JFK's 'flexible response' to containment changed the dynamics of the Cold War, especially when it came to Berlin. Let's dive in!

Election: JFK became president in 1960.
Approach

• 💼 Containment Twist: It wasn’t just about brute force; it was about having various options.
• 💰 More spending on conventional forces (like armies).
• 💣 Boosting the nuclear arsenal.
• 🕵️‍♂️ CIA doing its sneaky undercover work.
• 💸 Helping out developing countries so they wouldn’t cozy up to Communism.
• 🤝 Still wanted to chat and negotiate with the Soviets.

Why?

• 🌍 Communism was spreading in different parts of the world.
• 🚩 Communist countries were now helping revolutionary movements in developing nations.
• 🔄 Kennedy's intention: "We need more choices than just bowing down or starting a nuclear war."

 Khrushchev thought he could trick the young Kennedy, especially after the embarrassing Bay of Pigs incident (basically, the US tried to overthrow Fidel Castro in Cuba but failed miserably).

 The Soviet leader pushed on the Berlin issue.

 Kennedy’s Stance: 🗣️ "Berlin is a free place and we won’t let the Soviets bully us away."

Why It Happened

• 😱 Tensions rising.
• 🏃‍♂️ Loads of people (like 40,000 in a single day) from East were fleeing to the West.
• 🚫 Khrushchev agreed to close the border in Berlin.

Impact

• For Khrushchev: 🚫 A sign that Communist propaganda was failing, but he got to control the chaos.
• For Ulbricht (East German leader): 📈 Helped increase Communist control in East Germany.
• For Berlin Citizens: 😢 Heartbreaking - families were separated. They were the Cold War's front line.
• For The Cold War: 🤝 The Berlin question cooled down, but other issues popped up.