How does President Kennedy channel some of the fears in American society associated with the Cold War to build his argument in favor of investment in the Space Race?

President Kennedy raised concern for lagging behind in the space race against their major rival (Soviet Union).

Explanation:

The Sputnik Satellite was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, and this has ignited the space race.   The victory of the Soviets jarred the American people and prompted a concerted reaction within the federal government to ensure that the US won't fall behind its Communist rival. President Kennedy recognized the need to restore confidence in the country and wanted not only to suit the Soviets but to overtake them. He appeared before Congress on May 25, 1961, and called for an estimated 7 billion to 9 billion for the space program under the urgent national needs program.

nothing certain is known about what happened, but it seems that the country declined gradually, perhaps due to bad government, or, more likely, due to a series of bad harvests, which resulted in widespread and recurrent famine.