The Distorted Presidency of John F. Kennedy
Sixty years have passed since John F. Kennedy was murdered, yet his presidency remains shrouded in myth. In this talk I will focus on Kennedy’s management of the Cold War and his handling of the burgeoning civil rights movement of the1960s, topics that both the left and the right in America have distorted for their own purposes. The Cold War: Countless authors from Thomas G. Paterson to Garry Wills to Christopher Hitchens have argued that Kennedy was a slave to his macho instincts and led the world to the brink of a nuclear holocaust. There are elements of truth in these accounts, in that Kennedy’s hard-line campaign rhetoric limited his options upon becoming president, particularly when it came to Cuba. But a truly nuanced account of these events would note the culpability of the Kremlin in escalating world tensions during this era, discuss Kennedy’s remarkable concessions during the Berlin crisis of 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, and most importantly, highlight his leadership in securing the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Civil Rights: President Kennedy could have thrown the weight of his office behind the civil rights movement sooner than he did, but he ultimately pointed the way for his fellow countrymen to live up to the ideal that “all men are created equal.” In looking at the broad sweep of American history as the United States approaches its 250th birthday, Kennedy’s belated efforts on behalf of civil rights puts him in the forefront of those white political figures who pressed the nation to fulfill its founding creed.
All welcome- this event is free but booking is required.
This page was last updated on 14 March 2025
