The Kennedy Years•By the end of Ike’s 2nd term, Americans had many concerns•1960 Election:•Democrats nominate a young Massachusetts Senator named John F. Kennedy•Republicans nominate Nixon looking to ride Ike’s coattails

1960 Election•Will be one of the closest elections in US History, 49.7%-49.5%

Deciding Factors•Television and Civil Rights•JFK and RFK appealed MLK’s arrest in 1960 •TV- 1st ever live televised debates see JFK score big victory over Nervous Nixonhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHGs4535W_o

JFK’s Plan•Gave one of the most famous and shortest inauguration speeches in historyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLmiOEk59n8

•Called on all Americans to do their part to make America better

Cold War takes Center Stage

•JFK criticized Ike for allowing a missile gap to be created and the policy of MR•JFK will triple defense spending, increasing our nuclear arsenal as well as adopting the policy of flexible response

Crisis in Cuba

•With Soviet help, Castro seizes control of Cuba in 1959•Ike allows CIA to train guerillas in Guatemala for purpose of retaking Cuba•JFK green-lights Bay of Pigs Invasion in April, 1961•Everything went wrong•JFK and CIA looks foolish

Further Crisis in Cuba

•Failure at Bay of Pigs improved Cuban-USSR relations•October 1962, U2 spots nuclear missile sites in Cuba•US blockades Cuba, preps for invasion•October 22-28, world was brink of nuclear war•No direct communication between JFK and Khrushchev made this worse•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo8SMzM8X-U

Cold War in Europe•In order to stop E. Germans from escaping to W. Berlin, USSR and GDR build Berlin Wall in August 1961•Will become ultimate symbol of communist oppression during Cold War•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

ExOYvW5vCj4

Outcomes of JFK Cold War Years

•Agreement to halt types of nuclear tests•Installation of “the hotline” which allows for direct communication between the White House and the Kremlin