Question

Describe the similarities and differences in foreign policy during the Eisenhower and Kennedy Administrations.

Answer 1

Differences .

Dwight D. Eisenhower tenure was from 1956 to 1961. John F. Kennedy tenure was from 1961 to 1963.

With Eisenhower, the Foreign Policy was that United States forces help the Middle East to combat the spread of Communism. In this region, Eisenhower had some political differences with England and France. The reason: the Suez crisis of 1956 due to President of Egypt -Gamal Abdel Nasser- wishes to be more independent.

In 1955, USSR President Nikita Khrushchev called his Foreign policy "peaceful coexistence", but Eisenhower did not believed in this. He was skeptic of the Soviet’s intentions.  

Eisenhower accepted to participate in a meeting with Russian leaders in Geneva, Switzerland, in July 1955. That meeting was called the "Spirit of Geneva".

Kennedy considered that Eisenhower had lost emerging states in Latin America, Asia, and Africa to the communists

Kennedy fought against Communism in South and Central America using propaganda.

Kenndy supported and funded NASA’s space programs.

Kennedy had to confronted and resolve the Misil’s crisis in Cuba.

Similarities.

Both presidents fought against Communism, in his own way. They reaffirmed the U.S. Foreign policy against Russia and defended its positions in the world.

Both presidents were reluctant to send troops to enforce civil rights

They were concerned about the problems with the application of federalism, but at th end they did to enforce civil rights.

Answer 2

Similarity:

Both were focused on deterring communist aggression.  Eisenhower pursued war in Korea to stop communist expansion there.  Kennedy confronted the Soviet Union over nuclear missiles placed in Cuba.

Difference:

• The Eisenhower administration -- especially Secretary of State John Foster Dulles -- emphasized massive retaliation against anyone who dared military action against the United States.  
• The Kennedy administration emphasized the idea of "flexible response" -- to be able to respond to to military aggression in ways appropriate to each situation.  Flexible response meant using conventional weapons and methods as appropriate rather than relying on a nuclear arsenal as the USA's primary deterrent in dealing with adversaries.