cuban missile crisis

• What event is referred to as the Cuban Missile Crisis?

  The Cuban Missile Crisis refers to thirteen days that shook the world.
• On what date did an American U2 spy-plane take pictures of launch pads in Cuba?

  October 14th.
• What did US intelligence inform Kennedy about Soviet ships?

  They informed him that Soviet ships were heading to Cuba with nuclear weapons.
• Why did Khrushchev send missiles to Cuba despite assurances to Kennedy?

  Khrushchev aimed to counter NATO missiles in Turkey and restore his prestige.
• What was one reason Khrushchev may have had for sending missiles to Cuba?

  To defend Cuba from a potential US attack.

  
• How long did Kennedy have before the Soviet missiles became operational?

  Two weeks.
• What was the state of the world during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

  The world held its breath in fear for thirteen days.
• How many bombers did Kennedy have ready during the crisis?

  54 bombers.
• What was the range of the missiles discovered in Cuba?

  1000 km.
• What warning time did the missiles provide for the US?

  Only 5 minutes warning.
• What did Kennedy request from the Ex-Comm members?

  To provide advice and guidance on the emerging crisis.
• What were the five things Kennedy wanted to avoid during the crisis?

  Backing down, starting a war, appearing defeated, killing innocents, and looking like aggressors.
• What were the options Kennedy considered to deal with the missile crisis?

  1. Do nothing.
  2. Use the US Navy to blockade Cuba.
  3. Use an air strike to destroy missile sites.
  4. Use troops to invade Cuba.
  5. Launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike on Cuba.
• What was the time set on the doomsday clock the day before the crisis?

  11:53 PM.

  
• What did Dean Rusk mean by "eyeball to eyeball, and the other guy just blinked"?

  It meant that both sides were in a tense standoff, but one side backed down.
• What happened on October 24th, 1962, regarding Soviet ships?

  Most Soviet ships en route to Cuba slowed down or turned around.
• What did the US Ambassador present at the U.N. on October 25th, 1962?

  Photographs of the missile sites in Cuba.
• What was Khrushchev's proposal communicated on October 26th, 1962?

  To withdraw weapons from Cuba in exchange for the US lifting the blockade and not invading Cuba.
• What significant event occurred on October 27th, 1962?

  An American U2 spy-plane was shot down over Cuba.
• What was the outcome of the Cuban Missile Crisis for both the USA and USSR?

  Both sides worked to reduce tension and made secret deals to withdraw missiles.
• What were the consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

  • Clear understanding of the dangers of brinkmanship.
  • Establishment of direct communication (hotline) between Washington and Moscow.
  • Signing of the Test Ban Treaty in August 1963.
  • Signing of the Outer Space Treaty in 1967.
  • Signing of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968.
• What percentage of the US population was estimated to be killed had war broken out in 1963?

  53.6%.
• What percentage of the Soviet population was estimated to be killed had war broken out in 1963?

  44.6%.
• What was the estimated total number of people that could have been killed had war broken out in 1963?

  Approximately 200 million people.