JFK: Cold Warrior

Flexible Response

Foreign Policy Issues JFK will face:

1.) New USSR leader = Khrushchev: very different from Stalin; looking for peaceful resolution to Cold War until

U-2 incident.

2.) USSR has beaten U.S. into space, Sputnik

3.) Cuba and Soviet = become allies!!

President Eisenhower: U2 Incident

What does the new Russianleader think about

America? Francis Gary Powers= spy pilot caught

Nikita Krushchev1959

Another reasonKhrushchev

might hate the USA…

NO COMMIES ALLOWED!

JFK deals with the Cold War Three major events took place during JFK’s

presidency:

1.) Bay of Pigs Invasion2.) USSR Builds the Berlin Wall3.) Cuban Missile Crisis

A flexible response to war

• JFK believed Eisenhower relied too much on nuclear weapons– Only use in extreme situations

• Instead use a “flexible response”– Build up troops and weapons– Cost lots of $$$– Would be used if nations needed help against Communist

movements• JFK supported the Special Forces, a small army unit created

in 1950s– Waged guerilla warfare in limited conflicts– Known as the “Green Berets”

Bay of Pigs Invasion

Effect:•Exposed an American plot to overthrow a neighbor’s government•Made the US look weak and disorganized

How does this event make America look?

JFK deals with the Cold War Three major events took place during JFK’s

presidency:

1.) Bay of Pigs Invasion2.) USSR Builds the Berlin Wall3.) Cuban Missile Crisis

Also…Vietnam will begin

BERLIN WALL 1961-1989

On August 17, 1961…TheBerlin Wall

is constructed as a visual reminder of the“Iron Curtain”

Cuban Missile Crisis

USA will: remove its missiles from Turkey and promise not to invade CubaUSSR will: remove missiles from Cuba

Result:•US & USSR agreed to a treaty to ban the testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere•Khrushchev falls from power a year after the Cuban Missile Crisis•New USSR leadership less interested in reaching agreements with the West•Soviet arms buildup over next two decades•Military increases in US

The Deal

Quiz on JFK tomorrow

Will be on the following material:•Election of 1960•JFK’s image•JFK’s New Frontier goals, successes, failures•Bay of Pigs•Cuban Missile Crisis