Historical Context
For thirteen days in 1962, the world held its breath, waiting for the moment when nuclear war would begin. There had never been a time before when nuclear warfare was so close to becoming a reality than during the Cuban Missile Crisis, towards the end of the Cold War. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the US were locked in an arms race, a competition for superiority in the development and accumulation of weapons. The climax of the race between these two superpowers was during the Cuban Missile Crisis where the Soviet Union advanced into Cuba which was under the dictating regime of Fidel Castro at the time. In Cuba, which was only 90 miles off the coast of Florida, the Soviet Union set up their nuclear missile sites. The enemy had never been closer. Soon, an American U-2 spy plane secretly photographed these nuclear missile sites that were being built. This discovery quickly traveled back to the White House where one man had to make a decision that would determine the fate of the world. That man was John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
For thirteen days in 1962, the world held its breath, waiting for the moment when nuclear war would begin. There had never been a time before when nuclear warfare was so close to becoming a reality than during the Cuban Missile Crisis, towards the end of the Cold War. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the US were locked in an arms race, a competition for superiority in the development and accumulation of weapons. The climax of the race between these two superpowers was during the Cuban Missile Crisis where the Soviet Union advanced into Cuba which was under the dictating regime of Fidel Castro at the time. In Cuba, which was only 90 miles off the coast of Florida, the Soviet Union set up their nuclear missile sites. The enemy had never been closer. Soon, an American U-2 spy plane secretly photographed these nuclear missile sites that were being built. This discovery quickly traveled back to the White House where one man had to make a decision that would determine the fate of the world. That man was John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Before becoming the 35th President of the United States and the youngest person to ever hold office--he was only 43 years old-- John F. Kennedy lived a common life as one of nine kids growing up in Brookline, Massachusetts. Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917. In 1936, Kennedy entered Harvard University where his older brother, Joe, was currently attending. There, he excelled in his history class and found an interest in government and international affairs, fueled by his father’s position as United States Ambassador to England. After graduating from Harvard, both he and his older brother joined the Navy. He was assigned to command a patrol torpedo boat in the South Pacific. One day, the boat that Kennedy was leading was attacked by the Japanese--two sailors died and Kennedy badly injured his back. Hauling another wounded sailor on his back, Kennedy led the survivors to a nearby island, where they were rescued almost a week later. The incident earned him the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his leadership and courage and a Purple Heart for the injuries he suffered. However, Kennedy's older brother was not so fortunate. As a pilot, he died when his plane exploded 1944. Growing up, Joe had always had a dream of becoming President and, in the aftermath of his brother’s death, Kennedy took his brother's hopes and aspirations upon himself (Putnam). After his time in the Navy Kennedy ran for congress and won in 1946. A few years later Kennedy was elected US senate in 1952. In the ensuing years, Kennedy was almost picked to run as Vice President and instead ran for President the next term. On November 8th, 1960, John F. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon and became the first Catholic President, just as his brother had yearned for. Only months into his presidency, Kennedy encountered a problem that had to be dealt with on the international stage.
John F. Kennedy was born in a time when the surrounding issues in the greater world substantially shaped who he became as a leader. Being born in 1917, John F. Kennedy grew up in the Interwar Years, between the first and second World Wars (Grimm). Growing up during this time would have certainly made an impact on JFK because he was able to witness firsthand the people around him who were still reeling from losses, both personally and politically because of the war. His father being in the foreign service as an ambassador as well would have surely given young John an unmatched insight into what was truly going on around the world. An exposure to the rest of the world at a young age can only be seen as an asset for someone who is going to become part of the world of foreign politics. Additionally, John F. Kennedy was a young teenager when the stock market crashed on October 29, 1929, JFK was thrust into the world of economic hardship for everyone around him. This widespread economic downturn surely influenced JFK, and may have added to what is often noted as frugality in terms of spending.
As he grew older and started to think about getting into politics, JFK witnessed as the world entered into the second of the two World Wars. His views in opposition of what he was witnessing across the ocean, and the ineffectiveness of American government to help stop the murders of millions of people, struck a chord within the Kennedy family, and more specifically with John. Being around two wars and lots of economic hardship gave Kennedy a platform on which he could run, and gave him the trust of the American people to whom he was catering. Kennedy most historically avidly opposed the idea of Communism, which was employed by the USSR at the time, as he believed that this form of rule was ineffective in managing a country (Winkler). If Communism became the status quo, then there was no telling what JFK and the rest of the people in both America and abroad were in for. It was thousands of miles away, in the USSR, that the idea of Communism had truly taken flight and was in full effect. The Soviet Union became more powerful year after, and it was clear that should the pattern continue, the rest of the world was going to have a serious predicament on their hands. It was through a further-developed sense of leadership, which stemmed from being a child during the Interwar years as well as his time in the Navy, that propelled Kennedy to the Presidency and ultimately led him to captivate the hearts, minds, and trust of his constituents.
As he grew older and started to think about getting into politics, JFK witnessed as the world entered into the second of the two World Wars. His views in opposition of what he was witnessing across the ocean, and the ineffectiveness of American government to help stop the murders of millions of people, struck a chord within the Kennedy family, and more specifically with John. Being around two wars and lots of economic hardship gave Kennedy a platform on which he could run, and gave him the trust of the American people to whom he was catering. Kennedy most historically avidly opposed the idea of Communism, which was employed by the USSR at the time, as he believed that this form of rule was ineffective in managing a country (Winkler). If Communism became the status quo, then there was no telling what JFK and the rest of the people in both America and abroad were in for. It was thousands of miles away, in the USSR, that the idea of Communism had truly taken flight and was in full effect. The Soviet Union became more powerful year after, and it was clear that should the pattern continue, the rest of the world was going to have a serious predicament on their hands. It was through a further-developed sense of leadership, which stemmed from being a child during the Interwar years as well as his time in the Navy, that propelled Kennedy to the Presidency and ultimately led him to captivate the hearts, minds, and trust of his constituents.
