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Essay / John Fitzgerald Kennedy in Major Historical Events
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (JFK) was the 35th President of the United States from January 1961 until his assassination in November 1963 while passing through Dallas, Texas, in a motorcade .Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayThroughout his presidency, JFK was involved in many major historical events.InaugurationOn January 20, 1960, JFK was sworn in for the presidency and delivered his inaugural address. In that speech, he urged his fellow Americans to seek opportunities to serve their country. “The energy, the faith, the dedication we bring to this endeavor will illuminate our country and all who serve it – and the glow of that fire can truly light the world.” Peace Corps On March 1, 1961, JFK established the Peace Corps. . President Kennedy noted that the Soviet Union had hundreds of men and women willing to spend their lives overseas in the service of communism. The United States had no such program, and Kennedy wanted to more actively involve Americans in the cause of global democracy, peace, development, and freedom. JFK and his brother-in-law Sargent Shriver therefore ordered the creation of the Peace Corps. Shriver was elected to lead the task force. Shriver recruited a dynamic and talented group to implement the task force's recommendations. During his first trip abroad as director, he received invitations from leaders in India, Ghana and Burma to place Peace Corps volunteers in their countries. To participate, countries had to meet certain criteria. A country must invite the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps decides which countries they enter. Volunteers Safety must be guaranteed. In 1959, Cuban President Fulgencio Batista collapsed, unable to survive an uprising by guerrilla armies led by a charismatic young man named Fidel Castro. Castro's overthrow of Batista dismayed some Cubans, particularly members of the upper classes who had acquired much wealth under his rule. Castro's relations with the United States have always been difficult. Although Castro's revolution was not sponsored by the Soviet Union, the young revolutionary's left-wing nationalism caused concern in Washington. In 1960, Castro seized millions of acres of land owned by large American corporations and returned it to Cuban peasants, leading the United States to impose economic sanctions against Cuba. Castro was always eager to fight with his northern neighbors. Castro responded by nationalizing Cuban oil refineries and other American businesses. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The next episode of disputes between Castro and his northern neighbor saw diplomatic relations collapse in 1961. This action led Castro to seek a formal alliance with America's enemy, the Soviet Union . This alliance was frowned upon by the Americans since Kennedy soon discovered that the Soviet Union was building missile silos in Cuba to strike America...