6 Stages to JFK’s Foreign Policy 1. Nukes 2. Conventional Weapons 3. Covert Operations 4. Economic Aid 5. Peace Corps 6. Diplomacy

JFK wanted a variety of options to deal with international conflicts Unlike Ike-didn’t want nukes to be the only

option Failure of Brinkmanship▪ Hungary (1956)

Missile Gap?? Were the Russians ahead? 1961-63 ICBM’s-could annihilate USSR 1963-424 ICBM’s

2. Conventional Weapons-Increase in Defense Budget by 15%

3. Green Berets created for covert operations Special Military Units

for wars of national liberation

Vietnam, Cuba

Alliance for Progress Marshall Plan for

Latin America $20 Billion in aid Most of the $$

never got to the people that needed it!

Sent Young volunteers to work in developing countries for 2 years

Taught people democracy and capitalism

First went to Ghana & Tanzania

Diplomacy-work through communication to solve international problems

1. Space Program 2. Bay of Pigs 3. Berlin Crisis

1959-USSR won space race with Sputnik

April 12, 1961 Yuri Gagarin (USSR)

completes first orbit of the Earth

May 5, 1961 Alan Shepard is first

American into outer space

JFK’s Goal-To land a man on the moon and bring him back by the end of the decade.

JFK criticized Ike for being soft on Cuba Afraid Communism

might spread Ike called for invasion

worked in Guatemala JFK hoped that the

invasion would foster a revolution

CIA trains 1453 commandos (Cuban refugees) Castro had 2500 in

army & 200,000 in militia

In 72 hours, the invasion was over

CIA wanted to respond with air strikes, JFK said no-feared a strike against West Berlin

Unlike Ike, JFK took full responsibility Popularity rose to 83% JFK sent $53 million to

Cuba for 1100 prisoners Cuba became top US

priority Operation Mongoose

10 million set aside to kill Castro

By 1975, US tried to kill Castro 24 times

JFK & Khruschev met for the 1st time

Khruschev thought that he could push JFK around Bay of Pigs 3 Days of meetings

Khruschev wants Berlin to be a “free city” “If JFK wants a war, he’ll

be the last President of the US”

Real Problem-2000 people leaving Berlin every day

US Tanks faced off against USSR tanks

"Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect, but we have never had to put a wall up to keep our people in."

“Ich bin ein Berliner.”

Berlin Wall constructed by USSR Began August 12,

1961 JFK- “A wall is a hell

of a lot better than a war”

Wall seen as a failure▪ 89 people killed trying

to cross the wall

Vietnam is the Cornerstone of the Free World in SE Asia

Assassination of Diem-Nov. 1, 196316,000 AdvisorsAid-$1.5 Billion

This is the closest that we have ever gotten to WWIII

Khruschev said that the only way to save Cuba was with nuclear weapons

Castro feared another US invasion Discussed by JFK in

1962

August 22 US confirms reports of

increased USSR activity in & around Cuba

October 14 U-2 Flights confirm

missiles on launching pads all pointing at US▪ 48 medium range (1000

miles)▪ 32 long range (2000

miles)

What should JFK do?October 22

JFK addressed the nation about USSR threat

Announced a quarantine of Cuba Surrounded Cuba w/ 180 warships JFK demanded the immediate removal of

the missiles

USSR ships stop short of blockade

12/25 changed course Rest had no missiles Rusk “We were eyeball

to eyeball and I think that the other guy blinked”

US ship dropped depth charges on USSR sub? Orders to fire?

Khruschev announces that the weapons will be returned to USSR JFK was best President

since FDR USSR▪ US removes all missiles

from Turkey▪ US promises never to

invade Cuba again USA▪ UN inspections to make

sure all missiles are gone!

1. Limited Test Ban Treaty US, USSR, GB-limited tests of nukes in

atmosphere, outer space, or underwater 2. Hotline Established

Direct, unbreakable connection between US/USSR 3. Relations worse w/ USSR

No trade at all w/ Cuba, failed assassination attempt on Castro in Paris-Nov. 22, 1963

4. USSR builds up so that they never back down again Focuses economy on weapons and military

development JFK popularity up to 74%

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

It’s Us against them and we need to do whatever possible…

June 11, 1963 JFK needed a way

to try and bring the Russians to the peace table.

Opened the idea to relaxed tensions with the Russians Détente