--- born: 1917-05-29 category: Nuclear Scientists & Programs died: 1963-11-22 location: Brookline, Massachusetts summary: Kennedy's presidency was marked by a struggle with Israel over its nuclear ambitions, particularly concerning the Dimona reactor. tags: - Person - Nuclear - Israel --- John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the [United States](/places/united-states/), serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was intellectually and emotionally committed to a halt in the spread of nuclear weapons, with nonproliferation being a topic he would discuss for hours.[^1] Kennedy's presidency was marked by a struggle with [Israel](/places/israel/) over its nuclear ambitions, particularly concerning the [Dimona](/places/dimona/) reactor. He established himself as firmly opposed to the Israeli bomb, and his administration insisted on American inspection teams being permitted full and unfettered access to [Dimona](/places/dimona/). This stance was met with resistance from [David Ben-Gurion](/people/david-ben-gurion/) and [Shimon Peres](/people/shimon-peres/), who sought to protect the secret.[^1] Kennedy continued to pressure [David Ben-Gurion](/people/david-ben-gurion/) throughout 1962 about international inspection, receiving bland and irritating assurances that [Israel](/places/israel/) had no intention of becoming an atomic power. He angrily told his friend [Charles L. Bartlett](/people/charles-l-bartlett/) that the Israelis "lie to me constantly about their nuclear capability." In what amounted to a direct move against Ben-Gurion's leadership, Kennedy invited Foreign Minister [Golda Meir](/people/golda-meir/), one of Ben-Gurion's leading critics, to his Palm Beach, Florida, home for a private talk in late December 1962. During this meeting, Kennedy made an extraordinary private commitment to [Israel](/places/israel/)'s defense, stating that in case of an invasion, the [United States](/places/united-states/) would come to [Israel](/places/israel/)'s support.[^2] Despite his tough stance, Kennedy's political needs, particularly the significant Jewish vote that contributed to his narrow victory in 1960, complicated his approach to Israeli issues. He appointed [Myer Feldman](/people/myer-feldman/) as his presidential point man for Jewish and Israeli affairs, a position that created bureaucratic chaos due to Feldman's strong pro-Israel bias.[^1] Kennedy's relationship with [David Ben-Gurion](/people/david-ben-gurion/) became increasingly strained due to the ongoing correspondence about [Israel](/places/israel/)'s bomb program. Ben-Gurion's responses were often perceived as evasive and even rude by Kennedy. The President's apprehension about the Israeli bomb was a factor in his surprising appointment of [John A. McCone](/people/john-a-mccone/) as [CIA](/organizations/central-intelligence-agency/) director, who shared Kennedy's strong views on nonproliferation.[^1] In mid-1962, Kennedy's administration authorized the sale of Hawk surface-to-air missiles to [Israel](/places/israel/), a major departure from past policy of selling no weaponry to [Israel](/places/israel/). This decision was linked to [Israel](/places/israel/)'s agreement to permit American inspection teams into [Dimona](/places/dimona/), though these inspections were largely a whitewash, with [Israel](/places/israel/) controlling the visits and concealing the true nature of the facility.[^1] Kennedy's persistent pressure on [Israel](/places/israel/) stemmed from his belief that [Israel](/places/israel/) had not yet developed any nuclear weapons and was not yet a proliferator. There is evidence that once [Israel](/places/israel/) actually began manufacturing bombs, Kennedy was prepared to be pragmatic. While he remained resolutely opposed to a nuclear [Israel](/places/israel/) to the end, he did change his mind about [de Gaulle](/people/charles-de-gaulle/)'s bombs. A memorandum from [McGeorge Bundy](/people/mcgeorge-bundy/) to the President, dated November 22, 1963, the day of Kennedy's assassination, indicated a change in policy toward the French, suggesting cooperation and allowing them to use the Nevada test site for underground testing.[^2] [^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. [^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 9.