1. Both the American President John Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev seemed to be realistic about the Cuban Missile Crisis. They both represented the states that were standing apart and had their self-interests in the events that occurred. Besides, from the realistic point of view, Kennedy understood that the only way to withstand the crisis and prevent the new war would be to show their power, which is essential within the Realist framework, and take active actions since the interest of the state required that. Besides, being realists, both leaders understood that there is no way to involve the non-governmental organizations in the solution. Kennedy kept his realistic approach during the whole period. However, the actions of the Soviet Union could not be seen as realistic to a full extent since their requirement to remove the American missiles from Turkey as well might not have been responded positively, and they would not have the power …show more content…
During the problem associated with the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy did not make his decisions on his own. After learning about the threat, he called for a group which was called EXCOMM. The group involved the government members who were seeking for the ways to address the issue. Some of the military leaders were acting based on the idea of power claiming the necessity to start military action immediately. However, Kennedy realized, considering the position of power of the USSR, that such actions might have destructive consequences. In that regard, Mc. Namara had an original idea, and it might be viewed as realistic. From the point of power, the United States had an advantage over the Soviet Union. Respectively, they could have made their opponent subject to their requirements. Besides, Robert Kennedy could also be regarded as a realist with respect to the situation since he supported the position of the President, basing the thoughts on the issue of power not only of the United States but also of the Soviet
Kennedy’s record with foreign affairs was imperfect. His decisions towards Cuba had major flaws, which could have led to a nuclear war. His biggest failure as president was the Bay of Pigs invasion that took place in April of 1961. It was meant to be a mission to overthrow Fidel Castro. However, the 1400 American trained Cuban invaders were outnumbered by Castro’s troops and “surrendered after less than 24 hours of fighting” (History.com).
The article focus on recently declassified John F. Kennedy secrets contained in documents and tape records, painting a portrait of a “cunning and cagey” man. JFK is still fascinating Americans regardless their political orientation. Thus, these new revelations reopen a debate never ended. The historian Timothy Naftali has attempted to give a new perspective to the several unanswered questions, depicting a JFK “far more interesting intellectually and far less appealing personally” than his family would have us believe. For instance, from 1961 through the Cuban missile crisis, JFK with the help of his brother Robert decided to pursue negotiations against the advice of his cabinet.
This shows that JFK did not provoke the Crisis to start initially. It only shows that Kennedy did not return the favor in violence, but at the same time he didn't exclude it from the option
Kennedy said that they could just blow up the missile bases in Cuba, but this, without a doubt, would start a destructive war which would affect not just the US and the Soviet Union, but the whole war. In a speech to the American people, John F. Kennedy said that Cuba had nuclear missiles provided by the USSR, but he already had a plan to make Cuba and the Soviets get rid of the nuclear missiles (2). Therefore, those missiles were putting in check the US because if Cuba ever decided to launch one of the missiles on the US this would cause massive destruction wherever they fall and will lead to the start of the first nuclear war, causing a lot of destruction and suffering around the world. In an entrevista from Dobrynin Cable to the Soviet Foreign Ministry, Robert Kennedy said that the military was demanding President John F. Kennedy responded to fire with fire and blew up the missile bases in Cuba, but he, R. Kennedy genuinely believed that this was a terrible idea because if this would ever occur the Soviets would undoubtedly do the same to the US, somewhere in Europe, starting a real war (4).
Also, one must be mindful of the lens through which military leadership of that time scaled threats and problem solved. The saying, old generals fight the last war, comes to mind with the Cuban problem. Kennedy’s generals were Eisenhower holdovers and they had been very adept at proliferation on the conventional level. For example, before the first atomic weapons were dropped over Japan, resulting in Japan’s surrender, General Curtis Lemay was the architect of the relentless carpet bombing strategy over Tokyo, resulting in over a hundred thousand deaths.
In this essay, the true country that caused the Cuban Missile Crisis will be discussed. The Cuban missile Crisis was an international crisis that caused the US and the Soviet Union to come the closest they had ever been to a nuclear war. USA made the first move by trying to invade Cuba at The Bay of Pigs in 1961. The US failed but this attempted acted as a warning to Fidel Castro, the Prime minister of Cuba, and caused him to seek help (Source E). Therefore, the reason Cuba turned to USSR for help was because of the threat from USA.
