John F. Kennedy spent only one thousand days as President of the United States. During that time, JFK managed to prevent a nuclear war with Cuba and the Soviet Union as well as support the failed Bay of Pigs regime. However, JFK's "support doctrine" lived well past JFK and tied America to a ten thousand day war in Vietnam. "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge -- and more." (http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural.htm) With these bold words, Kennedy signed away America's future to the needs of weak, corrupt nations. Support became the word to describe American forces during the Vietnam Conflict. We did not fight to win but to protect a government and nation that not and could not protect itself. Although a simple, everyday word, "support" changed the lives of millions of Americans and he world has never been the same.
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