Running Head: THE COLD WAR & US DIPLOMACY

The Cold War & US Diplomacy Kevin Taylor Professor Randy Hallman POL 300 April 30, 2012

THE COLD WAR & US DIPLOMACY The Cold War & US Diplomacy 1. Summarize a situation that required US diplomatic efforts during the presidents time in office. The Doctrine of Flexible response implemented by president John F. Kennedy serves as a

diplomatic effort for several reasons. During the presidency of JFK, there were several situations in Latin America, Southeast Asia and Europe that required diplomatic efforts and initiatives amid increasing Cold War tensions. JFK was passionate about issues of war and peace prior to his short-lived presidency. JFKs Doctrine of Flexible Response (The Kennedy Doctrine) was managed by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. The Doctrine of Flexible Response was intended to minimize the occurrence of war caused by miscalculated diplomatic and military initiatives. The US strategy for the Cuban Missile Crisis defines the foreign policy approach that JFKs administration took. Having just suffered international embarrassment in Cuba and Berlin, the president rejected compromise and chose to strengthen US support of Saigon. During the year of 1961, the Soviet Union demanded that NATO withdraw its forces from Berlin due to mass defections and several control issues. 2. Explicate the diplomatic doctrine the president followed, with reference to the specific actions or events that occurred. The Kennedy Doctrine refers to foreign policy initiatives of the 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, towards Latin America during his term in office between 1961 and 1963. Kennedy voiced support for the containment of Communism and the reversal of Communist progress in the Western Hemisphere. The Kennedy Doctrine was essentially an

THE COLD WAR & US DIPLOMACY expansion of the foreign policy prerogatives of the previous administrations of Dwight D. Eisenhower and Harry S. Truman. The foreign policies of these presidents all revolved around

the threat of communism and the means by which the United States would attempt to contain the spread of it. The Truman Doctrine focused on the containment of communism by providing assistance to countries resisting communism in Europe while the Eisenhower Doctrine was focused upon providing both military and economic assistance to nations resisting communism in the Middle East and by increasing the flow of trade from the United States into Latin America. The Kennedy Doctrine was based on these same objectives but was more concerned with the spread of communism and the Soviet influence in Latin America following the Cuban revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power under Eisenhower during the 1950s. Some of the most notable events that stemmed from tenets of JFKs foreign policy initiatives in regard to Latin America and the spread of communism were: The Bay of Pigs Invasion, April 17, 1961, increase of US involvement in the Vietnam War, 1962, Cuban Missile Crisis, October, 1962, and Ratification of Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, July, 1963. The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an unsuccessful action by a CIA-trained force of Cuban exiles to invade southern Cuba, with support and encouragement from the US government, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. 3. Describe the effects of these diplomatic efforts for the US and other countries. In 1962, the Soviet Union was desperately behind the United States in the arms race. Soviet missiles were only powerful enough to be launched against Europe but US missiles were capable of striking the entire Soviet Union. In late April 1962, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev conceived the idea of placing intermediate-range missiles in Cuba. A deployment in Cuba

THE COLD WAR & US DIPLOMACY would double the Soviet strategic arsenal and provide a real deterrent to a potential US attack against the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, Fidel Castro was looking for a way to defend his island

nation from an attack by the US. Ever since the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961; Castro felt a second attack was inevitable. Consequently, he approved of Khrushchevs plan to place missiles on the island. In the Summer of 1962, the Soviet Union worked quickly and secretly to build its missile installations in Cuba. For the United States, the crisis began on October 15, 1962 when reconnaissance photographs revealed Soviet missiles under construction in Cuba. Early the next day, President John Kennedy was informed of the missile installations. Kennedy immediately organized the EX-COMM, a group of his twelve most important advisors to handle the crisis. After seven days of guarded and intense debate within the upper echelons of government, Kennedy concluded to impose a naval quarantine around Cuba. He wished to prevent the arrival of more Soviet offensive weapons on the island. On October 22, Kennedy announced the discovery of the missile installations to the public and his decision to quarantine the island. 4. Assess, in conclusion, the advantages and disadvantages of the particular doctrine that was followed. One of the main advantages of the Kennedy Doctrine is the quick response to other nations who may be attempting an act of war. The response limited the possibility of a nuclear war. After all, the Kennedy Doctrine was also known as the Doctrine of Flexible Response. The diplomatic and military initiatives of the doctrine enabled the US to successfully deal with the Cuban Missile Crisis. A disadvantage of the Kennedy Doctrine was the possibility of an attack on Cuba. The US had obtained evidence of missile bases being built in Cuba, which actually made the US consider the idea of attacking Cuba by air and sea. US troops were more prepared than ever as

THE COLD WAR & US DIPLOMACY Soviet field commanders in Cuba were ready to strike back with nuclear weapons to defend Cuba. Luckily, President Kennedy and Prime Minister Khrushchev were able to resolve this issue and prevent the possible nuclear war. It is said that the Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the Cold War came to becoming a nuclear war. Another disadvantage that Ive noticed was the secret meeting that President Kennedy held with the Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EXCOMM). I see this as a disadvantage to the public, and I think that all information regarding a potential nuclear war should have been disclosed to the public. Many US citizens had grew up in times or decades of war and had grew tired of war. However, it is good that this situation was resolved without further conflict.

THE COLD WAR & US DIPLOMACY References Anderson, D., (2012). The Military and Diplomatic Course of the Vietnam War. Retrieved April 30, 2012. From http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/vietnam/anderson.htm Chambers, J., Rotter, A. (1999). The Oxford Companion to American Military History Ed. New York: Oxford UP. Retrieved April 30, 2012. From http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/vietnam/causes.htm Roskin, M., & Berry, N. (2010). IR: The New World of International Relations: 2010 edition (8th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Longman/Pearson Education. (2010). The Cuban Missile Crisis. Retrieved April 30, 2012. From http://library.thinkquest.org/11046/days/index.html