What was the 1962 U.S. stock-market decline popularly called?

The 1962 U.S. stock-market decline was popularly called the Kennedy Slide of 1962. From December 1961 to June 1962, stock prices fell substantially, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined about 26.5% from its peak to its low.

The decline occurred amid concerns about economic growth, corporate profits, inflation, and international tensions. The market was also affected by worries over a possible recession and by a changing investment climate after the strong rise of the late 1950s and early 1960s. President John F. Kennedy’s administration responded with economic and regulatory measures, including an antitrust action against U.S. Steel that attracted market attention.

The name does not mean that Kennedy caused the entire decline. It reflects the period’s political association and the administration’s visible role in economic affairs. The episode is also known as the Flash Crash of 1962 in some historical accounts.