John F. Kennedy and Foreign Affairs

Kennedy saw economic growth and political democracy as two essential aspects of foreign affairs. One aspect went hand in hand with the other, in a sort of symbiotic relationship; after all, nations which were poor and struggling would be vulnerable to political systems other than democracy. A demoralized and poverty-plagued populace would be more susceptible to the appeal of communism than countries which were already flourishing under free-reign capitalism in a democratic society.

Some of the features of Kennedy's new foreign program, all of which could be viewed as strengths, or weaknesses, were the following: (1.) unified administration and operation; (2.) long-term financing; (3.) increased use of loans; (4.) greater participation by other advanced countries in aid programs; and (5.) clearer distinction between military and economic aid.

The above five features are characterized by their call for more money. Even a package calling for a unified administration and operation wo

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elebration of Cold War beliefs. He reproached the Republicans for allowing the Communists to get "eight jet minutes from Florida" and Russia to seize an advantage in missiles over the United States ... He emphasized the so-called missile gap between the United States and the Soviet Union, and the need to strengthen America's military tools ... Kennedy appointed Dean Rusk [Secretary of State], a staunch supporter of anti-communist policies shaping American actions around the globe" The United States had taken a very anti-Communist policy before Kennedy's election, and the president's subsequent saber-rattling was more of the same. Kennedy was the beneficiary of such fiascos as the U-2 episode. For about four years, the United States had been engaging in photographic espionage over the Soviet Union with high-flying U-2 airplanes. On May 1, 1960, one of these one of these planes was shot down some 1,200 miles inside the Soviet Union, near a vital industrial center. Russia's Premier Khrushchev gave Eisenhower, who was President at the time, an "out" by saying that he did not believe the President to be responsible for ordering the spy surveillance. Instead of taking this opportunity to smooth over U.S.-Soviet relations
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Approximate Word count = 1669
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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