During the Cuban Missile Crisis, leaders of the U.S. and the Soviet Union engaged in a tense, 13-day political and military standoff in October 1962 over the installation of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles on Cuba, just 90 miles from U.S. shores. Kennedy also secretly agreed to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey.
What really happened in the Cuban Missile Crisis?
What really happened in the Cuban missile crisis? The Cuban Missile Crisis, October 1962. The Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 was a direct and dangerous confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War and was the moment when the two superpowers came closest to nuclear conflict.
How was the Cuban Missile Crisis finally resolved?
How was the Cuban Missile Crisis finally resolved? With the threat of World War III on the horizon, the Cuban Missile Crisis was finally resolved by: a promise that the U.S. would never invade Cuba Fidel Castro stepping down as Cuba’s leader the Soviet Union getting rid of its Cuban missiles Cuba promising to adhere to a new set of free ...
Why was the Cuban Missile Crisis so frightening?
The crisis evoked fears of nuclear destruction, revealed the dangers of brinksmanship, and invigorated attempts to halt the arms race. After waging a successful guerrilla war against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista, Fidel Castro came to power on January 1, 1959.
What did the US gain after the Cuban Missile Crisis?
What did the United States gain from the Cuban Missile Crisis? The United States had a decided advantage over the Soviet Union in the period leading up to the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Americans had a greater nuclear power with more than 300 land based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and a fleet of Polaris submarines.
What happened during the 13 days of the Cuban missile crisis?
President John F. Kennedy demanded that all nuclear missiles be removed from Cuba and blockaded the island to prevent further deliveries of nuclear warheads. During the thirteen-day standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union, the world teetered on the brink of nuclear war.
What happened on October 23 Cuban Missile Crisis?
Soviet freighters bound for Cuba with military supplies stop dead in the water, but the oil tanker Bucharest continues towards Cuba. In the evening Robert Kennedy meets with Ambassador Dobrynin at the Soviet Embassy. October 23, 1962: President Kennedy signs Proclamation 3504, authorizing the naval quarantine of Cuba.
What was the thirteen days Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962?
For thirteen days in October 1962 the world waited—seemingly on the brink of nuclear war—and hoped for a peaceful resolution to the Cuban Missile Crisis. In October 1962, an American U-2 spy plane secretly photographed nuclear missile sites being built by the Soviet Union on the island of Cuba.
What were the main events of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
In 1962 the Soviet Union began to secretly install missiles in Cuba to launch attacks on U.S. cities. The confrontation that followed, known as the Cuban missile crisis, brought the two superpowers to the brink of war before an agreement was reached to withdraw the missiles.
What happened October 16 during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
On October 16, 1962, missiles were discovered in Cuba that could easily reach the US, beginning the Cuban Missile Crisis. In April 1961, a group of CIA-trained soldiers attempted to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist government in Cuba.
What happened on October 24 during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
On 24 October 1962, the US President, John F. Kennedy, makes a televised statement from the Oval Office in the White House in which he announces the blockade of Cuba following the discovery of launchpads for Soviet missiles on the island.
What happened at the end of 13 days?
The film ends with President Kennedy dictating a letter of condolence to the family of the reconnaissance pilot, Rudolf Anderson, who was shot down over Cuba as part of the preparations for the invasion, and the Kennedy brothers and O'Donnell outside of the Oval Office as actual audio of President Kennedy's ...
What does the title 13 days refer to?
Thirteen Days is a dramatisation of the Cuban missile crisis in October 1962 (its title refers to the length of the crisis). The film opens with White House staff learning that U-2 flights over Cuba had obtained photographic evidence of Soviet ballistic missiles being installed there.
What is the plot of Thirteen Days?
For thirteen extraordinary days in October of 1962, the world stood on the brink of an unthinkable catastrophe. Across the globe, people anxiously awaited the outcome of a harrowing political, diplomatic and military confrontation that threatened to end in an apocalyptic nuclear exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union. Thirteen days captures the urgency, suspense and paralyzing chaos of the Cuban Missile Crisis.Thirteen Days / Film synopsis
Which is the best summary of the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Which is the best summary of the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis? The US discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba and blockaded the island; a secret agreement led to the removal of missiles from Cuba and Turkey.
