The presidential race of 1960 was primarily focused on the threat of Communism. Both Democratic candidate, John F. Kennedy, and Republican candidate, Richard Nixon, viewed it as "ubiquitous and unremitting" (Doc 33), and because Kennedy's take on the subject of communism differed greatly from that of the current administration, he won the presidential election. Kennedy knew that in order to keep our country safe, increasing spending on defense was necessary. Yet, Kennedy was very skeptical on threatening thermonuclear war on enemy countries - and rightfully so. He wanted to make peace with those countries which the United States had conflict with. In his Inaugural Address in 1961 he focused mainly on how to achieve these goals. Kennedy viewed our nation at the time as "tempered by war, disciplined by hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage  and said that he was "unwilling to witness the undoing of those human rights to which our nation had always been committed" (Doc 33). Kennedy would stop at nothing to stop the threat of communism that was upon us at the time. Kennedy knew that he was dreaming big and was open in stating that these dreams would not be completely fulfilled during his time in office but that it was time to begin a "quest for peace" (Doc 33). In his Inaugural Address, Kennedy pointed out a few efforts that were to take place to embark on the process. The United States was to offer help to the countries and villages on the globe that were "struggling to break the bonds of mass misery" (Doc 33). He made clear that it was not his mission to seek the approval and "vote of these countries over the Communists but only because it was the right thing to do. Kennedy wished to have these countries trust the United States and to know that our intentions were good. Secondly, he wished to build a new alliance with South America. His goal was to help release South America from the extreme poverty they were experiencing at the time. Ultimately, this would "oppose aggression anywhere in the Americas" (Doc 33) and keep Communist invasion from taking over in South America. Lastly, Kennedy addressed our country's foes. He requested for both sides to "begin anew the quest for peace." By embarking on this quest for peace both sides could dodge the bullet of more war and conflict. Kennedy then ad