The Cuban Missile Crisis Thirteen Days in 1962 That Shook the World

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The Cuban Missile CrisisThirteen Days in 1962
That Shook the World

• By Lori Bogumil

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Brief Summary

• The closest the world has come to nuclear
  war was the Cuban Missile crisis of October,
  1962. Khrushchev was upset that the U.S. had
  missiles in Turkey, a country adjacent to the
  Soviet Union. He was concerned that the U.S.
  would overthrow Castro and his Communist
  government. He ordered 42,000 Russian personnel
  to install several missile bases containing
  nuclear warheads. The fate of millions literally
  hinged upon the ability of President Kennedy and
  Premier Khrushchev to reach a compromise.
• U.S. President,
  Soviet Premier, Cubas,
• John F. Kennedy Nikita Khrushchev Fidel
  Castro

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October 16

• President John F. Kennedy is advised by
  McGeorge Bundy, the Presidents National Security
  Adviser, that U-2 spy-plane had detected several
  Russian missiles in Cuba.

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October 17

• As President Kennedy contemplates various
  options, Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara,
  advocates a naval blockade of Cuba.
• Cuba is located 90 miles from Florida.

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October 18

• President Kennedy met with Andrei Gromyko at
  the White House. The Soviet Foreign Secretary
  accused the President of harassing Cuba.

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October 19

• President Kennedy met with Chiefs of Staff.
  The military wanted an air strike against Cuba,
  but decided on a land invasion instead.
• This picture shows the placement of missiles
  in Cuba.

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October 20

• President Kennedy deploys 183 war vessels
  and 8 aircraft carriers. 549 combat aircraft,
  40,000 marines and 5 divisions, among which the
  82nd and 10st Airborne were on standby in Florida.

• SS-4 Missile range 1300 miles. SS-5 range
  2600 miles (would wipe out most of North America).

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October 21

• The CIA identifies 13 launch pads and 23
  operational SS-4 nuclear missiles in Cuba.
  President Kennedy threatens a blockade against
  Cuba.

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October 22

• President Kennedy appears on televisions
  across the country and tells the public that the
  Soviet Union must either withdraw its
  strategically placed missiles from Cuba or face
  full nuclear retaliation.

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October 23

• Fidel Castro, expecting a US invasion,
  mobilizes 270,000 Cuban forces. 24 Soviet Ships
  were heading for Cuba.
• President Kennedy orders a blockade keeping
  all ships from entering Cuba waters.

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October 24

• The blockade is ordered and planned. The
  United Nations considers the blockade an act of
  war.

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October 25

• Security Council meeting takes place
  regarding the Cuban Crisis. Soviet Ambassador
  was adamant that the photographic proof of
  missiles in Cuba were fake.

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October 26

• Castro tells Russia that it is imminent that
  the U.S. will attack. He urges them to strike
  first, using nuclear weapons. Khrushchev begins
  his negotiations with President Kennedy to remove
  his missiles. Several letters are shared between
  the two men. Here is an example of one.

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October 27

• Acting without Soviet approval, Castro
  ordered that all planes be shot down. The one
  and only casualty of the crisis is the killing of
  Major Rudolf Anderson whose U-2 plane was shot
  down by Soviet missile.

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October 28

• On this day Premiere Khrushchev addresses his
  country by saying We must withdraw in front of
  the danger of a global thermonuclear war. The
  Soviets began dismantling their nuclear launchers
  the very next day.

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Images Reference List

• Slides 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 14
• How it Began The Cuba Missile Crisis.
  Retrieved October 7, 2004 from http//www.cubacris
  is.net/angvpages/premset_01.html
• Slides 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, and 15
• The Cuban Missile Crisis. Retrieved October 7,
  2004 from
• http//www.click2history.com/thirteen_days_ch1.ht
  m