The Cuban Missile CrisisThe Cuban Missile Crisis

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

1.1. The Truman DoctrineThe Truman Doctrine2.2. The Marshall PlanThe Marshall Plan3.3. ContainmentContainment4.4. The Domino TheoryThe Domino Theory5.5. The Berlin BlockadeThe Berlin Blockade6.6. The Berlin WallThe Berlin Wall

Why are these events so important when trying to understand the Cold War?

Though we do not have time to cover all these in Success Academy, you may want to do some quick research on them for further understanding of this topic.

The Bay of Pigs InvasionThe Bay of Pigs Invasion The 1961 The 1961 Bay of Pigs Bay of Pigs

InvasionInvasion was an was an unsuccessful attempt at unsuccessful attempt at invasion following the invasion following the Cuban Revolution that saw Cuban Revolution that saw Fidel Castro come to powerFidel Castro come to power

It was planned and funded It was planned and funded by the United States by the United States

The invasion was carried The invasion was carried out by armed Cuban exiles out by armed Cuban exiles in southwest Cuba. in southwest Cuba.

This action accelerated a This action accelerated a rapid deterioration in rapid deterioration in Cuban-American relations Cuban-American relations worsened by the Cuban worsened by the Cuban Missile Crisis the following Missile Crisis the following year.year.

One of our U-2 flights over Cuba has revealed One of our U-2 flights over Cuba has revealed what analysts believe to be nuclear missiles. Sir, what analysts believe to be nuclear missiles. Sir,

the missiles look to be from the Soviet Union.the missiles look to be from the Soviet Union.

The Cuban Missile Crisis – A The Cuban Missile Crisis – A ChronologyChronology

October 14: U2 recon. flight over Cuba October 14: U2 recon. flight over Cuba spots sites installing nuclear missiles spots sites installing nuclear missiles

October 15: Presence of missiles is October 15: Presence of missiles is confirmedconfirmed

October 16-22: President Kennedy is October 16-22: President Kennedy is notified, EXCOMM is created and secret notified, EXCOMM is created and secret deliberations on what should be done deliberations on what should be done beginbegin

October 22: Kennedy tells the nation of his October 22: Kennedy tells the nation of his plan for blockade and quarantineplan for blockade and quarantine

Range of WeaponsRange of Weapons

Chronology ContinuedChronology Continued October 24: Naval quarantine begins and October 24: Naval quarantine begins and

successfully changes course of many successfully changes course of many Soviet shipsSoviet ships

October 25: One Soviet ship challenges October 25: One Soviet ship challenges naval quarantine; Kennedy lets it passnaval quarantine; Kennedy lets it pass

October 25: At the UN, Adlai Stevenson October 25: At the UN, Adlai Stevenson directly challenges the Soviet ambassador directly challenges the Soviet ambassador to admit to the existence of missilesto admit to the existence of missiles

When the ambassador refuses, Stevenson When the ambassador refuses, Stevenson wheels out pictures of the missile siteswheels out pictures of the missile sites

The Aerial PhotosThe Aerial Photos

Chronology Con’tChronology Con’t October 26: Soviets raise possibility for a deal: if October 26: Soviets raise possibility for a deal: if

we withdraw missiles will America promise not to we withdraw missiles will America promise not to invade Cuba?invade Cuba?

October 27: Soviets demand that Americans also October 27: Soviets demand that Americans also withdraw missiles from Turkeywithdraw missiles from Turkey

Major Anderson’s plane is missing over Cuba, Major Anderson’s plane is missing over Cuba, presumably shot down; U.S. recon plane strays presumably shot down; U.S. recon plane strays over Soviet airspace over Soviet airspace

Kennedy tells Khrushchev that he will accept the Kennedy tells Khrushchev that he will accept the proposal of the 26proposal of the 26thth, Kennedy tells his brother to , Kennedy tells his brother to tell the Soviet Ambassador that though the tell the Soviet Ambassador that though the Turkey missiles would not be part of the bargain, Turkey missiles would not be part of the bargain, they would be removed in timethey would be removed in time

October 28: USSR agrees to withdraw missiles October 28: USSR agrees to withdraw missiles

Why Cuba Mr. Krushchev?Why Cuba Mr. Krushchev? BrinkmanshipBrinkmanship An opportunity to An opportunity to

close the missile gapclose the missile gap—Currently far behind —Currently far behind U.S. in terms of U.S. in terms of number of missilesnumber of missiles

Protect Cuba – Castro Protect Cuba – Castro had begun relations had begun relations with the USSRwith the USSR

Reciprocity: The U.S. Reciprocity: The U.S. has missiles pointing has missiles pointing at the Soviets (ie. at the Soviets (ie. Turkey)Turkey)

The American ResponseThe American Response Kennedy and Kennedy and

Congress had already Congress had already passed a resolution passed a resolution stating the placement stating the placement of nuclear weapons in of nuclear weapons in Cuba would no be Cuba would no be toleratedtolerated

They realized they had They realized they had to act quickly before to act quickly before the missiles were the missiles were activeactive

They had a number of They had a number of choices at their choices at their disposal – This has disposal – This has become known as the become known as the “Escalation Ladder”“Escalation Ladder”

The Escalation LadderThe Escalation Ladder

1.1. Do NothingDo Nothing2.2. Go to the United Go to the United

NationsNations3.3. Naval BlockadeNaval Blockade4.4. Strategic Air strikeStrategic Air strike5.5. Full Invasion of Full Invasion of

CubaCuba

Option 1 is the least strong option escalating up to 5 which is the strongest response.

Why was Why was “Do Nothing” not an option?“Do Nothing” not an option?

