Cuban Missile Crisis

Causes1. Soviets wanted

to counteract US missiles in Turkey

2. Castro was seeking to stop another US invasion

3. Khrushchev testing JFK

4. President Kennedy had pledged no offensive weapons in Cuba

BeginningOct. 14, 1962

Options:1) Do nothing -

U.S. missiles in Turkey

2) Air Strike – destroy missiles in Cuba, perhaps followed by invasion

3) Set up a naval blockade/quarantine

Quarantine/BlockadePresident Kennedy goes on nationwide TV to announce the quarantine

American public’s reaction-Stocking up on food and supplies-Preparing bomb shelters-Prayer vigils

Soviet ReactionKhrushchev says any attempt to stop Soviet ships will be an act of war, but then orders most ships to turn back

Possible Deal-Khrushchev 1st telex – missiles out for no invasion promise by US

-2nd telex also US must remove their missiles from Turkey

-President Kennedy ignores the 2nd telex and agrees to the 1st

Conclusion

U.S.• Promises to

never invade Cuba

• And after 6 months remove our missiles fro Turkey

U.S.S.R.Promises to remove missiles from Cuba

Importance1. Hotline2. Nuclear Test

Ban Treaty3. Khrushchev

out 4. JFK’s poll

numbers rise

5. Closest we ever came to nuclear war during the Cold War