What was the dates of the Cuban missile crisis?
October 16, 1962 – October 28, 1962Cuban Missile Crisis / Period
What was the Cuban missile crisis quizlet?
What was the Cuban Missile Crisis? The Cuban Missile Crisis was a thirteen-day confrontation between the Soviet Union and Cuba on one side and the United States on the other; the crisis occurred in October 1962, during the Cold War.
What was the Cuban missile crisis?
Despite the short time frame, the Cuban Missile Crisis remains a defining moment in U.S. national security and nuclear war preparation. The confrontation is often considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full-scale nuclear war.
Who warned the Soviet Union about the Cuban missile crisis?
With important Congressional elections scheduled for November, the crisis became enmeshed in American politics. On August 31, Senator Kenneth Keating (R-New York) warned on the Senate floor that the Soviet Union was "in all probability" constructing a missile base in Cuba.
What did Khrushchev propose to the US?
The enormity of how close the world came to thermonuclear war impelled Khrushchev to propose a far-reaching easing of tensions with the US. In a letter to President Kennedy dated October 30, 1962, Khrushchev outlined a range of bold initiatives to forestall the possibility of a further nuclear crisis, including proposing a non-aggression treaty between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Warsaw Pact or even disbanding these military blocs, a treaty to cease all nuclear weapons testing and even the elimination of all nuclear weapons, resolution of the hot-button issue of Germany by both East and West formally accepting the existence of West Germany and East Germany, and US recognition of the government of mainland China. The letter invited counter-proposals and further exploration of these and other issues through peaceful negotiations. Khrushchev invited Norman Cousins, the editor of a major US periodical and an anti-nuclear weapons activist, to serve as liaison with President Kennedy, and Cousins met with Khrushchev for four hours in December 1962.
What is the movie 13 days based on?
Thirteen Days (film), based on The Kennedy Tapes: Inside the White House During the Cuban Missile Crisis, a 2000 docudrama directed by Roger Donaldson about the crisis. Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3, a 2008 video game, set in an alternate timeline where Einstein did not exist.
What was Cuba's reaction to the Cuban-Soviet crisis?
Cuba perceived the outcome as a betrayal by the Soviets, as decisions on how to resolve the crisis had been made exclusively by Kennedy and Khrushchev. Castro was especially upset that certain issues of interest to Cuba, such as the status of the US Naval Base in Guantánamo, were not addressed. That caused Cuban–Soviet relations to deteriorate for years to come.
What did the US and the USSR agree on?
The US and the USSR did shortly thereafter agree on a treaty banning atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons , known as the " Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty ". Further after the crisis, the US and the Soviet Union created the Moscow–Washington hotline, a direct communications link between Moscow and Washington.
What resolution did the US Senate approve in September?
The Cuban leadership was further upset when on September 20, the US Senate approved Joint Resolution 230 , which expressed the US was determined "to prevent in Cuba the creation or use of an externally-supported military capability endangering the security of the United States".
Who did President Kennedy inform about the Cuban missile crisis?
President Kennedy informs former Presidents Hoover, Truman , and Eisenhower as well as the British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan on the Cuban Missile situation. He then assembles and Executive Committee (EXCOMM) of the National Security Council to work out coordinating further action.
When did the Jupiter missiles leave Cuba?
The missiles were loaded and shipped back to the Soviet Union in early November 1962. By the end of that month, the U.S. embargo on Cuba ended. Soviet bombers left the country before the end of the year and the Jupiter missiles were removed form Turkey by the end of April, 1963.
What happened on Black Saturday?
In a second, more harshly worded letter, the Soviet Premier agreed to withdraw the missiles if Kennedy promised to never invade Cuba and to remove the U.S.’ Jupiter missiles from Turkey, contradicting his personal letter to Kennedy.
What did Khrushchev say about quarantine?
quarantine of the island as an act of aggression. “You, Mr. President, are not declaring a quarantine, but rather are setting forth an ultimatum and threatening that if we do not give in to your demands you will use force.
Who denied the presence of missiles in Cuba?
