"President Kennedy........saved the world" This quotation from Kennedy's aid Theodore Sorensen telling the world that Kennedy had saved the world, this was included in a speach made shortly after Kennedy's assassination.
"If anyone else had been president........the world would have been blown up"
This source is the type of propaganda that was published in newspapers and was used to promote Kennedy's positive image.
There was also a cartoon portraying Khrushchev as an outlaw, Fidel Castro as his sidekick and Kennedy as the "good guy". It was used to undermine Khrushchev's reputation and enhance Kennedy's image. They were able to use propaganda in this way because Kennedy was young, handsome, rich and a war hero. He contrasted with the president of Russia.
When Kennedy was presented with the Crisis, he acted in a strong, decisive way after considering the situation. He acted tough and in the same way as someone preparing to defend freedom.
"In the defence of our security and of the entire western hemisphere...I have directed
that the following initial steps to be taken immediately" (Broadcast on American televison)
This source shows president kennedy wanting to be portrayed as "defender" of the western hemisphere and a strong, tough man. The word "initial" gives the impression
to the soviet union that he will go further if they do not comply.
This was the first test of his presidency and he could not back down because he had said that he would defend freedom in his inaugural speach.
During his presidency Kennedy was not only strong, but wise and diplomatic. This was shown when Khrushchev sent Kennedy two letters, one was aggressive and one was reasonable. Kennedy was wise and responded to the reasonable letter.
"You would agree to remove these weapon systems from Cuba....... We on our part would agree to remove the blockade" (Kennedy)
"I regard with respect and trust.......that there would be no invasion of Cuba. It is for this reason that we have stopped building missile facilities." (Khrushchev)
This shows Kennedy's reply to the reasonable letter and Khrushchev responding by agreeing to remove the missiles which then started to diffuse the situation and help stop the crisis.
Yes, Kennedy deserves his reputation if you compare it to Khrushchev, he has lost credibility with his own people, even in Russia it looked as though Kennedy had won. It also caused Russia to fail in relationships with other large communist powers like China.
"Khrushchev's back down over Cuba lost him support at home....relationship with China suffered as a consequence of the Cuban Missile Crisis."
The communist goverment was very secretive and did not give it's people all the facts. No free press and media in Russia to build up Khrushchev's reputation as Kennedy's had been by U.S media. China felt communism had been let down by Khrushchev's mishandling of the crisis, and, during October 1964 Khrushchev was sacked.
To be a saviour of world peace Kennedy needed to preserve future peace. The crisis showed how easy nuclear war could be started, so Kennedy started the process of detente. He set up a 'hotline' between Washington and Moscow. This hotline was to keep good communication should either president have a problem. The later S.A.L.T talks were used to reduce the amount of nuclear arms.
"Our most basic common link is the fact that we all inhabit this planet...We all cherish our childrens future"
This source shows Kennedy being a saviour of the western world in the present and future.
However, during the mid 1980's new information became available which would change our views of Kennedy forever.
No, Kennedy was not the saviour.
When Kennedy became president he had the chance to change the American policy towards Cuba, however, he kept ignoring Cuba and let the Cuban economy fall into the hands of Russia. Castro was very popular with the Cubans and life had improved since Batista was overthrown. Kennedy had assumed that Castro was a dictator and refused to trade with him.
"They idolised him..Every Cuban house had graffiti saying, 'Fidel, this is your home' "
Kennedy also allowed Cuban exciles to invade Cuba with american help. The 'bay of pigs' failiure worsened relations with Cubans. Kennedy had also allowed the C.I.A to try and assassinate Castro, 'operation mongoose'.
" Kennedy chose to ignore the american joint chief of staffs view that the mission by 1,500 Cubans to overthrow Castro had 'little chance of success' "
It was these incidents which caused Cuba to move closer to Russia. This in turn caused missiles to be placed on Cuban soil.
Kennedy looked like a hero because he stood firm against the soviet aggression, but he could have agreed to Khrushchev's offer to remove missiles from Cuba if the USA removed missiles from turkey.
"We agree to remove from Cuba those means which you regard as offensive means...the united states on its part....will remove its similar means from Turkey"
Kennedy refused this offer and risked world peace because he did not want to be seen doing a deal with the communists, it would have damaged his reputation.
Kennedy was not calm during the crisis. He initially was not sure what to do, he wanted to bomb Cuba, this was not the safest option, and even when a solution was found it was not his idea. The idea to quarentine Cuba came from Robert Mcnamara and Maxwell Taylor.
"Kennedy was initially in favour of bombing Cuba....The president is in a grave situation and does not know how to get out of it"
We only know this now because of official documents later released. It was not known at the time because it would of damaged Kennedys reputation.
While the president was standing firm, his brother Robert Kennedy was making an unofficial deal with the Russian ambassador.
"The conversation between Robert kennedy and the ambassador, Anatoly Dobrynin was the key to the solution of the crisis"
This was not made public at the time, it was kept secret for 25 years. If it had been made public then there would of been no unbalance in the reputations of the two leaders.
Kennedys actions during the Cuban Missile Crisis did not end the cold war or solve the threat of nuclear war. However, he did play a part in the decrease in threat, but had he not done certain things then there would have been no threat in the first place.
Kennedy had not changed policy towards Cuba or listened to some of Khrushchev's propositions, had he done this then there would have been little or no crisis.
It is for these reasons that I say that the contempories were not correct in regarding Kennedy as a saviour of the western world.
