Two specters haunted the new Obama presidency. The first was Jimmy Carter’s failed presidency. Would Obama, like his Democrat predecessor, stumble out of the gate, be swallowed whole by the Washington crowd, mire his Administration in paralyzing trivia and botch American security policy? The second specter was John Kennedy’s disastrous early months, bracketed by his fumbling of the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba and a catastrophic meeting with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, leaving America dreadfully weakened as it faced a mounting and blustering Soviet threat.
From his earliest days, it’s been clear that Obama is no Carter. Now, after his first meetings with Russia’s leaders, following his forays into Latin America and the Middle East, it is also clear that Obama is no JFK. For a conservative (in contrast to a partisan Republican, who may want to see and politically exploit Obama mistakes) this is good news. After all, for a conservative, government’s most important responsibility is to defend and advance America’s interests. So far, Obama seems to be doing just that.
Stood his ground.
Of course, of course, it’s still only month Nr. 6 of the Obama presidency, far too early for any informed verdict. And also, of course, of course, Kennedy and Carter faced a vastly more dangerous world and threatening enemy than does Obama. And, it must be said, aspects of the emerging Obama foreign policy are troubling. [More about that in a later post.] Still, it’s a good start.
This was clear from this week’s Obama meetings in Russia. Though Russian Prime Minister (and paramount power) Vladimir Putin lacks the ferocity of Khrushchev, he is still a former KGB officer whose string of public statements have derided America and who surely would seek to badger and intimidate the new – and young – American president. From all accounts, Obama stood his ground well.
How different it was when Kennedy encountered Khrushchev in Vienna on June 3-4, 1961. The Soviet leader tested, taunted and eventually ran all over the new – and young – American president. Amherst College Political Scientist William Taubman’s 2003 Pulitzer Prize-winning Khrushchev: The Man and His Era, chronicles the tense meetings. He cites British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan saying that Kennedy was “completely overwhelmed by the ruthlessness and barbarity” of Khrushchev. Kennedy’s own Secretary of State Dean Rusk, writes Taubman, said that “Kennedy was very upset. He wasn’t prepared for the brutality of the Khrushchev presentation.” As for Kennedy himself, he later told a reporter that it was the “roughest thing in my life…He just beat the hell out of me.” In fact, Robert Kennedy said that he had never seen his brother “so upset.”
Most important was Khrushchev’s assessment. After his first session with Kennedy, according to Taubman, Khrushchev told associates: “What can I tell you? This man is very inexperienced, even immature.” It fortified Khrushchev’s earlier impression after Kennedy had botched the Bay of Pigs invasion attempt to topple Fidel Castro. Khrushchev at that time told his son, relates Taubman, “I don’t understand Kennedy. What’s wrong with him? Can he really be that indecisive?”
Paying a High Price.
America and the world paid a grievously high price for Khrushchev’s assessment of Kennedy. He concluded that he could roll the American president. In short order, Khrushchev slapped up a wall through the heart of Berlin, broke his pledge of neutrality in Laos, increased support of North Viet Nam’s invasion of South Viet Nam and – most dangerously, as it would turn out – gambled that he could base Soviet missiles in Cuba.
So far, at least, no one can make that assessment of Obama.
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Having family down here in Florida for generations made me/us hate JFK.
We think Obama will not sell us out anywhere. Enjoyed and learned a lot about JFK and the Russians. Good to have Obama put in historical perspective even six months into his office. Thank you!