Kennedy and Khrushchev Essay

John F Kennedy was one of the most loved and remembered presidents in the history of the United States. He did many things to help the country and the American people during his ephemeral presidency. His accomplishments include creating the peace corps, bringing the economy out of a recession, helping the African-American civil rights movement, and passing the Equal Pay Act of 1963. These successes can be attributed to his ability to be witty, charismatic, and courageous. Almost everyone loved him, from the impecunious to the rich, and majorities to minorities. Through the actions of John F. Kennedy it is clear that it is better to be loved as a leader than feared because it allows one to be easier to talk to and collaborate in solving large problems as he did.

I admire Kennedy’s optimism in the possibility of compromising with the Soviets, but I also feel that he needed to be stronger and more direct with them.

This national style of negotiation may have contributed to the crisis through the actions or lack of actions perceived by the Soviets. For example, in June of 1961 and during the early months in office, President Kennedy attended a summit with Premier Khrushchev in Vienna to discuss cold war confrontations between the east and west, in particular the situation in Berlin. The failure of the two leaders to reach any

From 1890-1990, America as a nation experienced constant, dynamic forces from a multiplicity of men and women. When one recalls these people, impactful Americans such as FDR, Henry Ford, Walt Disney, and many others come to mind. However, rarely does one look outside the country for people who created a lasting impact, although certain foreigners molded America during their lives. This particularly applies in the case of Nikita Khrushchev, as despite his status as the leader of another nation, he exerted the greatest influence on America during the time period. Nikita Khrushchev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953-1964 and the Soviet Premier from 1958-1964, rose to power in the chaos after Stalin’s death. During his time as leader, Khrushchev took part in many events that defined the climate of the Cold War. In the Berlin Crisis, where a significant number of people were leaving East Berlin for West Berlin, Khrushchev played a key role by demanding Kennedy attend a meeting to discuss the problem, and subsequently disrespecting the young president. Later on, in the Cuban Missile Crisis, where an American U-2 Spy Plane discovered offensive nuclear missiles in Cuba, Khrushchev further complicated the dire situation through his refusal to remove the weaponry. Beyond direct conflicts, Khrushchev sponsored the growth of the U.S.S.R.’s space program, leading to the launch of Sputnik I, and furthering the tense relationship between the Soviet

On January 20, 1961, John Fitzgerald Kennedy became the youngest man to possess presidency in the United States of America. As a young, wealthy man Kennedy rapidly climbed the political ladder by initially representing a working class Boston district in the United States Congress, then continuing on to the House of Representatives, followed by the United States Senate, and ending with the victorious defeat of his presidential opponent, to become the 35th president of the United States. According to theatlantic.com, Kennedy was so admired by the public, that “in the eyes of the world, this reticent man became a charismatic leader who, in his life and in his death, served as a symbol of purpose and hope.” As a result of John F. Kennedy’s

John Lewis Gaddis offers a different opinion of the one responsible for the Cold War. He believes that Stalin’s authoritarian vision was a minor issue; the big issue

Max Frankel, an article writer for the Smithsonian Magazine, has done a lot of research on the Cuban Missile Crisis and has concluded that Khrushchev incited America not from a position of strength, but from a sense of weakness and frustration. Frankel also concluded that historically, the Soviets and the United States were never as close to nuclear war as it appeared to the public. The world was so close to a nuclear war, many countries were willing to limit their nuclear power if other countries did the same.