The U.S. requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security council, where the Soviet ambassador denied the presence of missiles in Cuba. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson told the Soviet ambassador he was “willing to wait until hell freezes over” for an answer from the USSR.
Who was the spy that tipped off the CIA?
The CIA was tipped off by Soviet spy Colonel Oleg Penkovsky, who passed on war plans, secret documents, and other human intelligence. On October 14, a U-2 spy plane overflight confirmed the presence of Soviet missiles on Cuba. For thirteen days, October 16 – 28, 1962, the U.S. and Soviet Union faced each other down in a confrontation ...
Who suggested that the USSR attack first?
Fearing an imminent attack from the United States, Cuban leader Fidel Castro suggested to Khrushchev the USSR should attack first. A Soviet spy, Aleksander Fomin, approached ABC News’ John Scali to offer a diplomatic solution: The removal of the missiles in exchange for a promise not to invade Cuba.
Why did the US move to the Cuban missile site?
The move was partly an effort to deter the US from attempting another Cuban invasion, and partly a way to maximize the Soviet Union’s nuclear strike capability. Missile site construction began that summer.
Who was the pilot of the U-2 plane that was shot down in Cuba?
An American U-2 plane was also shot down over Cuba by a Soviet-supplied missile. Its pilot, Major Rudolf Anderson, was killed. Kennedy ultimately ignored the latest letter from Khrushchev, responding only to the warmer letter he had sent the previous day.
Why did Kennedy send a letter to Khrushchev?
A letter to Kennedy from Khrushchev detailed the agreement that the missiles would be removed from Cuba in exchange for a US promise not to invade. Kennedy issued a statement applauding Khrushchev's decision to remove the missiles.
Why did Kennedy request Khrushchev to stop the ships?
Kennedy then requested that Khrushchev halt any Soviet ships en route to Cuba, out of fear the US would be forced to exchange fire and launch a war between the two nations.
Why did the Kennedy administration use the term "quarantine" rather than "blockade"?
The Kennedy administration used the term "quarantine" rather than "blockade," as the latter would have legally implied a state of war. A quarantine, however, allowed the US to continue receiving the support of the Organization of American States, the 35-member continental organization.
What did Castro say to Khrushchev?
Castro, in his letter, explained to Khrushchev that should the US attempt to invade and occupy Cuba, the country would pose such a threat that the Soviet Union could not risk the possibility of a preemptive nuclear strike by the US.
What happened in the 1950s?
Tensions between the US and Cuba escalated in the 1950s after Fidel Castro ousted US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista, culminating with the botched Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 — years before the missile crisis erupted.
What was the Cuban missile scare?
The Cuban Missile Scare, was a 13-day (October 16–28, 1962) confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over Soviet ballistic missiles that were deployed in Cuba. The world watched with baited breath as the details were reported live on television.
Who agreed to place nuclear missiles in Cuba?
Kennedy and military advisors during the crisis. Photo: Reddit. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev decided to agree to Cuba’s request to place nuclear missiles in Cuba to deter future harassment of Cuba. An agreement was reached during a secret meeting between Khrushchev and Fidel Castro in July and construction on a number ...
What did Kennedy and Khrushchev negotiate?
Khrushchevand Kennedy negotiate in the public eye in Vienna Photo: Reddit. After a long, tense negotiation, an agreement was reached between Kennedy and Khrushchev. Publicly, the Soviets would dismantle their offensive weapons in Cuba and return them to the Soviet Union.
Did the US invade Cuba?
In exchange the U.S. would provide a public declaration and agreement never to invade Cuba without direct provocation. Secretly, the US also agreed that it would dismantle all U.S.-built Jupiter MRBMs, which were deployed in Turkey and Italy against the Soviet Union but were not known to the public.
When did President Kennedy announce the blockade of Cuba?
President Kennedy orders a naval blockade of Cuba as soon as possible. The operation is reviewed and approved. DAY 7: Monday, October 22. President Kennedy addresses the American public and announces his plan to implement a naval blockade of Cuba. U.S. military go into DEFCON 3. DAY 8: Tuesday, October 23.
What did President Kennedy tell the Cubans?
