"HISTORY IS CONCERNED WITH HOW JFK REACTED TO THIS SETBACK"

DISASTER AT THE BAY OF PIGS

Bahia de Conchinos, Cuba (JFK+50) On the morning of April 17, 1961, a force of 1400 Cuban exiles landed at the Bay of Pigs on the southern coast of Cuba.  Their goal was to overthrow the communist regime of Fidel Castro.
 

The exile force, Brigade 2506, had been trained in Guatemala and led by Jose Miro Cardona*, head of the anti-Castro Cuban Revolutionary Council.

The brigade came under heavy fire as they hit the beach.

The invasion was hampered by bad weather and a shortage of ammunition. President John F. Kennedy, fearing his country's involvement in the invasion would become publicly known and possibly escalate into a nuclear war with the Soviets, cancelled a second planned air strike.

JFK's decision to approve the invasion has been listed as one of the Top Ten presidential mistakes of all time.  The President later characterized his decision as an error, not a mistake, indicating that he intended to correct it.

The American people rallied behind President Kennedy, and his popularity actually increased.  One of the reasons for this was that JFK publicly accepted full blame for the failure, learned from it, and moved on to better days.

Jim Rasenberger writes that Undersecretary of State Chester Bowles** counseled JFK that with time the wounds caused by the Bay of Pigs would heal.  He said...

"What history (will) be concerned with would be how the President reacted to such setbacks."

*Jose Miro Cardona (1902-1972) was born in Havana & became a lawyer & professor at the University of Havana.  JMC was a leader of the opposition to President Batista.  He suddenly resigned on Feb 13, 1959 & was replaced by Fidel Castro.

**Chester Bliss Bowles (1901-1986) was born in Springfield, MA & graduated from Yale University.  During WWII he was director of the Office of Price Administration & was co-founder of Benton & Bowles Advertising Agency.  CBB served in 4 Democratic presidential administrations.

SOURCE

"The Brilliant Disaster, JFK, Castro and America's Doomed Invasion of Cuba's Bay of Pigs," Jim Rasenberger, Scribner, New York, 2011.

Swearing-in Ceremony

Chester Bowles (1961)

Photo by Robert L. Knudsen

NARA/JFK Library Image

                         

"WE WILL COUNT UPON YOUR COUNSEL & EXPERIENCE"

CHESTER BOWLES:  JFK'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE & ADVISER

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On December 12, 1961, President John F. Kennedy spoke at swearing-in ceremonies for Chester Bowles*, his Special Representative and Adviser on African, Asian, and Latin American Affairs.  The ceremonies took place in the Fish Room at the White House.

The President said...

"You've had a long career of public service, but I can think of no job that you've had which carriers with it so many responsibilities and burdens.  (We) will count very heavily upon your counsel and experience in the coming days."

The President announced that Mr. Bowles would be going along with him on a weekend trip to Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Colombia.

*Chester Bliss Bowles (1901-1986) was born in Springfield, MA & educated at Yale University.  CBB served as Governor of Connecticut (1949-1951), member of US House of Representatives (1959-1961), & Ambassador to India (1963-1969).

SOURCE

"Remarks at the Swearing In of Chester Bowles as the President's Special Representative and Adviser on African, Asian, and Latin American Affairs," December 12, 1961, Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, January 20 to December 31, 1961, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1962.

JFK & Chester Bowles & Wife

The White House

December 12 1961

Photo by R. L. Knudsen

NARA Image