Cuban Missile Crisis

1. Soviet Union
U.S.A.
Cuba

2. What was the background to theWhat was the background to the
events in Cuba?events in Cuba?
 Cuba, small island, 90 milesCuba, small island, 90 miles
from coast of Floridafrom coast of Florida
 US ally, US businesses & USUS ally, US businesses & US
military base (Guantanamo)military base (Guantanamo)
 1959, Fidel Castro1959, Fidel Castro
overthrows Batista (US-overthrows Batista (US-
backed dictator),backed dictator),
establishingestablishing CommunistCommunist
government.government.

3.  Castro takes over USCastro takes over US
businessesbusinesses
 January 1961, US breaks offJanuary 1961, US breaks off
diplomatic relationsdiplomatic relations
 April, 1961, Bay of Pigs – 1,400April, 1961, Bay of Pigs – 1,400
anti-Cuban exiles attempted toanti-Cuban exiles attempted to
overthrow Castrooverthrow Castro
 Autumn 1962, Cuba hasAutumn 1962, Cuba has
received 1000s of USSRreceived 1000s of USSR
missiles, jets, boats &missiles, jets, boats &
personnelpersonnel

5. Why was the USSR interested inWhy 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-continentalCuba 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 USKhrushchev wanted to force JFK into bargaining over US
missile in Europemissile in Europe
Soviet leader
Khrushchev

6. What happened during the OctoberWhat happened during the October
Crisis?Crisis?
 14 October 1962, US U2 spy plane takes photos of14 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 beSites nearing completion, experts believe they could be
ready in 7 daysready in 7 days
 US spy planes identify 20 Soviet ships bound for CubaUS spy planes identify 20 Soviet ships bound for Cuba
carrying missilescarrying missiles

7. 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

10. What happened during the OctoberWhat happened during the October
Crisis?Crisis?
 20 October, Kennedy20 October, Kennedy
decides to quarantinedecides to quarantine
(blockade) Cuba(blockade) Cuba
 22 October, Kennedy22 October, Kennedy
publicly calls onpublicly calls on
Khrushchev to removeKhrushchev to remove
weaponsweapons

11. What happened during the OctoberWhat happened during the October
Crisis?Crisis?
 23 October Khrushchev23 October Khrushchev
refuses to acknowledgerefuses to acknowledge
blockade or presence ofblockade or presence of
Soviet missiles on CubaSoviet missiles on Cuba
 24 October, 124 October, 1stst
SovietSoviet
ships (accompanied byships (accompanied by
submarine) approach 497submarine) approach 497
miles exclusion zonemiles exclusion zone

12. What happened during the OctoberWhat 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 construction25 October, aerial photos show continued construction
of missile sitesof missile sites
 26 October, Kennedy receives a letter offering to26 October, Kennedy receives a letter offering to
negotiate over missiles in Cuba with removal ofnegotiate over missiles in Cuba with removal of
blockade and US invasion threatblockade and US invasion threat
 27 October, Kennedy receives second letter calling for27 October, Kennedy receives second letter calling for
withdrawal of US missiles in Turkey toowithdrawal of US missiles in Turkey too

13. What happened during the OctoberWhat happened during the October
Crisis?Crisis?
 27 October, US U2 plane27 October, US U2 plane
shot down over Cuba &shot down over Cuba &
pilot killed. Kennedypilot killed. Kennedy
decides to ignore seconddecides to ignore second
letter, but accepts termsletter, but accepts terms
of 1of 1stst
letterletter
 28 October, Khrushchev28 October, Khrushchev
agrees to dismantleagrees to dismantle
Soviet missiles in CubaSoviet missiles in Cuba
What is this cartoonist trying to say about the
difficulties facing Kennedy during the Crisis?

14. What was the outcome of the crisis?What was the outcome of the crisis?
 Cuba remained Communist & heavily armed (withoutCuba remained Communist & heavily armed (without
nuclear missiles)nuclear missiles)
 Both leaders didn’t lose face and came away withBoth leaders didn’t lose face and came away with
concessionsconcessions
 Permanent hotline between White House & KremlinPermanent hotline between White House & Kremlin
set upset up
 Supported theory of containment & co-existenceSupported theory of containment & co-existence
because alternatives unimaginablebecause alternatives unimaginable