Kennedy's Policies

"And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country will do for you, ask what can you do for your country...Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foes, in order to assure the survival and success of liberty"

This was part of John F Kennedy's opening speech in 1961 when he became American President. He was to face strong opposition within America. He wanted to do lots of things to make the life of ordinary American better. He had a strong sense of justice and wanted to try and make America a fair place for all of its citizens.

On this page we will look at the different areas of life he had an effect. He was not successful in any things but he did have a lasting effect.

JFK was very strongly inspired by another Democrat president from the 1930s - FD Roosevelt. Like Kennedy, Roosevelt had come from a rich family and needed to get the confidence of ordinary people to support him. Roosevelt used a group of ideas to make life better for the poor called the New Deal, Kennedy had a lot of ideas that he called the New Frontier. it isn't hard to see where he got the idea.

Kennedy's policies

1) The poor. Kennedy introduced a minimum wage of $1.25 this was accepted by Congress (the American Parliament) but it was one of the few things that was. Kennedy had real problems getting things through Congress as they believed he was too soft  and would cost them too much money. Some people believed he was a socialist ( someone who believes in the state taking a greater part in peoples lives). He could not get his Medicare policy through and the very poor and old did not gain from what Kennedy had promised.

2) Civil Rights. Black people were treated in a terrible way in the USA at this time. No vote, separate schools, the poorest jobs and open, violent racism were all very common to black Americans at the time. Kennedy ruled that the Southern states like Mississippi were acting illegally by not allowing black students to go to schools with white children. In 1961 he was even prepared to send in the National Guard to force these states to follow Federal Law. 

Many black people who had been campaigning for civil rights took heart from JFK and his open support for their cause. The movement grew and leaders like Martin Luther King were able to argue for peaceful actions to gain equality.

When we look at the need for civil rights in the USA at this time it should be understood that some white people in the Southern States were willing to go to extreme lengths to keep black people from having equal rights. The Ku Klux Klan gained in popularity and open attacks including murder were apparently supported by local authorities such as the courts and police.

This picture of a lynching shows how the people involved were in no way concerned with being identified. Kennedy's policies would certainly not sit well with these people.

3) Foreign Policy. Kennedy was considered to be a little naive( not very clear about World events and easily taken in). The Cold War was at its height and many Americans felt that Kennedy could well be pushed around by the Russians. In 1961 the Russians built the Berlin Wall, to separate the East from the West. Kennedy went to Berlin to give his message of support. It didn't go too well. He made a speech that was going to show his support for the people of West Berlin. "Ich bin ein Berliner" was one of JFKs remarks. Unfortunately he did not know that instead of saying he was one with them, he actually said he was a doughnut!

"I'm sorry did I say something funny?"

As it happened later in that year his real test was to come when Russian ships were spotted taking missiles to the island of Cuba. For more on this click here.

It is clear that JFK became one of those leaders people would either love or hate. The achievements he actually had are also deeply argued. Some people say America was changing without him, others that he was the focus for lots of people and one of the great people of history.

Whatever you think the way in which he died has been the plot of films, books and countless debates about who was responsible for his murder. To look at this click here.