Introduction
Kennedy: America's First modern President
Kennedy’s presidency had its roots in modernity beginning with the first televised debate with Richard Nixon. This modern use of technology integrating with politics and Kennedy’s success in utilizing this forever changed the face of American elections. Kennedy would continue this throughout his time in office. In his handling of foreign policy, domestic policy, and through his influence on culture, President John F. Kennedy became the first modern American president, setting forth a new course for American politics.
President Kennedy was the first president to face the limits of America as a super power in a post World War II world. An increasingly powerful and militant Soviet Union challenged Kennedy to rethink traditional takes on foreign policy and implement one that future presidents would take on. Kennedy’s foreign policy combined his idealism towards nation building with a willingness to compromise in an effort leading to the triumph of peace over war. Kennedy’s idealism surfaced in his attempts to foster development in Latin America and Africa through the Peace Corps. Rather than attempt to force a nation to agree with American principles, Kennedy sought to improve relations with the third world by fostering internal developments through American assistance. Kennedy wanted nations to gain their independence and hoped the Peace Corps would encourage an alliance between those nations and the United States. This was a revolutionary take on foreign policy because it acknowledged the limits of America’s influence and increased the role of these regions in their own development. Kennedy’s nation building platform ushered in a new world order for the modern era.
In regards to other major world powers, Kennedy also diverged from the traditional path by compromising with enemies in an attempt to prevent war. This was a direct shift away from the bellicose policies that heightened tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. In the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy rejected opinions from his predecessors to engage in conflict with the Soviet Union. Kennedy respected foreign adversaries and engaged in meaningful discourse with Khrushchev to reduce the tensions. This solution set forth a new course for American diplomacy. Kennedy recognized that new measures for handling foreign policy were necessary in the face of a potent USSR. Kennedy also sought to reduce tensions by working towards the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. This altered the course of the Cold War by leaning towards peace by disarmament rather than increase weapons to ensure peace. The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty’s focus on reducing tensions became the dominant foreign policy platform for years to come.
In domestic policy, Kennedy faced the unprecedented challenge of effectively handling domestic issues for internal and external security. Kennedy recognized America’s growing influence in the world, leading to his focus on foreign policy. Kennedy was the first president to unequivocally intertwine foreign and domestic policy. For example, in the arena of civil rights Kennedy’s major concern was foreign policy. Primarily, he saw the lack of civil rights for women and African Americans as diametrically opposed to the foundations of a democracy. Allowing such a system to continue directly hurt our foreign policy of encouraging freedom and equality. Additionally, Kennedy saw the violent protests between civil rights activists and their oppressors humiliating on the world’s stage. The challenge of extending internal affairs to the external was a nascent issue that Kennedy expertly handled.
In the labor movement, Kennedy also saw the connection between domestic issues and foreign policy. Kennedy believed that the existence of a labor movement is part of what prevented communism from erupting in the United States. American workers had the means to effectively protest management, ending the need for a proletariat uprising. Additionally, Kennedy recognized the joint role that labor and management would play in ensuring the American economy in a global market. The expansive globalization of the world market was an unfamiliar territory for Kennedy to surmount. Kennedy’s recognition of the growth of a world market and his efforts to overcome it pushed America into modernity.
Kennedy was America’s first truly modern president. He encouraged new technologies, new ideas for peace, and a progressive approach to domestic affairs. Kennedy’s promotion of civic participation is his most lasting accomplishment because it altered the course of history through the 1960s to today.
President Kennedy was the first president to face the limits of America as a super power in a post World War II world. An increasingly powerful and militant Soviet Union challenged Kennedy to rethink traditional takes on foreign policy and implement one that future presidents would take on. Kennedy’s foreign policy combined his idealism towards nation building with a willingness to compromise in an effort leading to the triumph of peace over war. Kennedy’s idealism surfaced in his attempts to foster development in Latin America and Africa through the Peace Corps. Rather than attempt to force a nation to agree with American principles, Kennedy sought to improve relations with the third world by fostering internal developments through American assistance. Kennedy wanted nations to gain their independence and hoped the Peace Corps would encourage an alliance between those nations and the United States. This was a revolutionary take on foreign policy because it acknowledged the limits of America’s influence and increased the role of these regions in their own development. Kennedy’s nation building platform ushered in a new world order for the modern era.
In regards to other major world powers, Kennedy also diverged from the traditional path by compromising with enemies in an attempt to prevent war. This was a direct shift away from the bellicose policies that heightened tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. In the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy rejected opinions from his predecessors to engage in conflict with the Soviet Union. Kennedy respected foreign adversaries and engaged in meaningful discourse with Khrushchev to reduce the tensions. This solution set forth a new course for American diplomacy. Kennedy recognized that new measures for handling foreign policy were necessary in the face of a potent USSR. Kennedy also sought to reduce tensions by working towards the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. This altered the course of the Cold War by leaning towards peace by disarmament rather than increase weapons to ensure peace. The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty’s focus on reducing tensions became the dominant foreign policy platform for years to come.
In domestic policy, Kennedy faced the unprecedented challenge of effectively handling domestic issues for internal and external security. Kennedy recognized America’s growing influence in the world, leading to his focus on foreign policy. Kennedy was the first president to unequivocally intertwine foreign and domestic policy. For example, in the arena of civil rights Kennedy’s major concern was foreign policy. Primarily, he saw the lack of civil rights for women and African Americans as diametrically opposed to the foundations of a democracy. Allowing such a system to continue directly hurt our foreign policy of encouraging freedom and equality. Additionally, Kennedy saw the violent protests between civil rights activists and their oppressors humiliating on the world’s stage. The challenge of extending internal affairs to the external was a nascent issue that Kennedy expertly handled.
In the labor movement, Kennedy also saw the connection between domestic issues and foreign policy. Kennedy believed that the existence of a labor movement is part of what prevented communism from erupting in the United States. American workers had the means to effectively protest management, ending the need for a proletariat uprising. Additionally, Kennedy recognized the joint role that labor and management would play in ensuring the American economy in a global market. The expansive globalization of the world market was an unfamiliar territory for Kennedy to surmount. Kennedy’s recognition of the growth of a world market and his efforts to overcome it pushed America into modernity.
Kennedy was America’s first truly modern president. He encouraged new technologies, new ideas for peace, and a progressive approach to domestic affairs. Kennedy’s promotion of civic participation is his most lasting accomplishment because it altered the course of history through the 1960s to today.
Intended Readership
This website is designed for eleventh grade Advanced Placement students to expand their knowledge of Kennedy’s presidency by evaluating it for themselves using primary sources. The sources were intended to provide a diverse and robust understand of the challenges and accomplishments achieved during the three short years of Kennedy’s time in office. Students are challenged to think critically about the sources, their implications on the 1960s and their contemporary influence on us today. As the President would want, they are meant to encourage debate and foster a sense of what living in a democracy should mean to us all.