1. Arms Race and Election of Kennedy The Cold War in the 1950’s

2. Objectives Today Define and describe the concept of the arms race List some of the technological advancements of the Cold War arms race Describe television’s role in the election of President Kennedy Explain U.S. involvement in the Bay of Pigs invasion

4. Arms Race

5. What was the Arms Race Arms Race - international contest between countries seeking a military advantage over each other Cold War participants Roughly the same technology, but concerned Stockpiled weapons and developed new ways to deliver

7. U.S. in the Arms Race Eisenhower tried to cut back on traditional forces Reliance on nuclear weapons Developing new delivery systems for nuclear weapons (H-Bomb)

8. B-52 Bomber Could strike anywhere in the world

9. ICBM Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles Range of thousands of miles Attach a Nuclear Warhead

10. Soviet ICBM

11. Nuclear Powered Submarines Could travel for months at a time High speeds underwater Equipped with Nuclear Missiles

12. Missile from Submarine

13. Nuclear Power in 1950s

14. Soviet Union Arms Race The Soviets lagged behind in the number of weapons Their missiles could travel further and be just as destructive Soviets launch Sputnik in 1957 – the first artificial satellite sent into orbit

15. Sputnik 2

16. Soviets in Space The launch of Sputnik caused concern in the U.S. Had Soviet science skill and knowledge surpassed the Americans? What was wrong with American schools? Major education funding laws are passed U.S. launched satellite in 1958 NASA created in 1958 – agency devoted to space exploration

18. American Public American public became more aware of potential for nuclear attack Nuclear fallout – streams of radioactive particles produced by a nuclear explosion Fallout causes burns and increases risk of health problems like cancers and birth defects

19. American Public Truman creates FCDA – Federal Civil Defense Administration To educate and prepare the public for nuclear attacks Message to citizens: be ready to handle a crisis on your own Air Raid Sirens in communities Bomb Shelters in backyards Booklets and films Duck and Cover with Bert the Turtle

20. John F. Kennedy 1960 Election

21. Kennedy vs. Nixon 1960 Election Nixon and his relationship with Eisenhower represented America’s past Kennedy represented the future Kennedy spoke of “New Frontiers” – mind, will, spirit of man Kennedy claimed U.S. had fallen behind Soviets in nuclear weapons Kennedy claimed 1950’s prosperity was not reaching the poor

22. Televised Debates 1960 Presidential debates represent the first time they had ever been televised. Watch and see who looked better Debates Kennedy’s looks gave him a slight advantage in debates Kennedy wins election narrowly in popular vote He assembles a new, young, brilliant staff of advisers

23. Bay of Pigs

24. Bay of Pigs Fidel Castro had taken over Cuba in 1959, seized U.S. businesses there, and in 1960 signed a trade agreement with the Soviets Before leaving office, Eisenhower had authorized the CIA to train 1,500 Cuban exiles in Central America The goal was to invade and destroy the communist dictator’s regime The decision fell to Kennedy and he ultimately ordered the invasion to protect Latin America Video

25. Bay of Pigs 1961 invasion was a horrific failure Kennedy denied involvement publicly even as U.S. bombers failed to destroy Cuban Air Force The invasion in April of 1961 did not take Castro by surprise. His forces captured the invading force. Instead of breaking communism so close to U.S., the Bay of Pigs actually solidified Castro to the Soviet Union.

26. Cuban Missile Crisis Next time we meet, we will be having a policy discussion on the Cuban Missile Crisis Your homework is to read the handouts that provide background for the crisis.

27. Homework Read handouts on the Cuban Missile Crisis in preparation for policy discussions in the next time we meet.