John F. Kennedy's International Power
Through years of trials and tribulations, the United States of America has maintained its standing as an international power, but such achievements do not occur without the aid of visionary individuals. Many have contributed to the success of this great country. However, in the last half of the twentieth century, when this power was questioned, there was one individual who stood above all the others, cementing the United States’ dominance, and paving the way to the future. Between the Cuban missile crisis, the Space race, and countless other achievements that helped cultivate the strength of the United States, President John F. Kennedy has earned his place in history for ensuring that the United States’ claim to power remain unhampered.
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“In his inaugural address, given on January 20, 1961, the new president called on his fellow Americans to work together in the pursuit of progress and the elimination of poverty” (History.com). This speech, the first of many remarkable addresses, set into action the rebuilding of the United States economy, which had been severely damaged by the 1960s recession. Instead of basking in the glory of his inauguration, President Kennedy realized that with such high unemployment and a 3.99% rise in interest rates, (stlouisfed.org) that the American economy required immediate inflation. “He directed all Federal agencies to accelerate their procurement and construction [and] released over a billion dollars in state highway aid funds ahead of schedule,” (Sorensen 397) creating thousands of jobs. With such progress encompassing them, the American people began steadily pumping money back into the economy, but the problem could not be rooted out in its entirety without first confronting the Federal Reserve Board, who had been initially responsible for the rising interest rates. President Kennedy proposed the possible solution of long term bonds in order to maintain steady and affordable interest rates for the American people. The board not only agreed to this plan, but aided Kennedy in his Creation of the Pilot food stamp program, and his mass expansion of US employment offices (Sorensen 398). When President Kennedy was elected, the American economy was a sinking ship, but things began to change.
During the four years following John Kennedy 's inauguration, the US experienced the longest and strongest economic expansion in this nation 's modern history--GDP increased more in 4 years than it had in the previous 8. By 1964, a record $100 billion, 16% growth in the nation 's total output had provided more than 2.75 million more jobs and a record rise in labor income. The amount of idle manufacturing capacity had been reduced by half, and for the first time, the 70-million-job barrier had been shattered (Sorensen 393).
With the help of John F. Kennedy, the United States ingenuity was not only restored to its former glory, but also enhanced in a way that transformed America into a symbol for change and progress. Kennedy proved that, unlike other countries that remain in power until headships overcome them, the United States could not be shaken. President John F. Kennedy not only challenged the United States to strengthen its economy, but also to claim a leadership role in space and to be the first country with the technology to land a man on the moon. Though the Soviet Union was already well on their way to accomplishing this task, President Kennedy was determined that the American tradition of exploration be upheld on a new frontier. On May 25, 1961, he urged the nation to join him in making a commitment to achieve this goal by the end of the decade. “He appealed to the spirit of adventure, to patriotic pride, and to the cause of freedom [and] America responded with one of the greatest mobilizations of resources and manpower in U.S. history” (jfklibrary.org/spacerace). Almost a full year later, on February 20th 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth (Nasa.gov). Though this feat had already been accomplished by the Soviet Union, it was just the catalyst the United States needed to propel themselves into the unknown. Finally after eight years, and a plethora of space missions, both successful and unsuccessful, Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon. Despite the fact that President Kennedy was assassinated six years prior to this event, his legacy was revisited, as the members of the Apollo 11 crew drove the American flag into the surface of the moon, fulfilling his presidential wish. Though Kennedy himself was no longer running, he inspired America to take pride in their freedom and ingenuity and to win the race of technology and space, “a stunning achievement that boosted American confidence and prestige at home and around the world” (jfklibrary.org). The space race, however, was a miniscule war compared to the other battles President Kennedy lead against the Soviet Union. “In October 1962, an American U-2 spy plane secretly photographed nuclear missile sites being built by the Soviet Union” (jfklibrary.org/Cubanmissilecrisis). The sites “[had] been hidden underground in concrete shelters where American reconnaissance planes [could] not detect them” (United States). Though the President did not make this information public at first, he did take action to protect the United States, setting up a naval blockade around reconnaiance Cuba in order to prevent the Soviets from bringing in more military supplies. On October 22nd Kennedy “publicly addressed the nation, [demanding] the removal of the missiles already there and the destruction of the sites” (jfklibrary.org/Cubanmissilecrisis). Americans were not sure how Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev would take Kennedy’s demands, and were thrilled when Soviets agreed to dismantle their weapon sites as long as the United States promised to never invade Cuba. “In a separate deal, which remained secret for more than twenty-five years, the United States also agreed to remove its nuclear missiles from Turkey” (jfklibrary.org/Cubanmissilecrisis). The two superpowers met together to sign the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty on July 25, 1963,( jfklibrary.org/Cubanmissilecrisis) and even though the arms race was far from over, Kennedy’s treaty still safeguarded the world from the destructive effects of nuclear warfare. The Soviet Union ignored the prospects of carnage for their own lucrative gain, and yet even with such wreckage in the balance, Kennedy was able to remain level-headed and make a decision that benefited everyone. He showed the Soviet Union, as well as other countries, that America was not to be threatened and ensured that America remain not only safe, but in control of defining the worlds nuclear limitations. President John F.
