The Cuban Missile Crisis

• 1. On 14 October 1962, an American U-2 spy plane took pictures of launch pads for medium-range ballistic missiles on Cuba
• 2. The launch pads could carry nuclear warheads that could destroy US cities
• 3. US intelligence discovered a fleet of Soviet ships sailing to Cuba, presumably with the missiles themselves on board
• 4. It was believed the missiles on the ships could become operational in two weeks
• 5. Kennedy could not allow missiles to be placed on Cuba, but a military response risked all-out war
• 6. On 16 October, an Executive Committee (ExComm) was called to discuss solutions. ’Hawks’ argued for a military response while ’doves’ wanted a peaceful solution
• 7. On 22 October, Kennedy put a naval blockade around Cuba
• 8. On 24 October, the Soviet ships reached the blockade and turned around
• 9. On 26 October, Khrushchev sent Kennedy a telegram offering to remove missiles from Cuba if America agreed not to invade
• 10. On 27 October, Khrushchev sent another telegram saying he would remove the missiles only if US missiles in Turkey were removed
• 11. On 27 October, an American U2 spy plane was shot down
• 12. Kennedy ignored the second telegram and agreed to the first telegram. However, his brother, Robert Kennedy, did secretly agree to remove the Turkish missiles
• Consequently, the dangers of brinkmanship were shown and led both sides to seek more peaceful solutions
• Consequently, in June 1963 a ’hotline’ was set up to allow direct communication between the leaders of the USA and USSR
• Consequently, in August 1963 a Test Ban Treaty was signed by the USA, USSR and Britain, which banned nuclear testing in outer space, underwater or in the atmosphere
• Consequently, in 1967 the Outer Space Treaty banned putting nuclear weapons into orbit
• Consequently, in 1968 the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty banned nuclear powers sharing their technology with other countries
• Consequently, the desire for more peaceful solutions eventually contributed to the détente of the 1970s