Kennedy and the Cold War

 

During the presidential campaign of 1960, the Cold War was the main subject ot the debates. Kennedy and his opponent Nixon both pledged to stenghten American military forces and promised a tough stance against the Soviet Union and communism. Kennedy warmed people against the Soviet's growing arming. He wanted to revitalize American nuclear forces and he criticized Eisenhower who permitted the establishment of a pro-Soviet government in Cuba.

There were two big international issues during his political career : the Cold War and the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union.

Kennedy wanted to preserve liberty, as we can hear in his first speech : "American people would pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty."

 John Fitzgerald's first address