Kennedy not only demonstrated great leadership in times of crisis, but also used his charismatic appeal to bring the American people together in a time of oppression. On November 20, 1962 President Kennedy issued the Executive Order 11063, which prevented racial discrimination and laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Sorensen 502). He kept this pro- civil rights premise throughout his entire campaign, remaining an avid supporter of Martin Luther King, even during times of great persecution. He led the United States by example, reminding his people of the beliefs that this great country was founded upon. In a time where the world was composed of many communist countries, Kennedy sought to find the difference between the international powerhouses and use the freedom that separated America from the rest to set an example for the rest of the world. America was already an international power, but Kennedy was not content with just being number one in the world, he wanted America to be number one in their hearts as well. So Kennedy created the Peace Corps, “a cadre of mostly youthful volunteers carrying American energy and skills directly to the people of poor nations,” which “became in time--at least in the developing nations--the most stirring symbol of Kennedy 's hope and promise” (Sorensen 532). The Peace Corps was not President Kennedy’s only humanitarian project, he also sought to contain the perceived threat of communism in Latin America by establishing the Alliance for Progress, a program designed to develop human rights standards in developing countries. He even showed his support to West Berlin with his famous speech Ich bin ein Berliner in 1963. By expanding his leadership to other Nations in need John F. Kennedy gained many valuable allies and formed ties with other nations that would help cement America’s position as an international power. He took hold of the values that Americans hold dear and released them into the
world as a beacon of hope to those in need. This not only made the United States an international role model, but also put the nation into a position of safety.
Throughout all his trials and tribulations, President John F. Kennedy remained a strong leader with the capability to remain level-headed and make decisions that benefited not only the government, but the United States as a whole. He welcomed the challenges of the time, “[asking] not what [his] country could do for [him] but what [he] could do for [his] country” and his people. He revolutionized the times, leading America to historic feats, and redefining American ingenuity. Though his presidency was cut short, his legacy of upholding American dominance will always remain etched into history.
Works Cited
"Cuban Missile Crisis." - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. .
Dunbar, Brian. NASA. NASA, 23 May 2011. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. .
"Effective Federal Funds Rate." Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 3 Feb. 2014. Web. 13 Feb. 2014. .
"John F. Kennedy." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 13 Feb. 2014. .
Sorensen, Theodore C. Kennedy. New York: Harper & Row, 1965. Print.
"The Space Race." -John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2014. .
United States. Chronology Compiled for The President 's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (PFIAB). Chronology of Specific Events Relating to the Military Buildup in Cuba. N.p.: n.p., n.d. The National Security Archive. The George Washington University. Web. 13 Feb. 2014. .
“In his inaugural address, given on January 20, 1961, the new president called on his fellow Americans to work together in the pursuit of progress and the elimination of poverty” (History.com). This speech, the first of many remarkable addresses, set into action the rebuilding of the United States economy, which had been severely damaged by the 1960s recession. Instead of basking in the glory of his inauguration, President Kennedy realized that with such high unemployment and a 3.99% rise in interest rates, (stlouisfed.org) that the American economy required immediate inflation. “He directed all Federal agencies to accelerate their procurement and construction [and] released over a billion dollars in state highway aid funds ahead of schedule,” (Sorensen 397) creating thousands of jobs. With such progress encompassing them, the American people began steadily pumping money back into the economy, but the problem could not be rooted out in its entirety without first confronting the Federal Reserve Board, who had been initially responsible for the rising interest rates. President Kennedy proposed the possible solution of long term bonds in order to maintain steady and affordable interest rates for the American people. The board not only agreed to this plan, but aided Kennedy in his Creation of the Pilot food stamp program, and his mass expansion of US employment offices (Sorensen 398). When President Kennedy was elected, the American economy was a sinking ship, but things began to change.
During the four years following John Kennedy 's inauguration, the US experienced the longest and strongest economic expansion in this nation 's modern history--GDP increased more in 4 years than it had in the previous 8. By 1964, a record $100 billion, 16% growth in the nation 's total output had provided more than 2.75 million more jobs and a record rise in labor income. The amount of idle manufacturing capacity had been reduced by half, and for the first time, the 70-million-job barrier had been shattered (Sorensen 393).
