The Cold War

U.S. History

Politics of Containment:Truman to JFK

1950-1963

Part 1:Late Truman Years

I. China Goes Commie• A. Mao Zedong takes control (1949)• 1. US fears this is first domino in line

in • Asia.• B. Japan becomes our top ally in Asia!

II. Results of China fallingA. NSC-68 Report (April, 1950)• 1. Arms race begins• 2. USSR: “desire 4 world domination”• 3. USA: leader of the “free world”• * Spider Man theory• 4. Require $39 billion defense budget• * How get Congress on board?

III. Korean War (1950-1953)• A. Commies try to take over U.N. intervenes• 1. pushes North back to Chinese border• B. China enters war• 1. Gen. MacArthur wants • to attack China• C. Truman fires MacArthur

• D. Changes to containment• 1. Using military• 2. Asia top “battleground”

IV. Results of Korean War• A. NSC-68 recommendations become reality• 1. $50 billion D-budget in ’53• 2. 3.5 million soldier army, overseas bases• 3. Stockpile of 750 nukes

Eisenhower’s Containment Approach

1953-1961

Eisenhower’s Containment Strategy

Forget paying countries to reject communism, just threaten to blow everything up if USSR expands.Mnemonic using Eisenhower’s nickname “Ike” to remember his strategy:I’llKillEverybody

I. Eisenhower’s “New Look”

Nukes over pukes

• A. Elected Prez in 1953• B. Cold War keys• 1. Strong economy (why?)• 2. Be willing to nuke!• C. “More Bang for the Buck”• 1. Massive Retaliation• a. Smaller army ($4 billion savings)• b. Bigger nuclear arsenal

• D. Nuclear delivery systems• 1. US B-52’s, ICBM’s • 2. USSR: Sputnik space satellite• 3. NASA formed• a. Missile development

II. Brinkmanship• A. Brink of War• B. Cause less small wars• C. Problems?

1. All or nothing2. USSR joins arms race

“… two scorpions in a bottle, each capable of killing the other but only at the risk of his own life.”

-- Dr. Oppenheimer

JFK’s Approach: Flexible Response

I. Containment Approach: Flex Response• A. Use combo of non-nuke weapons, $$, • support programs• B. Goal: Reduce threat of nuke war while still containing.• Flexible Response (not just nukes)• 1. Conventional Troops / Weapons• a. Costs more, but • nukes not OK • for all situations• b. Special Forces • teams created

• 2. Aid to Latin America• a. Previously seen as helping only in • our own interests• 2. Alliance for Progress aid

projects• 3. Peace Corps• a. Humanitarian

• D. Cold War moves into space• 1. Space Race NASA’s mission

redefined• a. which country controls space?• 2. 1961 – Set goal of beating the Russians • to moon

II. Crisis in the JFK Era• A. Bay of Pigs (Cuba, 1961)• 1. Cuba becomes Soviet Ally• 2. La Brigada 1,400 Cuban exiles trained by

CIA• 3. Meant to overthrow Castro• 4. Failed completely• 5. Bad for JFK b/c …

• B. Cuban Missile Crisis (Oct. 1962)• 1. Soviet Missiles in Cuba• 2. Naval quarantine (blockade)• 3. Secret deal worked out• 4. Defcon 2: closest ever• came to nuclear war

D. Impact of Crisis• 1. Khrushchev undermined• 2. Soviet military build-up next 20

C. Berlin Wall goes up (June, 1961)• 1. Khrushchev Allies out of West Berlin!• 2. Kennedy bite me, Ruskie• 3. People pouring into W.B. to escape • Communism 4. USSR builds wall reverse prison