Soviet Union

U.S.A.

Cuba

What was the background to the What was the background to the events in Cuba?events in Cuba?

Cuba, small island, 90 miles Cuba, small island, 90 miles from coast of Floridafrom coast of Florida

US ally, US businesses & US US ally, US businesses & US military base (Guantanamo)military base (Guantanamo)

1959, Fidel Castro 1959, Fidel Castro overthrows Batista (US-overthrows Batista (US-backed dictator), backed dictator), establishing establishing CommunistCommunist government.government.

Castro takes over US Castro takes over US businessesbusinesses

January 1961, US breaks off January 1961, US breaks off diplomatic relationsdiplomatic relations

April, 1961, Bay of Pigs – 1,400 April, 1961, Bay of Pigs – 1,400 anti-Cuban exiles attempted to anti-Cuban exiles attempted to overthrow Castrooverthrow Castro

Autumn 1962, Cuba has Autumn 1962, Cuba has received 1000s of USSR received 1000s of USSR missiles, jets, boats & missiles, jets, boats & personnelpersonnel

Why was the USSR interested in Why was the USSR interested in helping Cuba?helping Cuba?

Cuba was a new Communist stateCuba was a new Communist state Cuba provided a launch base for USSR inter-continental Cuba provided a launch base for USSR inter-continental

missiles (ICMs)missiles (ICMs) Khrushchev wanted to test strength of new US president, Khrushchev wanted to test strength of new US president,

JFKJFK Khrushchev wanted to force JFK into bargaining over US Khrushchev wanted to force JFK into bargaining over US

missile in Europemissile in Europe

Soviet leader Khrushchev

What happened during the October What happened during the October Crisis?Crisis?

14 October 1962, US U2 spy plane takes photos of 14 October 1962, US U2 spy plane takes photos of suspected USSR missile sites on Cubasuspected USSR missile sites on Cuba

Sites nearing completion, experts believe they could be Sites nearing completion, experts believe they could be ready in 7 daysready in 7 days

US spy planes identify 20 Soviet ships bound for Cuba US spy planes identify 20 Soviet ships bound for Cuba carrying missilescarrying missiles

This U-2 reconnaissance photo showed concrete evidence of missile assembly in Cuba. Shown here are missile transporters and missile-ready tents where fueling and maintenance took place.Courtesy of CIA

What happened during the October What happened during the October Crisis?Crisis?

20 October, Kennedy 20 October, Kennedy decides to quarantine decides to quarantine (blockade) Cuba(blockade) Cuba

22 October, Kennedy 22 October, Kennedy publicly calls on publicly calls on Khrushchev to remove Khrushchev to remove weaponsweapons

What happened during the October What happened during the October Crisis?Crisis?

23 October Khrushchev 23 October Khrushchev refuses to acknowledge refuses to acknowledge blockade or presence of blockade or presence of Soviet missiles on CubaSoviet missiles on Cuba

24 October, 124 October, 1stst Soviet Soviet ships (accompanied by ships (accompanied by submarine) approach 497 submarine) approach 497 miles exclusion zonemiles exclusion zone

What happened during the October What happened during the October Crisis?Crisis?

24 October, 10:32 am, Soviet ships stop and turn round24 October, 10:32 am, Soviet ships stop and turn round 25 October, aerial photos show continued construction 25 October, aerial photos show continued construction

of missile sitesof missile sites 26 October, Kennedy receives a letter offering to 26 October, Kennedy receives a letter offering to

negotiate over missiles in Cuba with removal of negotiate over missiles in Cuba with removal of blockade and US invasion threatblockade and US invasion threat

27 October, Kennedy receives second letter calling for 27 October, Kennedy receives second letter calling for withdrawal of US missiles in Turkey toowithdrawal of US missiles in Turkey too

What happened during the October What happened during the October Crisis?Crisis?

27 October, US U2 plane 27 October, US U2 plane shot down over Cuba & shot down over Cuba & pilot killed. Kennedy pilot killed. Kennedy decides to ignore second decides to ignore second letter, but accepts terms letter, but accepts terms of 1of 1stst letter letter

28 October, Khrushchev 28 October, Khrushchev agrees to dismantle agrees to dismantle Soviet missiles in CubaSoviet missiles in Cuba

What is this cartoonist trying to say about the difficulties facing Kennedy during the Crisis?

What was the outcome of the crisis?What was the outcome of the crisis?

Cuba remained Communist & heavily armed (without Cuba remained Communist & heavily armed (without nuclear missiles)nuclear missiles)

Both leaders didn’t lose face and came away with Both leaders didn’t lose face and came away with concessionsconcessions

Permanent hotline between White House & Kremlin Permanent hotline between White House & Kremlin set upset up

Supported theory of containment & co-existence Supported theory of containment & co-existence because alternatives unimaginablebecause alternatives unimaginable