Final answer:
The major crises of the Kennedy presidency were the Cuban Missile Crisis, which almost led to nuclear war, and his policy initiatives focused on aiding the poor and improving civil rights for African Americans.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major crises and policy initiatives of the Kennedy presidency included foreign policy actions and efforts towards racial equality. One of the most famous crises was the Cuban Missile Crisis, where the United States and the Soviet Union came close to nuclear war. The Kennedy administration implemented a naval blockade of Cuba, leading to the removal of Soviet missiles from Cuba and the removal of American missiles from Turkey six months later.
In terms of policy initiatives, Kennedy focused on expanding programs to aid the poor, protect African Americans' voting rights, and improve their employment and education opportunities. However, due to limited support in Congress and the need to avoid offending southern politicians, his efforts to assist African Americans were cautious and incremental.