Kennedy's decision was triggered by an intense "space race" with the old Soviet Union. The Soviets were first in space (with Sputnik); first too with a man in space. July 1969. It's a little over eight years since the flights of Gagarin and Shepard, followed quickly by President Kennedy's challenge to put a man on the moon before the decade is out. A reader can best combine the information in the excerpts to

A reader can best combine the information in the excerpts to understand that the desire of President Kennedy to put a man on the moon was influenced by the "space race" with the Soviet Union.

Explanation:

In the first excerpt, the article mentions how President Kenney felt pressured to be on par with the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union had already put a man in space, leading to a "space race". The second article also deals with how President Kenney made a challenge "to put a man on the moon before the decade is out."

These two articles have the same context which is, the need and desire of President Kennedy to compete with the Soviet Union in a "space race".  This shows that he was inspired by the Soviet Union to put a man in space.