During his presidency, Mr. Kennedy saved the U.S. from going into an all out nuclear war with the Soviet Union. The
One of the greatest crises that Kennedy stopped was the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Soviet Union sent nuclear missiles to Cuba, and kennedy swore to defend the U.S. no matter
The Cuban Missile Address is delivered October 22nd, 1962 in the Presidential office through a major radio and television address (Podell, Anzovin, and States United 705). Historically, it is worth mentioning that United States had attempted to overthrow Fidel Castro, who was at the time Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba, in at least two occasions known as the Bay of Pigs Operation and Operation Mongoose, because of his communist regime and close relationship with the Soviet Union (Pious). Then, after the Bay of Pigs incident, Fidel Castro urged Nikita Khrushchev, the Secretary General of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, to send support and weapons to Cuba, because of the fear of another attack to his person/regime, Nikita did by sending missiles capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction, hence, this major crisis that lasted 14 days ending October 28, 1962 (Deinema and Leydesdorff). In addition, the target audience for this speech is the American people as President starts his speech with the phrase, “Good evening, my fellow citizens” (Kennedy); however, the secondary audience would be the Cuban people, whom he describes as captive people, the Soviet Union leaders, whom he directly addresses and even quotes, and Fidel Castro of course (Kennedy). As noted above, the cultural, socio-political context is important to understand the seriousness of this crisis and
Kennedy’s decision to put the quarantine in place was sagacious and helped to bring peace to the world. Kennedy’s final and riskiest decision of the Cuban Missile crisis was responding only to the first letter. However, by doing this, he secured a great deal not only for America, but for Cuba, and Turkey as well. Since John F. Kennedy acted with decisiveness, cunning, and bravery, Cuba became an independent state, the American-Soviet relationship improved, and most importantly, the Cuban Missile Crisis did not escalate into a nuclear
The Cuban Missile Crisis, written by John F. Kennedy, depicts a man’s determination towards uniting a nation during an unsettling period of human history. During a thirteen day period from October 14 to October 28, 1962, the Soviet Union installed nuclear-armed missiles on the island of Cuba capable of striking a number of major cities in the Western Hemisphere. Through his condemnatory tone, credible sources, and use of metaphors, the author proves that society must unite against a common enemy. Kennedy calls upon the people to stand together against their adversary as he highlights the deceitful acts of the Soviet Union through his condemning tone. He depicts the actions of the Union as a “deliberate deception” to show how the Soviets cannot be trusted as their tricks are a “definite threat to world peace” (Kennedy 2).
Kennedy had different beliefs than Truman and Eisenhower because he dealt with other countries differently, even though they had the same goal which was to stop communism from spreading. An example of flexible response is the Cuban missile crisis (Kennedy
Student Number: 0343232 Prof. Seagull ENGL 101-31 Comparison and Contrast Eisenhower and Kennedy (Essay1) Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy had similarities and differences about how the world should be shaped. In Eisenhower Farewell Address to the nation, Eisenhower is talking about how the U.S. can use its power, wealth, and military strength for peace and human development keeping its liberty, dignity, and integrity by beating the Soviet Union. In Kennedy Inaugural Address, Kennedy had a similar perspective to Eisenhower Farewell Address except how he offered Soviet Union to join America and help other nations out. In Kennedy Inaugural Address, Kennedy had a similar perspective to Eisenhower how the importance of freedom is a key theme is evident throughout his speech, such as his reference to the election and inauguration is a "celebration of freedom" and in his commitment to "pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
Kennedy starts off by telling us how the world and freedom is in major danger, being close to a nuclear war, telling us that it has the power to end the human species (3). The next point made is that we should “... never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate” (Kennedy 15). This means that we should negotiate to make a means with that someone not because we have to negotiate to stay safe from that someone. Kennedy then says that the goal would to have the world work together to explore problems, have a common arm control and be equal in weaponry power, and work together to unlock new sciences (16-18).
During the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis took place. It was when two superpowers were close to causing a nuclear war. Its main origin was when the United States invaded Cuba, on April 10, 1961; which is also known as the Bay of Pigs invasion. After the invasion, previous Prime Minister; Fidel Castro of Cuba, was ‘paranoid’ because he felt like America was planning another attack. So in order to protect his nation, he sought military and economic help from the Soviet Union.