Kennedy Talked, Khrushchev Triumphed

NYT ^ | May 22, 2008 | NATHAN THRALL and JESSE JAMES WILKINS

[The_Republican]

IN his inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy expressed in two eloquent sentences, often invoked by Barack Obama, a policy that turned out to be one of his presidency’s — indeed one of the cold war’s — most consequential: “Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.” Arthur Schlesinger Jr., Kennedy’s special assistant, called those sentences “the distinctive note” of the inaugural.

They have also been a distinctive note in Senator Obama’s campaign, and were made even more prominent last week when President Bush, in a speech to Israel’s Parliament, disparaged a willingness to negotiate with America’s adversaries as appeasement. Senator Obama defended his position by again enlisting Kennedy’s legacy: “If George Bush and John McCain have a problem with direct diplomacy led by the president of the United States, then they can explain why they have a problem with John F. Kennedy, because that’s what he did with Khrushchev.”

But Kennedy’s one presidential meeting with Nikita Khrushchev, the Soviet premier, suggests that there are legitimate reasons to fear negotiating with one’s adversaries. Although Kennedy was keenly aware of some of the risks of such meetings — his Harvard thesis was titled “Appeasement at Munich” — he embarked on a summit meeting with Khrushchev in Vienna in June 1961, a move that would be recorded as one of the more self-destructive American actions of the cold war, and one that contributed to the most dangerous crisis of the nuclear age.

Senior American statesmen like George Kennan advised Kennedy not to rush into a high-level meeting, arguing that Khrushchev had engaged in anti-American propaganda and that the issues at hand could as well be addressed by lower-level diplomats.

[Bender2]

Anyone who knows history from a smelly hole in the ground realizes that Kennedy's ill-advised summit meeting with Khrushchev in Vienna in June 1961 paved the way for Nikita's Cuban adventure that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war in 1962.

I've no doubt that given the chance, nObama, if elected, will succeed in having that nuclear war JFK did not.

[originalbuckeye]

This is from the NYT???

[Don Corleone]

As an ineffective President, Kennedy was not far behind Karter. In fact his indecision and bungling damn near got us into a shootin’ war with the Ruskies and sent Cuber down the Communist drain where it remains to this day.(BTW IMHO that is what got him assasinated) He had to capitulate on missiles in Turkey to save the day and had VEEEETnam going southward too.. Fine negotiating there Dumbocrats. If Peace is our goal it should be peace thru strength!

[at bay]

capitulate on missiles in Turkey

Not to mention promising not to invade Cuba.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Kennedy: "He just beat the hell out of me. I’ve got a terrible problem if he thinks I’m inexperienced and have no guts. Until we remove those ideas we won’t get anywhere with him."

"a wall is a hell of a lot better than a war." So much for Berlin..

how about Viet Nam?

Writing in 1966 I believe it was, Reston stated that Kennedy's other option to "show his courage" was Viet Nam.

Kennedy had real experience (W.W.II service and an ambassador father, international studies and was an author of a popular book on Churchill, I believe); but to be fair to Senator Obama, I believe most of Kennedy's experience in the Senate was chasing skirts.

Nevertheless, just imagine what chance a do-gooder "community organizer" has, especially one who looks to the world to approve our day-to-day lives.

[Enchante]

Great column! Obambi and friends think that talk talk talk is always good, there’s no downside to a US President meeting 1-on-1 with any of the worst leaders in the world. Obambi has even specificially mentioned Kennedy’s fiasco with Kruschev as though it were a positive thing.

A US President should not be put into personal diplomacy until extensive groundwork has been prepared, it is known exactly what kind of agreement(s) may be close, and now it is time to try to close the deal. With the examples of Iran, Cuba, Syria, North Korea...... we don’t even know what any adequate agreement would look like b/c the sides are too far apart. Unless THEY are willing to agree to curb their worst behaviors in verifiable agreements, there is nothing to negotiate about. Putting a Pres. Obambi into such meetings just gives our ENEMIES chances to score propaganda points and gain prestige. OR, worse, a Pres. Obambi might actually be gullible enough to give away the store.

[A.A. Cunningham]

He had to capitulate on missiles in Turkey

And Italy.

[CharacterCounts]

True, and Kennedy was a hawk.

Obama, has already announced his intention to capitulate in Iraq.

[Loyal Buckeye]

Marching orders from THE new york times.

[montag813]

As an ineffective President, Kennedy was not far behind Karter.

Amazing how untimely or tragic death elevates the most humdrum folks to mythic status. Prepare for the sickening adulation which will come Ted's way during his last days, despite his despicable acts, and his horrid legislative legacy, including steering America towards third world status with his 1965 Immigration Act. All you will hear is about him being "America's Conscience" and "most effective legislator", etc etc barf barf.

[RJS1950]

Why would anyone be suprised. The entire kennedy family political story is mythology bought and paid for by their POS Nazi sympathizing father and promoted by the media. The entire mentally deficient bunch has brought on all of their misery through their own efforts.

[starlifter]

You’re right. Perhaps the biggest difference between Kennedy and Carter was Kennedy was smart enough to surround himself with a fawning press.

[raybbr]

You and I have the courage to say to our enemies, "There is a price we will not pay." "There is a point beyond which they must not advance." And this -- this is the meaning in the phrase of Barry Goldwater's "peace through strength." Winston Churchill said, "The destiny of man is not measured by material computations. When great forces are on the move in the world, we learn we're spirits -- not animals." And he said, "There's something going on in time and space, and beyond time and space, which, whether we like it or not, spells duty."

You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.

We'll preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we'll sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness.

From Reagan's speech in 1964. Click the pic to see the speech or download an mp3 of the speech.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks neverdem.

[JFK] embarked on a summit meeting with Khrushchev in Vienna in June 1961, a move that would be recorded as one of the more self-destructive American actions of the cold war, and one that contributed to the most dangerous crisis of the nuclear age. Senior American statesmen like George Kennan advised Kennedy not to rush into a high-level meeting, arguing that Khrushchev had engaged in anti-American propaganda and that the issues at hand could as well be addressed by lower-level diplomats.

[xJones]

Senior American statesmen like George Kennan advised Kennedy not to rush into a high-level meeting, arguing that Khrushchev had engaged in anti-American propaganda and that the issues at hand could as well be addressed by lower-level diplomats.

And Khrushchev, a Stalinist-trained bully spooked JFK at that meeting, and even Kennedy admitted he'd been beaten in the 'diplomatic' sessions. Khrushchev would never have tried to put nuclear armed ballistic missiles in Cuba if Eisenhower had still been in office; after the Bay of Pigs fiasco he saw JFK as a weak American president that could be taken advantage of.

[hinckley buzzard]

but to be fair to Senator Obama, I believe most of Kennedy's experience in the Senate was chasing skirts.

I believe you are right about JFK's senate attendance, but look: there is a big difference between a man who came of age in the Great Depression and watched the storm clouds gather over China and Europe, served in combat in WWII, watched Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the slamming down of the Iron Curtain;

and a pampered affirmative action prima donna who has been nowhere and done nothing, and been totally spared any brush with the grim reality of international affairs.

I was no Kennedy fan, but Obama isn't fit to carry Jack's water.