With the help of John F. Kennedy, the United States ingenuity was not only restored to its former glory, but also enhanced in a way that transformed America into a symbol for change and progress. Kennedy proved that, unlike other countries that remain in power until headships overcome them, the United States could not be shaken. President John F. Kennedy not only challenged the United States to strengthen its economy, but also to claim a leadership role in space and to be the first country with the technology to land a man on the moon. Though the Soviet Union was already well on their way to accomplishing this task, President Kennedy was determined that the American tradition of exploration be upheld on a new frontier. On May 25, 1961, he urged the nation to join him in making a commitment to achieve this goal by the end of the decade. “He appealed to the spirit of adventure, to patriotic pride, and to the cause of freedom [and] America responded with one of the greatest mobilizations of resources and manpower in U.S. history” (jfklibrary.org/spacerace). Almost a full year later, on February 20th 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth (Nasa.gov). Though this feat had already been accomplished by the Soviet Union, it was just the catalyst the United States needed to propel themselves into the unknown. Finally after eight years, and a plethora of space missions, both successful and unsuccessful, Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon. Despite the fact that President Kennedy was assassinated six years prior to this event, his legacy was revisited, as the members of the Apollo 11 crew drove the American flag into the surface of the moon, fulfilling his presidential wish. Though Kennedy himself was no longer running, he inspired America to take pride in their freedom and ingenuity and to win the race of technology and space, “a stunning achievement that boosted American confidence and prestige at home and around the world” (jfklibrary.org). The space race, however, was a miniscule war compared to the other battles President Kennedy lead against the Soviet Union. “In October 1962, an American U-2 spy plane secretly photographed nuclear missile sites being built by the Soviet Union” (jfklibrary.org/Cubanmissilecrisis). The sites “[had] been hidden underground in concrete shelters where American reconnaissance planes [could] not detect them” (United States). Though the President did not make this information public at first, he did take action to protect the United States, setting up a naval blockade around reconnaiance Cuba in order to prevent the Soviets from bringing in more military supplies. On October 22nd Kennedy “publicly addressed the nation, [demanding] the removal of the missiles already there and the destruction of the sites” (jfklibrary.org/Cubanmissilecrisis). Americans were not sure how Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev would take Kennedy’s demands, and were thrilled when Soviets agreed to dismantle their weapon sites as long as the United States promised to never invade Cuba. “In a separate deal, which remained secret for more than twenty-five years, the United States also agreed to remove its nuclear missiles from Turkey” (jfklibrary.org/Cubanmissilecrisis). The two superpowers met together to sign the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty on July 25, 1963,( jfklibrary.org/Cubanmissilecrisis) and even though the arms race was far from over, Kennedy’s treaty still safeguarded the world from the destructive effects of nuclear warfare. The Soviet Union ignored the prospects of carnage for their own lucrative gain, and yet even with such wreckage in the balance, Kennedy was able to remain level-headed and make a decision that benefited everyone. He showed the Soviet Union, as well as other countries, that America was not to be threatened and ensured that America remain not only safe, but in control of defining the worlds nuclear limitations. President John F.
Kennedy not only demonstrated great leadership in times of crisis, but also used his charismatic appeal to bring the American people together in a time of oppression. On November 20, 1962 President Kennedy issued the Executive Order 11063, which prevented racial discrimination and laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Sorensen 502). He kept this pro- civil rights premise throughout his entire campaign, remaining an avid supporter of Martin Luther King, even during times of great persecution. He led the United States by example, reminding his people of the beliefs that this great country was founded upon. In a time where the world was composed of many communist countries, Kennedy sought to find the difference between the international powerhouses and use the freedom that separated America from the rest to set an example for the rest of the world. America was already an international power, but Kennedy was not content with just being number one in the world, he wanted America to be number one in their hearts as well. So Kennedy created the Peace Corps, “a cadre of mostly youthful volunteers carrying American energy and skills directly to the people of poor nations,” which “became in time--at least in the developing nations--the most stirring symbol of Kennedy 's hope and promise” (Sorensen 532). The Peace Corps was not President Kennedy’s only humanitarian project, he also sought to contain the perceived threat of communism in Latin America by establishing the Alliance for Progress, a program designed to develop human rights standards in developing countries. He even showed his support to West Berlin with his famous speech Ich bin ein Berliner in 1963. By expanding his leadership to other Nations in need John F. Kennedy gained many valuable allies and formed ties with other nations that would help cement America’s position as an international power. He took hold of the values that Americans hold dear and released them into the
world as a beacon of hope to those in need. This not only made the United States an international role model, but also put the nation into a position of safety.
Throughout all his trials and tribulations, President John F. Kennedy remained a strong leader with the capability to remain level-headed and make decisions that benefited not only the government, but the United States as a whole. He welcomed the challenges of the time, “[asking] not what [his] country could do for [him] but what [he] could do for [his] country” and his people. He revolutionized the times, leading America to historic feats, and redefining American ingenuity. Though his presidency was cut short, his legacy of upholding American dominance will always remain etched into history.
Works Cited
"Cuban Missile Crisis." - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. .
Dunbar, Brian. NASA. NASA, 23 May 2011. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. .
"Effective Federal Funds Rate." Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 3 Feb. 2014. Web. 13 Feb. 2014. .
"John F. Kennedy." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 13 Feb. 2014. .
Sorensen, Theodore C. Kennedy. New York: Harper & Row, 1965. Print.
"The Space Race." -John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2014. .
United States. Chronology Compiled for The President 's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (PFIAB). Chronology of Specific Events Relating to the Military Buildup in Cuba. N.p.: n.p., n.d. The National Security Archive. The George Washington University. Web. 13 Feb. 2014. .