The 1962 U.S. stock-market decline associated with interest-rate and Cold War fears was called the Kennedy Slide.
The decline ran from late 1961 into June 1962. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell about 26.5% from its December 1961 high to its June low, making it one of the sharpest U.S. market declines since the 1929 crash. The episode took place during John F. Kennedy’s presidency.
Investors faced concerns about monetary policy, a slowing economy, international tensions, and the possibility of nuclear confrontation. The market also reacted badly to the administration’s pressure on the steel industry after major companies announced price increases in April 1962.
The name can be misleading because Kennedy did not cause a single-day crash. It describes a sustained market slide over months. The Dow later recovered, and the decline should not be confused with the 1960 recession or the Cuban Missile Crisis itself.