Kennedy - Foreign policy

Kennedys foreign policy + quote

Flexible response

'Let us never negotiate out of fear but let us never fear to negotiate' - 1961 inaugural adress

What did flexible response entail

more conventional forces, nuclear arsenal, economic aid, covert missions, negotiations w/USSR

-Military spending increase 15%

-Armed forces increased by 300,000

Kennedys inaugural address F.P. aims

-Old allies (NATO) and new states - stop tyranny (communism)

-South America

-Negotiations

-Control of arms

Khrushchev foreign policy (when premier)

1958

Destalinization, 'peaceful coexistence'

-Hungary 1956, supply arms to cuba 1962

_____ summit - (1st of kennedy) - when/who/what

Vienna summit 1961 - Khrushchev and Kennedy

-JKF suspect Khrushchev would try exploit inexperience, feared humiliation

-Key issues- Berlin settlement, threat to cut off acess

When were berlin discussions going to take place - why not

1960 paris peace summit

U2 2 weeks prior

Berlin wall - when/what/point of tension?

1961

-erection of barbed wire fence, later brick wall with watchtowers, manned by soldiers

-Stopping east -> west migration in berlin

-Many escapees and deaths across the wall

-Checkpoint charlie - tank standoff 1961

berlin wall positives?

-removed berlin as point of tension

-kennedy strong response - 'I am a berliner' speech in Berlin

-China reprimanded USSR for 'accepting' presence of west in berlin

State of cuban tensions

-Castro nationalised US oil refiners and other assets

-CIA set up cuban task force 1959 approved by Ike to invade 1960 w/cuban exiles and airdropping supplies to anti-castro rebels

-Castro anti-american rhetoric grew and believing imminent invasion, sought USSR military aid, agreed by Khurshchev threatening nuclear retaliation and Cuba in soviet bloc

-JFK called for overthrow of castro

Cuban invaion - what/when/name/why was it supported

The Bay of Pigs invasion 1961

Operation Zapta

-Supported because: CIA and Eisenhower (unchallenged military reputation) support, JFK administration didnt speak up/were former students of CIA chief, JFK had promised to support cuban freedom fighters, seemed good opportunity to overthrow

bay of pigs- why did it fail

-poor planning of routes

-local population didnt rise up- castro popular

-promised US air support never came (kennedy aimed to keep it a cuban venture only)

-castro forewarned- plan leaked

-lack of administration support

bay of pigs - significance

-damaged american reputation

-propaganda win for castro at home & abroad- particularly latin america

-stronger cuban-soviet relations - castro declares himself communist and requested arms in case of another invasion

-left JFK desperate for success and Khrushchev believing he could take advantage of young president

US policy toward cuba after bay of pigs: Military

US forces conduct amphibious exercises near purto rico aimed to overthrowing imaginary dictator - codename 'ORTSAC'

US policy toward cuba after bay of pigs: Economic

CIA sabotage petroleum installation and sank cuban merchant vessels

-strict embargo on all cuban imports remained

-1962 secured expulsion from OAS (org american states)

US policy toward cuba after bay of pigs: CIA

organised anti-castro elements in cuba into counter-revolutionary movement

Cuban response

Turned to soviets - military protection 1960, further after BofP (125 tanks 1961)

1962- Soviets send Nukes (Mid range ballistic missiles - offensive) and >40,000 military personnel garrisoned on the island

Why did USSR put missiles in cuba

-deter future invasion

-90 miles, many cities in range

-Close missile gap

-show Khrushchev not soft

-better negotiation position

-US missiles in turkey

Cuban missile crisis - when and events

1962

-U2 plane proof of missile construction

-Ex-comm commission set up- Doves and Hawks (war)

-JFK announces plan to quarantine Cuba

-soviet ships reach blockade but turn back

-Khrushchev 2 letters - 1st negotiating leaving cuba if no invasion, 2nd about turkish missiles removed

-JFK ignores 2nd and released blockade

-secretly agrees 2nd deal

'13 days' on brink of nuclear war

Cuban crisis - consequences

'hotline' between 2 powers to prevent crisis

'thaw' in cold war relations

1963 partial test ban treaty- nuclear weapon test in atmosphere and ocean (ban)- steps toward arm control

Cuban crisis - consequences for JFK

(+) claim victory, strong world leadership standing up to soviets, removal of missiles (security), propaganda, turkish missile removal secret and outdated (ICBMs)

(-) NATO felt interests not thought regarding Turkish missiles- didnt consult

Cuban crisis - consequences for Khrushchev

(+) victory as peace maker 'protected cuba', cuba communist and armed, no turkey missiles

(-) irritated communist leaders for backing down, looked weak, removed as premier 2 years later

Who were the ARVN

What was the Ho Chi Minh Trail

Difference between US soldiers and Nationalist Vietnamese soldiers

-S.V. army linked w/Gov - worked w/US

-supply route through Laos, Cambodia for supplies/weapons

-Politeness- Vietnamese dint damage crops/flirt with women

why did US involvement in Vietnam increase under JFK : Kennedy personality

- wanted to show strong leadership to world and ussr / reassure other south east Asian states (domino theory)

-convinced third world would be main stage of US-USSSR struggles

-Political pressures

why did US involvement in Vietnam increase under JFK : Administration individuals

-Rob McNamara (sec. state) - great influence - liked statistical analysis- stats favoured US (size of army)- urged financial and military aid

-Kennedy relied more on defence dept over state dept

why did US involvement in Vietnam increase under JFK : other cold war events

-obligation to continue as rose under Truman and Ike

-removal of involvement could reduce credibility

-victory needed after bay of pigs

How did involvement in vietnam escalate - reform option

-urge Diem to introduce social, econ, political reform- sent LBJ to convince

-more financial aid immediately

-Galbraith assed it as not a military problem - criticised McNamara

How did involvement in vietnam escalate - military option (diem?)

-increase no'/role of US advisors- consider group troops?

-US aid to set up strategic hamlets

-US helicopters and pilots

-approved napalm

-JFK approved assassination of Diem 1963 - Diem dubbed inept and reports he would make deal w/Hanoi

Military advisor increase under JFK

900 - 16,000