The Cuban Missile Crisis: The World on the Brink 1962

The Cuban Missile The Cuban Missile Crisis: Crisis:

The World on the The World on the BrinkBrink

19621962

America and Cuba: How America and Cuba: How Awkward!Awkward!

Cuba, small island, 90 Cuba, small island, 90 miles from Floridamiles from Florida

Spanish American war Spanish American war had been fought to keep had been fought to keep Spain’s influence out of Spain’s influence out of America’s “sphere of America’s “sphere of influence”influence”

1959: Fidel Castro 1959: Fidel Castro overthrows Battista, a overthrows Battista, a dictator, establishing dictator, establishing CommunistCommunist government. government.

America and Cuba: How America and Cuba: How Awkward!Awkward!

Castro nationalizes businesses, Castro nationalizes businesses, against U.S. interestsagainst U.S. interests

April 1961: Bay of Pigs April 1961: Bay of Pigs InvasionInvasion 1,400 anti-Cuban exiles 1,400 anti-Cuban exiles

attempted to overthrow Castro; attempted to overthrow Castro; but the CIA botched the missionbut the CIA botched the mission

JFK took the blameJFK took the blame

JFK: “Victory has a thousand JFK: “Victory has a thousand fathers, defeat is an orphan.”fathers, defeat is an orphan.”

US gov’t continued to try to US gov’t continued to try to overthrow Castro but never overthrow Castro but never succeededsucceeded

Cuban Missile Crisis: USSR and Cuban Missile Crisis: USSR and Cuba?Cuba? Cuba was a Communist state in American’s Cuba was a Communist state in American’s

sphere of influencesphere of influence Cuba provides a launch site for Soviet Cuba provides a launch site for Soviet

ICBM’sICBM’s Khrushchev wanted to force JFK, who he may Khrushchev wanted to force JFK, who he may

have been testing, into bargaining over US have been testing, into bargaining over US missiles in Europemissiles in Europe

Cuban Missile Crisis: To the Cuban Missile Crisis: To the Brink…Brink…

14 October 196214 October 1962: US U2 spy plane takes : US U2 spy plane takes photos of suspected USSR missile sites on photos of suspected USSR missile sites on CubaCuba

Sites were nearing completion, experts Sites were nearing completion, experts believed they could be ready in 7 daysbelieved they could be ready in 7 days

Soviet ships are detected, bound for Cuba Soviet ships are detected, bound for Cuba carrying missiles and suppliescarrying missiles and supplies

Cuban Missile Crisis: Cuban Missile Crisis: The Escalation LadderThe Escalation Ladder

Kennedy’s Options?Kennedy’s Options?

1.1.Do NothingDo Nothing

2.2.Consult the United NationsConsult the United Nations

3.3.Strategic Air strikeStrategic Air strike

4.4.Full Invasion of CubaFull Invasion of Cuba

5.5.Other?Other?

Which would you choose? Which would you choose? Why?Why?

Kennedy’s Options ProsCons

1.Do Nothing

2.Consult the United Nations

3.Strategic Air strike

4.Full Invasion of Cuba

5.Other?


20 October:20 October: Kennedy Kennedy is advised that an is advised that an invasion is the ONLY invasion is the ONLY way to guarantee way to guarantee America’s safety by America’s safety by destroying the silos destroying the silos before they are before they are operational… operational…


……but he decides on a blockade but he decides on a blockade around Cuba (quarantine). around Cuba (quarantine). He gets the support of South He gets the support of South American nations to do this.American nations to do this.

22 October22 October: Kennedy : Kennedy publicly calls on Khrushchev publicly calls on Khrushchev to remove weaponsto remove weapons

Watch JFK’s speech.


23 October: 23 October: Khrushchev refuses Khrushchev refuses to acknowledge blockade or to acknowledge blockade or presence of Soviet missiles on presence of Soviet missiles on CubaCuba

The American Military moves to The American Military moves to DEFCON 2. The highest alert ever.DEFCON 2. The highest alert ever.

24 October: 24 October: first Soviet ships first Soviet ships approach the quarantine zone approach the quarantine zone

What happens if we fire on the What happens if we fire on the Soviet ships to enforce the Soviet ships to enforce the blockade? What will they do?blockade? What will they do?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZAwvCKoSi8&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZAwvCKoSi8&feature=related


October 26: October 26: USSR offers to withdraw the Cuban missiles USSR offers to withdraw the Cuban missiles in return for a U.S. guarantee not to invade Cuba.in return for a U.S. guarantee not to invade Cuba.

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

October 27:October 27: when a U-2 was shot down over Cuba and when a U-2 was shot down over Cuba and another U-2 flight over Russia was almost intercepted. another U-2 flight over Russia was almost intercepted.

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

October 28:October 28: Khrushchev announced that he had ordered Khrushchev announced that he had ordered the removal of the Soviet missiles in Cubathe removal of the Soviet missiles in Cuba

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

What was the outcome of What was the outcome of the crisis?the crisis? Cuba remained Communist & Cuba remained Communist &

heavily armed (without nuclear heavily armed (without nuclear missiles)missiles)

Neither leader lost face or looked Neither leader lost face or looked weak, both came away with weak, both came away with concessionsconcessions

M.A.D. had been a successful M.A.D. had been a successful deterrentdeterrent

Permanent hotline between White Permanent hotline between White House & Kremlin establishedHouse & Kremlin established

Supported theory of containment Supported theory of containment & co-existence… because & co-existence… because alternatives unimaginablealternatives unimaginable

13 Days- U2 and Options13 Days- U2 and Options13 Days- Eyeball to Eyeball13 Days- Eyeball to Eyeball


Russia was a rational actor. So why risk nuclear war?

“See the whole board...”

Complete this analogy:

Cuba is to America as __________ is to the Russia?

(2 possible answers)


Read/Watch the possible Russian motivations for placing missiles in Cuba for HW. What were Krushchev’s possible goals?

http://www.globalaffairs.es/en/the-cuban-missile-crisis-the-eluded-perspectives-of-the-soviet-union-and-the-cuban-government/

http://www.globalconversation.org/2011/04/15/soviet-view-missile-crisis

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The Cuban Missile Crisis: The World on the Brink 1962