6. John F. Kennedy

[[Personality[[

  • Offered leadership that was well crafted, well marketed and inspiring
  • Cautious president however was able to mask his caution behind bold words.
  • Projected and image of America which was attractive and uplifting at home and to the Free World.

[[Domestic Policy[[

{{New Frontier{{
  • Changed the way presidential power was portrayed- First president that used TV to revolutionise politics
  • Continued reform programs under FDR- Federal aid for education and medical care for elderly.
  • Openly spoke out on civil rights- released a civil rights bill to congress which passed under Johnson after Kennedy’s death
  • Similarly to Eisenhower and the Little Rock situation he sent troops to Southern States that refused racial integration in schools.

[[Foreign Policy[[

  • Berlin Speech- as a response to the building of the Berlin wall- did all he could in the situation by reassuring those in Berlin that the US will stand by them
  • Bay of the Pigs- Inherited after Eisenhower- proved disastrous to the US as the plan ended up strengthening Castro’s position and drew Cuba closer to the USSR
  • Cuban Missile Crisis- Caused the world to be on the brink of nuclear war- Crisis seemed to be a success for Kennedy as the “brinkmanship” policy seemed to have worked.
  • Secured an agreement with Britain and USSR to limit nuclear testing in the earths atmosphere- signalled success of Kennedy’s efforts to engage the USSR in negotiations to reduce Cold War tensions.