The 1960's were an especially tense time with many protests for equality and the ever imposing possibility of nuclear war. In this tense atmosphere, John F. Kennedy accomplished many victories in his time as president. Some of these accomplishments include working toward better international relationships through the Alliance for progress, working towards equality in law, and working to defuse the Cold War.
One impact from Kennedy's presidency was the improved relationship with Latin America. He came into the presidency when relations were not good: "US relations with Latin America had been deteriorating steadily in the decade before JFK entered the White House." (Alliance for Progress, 1). During his presidency, however, Kennedy made steps to remedy this issue: "Kennedy proposed, through the Agency for International Development and the Alliance for Progress, both launched in 1961, to loan more than $20 billion to Latin American nations that would promote democracy and undertake meaningful social reforms,
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On June 10, 1963, Kennedy approved the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which "prohibits sex-based wage discrimination between men and women in the same establishment who perform jobs that require substantially equal skill, effort and responsibility under similar working conditions," (The Equal Pay Act, x). It is also said that "Throughout the 1950's, several bills seeking equal pay for women were introduced in Congress, but all failed to move forward."(Equal Pay Act National Park, 4). As you can see, this act was an enormous step towards equality that previously was unaccomplishable. In addition to this, although it did not get approved until after he was assassinated, Kennedy proposed the bill for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Civil Rights Act, 17). This act makes discrimination of protected classes illegal. These were major steps that America took to becoming the nation it is