Why did President Kennedy expand the space program?Answer Choices: A) in order to install nuclear weapons in space B) to shift the focus away from...

Of these options, the best answer is D.  Most historians
argue that JFK made the commitment to put a man on the moon within the decade in an
attempt to bolster the nation's prestige after the Soviet Union had managed to send a
man into space.

JFK had not made any campaign promises
about putting men in space.  However, in April of 1961, the Soviets succeeded in putting
Yuri Gagarin into orbit.  This, like the launch of Sputnik in 1957 reduced US prestige. 
This was because it made it seem as if the Soviets were pulling ahead in technology. 
Not much more than a month later, JFK promised that the US would put a man on the moon. 
Historians believe that he did this to regain prestige for the
US.