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1

Kennedy and the Cold War

Chap. 28 Sc. 1

Kennedy Defeats Nixon

•  1960 election • Kennedy-

Democrat

• Nixon- Republican

•  Kennedy wins

•  Strong support from African Americans

Kennedy Cold War Policy

•  First goal was to build up nations armed forces

•  Flexible response- •  Prepared to fight any type of conflict

•  Eisenhower had massive retaliation

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2

Kennedy and Third World

Kennedy and Third World

•  Third world- • Developing nations

• Not aligned with U.S. or Soviet Union

•  Soviet Union used propaganda saying Western world (1st world) to blame for 3rd world

Kennedy and Third World

•  Creates programs to strengthen 3rd world

•  Peace Corps- volunteers, “missions of freedom”, provide technical, educational, and health services

•  Alliance for Progress- Good neighbor policy, provide economic assistance to Latin America

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3

U.S. and Cuba

•  Fulgencio Batista leader of Cuba

•  Overthrown by Fidel Castro in 1959

•  U.S. and Cuba can no longer continue their relationship • Castro nationalizes

U.S. and Cuba

•  Many middle class Cuban’s flee •  End up in Miami

•  Exiles

Cuba

•  Cuba allies with the Soviet Union

•  Nikita Khrushchev is leader of the Soviet Union

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4

Bay of Pigs

•  President Eisenhower sees Cuba as a threat • Works with CIA to overthrow Cuba

•  Eisenhower’s term comes to an end

•  Plan comes to a halt

Bay of Pigs

•  Kennedy is elected- Comes into office in ‘61

•  Kennedy is informed about the plan to overthrow Castro

•  CIA pressures Kennedy to continue with the plan

Bay of Pigs

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5

Bay of Pigs

•  Plan to have trained exiles attack Cuba

•  April 15th- Exiles try to take out air field • Castro has already moved planes

•  April 17th- Day of invasion

Bay of Pigs

•  Failed invasion •  Played out on Cuban radio

•  Ship gets stuck on coral reef

•  Back up paratroopers dropped in wrong location

Bay of Pigs

•  Failed invasion • Castro pins troops on beach

•  114 people were killed, 1,100 were taken prisoner

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6

Bay of Pigs

•  Kennedy takes the blame for the failed invasion • Cuban’s in America turn against Kennedy

•  Castro is stronger in Cuba •  Take out a strong force