Question

How did the US approach to containment and Cold War politics change under the Kennedy Administration?

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Under the Kennedy Administration, the US approach to containment and Cold War politics saw a significant shift.

The policy of containment was introduced at the start of the Cold War, aimed at stopping the spread of Communism and keeping it "contained" and isolated within its current borders. This policy was first outlined in George Kennan's "Long Telegram" and was aimed at cutting off nations such as China and North Korea.

When John F. Kennedy took office, he brought a new approach to these policies. Kennedy planned to resist Soviet expansionism in Latin America, Asia, and Africa by abandoning Eisenhower's policy of massive retaliation in favor of a flexible response. This new approach combined economic support with military assistance.

Kennedy's administration was marked by a "flexible response" to the Cold War. This meant that instead of relying solely on nuclear deterrence, the US would use a variety of military and non-military tools to respond to international threats. This approach was seen as a more dynamic and adaptable way to address the complexities of global politics during the Cold War.

In summary, the Kennedy Administration marked a shift from a rigid policy of containment to a more flexible approach to dealing with the challenges of the Cold War. This involved a combination of economic support and military assistance to resist Soviet expansionism⁴.

Answer 2

Under President Kennedy, U.S. Cold War strategy evolved to a 'flexible response' plan, focusing on both military and non-military methods, including the Peace Corps and increased nuclear arsenals, while also addressing civil rights and space exploration to improve global perceptions of America.

Step-by-step explanation:

The United States Cold War strategy of containment shifted under President John F. Kennedy's administration with an approach termed flexible response, advocated by Defense Secretary Robert McNamara. This strategy differed from the prior administrations by developing a range of military and non-military responses to international conflicts, rather than the all-or-nothing approach of mutually assured destruction or the rollback policy advocated earlier by John Foster Dulles. Notably, the Kennedy administration was marked by events such as the Bay of Pigs invasion, the establishment of the Peace Corps, and increased nuclear arsenals, despite the pursuit of flexible response strategies. Kennedy's foreign policy was also influenced by a broader interest in not only containing communism but also promoting American values and interests in a complex global context, as evident in the support of space exploration and civil rights in response to global perceptions during the Cold War.