Why and how did Kennedy get increasingly involved in Vietnam.

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Why and how did Kennedy get increasingly involved in Vietnam

When Kennedy became President in January 1961 he had already as simulated his own ideas and views on where America was going wrong in its foreign policy.  His views could be seen to be moulded, from a family friend Senator Jospeh McCarthy who was fanatically anti- communist.  Kennedy believed communism had to be contained by America and firmly believed in Eisenhower’s domino theory.  Kennedy was not a stranger to condemning past Presidents of there polices, such as Truman who he blamed for losing China in 1949 and Eisenhower’s for losing his initiative in foreign policy.  This condemnation of policies, speeches and actions would come back to haunt Kennedy as historians now gather information on his own pitfalls during his administration.

Due to Kennedy’s young age he did not have a vast amount of experience, this ultimately in many ways led Kennedy into becoming a prisoner of his own Cold War campaign rhetoric-designed to win votes.  This inevitably dug himself a hole, as he had promised America that he would seek and destroy communism with his dynamic foreign policy he was duty-bound to increase defence expenditure and foreign involvement.

Many historians would agree that another reason why Kennedy got involved with Vietnam was that he was only to aware of previous Presidents who had failed to spot potential problems in their early stages and end up losing their faith of the American public.  Kennedy was under pressure from not only his own beliefs but also the promises made to the American people, and so in sense had to make a name for himself that he was up to the job.

This eagerness to impress at the start of his presidency was clearly evident with him displaying signs of impatience, which were criticised by his own brother on the way the President sough to seek advice on foreign affairs with him preferring to seek advice from in his close circle of friends within the Defence Department such as Robert McNamara, rather than the State Department.  Coincidentally these two departments had different ideas on how to cope with situations, with the defence department preferring a military solution.  

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During Kennedy’s Presidency he had many advisors at his disposal but there are many, which were more influential than others.  These advisors gave the information for which ultimately increased Kennedy’s involvement and belief that any involvement in Vietnam would be successful.

An advisor like Defence Secretary Robert McNamara was seen as a valuable asset by Kennedy and was handpicked by Kennedy to be offered the job of Defence Secretary.  The character of Robert McNamara was that he was dynamic; tough talking, fluent, competent and down to earth, McNamara was the only cabinet member to become part of the ...

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