From New Frontiersman to Cold Warrior: John F. Kennedy's Failed Rapprochement with Gamal Abdel Nasser and Arab Nationalism

Abstract

As John F. Kennedy ascended to the Presidency of the United States, he pledged to forge a new era in American foreign policy, which he termed the “New Frontier.” To this end, Kennedy opened a correspondence with the leader of Arab Nationalism, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, that persisted throughout Kennedy’s presidency. Initially, this strategy proved productive for American policy-makers, as the two leaders gained a better appreciation for the interests and motivations of one another; however, a proxy war between Egypt and Saudi Arabia in Yemen strained the rapprochement. Ultimately, the tension this conflict created persuaded Kennedy to revert his course from that of a New Frontiersman to a Cold Warrior. This thesis explores the forces, internal and external, that instigated Kennedy’s policy shift.