Who was john f. kennedy?
Background
John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States of America. He was previously the U.S. senator of Massachusetts. In November of 1960, he defeated Vice President Richard M. Nixon in the presidential election. Kennedy came into office during a difficult time period, not only for America, but for other parts of the world as well. Tension between the United States and the Soviet Union was getting worse and communism was becoming a threat. |
Bay of pigsShortly after John F. Kennedy was elected President, he learned that Eisenhower had approved of the CIA's plan to secretly train Cuban exiles against Fidel Castro in Guatemala. These 1,500 trained exiles were then expected to invade Cuba through its central coast known as the "Bay of Pigs". Initially, Cuba was to be invaded large-scale at the southern coast known as Trinidad but Kennedy had decided that the invasion should be more secretive. The United States had definitely supported this invasion as they hoped that it would lead to an uprising of the Cuban civilians against Fidel Castro and the totalitarian regime in Cuba. It was important to the United States that Castro's period of rule was brought to an end because Cuba was a frighteningly close 90 miles away and communist ideas were not wanted in the increasingly powerful, democratic country. Not only that, but Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev's support and alliance with Cuba had upset the United States even more.
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Kennedy's Message to the Public
Kennedy did not want to admit that the United States would be involved in the invasion at Bay of Pigs. In fact, he announced on April 12, 1961, at a news conference, that America's government would keep its distance and that it would not support any uprising against Castro. The following is part of President Kennedy's question and answer session at the news conference:
Kennedy did not want to admit that the United States would be involved in the invasion at Bay of Pigs. In fact, he announced on April 12, 1961, at a news conference, that America's government would keep its distance and that it would not support any uprising against Castro. The following is part of President Kennedy's question and answer session at the news conference:
[4.] Q. Mr. President, has a decision been reached on how far this country will be willing to go in helping an anti-Castro uprising or invasion of Cuba? What could you say with respect to recent developments as far as the anti-Castro movements in Cuba are concerned?
THE PRESIDENT. First, I want to say that there will not be, under any conditions, an intervention in Cuba by the United States Armed Forces. This Government will do everything it possibly can, and I think it can meet its responsibilities, to make sure that there are no Americans involved in any actions inside Cuba.
Secondly, the Justice Department's recent indictment of Mr. Masferrer, of Florida, on the grounds that he was plotting an invasion of Cuba, from Florida, in order to establish a Batista-like regime should indicate the feelings of this country towards those who wish to re-establish that kind of an administration inside Cuba.
Third, we do not intend to take any action with respect to the property or other economic interests which American citizens formerly held in Cuba, other than formal and normal negotiations with a free and independent Cuba.
The basic issue in Cuba is not one between the United States and Cuba. It is between the Cubans themselves. I intend to see that we adhere to that principle and as I understand it this administration's attitude is so understood and shared by the anti-Castro exiles from Cuba in this country.
THE PRESIDENT. First, I want to say that there will not be, under any conditions, an intervention in Cuba by the United States Armed Forces. This Government will do everything it possibly can, and I think it can meet its responsibilities, to make sure that there are no Americans involved in any actions inside Cuba.
Secondly, the Justice Department's recent indictment of Mr. Masferrer, of Florida, on the grounds that he was plotting an invasion of Cuba, from Florida, in order to establish a Batista-like regime should indicate the feelings of this country towards those who wish to re-establish that kind of an administration inside Cuba.
Third, we do not intend to take any action with respect to the property or other economic interests which American citizens formerly held in Cuba, other than formal and normal negotiations with a free and independent Cuba.
The basic issue in Cuba is not one between the United States and Cuba. It is between the Cubans themselves. I intend to see that we adhere to that principle and as I understand it this administration's attitude is so understood and shared by the anti-Castro exiles from Cuba in this country.
Invasion Proven to be a Failure
Two days prior to the invasion, U.S. planes in Nicaragua were painted to look like stolen Cuban planes and were involved in an airstrike over Cuba. The airstrike had failed, but it had sent the message to Castro that he should expect another attack in the near future. The invasion at Bay of Pigs finally occurred on April 17, and this too had failed as Cuba had no trouble fending them off. Kennedy decided against another airstrike since he saw that this invasion would result in Cuban success anyway. Also, the previously expected uprising of the Cuban civilians against Castro had never happened since they ended up supporting him instead. |
What does this mean for the U.S.?
The "Bay of Pigs" incident had been disastrous for the U.S. and also embarrassing for President Kennedy personally. The U.S. had agreed not to intervene with Cuban affairs but they did anyway. Kennedy had been portrayed as a liar since he had publicly rejected the idea of American involvement in the invasion. This resulted in his ability to be an effective leader to be brought into question. Even after the event, Kennedy still tried to portray the invasion as an entirely Cuban affair. Tensions increased between the U.S. and Cuba and Cuba even strengthened its military ties with the Soviet Union so that its government would be protected in future attacks. |
cuban missile crisis
In October 1962, a U.S. spy plane had discovered that the Soviet Union had placed a nuclear missile in Cuba. Since the Soviet Union already had the power to cause disaster and do damage to some U.S. targets from a farther distance, placing missiles in a much closer country had demanded the attention of the United States. It can be said that the United States was being hypocritical in this situation because the country had already placed some of its own missiles in Turkey, which was alarmingly close for the Soviet Union.
After discussing different plans of action with the Executive Committee of the National Security Council, President Kennedy went on public television to announce that the United States would not back down in fear and that there would be a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent more missiles from entering the country. He made sure to call this blockade a quarantine, however, to make sure that this act was not seen as an act of war.
The Russian and U.S. ships stood face to face for two days before Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev agreed that he would send his fleet back home and he would remove missiles already in Cuba if Kennedy agreed to end the blockade and pledge to stay to out of Cuba. Khrushchev had also sent a letter to Kennedy asking that he remove the missiles the United States had in Turkey. This letter was ignored, but the Cuban Missile Crisis had come to an end.
In 1963, the Limited Test Ban Treaty was signed between the Soviet Union, the United States, and Great Britain. This treaty banned nuclear testing in the atmosphere and underwater and served to lessen the tensions among the countries.
After discussing different plans of action with the Executive Committee of the National Security Council, President Kennedy went on public television to announce that the United States would not back down in fear and that there would be a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent more missiles from entering the country. He made sure to call this blockade a quarantine, however, to make sure that this act was not seen as an act of war.
The Russian and U.S. ships stood face to face for two days before Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev agreed that he would send his fleet back home and he would remove missiles already in Cuba if Kennedy agreed to end the blockade and pledge to stay to out of Cuba. Khrushchev had also sent a letter to Kennedy asking that he remove the missiles the United States had in Turkey. This letter was ignored, but the Cuban Missile Crisis had come to an end.
In 1963, the Limited Test Ban Treaty was signed between the Soviet Union, the United States, and Great Britain. This treaty banned nuclear testing in the atmosphere and underwater and served to lessen the tensions among the countries.