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Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro was a Cuban leader who established the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere after overthrowing the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. Castro's Cuba had a very antagonistic relationship with the US, most notably resulting in the Bay of Pigs invasion. -
U-2 Spy Incident
In May 1960, the USSR shot down and American U-2 spy plane in Soviet air space and captured the pilot, Francis Gary Powers. Presented with evidence, President Eisenhower admitted to spying on the Soviets. Eisenhower was convicted to 10 years in prison, but served less than two years in exchange for a captured Soviet agent. The incident raised tensions between the US and the Soviets during the Cold War. -
The Bay Of Pigs Invasion
Cuban nationalist Fidel Castro drove his army into Havana and overthrew General Fulgencio Batista, nations American backed president. To retaliate, the CIA sent over about 1,400 American trained Cubans who fled their homes when Castro took over. However, the invaders were outnumbered and they surrendered after less than 24 hours of fighting. -
Peace Corps
On March 1, 1961, President Kennedy issued the Executive Order #10924 establishing the Peace Corps as a new agency within the Department of State. The precursor was the Point Four Youth Corps. These agencies aided the poor, assisted people in interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women, promote a better understanding of Americans to the part of the people served and a better understanding of the people on the part of the Americans. -
Khrushchev Letter
President Kennedy receives a letter from Nikita Khrushchev who was leader of Soviets at the time saying that there was a threat to the security and safety of the people. After responding, Kennedy receives another letter where Khrushchev proposes to remove missiles if Kennedy announces never to invade Cuba, and Kennedy agreed.