2/6-8 JFK Reading Guide

JFK Presidency Ch. 22 Sec 1 p. 736-741 & Sec 3. p. 751-758

I.Short Answer Questions (2 pts. each)

1. How did perception influence the debates between JFK and Nixon?
2. How close was the 1960 election? What state would have made the difference? What did the Republicans claim?
3. What was Kennedy’s proposal to spur the economy? What were two of Kennedy’s executive orders? Why did he use executive orders rather than getting legislation passed?
4. What did Kennedy commit the nation to doing on May 25, 1961?
5. Why did the Bay of Pigs Invasion fail?
6. What did Kennedy do after his first meeting in Vienna with Krushchev in June 1961? What was the Soviet response in respect to Berlin? How does this calm down Cold War relations in Europe?
7. What were Kennedy’s four options in the Cuban Missile Crisis? What did he choose?
8. What demands did Krushchev have for ending the crisis in Cuba? What was Kennedy’s response?
9. Why did the Alliance for Progress never live up to Kennedy’s expectations? What did Latin Americans think of it? What was a Cold War reason for the Peace Corps?
10. Who was Lee Harvey Oswald? What did he do? How did he die?
11. What was the Warren Commission Report? Why do some people not agree with the Warren Commission’s Report?
12. What are the main legacies of John F. Kennedy’s presidency?