ABSTRACT
While Eisenhower slowly warmed to backing aid, Kennedy believed from the start of his presidency that a vigorous and expansive aid program could transform the world. The United States, he thought, could begin to eliminate poverty and create global prosperity, and in so doing, ensure US victory in the Cold War. He was certainly aware of past US failings; in 1959 he had encouraged his colleagues in the Senate to read Lederer and Burdick’s The Ugly American, but he was optimistic about the power of government spending and believed problems could be fixed. The United States had not fully committed itself to foreign aid, and not committed itself to doing it right. Kennedy wanted to do more and do it better.
