this was to protect Cuba, however, it was extremely apparent he was just trying to enhance his own position of power, as well as the Soviet union
83
Why did krushchev place Soviet missiles in Cuba in August 1962?
- Enhance his own position of power and impress his critics at home and in China who had believed the process of 'destalinisation' was weakening the communist image
- By autumn 1961 the US had boasted of nuclear superiority, as well as this Krushchev resented US missiles being placed in Turkey
- Believed Kennedy was a weak president who could easily be walked over - supported by his lack of response to the building of the Berlin wall.
84
How did the US confirm Soviet missiles were in Cuba?
By October a U2 spy plane photographed missile sites in Cuba
85
How did Kennedy respond to the missile crisis?
He warned Krushchev this would be intolerable
He responded with a naval blockade which would prevent Soviet vessels getting more men and materials to Cuba - the advantage of this would be that Krushchev would have time to reconsider his actions. However, it would also give him time to complete the installation of the missiles. He then later considered a 'quarantine' whilst also preparing for the possibility of an invasion of Cuba
86
Krushchev's proposals to Kennedy
1st proposal - Krushchev offered to get all remaining missiles out of Cuba if Kennedy lifted the blockade and promised not to invade Cuba
He then later demanded that the US would remove missiles from Turkey.
Kennedy accepted Krushchev's first proposal and informed Krushchev that if the Soviets failed to comply, the invasion of Cuba would proceed
87
How was the Cuban missile crisis a success for Kennedy
- led to a cold war thaw, both powers were alarmed by the crisis given the potential prospect of nuclear war:
A hotline was installed between the Kremlin and the Whitehouse so that in future crises the Soviet, and US leaders could communicate directly by phone
They both signed the nuclear test ban treaty which was designed to put a brake on the arms race
88
How was the Cuban missile crisis a failure for Kennedy
- Example of US being ill-informed of what communism was. Placing Soviet missiles in Cuba can be seen as a direct response to US missiles in Turkey, the soviets were trying to protect themselves and weren't focussed on expanding their power
- Kennedy was weak, he didn't fully carry out his election promise of keeping Cuba out of the soviet sphere of influence and if anything Cuban-Soviet relations had improved significantly and Cuba was now more communist than it had been before
- Nuclear test ban treaty and installation of hotline can be seen as a weakness - Kennedy wasn't as anti-communist as people had believed him to be and was accepting the now communist Cuba
- The perceived success in Cuba could be seen to have contributed to American overconfidence leading to increased involvement in Vietnam
89
Pattern in Kennedy's foreign policy
- not as aggressively anti-communist as people believed
| - half of Berlin and Cuba remained communist