Kennedy took office just as the Cold War--a standoff that never involved any real warfare, yet lasted for decades--began to heat up again. When he came into office in January of 1961, Kennedy was immediately tasked with stemming a problem that had become of paramount interest for national security. The leader of the Soviet Union at the time, Nikita Khrushchev, was the man with whom Kennedy most often dealt, and Khrushchev was also the man against whom Kennedy worked tirelessly. As the rest of the world sat somewhat idly by, the Soviet Union was in an arms race to acquire effective nuclear weapons, that posed an extensive threat to the rest of the world. Although Communism was beginning to spread, very few nations were openly in support of Communist views. One of these nations, however, was Cuba. Cuba had gained its independence from the U.S. about sixty years prior to Kennedy coming into office, but the U.S. retained the right to supervise the finances and foreign relations of the island. Therefore, it was worrisome for American officials when Cuban Premier, Fidel Castro, became very friendly with Khrushchev. Therefore, when Khrushchev decided that he wanted USSR missiles to be built on Cuba, only ninety miles off of the coast of Florida, Kennedy decided that action had to be taken. It was well known that, just a short time before, Kennedy had green-lighted an operation to take down the Cuban regime that had been outlined by Dwight Eisenhower. It was in response to the failed attempt, that Khrushchev decided to place the missiles on Cuba to deter any more attacks on the island (Fogerty). Although the operation cost many American lives and a great deal of Kennedy’s time to sort out, the President still had the full support of his people. This was especially remarkable because it speaks to just the kind of leader that Kennedy was, and just how much the American people were behind him.
After many lengthy deliberations with his advisors, Kennedy decided that this was a threat that he could not take lightly, as American lives were put directly at risk. The President outlined a series of demands that were then sent to the leader of the Soviet Union. These demands stated that the construction of the missiles had to be stopped, and that the military surveillance of the island would be increased should that not be the case. Finally, Kennedy called upon Khrushchev to eliminate the “reckless and provocative threat to world peace and stable relations between our two nations,” (Winkler). He gave this speech on national broadcasts, and garnered the further support of the American people. The world had never been as close to nuclear war as it was for those thirteen days. As both sides deliberated, the world was on the brink of not only another World War, but also a war of which caliber they had never seen before. Eventually, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the island, in exchange for withdrawn surveillance by the American military.
It is not clear if John F. Kennedy is the sole reason why the Cold War began to wind down. Did Eisenhower put in place the tools that Kennedy needed, and then did Kennedy just utilize this stencil of government? Was Kennedy able to take what he knew, or perhaps what he did not, and use this to his advantage in sorting out crises that came to fruition? What allowed John F. Kennedy to be an effective Cold War President? This final question is the one that we will be delving into, supported by our other questions. The world was sitting on the brink of nuclear war for two weeks, and a young President somehow managed to keep the most powerful country in the world safe from a massive force. We expect to find that Kennedy utilized what was put in place by Eisenhower, but also his own background, to craft what he believed to be the best course of action throughout his time as a cold war President. It also may be that his naiveté aided him because he did not know to exactly what extent his actions were going to help or harm. John F. Kennedy was a man who stood behind his people and fought for them, under circumstances that we cannot fathom, and took the peaceful course of action--he was a leader.
After many lengthy deliberations with his advisors, Kennedy decided that this was a threat that he could not take lightly, as American lives were put directly at risk. The President outlined a series of demands that were then sent to the leader of the Soviet Union. These demands stated that the construction of the missiles had to be stopped, and that the military surveillance of the island would be increased should that not be the case. Finally, Kennedy called upon Khrushchev to eliminate the “reckless and provocative threat to world peace and stable relations between our two nations,” (Winkler). He gave this speech on national broadcasts, and garnered the further support of the American people. The world had never been as close to nuclear war as it was for those thirteen days. As both sides deliberated, the world was on the brink of not only another World War, but also a war of which caliber they had never seen before. Eventually, Khrushchev removed the missiles from the island, in exchange for withdrawn surveillance by the American military.
It is not clear if John F. Kennedy is the sole reason why the Cold War began to wind down. Did Eisenhower put in place the tools that Kennedy needed, and then did Kennedy just utilize this stencil of government? Was Kennedy able to take what he knew, or perhaps what he did not, and use this to his advantage in sorting out crises that came to fruition? What allowed John F. Kennedy to be an effective Cold War President? This final question is the one that we will be delving into, supported by our other questions. The world was sitting on the brink of nuclear war for two weeks, and a young President somehow managed to keep the most powerful country in the world safe from a massive force. We expect to find that Kennedy utilized what was put in place by Eisenhower, but also his own background, to craft what he believed to be the best course of action throughout his time as a cold war President. It also may be that his naiveté aided him because he did not know to exactly what extent his actions were going to help or harm. John F. Kennedy was a man who stood behind his people and fought for them, under circumstances that we cannot fathom, and took the peaceful course of action--he was a leader.