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1960 Presidential Debate
Over 70 million Americans watched Senator John F. Kennedy's and Vice President Richard Nixon's first debate. It was first televised Presidential Debate, and it took place on September 26, 1960. -
1960 Election
John F. Kennedy, the democratic nominee, was the winner of the election, making him the youngest elected president in U.S. history. Kennedy won by 120,000 votes out of 69 million, making it one of the closest elections by popular vote. -
Inaugural Address
Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th President of the United States. His Inaugural speech is arguably one of the best, although it's one of the shortest, it includes the infamous line "...ask not what your country can do for you..." -
Peace Corps
Kennedy establishes the Peace Corps by an executive order. This entity trained and sent volunteers to Africa, Asia, and Latin America to serve for two years as educators, health care workers, and agricultural advisers. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
When Kennedy was less than three months into office he learned that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was secretly training about 1,500 Cuban exiles in Central America in order to invade Cuba. President Eisenhower had created this project in the hope of overthrowing Cuba's dictator Fidel Castro. The plans had been reported by the New York Times weeks before the invasion had even occurred. Castro was warned and was ready to attack; the invasion became a complete disaster and an embarrassment. -
The Berlin Crisis
Kennedy invited Khrushchev to meet with him in Vienna, Austria, in June 1961. Kennedy hoped to ease tensions with the Soviet Union, however, Khrushchev demanded that the U.S.and its allies recognize Communist East Germany as an independent nation. He also demanded that the U.S. withdraws from West Berlin. Kennedy responded by building up the military in West Berlin. On August 13, 1961, communist forces closed crossing points between East and West Berlin along the Berlin Wall. -
Mission to the Moon
Kennedy's foreign policy cries helped to create the program that came to symbolize the New Frontier- the exploration into space. Kennedy poured nearly $25 billion into the program; it was 4.4% of the federal budget. Kennedy said, "I believe that this Nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth." Although he wasn't alive to see it, his wishes came true when Apollo 11 landed on the moon July 20, 1969. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
During the Cuban Missile Crisis Kennedy send American U-2 spy planes to photograph the island of Cuba. When he learned that the Soviets had placed missiles in Cuba, he met in secret with his advisors. After several long and difficult meetings he concluded that he must place a blockade around Cuba which he called the "quarantine." He also instructed the Soviets to disarm and destroy the missile sites. The U.S. agreed to disarm their missiles in Turkey and not to invade Cuba. -
Civil Rights Movement
In a televised address to the nation, Kennedy proposes the enactment of civil rights legislation, marking his first decisive action on civil rights. Kennedy also spoke out in favor of school desegregation. He put Vice President Lyndon Johnson on the President's Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity, and he also had Attorney General Robert Kennedy fight for equal voting rights. -
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
The Nuclear Test Treaty was ratified by the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It prohibits nuclear tests or explosions under water, in the atmosphere, or in outer space. -
John F. Kennedy Assassination
Lee Harvey Oswald shoots and kills John F. Kennedy in Dallas, where the president was campaigning for re-election. Lyndon B Johnson became president after his death.
