Compare and contrast the foreign policies of John F Kennedy and Lyndon B Johnson.

The question requires that candidates give an account of the similarities and differences between John F Kennedy and Lyndon B Johnson in terms of their foreign policy, referring to both throughout. There does not need to be an equal number of each. For comparison, candidates may address the dominance held by foreign policy issues in both administrations (Kennedy with the Cuban Missile Crisis and Johnson with Vietnam); that both engaged in a military invasion of a Latin American country (Kennedy in Cuba and Johnson in the Dominican Republic); the commitment of both to the maintenance of independent government for South Vietnam. For contrast, candidates may discuss Kennedy’s refusal to approve a combat role for the US in Vietnam, while Johnson committed over 500 000 troops; Kennedy’s attempt to improve relations with Latin America through the Peace Corp and Alliance for Progress, while Johnson did not have comparable initiatives. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates give an account of the similarities and differences between John F Kennedy and Lyndon B Johnson in terms of their foreign policy. This was chosen with some frequency and engagement was often satisfactory. The focus was often on Vietnam, but the better responses also addressed policies toward Latin America. A few responses digressed into domestic affairs.