John F. Kennedy and the Food for Peace (1961-1963)

Elkhwisky, Mahmoud

doi:10.21608/qarts.2025.389469.2231

John F. Kennedy and the Food for Peace (1961-1963)

Document Type : Original Article

Author

mahmoud elkhwisky

10.21608/qarts.2025.389469.2231

Abstract

This research deals with the Food for Peace Program during the era of US President John F. Kennedy (1961-1963), one of the economic aid programs and a tool of US foreign policy towards the world. The program began during the era of President Eisenhower after the issuance of Law 480 of 1954. John F. Kennedy relied on the Food for Peace Program to support and win the support of peoples and governments around the world. It was used for political purposes within the framework of the Cold War and the conflict with the Soviet Union. President Kennedy began by appointing a committee during his election campaign in 1960 to provide recommendations and proposals for developing the Food for Peace Program. Since assuming office on January 20, 1963, Kennedy relied on the Food for Peace Program in US foreign policy and appointed George McGovern as director of the program. He also visited delegations to various countries around the world to discuss concluding agreements with the United States to obtain food within the framework of the Food for Peace Program, which achieved great success in obtaining American food for more than 100 countries around the world. Kennedy did not aim, through exporting American food surpluses, to get rid of agricultural surpluses only, but also to achieve the United States’ political and economic goals of global domination. Based on interest Under the Presidential Program, Congress approved large financial allocations for the food program, which contributed to the export of agricultural surpluses to various countries around the world.

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