1.1. The Truman Doctrine The Truman Doctrine prevented itprevented it

2.2. The weapons were too The weapons were too dangerous to dangerous to American safetyAmerican safety

3.3. Kennedy would be Kennedy would be perceived as weak by perceived as weak by the Soviets – This the Soviets – This could empower them could empower them to make another to make another move on Berlin or move on Berlin or another contentious another contentious European locationEuropean location

4.4. Kennedy would be Kennedy would be committing political committing political suicide at homesuicide at home

Go to the UN?Go to the UN?PROSPROS

Using the United Using the United Nations for diplomacy Nations for diplomacy which is goodwhich is good

Validates the United Validates the United Nation’s role in global Nation’s role in global politicspolitics

CONSCONS Takes too longTakes too long Could appear Could appear

indecisiveindecisive Too many interest Too many interest

groupsgroups Russia and the United Russia and the United

States both have veto States both have veto powers on the powers on the Security Council – Security Council – hard to reach a hard to reach a consensus consensus

Good option in conjunction with another choiceGood option in conjunction with another choiceDECISION:

Naval BlockadeNaval Blockade

PROSPROS

Its not war and it is a Its not war and it is a show of strength show of strength without missileswithout missiles

A Naval quarantine is A Naval quarantine is an effective way of an effective way of turning away missilesturning away missiles

CONSCONS

Puts the United States Puts the United States in direct confrontation in direct confrontation with the USSRwith the USSR

Sinking a soviet ship is Sinking a soviet ship is an act of waran act of war

Safer than an air strike or full invasionSafer than an air strike or full invasionDECISION:

Strategic AirstrikeStrategic Airstrike

PROSPROS

Will effectively Will effectively knock out Soviet knock out Soviet missilesmissiles

Good show of Good show of American strengthAmerican strength

CONSCONS

When Soviet When Soviet missiles are missiles are destroyed it is destroyed it is likely that Soviet likely that Soviet soldiers will die as soldiers will die as well – this is an act well – this is an act of warof war

DECISION: Option number two but would prefer not to use itOption number two but would prefer not to use it

InvasionInvasion

PROSPROS

The United States The United States secures Cuba and secures Cuba and ensures nuclear safety ensures nuclear safety from the countryfrom the country

The United States The United States sends a clear message sends a clear message to the Soviets to stay to the Soviets to stay out of the westout of the west

CONSCONS

A full invasion would A full invasion would surely kill Soviet surely kill Soviet soldiers which would soldiers which would be considered an act be considered an act of warof war

The nuclear The nuclear consequences could consequences could be disastrousbe disastrous

DECISION: Too risky, can only be used as a last resortToo risky, can only be used as a last resort

Kennedy meets with generalsKennedy meets with generals

Presentation to the United NationsPresentation to the United Nations

A US Navy destroyer intercepting a Soviet freighter off Cuba

What Happened?What Happened? On October 26 the Soviet Union offered to withdraw the On October 26 the Soviet Union offered to withdraw the

missiles in return for a U.S. guarantee not to invade Cuba or missiles in return for a U.S. guarantee not to invade Cuba or support any invasion. support any invasion.

On October 27 the USSR called for the withdrawal of U.S. On October 27 the USSR called for the withdrawal of U.S. missiles from Turkey in addition to the demands of the 26th. missiles from Turkey in addition to the demands of the 26th.

The crisis peaked on the 27th, when a U-2 (piloted by Major The crisis peaked on the 27th, when a U-2 (piloted by Major Rudolph Anderson) was shot down over Cuba and another U-2 Rudolph Anderson) was shot down over Cuba and another U-2 flight over Russia was almost intercepted when it strayed over flight over Russia was almost intercepted when it strayed over Siberia all the while Soviet merchant ships were nearing the Siberia all the while Soviet merchant ships were nearing the quarantine zone. quarantine zone.

Kennedy responded by publicly accepting the first deal and Kennedy responded by publicly accepting the first deal and then sent Robert F. Kennedy to the Soviet embassy to privately then sent Robert F. Kennedy to the Soviet embassy to privately accept the second deal. The fifteen Jupiter missiles in Turkey accept the second deal. The fifteen Jupiter missiles in Turkey would be removed six months later. would be removed six months later.

The Soviet ships turned back, and on October 28 Khrushchev The Soviet ships turned back, and on October 28 Khrushchev announced that he had ordered the removal of the Soviet announced that he had ordered the removal of the Soviet missiles in Cuba. The decision prompted then Secretary of missiles in Cuba. The decision prompted then Secretary of State Dean Rusk to comment, "We were eyeball to eyeball, and State Dean Rusk to comment, "We were eyeball to eyeball, and the other fellow just blinked."the other fellow just blinked."

Satisfied that the Soviets had removed the missiles, President Satisfied that the Soviets had removed the missiles, President Kennedy ordered an end to the quarantine of Cuba on Kennedy ordered an end to the quarantine of Cuba on November 20.November 20.

Your AssignmentYour Assignment Watch the address to the Nation by Watch the address to the Nation by

President Kennedy and fill out the President Kennedy and fill out the Document Analysis Worksheet based Document Analysis Worksheet based on the address and this PowerPoint.on the address and this PowerPoint.

Further ThoughtFurther Thought

1.1. Was it really possible that the USA Was it really possible that the USA and the USSR would use nukes?and the USSR would use nukes?

2.2. How much of the threat was real How much of the threat was real and how much of it was fueled by and how much of it was fueled by the press and governments?the press and governments?

3.3. Was this a defining moment in the Was this a defining moment in the Cold War? Was there a balance of Cold War? Was there a balance of power shift?power shift?