Interactive Cuban Missile Crisis

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

U.S. Discover the MissilesOn October 14, 1962 an American U-2 spy plane flown by Major Richard Heyser took a photograph of a Soviet SS-4 medium range ballistic missile while making a high-altitude pass over Cuba. On October 16, President Kennedy was briefed on the situation. He immediately called together a group of advisors and officials and for the next 2 weeks they contemplated what would be The United States response to this crisis. A Threat to the U.S.The Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev decided on sending the missile to Cuba to increase the Soviet’s nuclear strike capability. He wanted an even playing field with the number of nuclear weapons that were targeted at them from sites in Western Europe and Turkey. Another reason he decided on Cuba was because of the hostile relationship between the U.S. and Cuba. For the American officials, this was an urgent matter since the missiles were being installed so close to the U.S. Cuba was only 90 miles south of Florida which meant they were capable of reaching targets in the Eastern U.S. quickly. U.S. OptionsKennedy and the officials, ExComm, determined that the Soviet missiles in Cuba were unacceptable. After a week of deliberation, President Kennedy addressed the nation on October 22, 1962. In his address he notified the Americans of the missiles in Cuba and that the U.S. will be sending the Navy to blockade the island to prevent the Soviets from sending more materials. He also made it clear that the U.S. was prepared to use military force if necessary. U.S. Blockades Cuba, possible showdownOn October 24, 1962 Soviet ships heading to Cuba approached the U.S. vessels that were enforcing the blockade. The fortunate part is the Soviets ships stopped and did not try to breach the blockade. Although the events in the water offered a positive sign, the Soviets still did nothing with the missiles already in Cuba. For a week there were tensions between the Soviets and the U.S. On October 27 an American reconnaissance plane was shot down over Cuba. The pilot’s name was Major Rudulph Anderson, he was the only combat casualty of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The U.S. invasion force was ready and waiting in Florida. A Deal Ends the StandoffSoviet leader Khrushchev sent a message to Kennedy offering to remove the Cuban missiles if the U.S. leaders would agree to not invade Cuba. He also offered in a letter that he would dismantle within Cuba if the U.S. would dismantle their missiles in Turkey. The Kennedy administration accepted the terms and on October 28 the crisis drew to a close.

American Leader: John F. Kennedy; May 29, 1917 - November 22, 1963 The 35th president of the United States, who served in office from January 20, 1961 to November 22, 1963. John F. Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts. His parents were Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy and Joseph Patrick Kennedy. He was 1 of 9 children. He was raised in a wealthy Catholic family that was into politics. John’s father was the Ambassador of the United Kingdom. John received an excellent education and graduated from Harvard. John married Jacqueline Lee Bouvier On September 12, 1953. They had 4 children but only 2 survived. The surviving children’s names were Caroline and John Jr. On January 20, 1961 John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as the 35th President of the United States. He belonged to the Democratic Party and he was the youngest and first Catholic president. He played a key role in important events of the era. He was instrumental in the creation of the Peace Corp in 1961. The Cold War continued during this time and the Berlin Wall was built. There was an incident known as the Bay of Pigs that occured in 1961. This caused contention between the U.S. and Cuba. The problems in Cuba escalated in 1962 which led to the Cuban Missile crisis when John Kennedy forced the Russians to remove their missiles from Cuba when the world was on the brink of nuclear war. On November 22, 1963 John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, TX. The assassin was believed to be Lee Harvey Oswald. He was killed 2 days later in the Dallas City jail.

Opposition Leader: Nikita Khrushchev (1894 - 1971) Led the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War. Years in Office September 14, 1953 - October 14, 1964 Khrushchev was born on April 15, 1894 in a small Russian Village near the Ukrainian border named Kalinovka. He was married twice and had a total of 6 children. His first wife died of typhus. Khrushchev moved to Moscow in 1929, this is when he steadily rose through the communist party ranks. He eventually entered the inner circle of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. When Stalin died in March 1953, Khrushchev had positioned himself as a possible successor. In September 1953, he became the head of the Communist Party and one of the most powerful people of Russia. Khrushchev played a key role in important events during the cold war. He ordered the construction of the Berlin Wall. Unlike Stalin, he visited the United States and preferred a peaceful relationship with them. The relationship deteriorated in 1960 when the Soviets shot down an American U-2 spy plane that was deep in their territory. Tensions reached its high point in October 1962 when the U.S. discovered that the Soviets had nuclear missiles in Cuba. After a 13 day standoff, Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba if in return the U.S. removed theirs from Turkey. Both parties agreed. In October of 1964 Khrushchev was forced to resign as both premier and head of the communist party. He quietly lived out the rest his days before dying of a heart attack in September of 1971.