John F. Kennedy's 1957 Algeria Speech : The Politics of Anticolonialism in the Cold War Era

John F. Kennedy remains a compelling figure almost sixty years after his tragic assassination. Kennedy’s voice—with all of its characteristic eloquence—as well as the engaging complexity of the man himself, are brought to life in John F. Kennedy’s 1957 Algeria Speech. This book deals with one of Kennedy’s most important as a U.S. Senator—but least recognized—foreign policy speeches calling for Algerian independence after more than a century of French colonial rule. The reader will experience the debate surrounding Kennedy’s speech of July 2, 1957, particularly the resistance it encountered from the Eisenhower administration, French officials, and French citizens, senior members of America’s foreign policy community such as Dean Acheson and Adlai Stevenson, and editorial criticism in some of the most distinguished journals in the United States and France. The author offers new insights into Kennedy’s reasons for giving this speech, as well as his extensive preparation spanning fifteen months. Cleva uses in depth scholarship to analyze several years of classified U.S. Government documents dealing with the Algerian crisis in order to provide this comprehensive study of Kennedy’s Senate speech, how it shaped Kennedy’s own administration, as well its significance to American foreign policy. Cover 1 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction 12 The Speech 30 The Politics and Ideals of Kennedy’s Algeria Speech 76 What Kennedy Said 100 Aftermath 148 Nationalism and French Colonialism in North Africa 184 The Need to Change American Foreign Policy toward North Africa 224 Kennedy’s Algeria Speech 244 Appendix 258 Bibliography 260 Index 274 About the Author 284 John F. Kennedy's 1957 speech calling for Algerian independence is one of his most important and controversial-but least recognized-speeches, although many Kennedy books are careful to mention it and indicate its importance. This book discusses all the major aspects of Kennedy's speech from its preparation to its aftermath.