Free Sample Essays > American History
Why is J.F.K. such a famous and controversial character today
actions could still be described as reckless in the face of possible nuclear apocalypse.
As well as removing the bases in Turkey, Italy and Cuba, the Crisis had other effects. As a direct result of it, the two superpowers agreed to establish direct communication - the "Hot Line". As well as this the "Test Ban Treaty" was drawn up and signed in August 1963 to prohibit the testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere. Nearly 1200 prisoners captured during the Bay of Pigs Invasion were exchanged for $60 million in food, medecines and cash.
JFK put forward the idea behind a number of new domestic policies. These included the idea of Medicare - a kind of National Health Service -, drastic improvements to the failing American education system and an attack on poverty. These ideas were fairly revolutionary considering that the vast majority of people who would benefit from these changes would be working class Americans, this being the group that most presidents are inclined to ignore because as a general rule they don't vote in nearly as large numbers. As well as this, these changes would cost money. Money that would have to be earned through higher taxation, the majority of which would be paid by the very rich. It perhaps didn't help Kennedy's case that the senators and governors Kennedy would have to convince were all very rich people themselves.
These ideas in themselves were bound to cause a stir among the conservative dominated congress, but none so much as when he dared to tackle the issue of civil rights for African-Americans, specifically in the southern states. The harsh punitive laws made a mockery of the constitution's "All men are equal under the eyes of God". Once again, he was tackling an issue that would benefit a generally non-voting population (because in many cases they were actually not allowed to vote). However the fact of the matter is that he still took on the issues, and suffered for it. At first he took the issue somewhat slowly, and was criticised by civil rights leaders for it. Kennedy preferred to go through the courts to change laws so as not to anger the many southern politicians he would need to keep onside if he were to pass his reforms. However, all changed when in 1961, a group of courageous young students, black and white, took part in the "freedom rides", where they rode across america in buses ignoring the bus segregation laws. These riders were inevitably beaten and their buses burned. This prompted Kennedy's government - in this case namely Attorney General Robert Kennedy, John's brother - to dispatch the national guard to protect the riders. Eventually it was this action that led to the desegregation of buses. Naturally it would be frankly incorrect to put down the success of the civil rights movement down to one man but still, it was this attempting to [next page]