Walter LaFeber argues that a series of events from 1957-1962 set the precedent for aggressive U.S. foreign policy based on misunderstandings. He details how the Soviet launch of Sputnik generated fears of a "missile gap" and influenced the 1960 election. The U.S. then failed to understand revolutions in Cuba and Latin America, leading to the Bay of Pigs failure. This created a period of repeated policy failures for Kennedy and escalated U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Overall, LaFeber shows how events like Sputnik had ripple effects that intensified tensions and expanded U.S. military commitments due to cultural misunderstandings.