Obama and JFK
About a month ago Newsweek magazine compared Obama to FDR while Time used Lincoln. However the president that Obama seems to resemble the most is JFK. In his view about nuclear weapons, getting out of quagmires, and picking cabinet members, Obama is very similiar to JFK. After reading Robert Dallek's book about JFK, Obama seems to have the same views about nuclear weapons and the need to abolish them. Kennedy thought that nuclear weapons were strategically useless and needed to be abolished and that nuclear proliferation is the greatest threat to American security, Obama has shared the same views in his current proposal to eliminate nuclear weapons. JFK wanted to get out of Vietnam as soon as possible while Obama wants to create a 16 month timetable for withdrawl in Iraq, Finally Kennedy picked cabinet members from the other party, and Obama has picked cabinet members that strongly disagree with him on foreign policy such as Gates and Clinton. I'm suprised that the mainstream media has not really picked up these similiariities.
JFK, wanted to get out of Vietnam as soon as possible?
What he may have wanted and what he did were somewhat different. During Kennedy's tenure, he consistently increases US involvement. From 500 military advisors in '61 to over 11,300 combat troops by the end of 62. Kennedy wwas clearly of the school of thinking that communist aggression could not be allowed to go unchecked.
Also Kennedy gave the CIA the OK to asssist in a coup to overthrow President Diem who was assassinated in November 2 of '63.
December 5, 2008 8:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually if I remember my history Kennedy was a Democratic hawk.
December 5, 2008 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
John Newman's book JFK AND VIETNAM is a very good read, and it clearly shows that JFK intended to draw down in Vietnam. After JFK was killed LBJ reversed JFK's decision. Well said HackingAtTheRoot.
December 5, 2008 8:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
JFK found nuclear weapons useless? Well they shure had him jumping for something that was useless. Lost us our spy stations in Turkey as well.
And I thought the rationale in keeping Gates on was he wasn't really a Republican and was quite amenable to drawing down troops. Now he's 180 degrees to Obama?
December 5, 2008 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think there is an obvious, if unspoken reason why people do not want to push the Obama/JFK comparisons too hard.
December 5, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agree --- and I hope the relative silence continues.
December 5, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh wait, wasn't Hillary asking for him to be assasinated last May?
December 5, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thirded.
December 5, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fourth.
Tired of Lincoln 'Team of Rivals' comparisons as well for obvious reasons too.
December 5, 2008 7:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, they both are pretty close in age at the time they take their oath. Pretty families. Harvard. Best and the brightest.
AND THEY BOTH KNEW HOW TO GIVE A HELL OF A SPEECH.
December 5, 2008 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
JFK got a Bachelor's degree from Harvard, Obama a Law Degree. Significantly differnt. While Obama wasn't poor, he certainly didn't have a liquor-smuggling/ambassador magnate as his investiture, buying votes for his election.
Why do you people want to compare Obama to JFK? You think there's something glorious about him?
December 5, 2008 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tell us how you really feel?
Didn't I already roast you for mischaracterizing Barack Obama's wealth?
December 5, 2008 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll second this one. Let's not put old faces in front of the new guy or we will not see him for who he is. Frankly, I doubt any of the past leaders could patch this sinking ship, but either way, they are not here. Only Obama is here. let's Hope he IS the not only The One, but the one who can bring all of us together so we no longer need leadership, just a President.
December 6, 2008 3:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama reminds me of.................Obama. No seriously though he has a first class intellect, intuition AND tempermant. Expectations for him are high because he could be one of our greatest Presidents ever.................ever.
December 5, 2008 3:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
And ignorance speaks.
JFK ordered the immediate withdrawal of 1000 combat troops by the end of 1963, and planned for the eventual release of all combat troops by the end of 1965. Look up National Security Action Memorandum 263. There is a copious amount of testimony from aides and informed sources that indicated JFK's desire to leave Vietnam. Good books on the subject are John Newman's "JFK and Vietnam" and James Douglass's "JFK and the Unspeakable."
E. Howard Hunt testified in court that he doctored documents to support the allegation that JFK approved of assassination. JFK wanted a peaceful overthrow of Diem. Debate that if you wish.
This is all available on the web. Look up JFK's peace speech at American University on 6/10/63 if you really think JFK was a "hawk." He calls for the end of the Cold War mentality and for the pursuit of peace with our enemies.
Obama is like JFK, and all of you do a disservice to the name of compassionate leaders like them both when you deny their accomplishments.
December 5, 2008 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
JFK enthusiasts always point to NASM 263. It's rather weak evidence to predict the future.
The fact is that JFK picked Vietnam as his line in the sand to show the rest of the world that the US backs its friends. He increased troops and really opened up the US to participating in that conflict.
In a conversation with Nobel Peace Prize winner and Canadian prime minister Lester B. Pearson, Kennedy sought his advice. "Get out," Pearson replied. "That's a stupid answer," shot back Kennedy. "Everyone knows that. The question is: How do we get out?"
No one wanted to stay in Vietnam, not JFK, not LBJ, not Nixon. But our presidents couldn't figure out a face saving way of leaving -- and protect their own political interests as well.
And don't forget that it was the very same cabinet, JFK's cabinet, that was continually enthusiastic of LBJ's dealing with the war for quite a while -- except George Ball, of course.
Obama was on the right side of common sense from the very first with his statements concerning the Iraq War.
No, Obama is no JFK. And we all can be thankful for that.
December 5, 2008 8:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
... but JFK changed. See his American University speech.
December 5, 2008 8:07 PM | Reply | Permalink