These spheres of influence, however, as a result can be attributed to reactive politics as opposed to proactive advocacy and policy, and create caveats in such a legacy. John F. Kennedy from his initial campaign for the presidency of the United States, has maintained a strong stance on Civil Rights. This position was shown and amplified during the second presidential debate between him and Vice President Richard Nixon in 1961 in which he citiques a rather weak stance on civil rights by Vice President Nixon. On the subject of the Civil Rights Movement and …show more content…
Firstly, the multifaceted issues which faced the country at the time during this transition of power from Eisenhower to Kennedy, as well as the varying issues that could arise daily, stifled the Administration’s ability to serve all issues equitably. Secondly, his major proactive push for civil rights, which was for an Omnibus Civil Rights Bill, was met by partisan opposition in the House and Senate who would attempt to filibuster a bill that was not moderate enough to pass. This was only passed after his passing, to bi-partisanship to honor the legacy of President John F. Kennedy, as it was something he strongly advocated for, and President Lyndon B. Johnson also lobbied for, shortly after Kennedy’s funeral. Lastly, his reactionary tactics also allowed him the ability to gain the scope necessary to facilitate the diplomatic means for easing tensions between the U.S and Cuba, who were supported by the U.S.S.R. Although reactionary, the legacy of such was not always to the fault of President Kennedy, or to the detriment of the country as a whole. It is for these reasons we honor President Kennedy so dearly, as through in part, his action, but mostly his impactful ideologies, the US was able to facilitate one of the largest push towards civil rights that the country had seen up to that