John F Kennedy Flashcards
What were the results of the 1960 Presidential Election?
JFK: 303 EC votes, 22 States carried, 34.2 million votes and 49.72% of the vote.
Nixon: 219 EC votes, 26 States carried, 34.1 million votes and 49.55% of the vote.
What prior political experience did JFK have?
He became a member of Congress in 1947 at the age of 29 and won re-election in 1948 and 1950 before running successfully for the senate in 1952.
What advantages did Kennedy hold over Nixon?
He was young and energetic compared to Nixon who was seen as the establishment.
Prior to the TV debates Nixon was winning the polls however, Kennedy performed incredibly well and was able to tip the balance.
What are two notable things about Kennedy’s election?
He was the youngest person to ever be elected and the first roman catholic.
What were the famous closing words of Kennedy’s inaugural speech?
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”.
What foreign affairs fiasco did Kennedy face in April 1961?
Kennedy approved a plan to send 1’400 CIA trained Cuban exiles for an amphibious invasion at the Bay of Pigs.
He aimed to overthrow Fidel Castro and start a rebellion however, he backed down and did not provide support to the exiles most of whom were killed or captured.
What foreign affairs fiasco did Kennedy face in October 1962?
Kennedy heard that the US had been constructing missiles in Cuba and in response set up a blockade.
The standoff lasted 2 weeks before Khrushchev agreed to dismantle the rockets in return for the US removing their missiles from Turkey.
What did Kennedy sign in 1963 with the UK and the USSR?
They signed a ban on testing nuclear weapons.
What happened in June 1961 in terms of foreign policy?
He met with Khrushchev to discuss the issue of Berlin, two months later East German Soldiers built a wall.
He sent an army convoy to reassure West Berlin of Support.
What did Kennedy do in regards to Vietnam?
He reluctantly started the process of sending aid to South Vietnam.
What was the Peace Corps?
Kennedy established the Peace Corp which would send volunteers to underdeveloped countries across the world.
What issues did Kennedy face in regards to cutting taxes?
Kennedy inherited a decently sized economic recession as employment had fallen by 25% since 1951 with 5.5 million Americans looking for work.
He aimed to cut taxes to stimulate the economy but it was heavily watered down.
What issues did Kennedy Face in regards to civil rights?
He was slow to support the cause but he did send Federal Soldiers to de-segregate the university of Mississippi.
He also supported the March on Washington and planned to pass some civil rights legislation.
What did Kennedy do in regards to the Space Race?
He promised to get a man on the moon by the end of the decade.
When was Kennedy’s assassination?
It happened on the 22nd November 1963 when Kennedy was traveling through downtown Dallas in a car.
Shots rang out and he was killed, Lee Harvey Oswald received the blame but this was highly controversial.
