JFK UNPREPARED TO FACE KHRUSHCHEV AT VIENNA SUMMIT
Vienna, Austria (JFK+50) On June 4, 1961 a two day summit between President John F. Kennedy of the United States and Premier Nikita Khrushchev of the Soviet Union concluded here in Vienna.
The summit came on the heels of JFK's election in 1960 as the youngest POTUS and the dismal failure of the Bay of Pigs invasion in April 1961.*
Historian Richard Reeves writes...
"(JFK) was the young guy and he wanted Khrushchev to believe that he was serious (but) he really didn't listen closely to his own advisers."
Reeves believes that President Kennedy was unprepared for the summit allowing the Soviet leader to "walk all over him."
The President himself would agree. JFK is quoted as saying following the summit..."He just beat the hell out of me."
Khrushchev threatened a Soviet response if the U.S. challenged him in Berlin. He said that it is up to the United States "to decide...war or peace."
JFK responded....
"It will be a cold winter."
*JFK was the youngest elected POTUS at age 43 but TR was the youngest POTUS assuming the office at age 42 upon the death of President McKinley.
SOURCES
"JFK Was Completely Unprepared For His Summit with Khrushchev, 'He Just Beat the Hell Out of Me'," History Stories, by Becky Little, July 13, 2018, www.history.com/
"President Kennedy: Profile of Power," by Richard Reeves, Simon and Schuster, 1994.
