The 1962 U.S. stock-market decline associated with President Kennedy was nicknamed the Kennedy Slide.
The decline occurred during the first half of 1962, when investors became concerned about slowing economic growth, falling corporate earnings, and high stock valuations. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell about 27% from its December 1961 peak to its June 1962 low.
The nickname also reflects a confrontation between the Kennedy administration and major steel companies. After steel producers announced price increases in April 1962, the administration criticized the move, and the companies reversed course. Investors viewed the dispute as evidence of unusual government pressure on business.
The Kennedy Slide was a severe bear market, but it did not become a depression. The Dow reached its low on 26 June 1962, and the market later recovered. The event is sometimes called the Flash Crash of 1962, but Kennedy Slide is the established historical nickname.