In response mainly to the notion that JFK is a sacred cow who is untouchable in my eyes, I am writing this comment largely to achieve balance and once and for all clearly define my position on the Kennedy presidency. I, like many young Americans interested in history and politics, have been greatly influenced by John F. Kennedy. He was blessed with the ability to inspire an entire generation of Americans to take an active role in the political process. Through the Peace Corps, Kennedy communicated to America's youth that they could make a difference in an increasingly dangerous and unstable world. Although it was later eliminated due to poor direction and ineffectiveness, the Alliance for Progress could've been effective at preventing Communist subversion in Latin America. This is especially true when considering the backchannel communications Kennedy was engaged in with Castro in 1963 that may have led to improved relations between Cuba and the United States. With a more moderate Cuban government, it would've been much easier to focus efforts on Latin American development and security. While it is fair to call him a lightweight in the field of foreign and military affairs, Kennedy did have some successes in foriegn policy. The signing of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty would've been virtually impossible in 1961. A change in tone on both sides resulting from the fallout of the Cuban Missile Crisis was largely responsible for the signing of the treaty. While this was mostly due to Krushchev's realization that nuclear war was a real possibility with tensions so high, Kennedy does deserve some credit. While Krushchev initially saw Kennedy as a lightweight, Kennedy was quite effective at gaining Krushchev's respect through his caculated moves during the Missile Crisis and in Berlin. The calming tensions that succeeded the Cuban Missile Crisis was largely a prelude to the detente' that was more aggressively pursued during the Nixon Administration. On the negative side, Kennedy's inexperience and naivety in the field of foreign affairs was quite evident in his handling of the Bay of Pigs. Most of the blame can be attributed to the misleading analyses of the CIA that assured Kennedy that the invasion would succeed with minimal American military environment. Kennedy, a lightweight who believed that he was in no position to question such experienced men as Allen Dulles, went along with the plan, and suffered for it. To his credit, Kennedy owned up to his mistake, and clearly learned from it. He was very inquisitive from then one and asked the right questions with regards to foreign policy matters. Kennedy's biggest mistake as President, however, was approving the overthrow of the corrupt South Vietnamese leader Diem. While Diem was corrupt, with enough US pressure he would've shaped up. In approving the overthrow of Diem, Kennedy essentially drove us further into Vietnam. While it is debatable as to whether Kennedy would've escalated the war in Vietnam as Johnson did, it is clear that his actions in Vietnam led to the political instability that led to Johnson's expansion of the war. Kennedy was very interested in global affairs, taking an avid interest in African and Latin American affairs. He realized that it was essential that the United States take the initiative at alleviating poverty and disease throughout the world. He took the initiative in alleviating world hunger, especially in Africa. He truly was one of the first global humanitarians in the White House, realizing that our country is blessed with the tools and the power to make a difference in the world. On domestic affairs, Kennedy was largely ineffective at getting most of his program passed. He was cautious but forceful at times in the enforcement of existing Civil Rights laws and the proposal of new ones. The Civil Rights legislation and the tax plan that substantially lowered the tax burden (then at rates as high as 90%) were not passed until after his death. He took the initiative and gave America something to take pride in when he initiated the moon race. In the final analysis, while Kennedy had some substantial failures as President, what he accomplished (or didn't accomplish) is not as important as what he represented, which was a vision of peace and justice for Americans, and indeed, humanity.