The Cuban Missile Crisis

1. The Cuban Missile Crisis 13 Days on the Brink of Nuclear War Power point compiled by Robert Martinez Primary Content Source: History Alive! Photographs and Images as cited. http://www.russianlegacy.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=730

2. In 1959, communist revolutionaries, led by Fidel Castro, had ousted Cuban dictator Batista. As a result, the United States suddenly found that it had a communist government, just 90 miles off the Florida coast.

3. Once in power, Castro established strong ties with the Soviet Union. The USSR sent advisers, weapons, and financial aid to Cuba. The Cuban government took control of U.S. refineries and farms on the island. Fidel Castro with Soviet leader Khrushchev. http://southchild.com/?p=563

4. Reluctant to live under a communist regime, many Cubans exiles fled to South Florida. http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/baypigs-3.htm

5. Shortly after taking office, Kennedy learned that the CIA had begun training some of these Cuban exiles in Florida and Guatemala as guerrilla fighters.

6. The clandestine (secret) mission of these exiles was to return to Cuba and lead a popular uprising that would topple Castro and his regime. http://pub10.bravenet.com/forum/795583276/show/990909

7. The CIA officials briefed Kennedy on the invasion plan, and assured the new president that the invasion would inspire Cubans to rise up and rebel against Castro. http://www.jfklancer.com/jfk1bop.html

8. Eager to show he was a strong Cold War president, Kennedy allowed the plan to move forward.

9. On April 17,1961, a small army of Cuban exiles sailed into the Bay of Pigs in southern Cuba. The landing was a disaster. Their ships ran aground on coral reefs. http://radio.weblogs.com/0103207/2004/04/17.html

10. Once the exiles reached the land, Cuban troops quickly killed or captured them. In addition, the expected uprising never took place.

11. A little more than a year after the Bay of Pigs, Kennedy again focused his attention on Cuba. In October 1962, a U-2 spy plane over Cuba discovered that the Soviet Union was building missile-launching sites on the island. http://www.sixtiescity.com/Events/Events60.shtm

12. From these sites, missiles carrying nuclear warheads could easily reach most major cities in the United States. http://www.jfklancer.com/jfk1bop.html

13. Kennedy’s advisors agreed that the United States must halt construction of the Soviet missile sites. Failure to remove this threat would endanger American cities. http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/World/CubanMissile.html

14. The advisers did not agree on how to deal with the Cuban Missile Crisis. Some advisers urged the president to bomb the missile sites before they became operational. “Thor” Intermediate-range ballistic missile. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sylvancatharsis/494020526/

15. Others suggested blockading Cuban ports to prevent Soviet ships from bringing missiles to the island.

16. The advisers called the blockade a “quarantine,” because under international law, establishing a naval blockade is an act of war. Kennedy chose the quarantine plan. http://www.2neatmagazines.com/life/1962cover.html

18. On October 22, Kennedy announced to the nation the discovery of the missile sites and his decision to quarantine the island. He warned that the United States would view any nuclear missile launched from Cuba as an attack on the United States by the Soviet Union. http://www.jfklancer.com/jfk1bop.html

19. Kennedy warned that the United States Would view any nuclear missile launched from Cuba as an attack on the United States by the Soviet Union.

20. Kennedy also demanded that the Soviets remove all offensive weapons from Cuba. For the next two days, Soviet ships continued to move toward Cuba. http://www.multied.com/sixties/Cuban.html

21. High Alert • Fearing that the nation could be on the brink of nuclear war, Kennedy put the U.S. military on high alert. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sylvancatharsis/494020526/

22. Eyeball to Eyeball • On October 24, Khrushchev ordered Soviet ships approaching Cuba to slow down or turn around. With great relief, Secretary of State Dean Rusk commented, “We’re eyeball to eyeball, and I think the other fellow just blinked.” http://www.jfklancer.com/jfk1bop.html

23. Khrushchev • A few days later, Khrushchev sent a note to Kennedy agreeing to remove Soviet missiles from Cuba. In exchange, he demanded that Kennedy end the Cuban blockade and promise not to invade Cuba. http://www.jfklancer.com/jfk1bop.html

24. The next day, Khrushchev sent a second note. In it, he proposed removing the Cuban missiles in exchange for the United States removing missiles it had placed in Turkey, which bordered the USSR. Kennedy had already decided to remove the U.S. missiles from Turkey, because they were outdated. However, he did not want Khrushchev to think he was bowing to Soviet pressure. http://www.jfklancer.com/jfk1bop.html

25. Kennedy’s advisers told the president to pretend he did note receive the second note. So, Kennedy accepted the first deal only. Privately, he sent Robert Kennedy to the Soviet embassy to agree to the second deal as well. SM-78s removed from Turkey. http://www.active-duty.com/Jupiter%20Missile%20Turkey.htm

26. Crisis is Over • On October 28, Khrushchev agreed to remove all Soviet missiles from Cuba. About three months later, the United States removed its missiles from Turkey. http://faculty.virginia.edu/setear/students/usoutlaw/cubapg.html

27. Massive Retaliation • The Cuban Missile Crisis led Kennedy to rethink the doctrine of “massive retaliation” adopted during the Eisenhower years. Instead, Kennedy talked about the need for a flexible response to local Cold War conflicts. Soviet Missile

28. Vietnam • When communists seemed on the verge of taking over Vietnam, the president tested this new approach. He sent money and military advisors to Vietnam to build noncommunist forces in that country. By the end of 1962, more than 9,000 American military advisors were helping to defend Vietnam from communism. http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/aar/page_vietnam.htm

29. Nuclear War • The missile crisis left Kennedy and Khrushchev frightened by how close they had come to nuclear war. As a result, both men began looking for ways to ease tensions between the superpowers. http://www.newprophecy.net/warroom.htm

30. Hotline • As a first step, the two leaders established a hotline between them. This line of communication would be kept open at all times so they could contact each other instantly during a crisis. The hotline still exists today and has been tested once an hour since 1963. http://millionaireplayboy.com/toys/batphone.php

31. Test Ban Treaty • Later the same year, the superpowers, along with Great Britain, signed a Test Ban Treaty. This agreement banned nuclear testing in the atmosphere, while allowing underground nuclear weapons tests to continue. By signing, the United States and Soviet Union showed that they could cooperate on important issues. http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/floor2/treaty-room.htm

32. Share your thoughts ! • Write an essay sharing your feelings of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and how close the two superpowers came to a nuclear war. http://www.johndclare.net/cold_war16.htm