The Kennedy Doctrine, which was to “Respond flexibly to communist expansion, especially guerrilla warfare” (Roskin & Berry, 2010, p. 58), was executed in this history-making event to the letter. Kennedy could have, and had the power to cease the unfolding events with an all out air strike on the Soviet Union. Some say it is due to bureaucratic politics and the accessibility of information that was provided to the National Security Council by the CIA and air force that this did not occur. In responding flexibly to what The Soviet Union and Cuba were planning, America assessed the volatile situation, forethought possible outcomes and negated all their options albeit under a tight time constraint. America’s forces were mobilized and ready to strike, had word been given nuclear war was on the cards. Kennedy wanted to give The Soviet Union an out and put a halt to a possible war, rethink the situation and allow an alternative to occur. Due to this diplomacy, The Soviet Union entered into negotiations “the Kremlin offered a deal: no Soviet missiles in Cuba if Washington promised not to invade” (Roskin & Berry, 2010, p. 87). By using the flexible response tactic, Kennedy was

John F. Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 29, 1917, the second of nine children. He was a US statesman and our 35th president. He came from a family with a history of good politics. As an infant he lived in a comfortable but modest frame house in that suburb of Boston. As the family got larger and the father's income and fortune increased, the Kennedys moved to larger, more impressive homes. Their first home was in Brookline, followed by the suburbs of New York City. John F. Kennedy had a happy childhood that was full of family games and sports. He attended many different private elementary schools, which were all non parochial. He later spent a year at Canterbury School in New Milford,

Kennedy used was absolutely critical to the fate of not only the nation but the world. During the crisis, the President “spent more time trying to determine the effect of a particular course of action on Khrushchev or the Russians than on any other phase of what he was doing.”(Kennedy 95). By knowing how the Soviet Chairman would react, President Kennedy was able to use the art of persuasion. This is because he did not want to humiliate the Soviet Union in order to prevent the escalation of the potential war. Thus, President Kennedy was reluctant to stop any more Russian ships and use any military tactics against the Soviet Union. He established a profound connection between himself and Khrushchev. They both did not want to unintentionally start a war and wanted to establish the former peaceful relations they had acquired. Each decision that the President made would affect the Soviet Union, and in order to gain their trust, he needed to present himself as a credible and reliable leader. This was parallel to what he wanted to accomplish in the U.S. as well. In order to gain respect and attention from the people, he needed to persuade them that he would be an exemplary leader. Therefore by utilizing logos, ethos, and pathos the President was able to gain respect and attention from the American and the Russian people. These rhetorical devices and the President’s dedication to saving a nation and

The late president John Fitzgerald Kennedy once said, “Sure it's a big job; but I don't know anyone who can do it better than I can” (“John F. Kennedy” BrainyQuote.com). Kennedy was a young and fresh political figure at the time of his election in 1960. The thirty-fifth president of the United States was born May 29, 1917, in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was the youngest president ever, as well as the first and only Roman Catholic president (Bass, et al.). His presidency was shortened by an assassin on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. Kennedy preceded his presidency with a term in the U.S. House of Representatives (1947-1953) and a term in the U.S. Senate (1953-1961) (“John F. Kennedy” History.com). Kennedy, a

John F. Kennedy lived a very hard, but famous life. In his life he batted many deaths and illnesses. He was in the navy, in congress, the Senate of the United States, and the 35th President. Even though most people think Mr. Kennedy lived a very easy and flowing life, they are all wrong. He struggled through life, but never let its show through to many people. While he struggled through all of his illnesses and witnessed so many dying he still made everyone think his life was perfect. You will soon find out everything was not so great for Mr. Kennedy.

”He came to be loved in the black community, and he was the first president since Franklin D. Roosevelt who had anything to say to the young” (“John Fitzgerald Kennedy”). This shows that Kennedy knew the young community was the future, and he used his charm to influence them and guide them down the right path. In a poll, sixty percent of Americans considered Kennedy as having had the ’most appealing personality’" (“John F. Kennedy” The Presidents). Over half of the people who participated in the poll chose JFK out of a plethora of people as having the most appealing personality. John F. Kennedy's progressive agenda during the 1960s inspired a new generation of optimism in America (“John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States (1961-1963). He was born

Nikita Khrushchev rose to power after the death of Stalin. He was a leader who desperately worked for reform yet his reforms hardly ever accomplished their goals. He was a man who praised Stalin while he was alive but when Stalin died Khrushchev was the first to publicly denounce him. Khrushchev came to power in 1953 and stayed in power until 1964, when he was forced to resign.