The Cuban Missile CrisisThe Cuban Missile Crisis

The Climax of the Cold WarThe Climax of the Cold War

The Cuban Missile CrisisThe Cuban Missile Crisis The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the world The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the world

ever came to ever came to nuclear warnuclear war. .

The United States armed forces were at their The United States armed forces were at their highest state of readinesshighest state of readiness and Soviet field and Soviet field commanders in Cuba were commanders in Cuba were prepared to use prepared to use battlefield nuclear weaponsbattlefield nuclear weapons to defend the island if to defend the island if it was invaded it was invaded

thanks to the bravery of two men, President thanks to the bravery of two men, President John John F. KennedyF. Kennedy and Premier and Premier Nikita KhrushchevNikita Khrushchev, war , war was averted. was averted.

BackgroundBackground In 1962, the Soviet Union was In 1962, the Soviet Union was desperately behind the desperately behind the

United States in the arms race United States in the arms race

Soviet missiles were Soviet missiles were only powerful enough to be launched only powerful enough to be launched against Europeagainst Europe but U.S. missiles were capable of striking but U.S. missiles were capable of striking the entire Soviet Union the entire Soviet Union

In April 1962, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev conceived In April 1962, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev conceived the idea of the idea of placing intermediate-range missiles in Cuba placing intermediate-range missiles in Cuba

A deployment in Cuba would A deployment in Cuba would double the Soviet strategic double the Soviet strategic arsenalarsenal and provide a real deterrent to a potential U.S. and provide a real deterrent to a potential U.S. attack against the Soviet Union attack against the Soviet Union

BackgroundBackground Meanwhile, Meanwhile, Fidel CastroFidel Castro was looking for a way to defend was looking for a way to defend

his island nation from an attack by the U.S ever since the his island nation from an attack by the U.S ever since the failed failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, ,

The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an unsuccessful attempt to unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Castro’s governmentoverthrow Castro’s government

he approved of Khrushchev's plan to place missiles on the he approved of Khrushchev's plan to place missiles on the island island

In the summer of 1962 the Soviet Union worked In the summer of 1962 the Soviet Union worked quickly quickly and secretly to build its missile installationsand secretly to build its missile installations in Cuba. in Cuba.

The Crisis BeginsThe Crisis Begins For the US, the crisis began on October 15, 1962 when For the US, the crisis began on October 15, 1962 when

reconnaissance photographsreconnaissance photographs revealed Soviet missiles under revealed Soviet missiles under construction in Cuba. The next day, President Kennedy was informed construction in Cuba. The next day, President Kennedy was informed of the missile installations.of the missile installations.

Kennedy immediately organized Kennedy immediately organized EX-COMM, twelve most EX-COMM, twelve most important advisors to handle the crisis important advisors to handle the crisis

After seven days of intense debate, Kennedy After seven days of intense debate, Kennedy imposed a naval imposed a naval quarantine around Cubaquarantine around Cuba to prevent the arrival of more Soviet to prevent the arrival of more Soviet offensive weapons on the island offensive weapons on the island

He proclaimed that He proclaimed that any nuclear missile launched from Cuba would any nuclear missile launched from Cuba would be an attack on the USbe an attack on the US by the Soviet Union and demanded the by the Soviet Union and demanded the removal of offensive weapons from Cuba. removal of offensive weapons from Cuba.

The Crisis ContinuesThe Crisis Continues Kennedy ordered Kennedy ordered low-level reconnaissance missionslow-level reconnaissance missions once every two once every two

hours hours

On the 25th Kennedy pulled the quarantine line back and On the 25th Kennedy pulled the quarantine line back and raised raised military readiness to DEFCON 2military readiness to DEFCON 2, the highest military alert., the highest military alert.

On the 26On the 26thth, Khrushchev proposed removing Soviet missiles and , Khrushchev proposed removing Soviet missiles and personnel personnel if the U.S. would guarantee not to invade Cubaif the U.S. would guarantee not to invade Cuba

October 27 was the worst day of the crisis. October 27 was the worst day of the crisis.

A U-2 spy plane was shot down over Cuba and Khrushchev A U-2 spy plane was shot down over Cuba and Khrushchev demanded in addition to his first proposal demanded in addition to his first proposal the removal of U.S. the removal of U.S. missiles in Turkeymissiles in Turkey in exchange for Soviet missiles in Cuba in exchange for Soviet missiles in Cuba

The Crisis EasesThe Crisis Eases Tensions finally began to ease on October 28 when Tensions finally began to ease on October 28 when

Khrushchev announced that he would Khrushchev announced that he would dismantle the dismantle the installations and return the missiles to the Soviet Union installations and return the missiles to the Soviet Union

He trusted that the United States would not invade Cuba He trusted that the United States would not invade Cuba

Further negotiations were held to implement the October 28 Further negotiations were held to implement the October 28 agreement, including a United States agreement, including a United States demand that Soviet demand that Soviet light bombers be removedlight bombers be removed from Cuba, and specifying the from Cuba, and specifying the exact form and conditions of United States assurances not to exact form and conditions of United States assurances not to invade Cuba. invade Cuba.