President Kennedy is told that the Cubans have ICBM's (InterContinent al Ballistic Missile ). President Kennedy discusses what he should do about the ICBM's in Cuba. President Kennedy meets with Soviet Foreign and advises him that America will not tolerate Soviet missiles in Cuba.
What day did McNamara go into defcon 2?
U.S. military go into DEFCON 2, the highest in U.S. history. DAY 10: Thursday, October 25. U.S. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson confronts the Soviets at the U.N. but they refuse to answer.
What day did the U-2 spy plane fly into Russia?
DAY 12: Saturday, October 27. While one U-2 spy plane accidentally flies into Russia, while another is shot down over Cuba. EX-COMM receives a second letter from Khrushchev stating that, in addition to a public promise not to invade Cuba, the U.S. removes its missiles from Turkey. DAY 13: Sunday, October 28.
When did JFK meet with the Secretary of Defense?
JFK meets with the Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, and the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss military options. DAY 5: Saturday, October 20. President Kennedy returns to Washington to discuss the discovery of additional Soviet missiles in Cuba. DAY 6: Sunday, October 21.
Did Soviet ships reach quarantine?
Soviet ships reach the quarantine line, but receive radio orders from Moscow to hold their positions. Detailed briefing on new reconnaissance photos from Cuba and discussion of the need to disperse planes at Florida bases in the event of attacks by MIGs based in Cuba.
Overview
The Cuban Missile Crisis, also known as the October Crisis of 1962 (Spanish: Crisis de Octubre), the Caribbean Crisis (Russian: Карибский кризис, tr. Karibsky krizis, IPA: [kɐˈrʲipskʲɪj ˈkrʲizʲɪs]), or the Missile Scare, was a 35-day (16 October – 20 November 1962) confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union, which escalated into an international crisis when American deployment…
Background
In the fall of 1961 Fidel Castro asked for more SA-2 anti-aircraft missiles from the Soviet Union. The request was not acted upon by the Soviet leadership. In the interval Fidel Castro began critizing the Soviets for lack of "revolutionary boldness", and began talking to China about agreements for economic assistance. On March of 1962 Fidel Castro ordered the ousting of Anibal Escal…
Soviet deployment of missiles in Cuba
In May 1962, Soviet First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev was persuaded by the idea of countering the US's growing lead in developing and deploying strategic missiles by placing Soviet intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Cuba, despite the misgivings of the Soviet Ambassador in Havana, Alexandr Ivanovich Alexeyev, who argued that Castro would not accept the deployment of the mi…
Missiles reported
The missiles in Cuba allowed the Soviets to effectively target most of the Continental US. The planned arsenal was forty launchers. The Cuban populace readily noticed the arrival and deployment of the missiles and hundreds of reports reached Miami. US intelligence received countless reports, many of dubious quality or even laughable, most of which could be dismissed as descri…
Operational plans
Two Operational Plans (OPLAN) were considered. OPLAN 316 envisioned a full invasion of Cuba by Army and Marine units, supported by the Navy, following Air Force and naval airstrikes. Army units in the US would have had trouble fielding mechanised and logistical assets, and the US Navy could not supply enough amphibious shipping to transport even a modest armoured contingent from the Army.
Blockade
Kennedy met with members of EXCOMM and other top advisers throughout October 21, considering two remaining options: an air strike primarily against the Cuban missile bases or a naval blockade of Cuba. A full-scale invasion was not the administration's first option. McNamara supported the naval blockade as a strong but limited military action that left the US in control. The term "blocka…
Secret negotiations
At 1:00 pm EDT on October 26, John A. Scali of ABC News had lunch with Aleksandr Fomin, the cover name of Alexander Feklisov, the KGB station chief in Washington, at Fomin's request. Following the instructions of the Politburo of the CPSU, Fomin noted, "War seems about to break out." He asked Scali to use his contacts to talk to his "high-level friends" at the State Department to see if the …
Crisis ends
On Saturday, October 27, after much deliberation between the Soviet Union and Kennedy's cabinet, Kennedy secretly agreed to remove all missiles set in Turkey and possibly southern Italy, the former on the border of the Soviet Union, in exchange for Khrushchev removing all missiles in Cuba. There is some dispute as to whether removing the missiles from Italy was part of the secret agreeme…