The fact that John Kennedy ran partly on a "missile gap" platform in the 1960 presidential election made it difficult for him to reveal during the Cuban crisis the extent of U.S. nuclear superiority over the Soviets.

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Kennedy's rhetoric during the 1960 campaign suggested that the Soviet Union was ahead of the United States in terms of missile technology, which turned out to be a gross exaggeration. However, this made it difficult for Kennedy to reveal that the U.S. actually had a significant advantage in nuclear arms during the Cuban Missile Crisis, as it would have called into question his campaign promises and credibility.

The Fact That John Kennedy Ran Partly on a "Missile