The Cold War

• Who: The U.S. and allies versus the Soviet Union and allies

• What: An Intense rivalry which developed at the end of WWII between groups of Communist and non-Communist nations

The Cold War

• When: End of WWII to the collapse of the Soviet Union (1945 to 1991)

• Where: Europe and eventually the rest of the World

• How: Through proxy wars, an arms and space race, covert operations, and political influence

THE C.I.A. U2 SPY-PLANECRISIS

U-2 PLANES SPY ON SOVIETS • In the late 1950s, the

CIA began secret high-altitude spy missions over Soviet territory

• The U-2’s infra-red cameras took detailed pictures of Soviet troop movements & missile sites

The U-2 Shot Down

USSR was aware of American U-2 spy missions but lacked the technology to launch countermeasures until 1960.

– May 1, 1960: CIA agent Francis Gary Powers’ U-2, was shot down by Soviet missile.

U-2 on an espionage mission to gather intelligence about military and industrial installations on Soviet territory

U-2 SPY PLANE SHOT DOWN OVER USSR

• The Pilot Francis Powers parachuted into Soviet territory, was captured and sentenced to 10-years in prison

• Because of this incident, the 1960s opened with tension and suspicion between the two superpowers as great as ever.

U.S. Response to the U-2 Incident

When the US learned of Powers disappearance over USSR, it issued a cover statement claiming that a "weather plane" crashed after its pilot had difficulties with his oxygen equipment.

US officials did not realize:

U-2 Pilot Captured

– Plane crashed intact

– Soviets recovered its photography equipment

Soviets Confront the U.S. Over the U-2

Spy Plane Crisis

• Khrushchev forced the U.S. to admit it when he produced the living pilot and the plane to corroborate their claim of being spied on from US spy planes.

Spy Plane Crisis – Severe Setback to

U.S. and Soviet Relations

• The incident worsened East-West relations and was a great embarrassment for the United States– A Paris Summit conference that

had previously been scheduled for May 16, 1960 between U.S. President Eisenhower and Khrushchev was jeopardized.

U-2 Pilot Captured– The Soviets captured Powers, whom they interrogated extensively for months before he made a "voluntary confession" and public apology for his part in United States espionage.

The Paris Summit between Dwight Eisenhower and Nikita Khrushchev collapsed, in large part because Eisenhower refused to bring apologies over the incident, demanded by Khrushchev. Khrushchev left the talks on May 16, 1960.

U-2 Spy Plane Pilot Released

Francis Gary Powers, pilot

of the U-2 spy plane was

released by the Russians

in 1962, in exchange for the

release of Col. Rudolf Abel a

convicted Soviet spy.

Fidel Castro had been a concern to United States policymakers since he seized power in

Cuba with a revolution in January 1959.

Castro's attacks on U.S. companies and interests in Cuba, his inflammatory anti-American rhetoric, and Cuba's movement toward a closer relationship with the Soviet Union led U.S. officials to conclude that the Cuban leader was a threat to U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere.

1961: The Bay of Pigs invasion begins when a CIA financed and trained group of Cuban refugees lands in Cuba and attempts to topple the communist government of Fidel Castro. The attack was an utter failure.

On April 17, 1961 about 1300 exiles, armed with U.S. weapons, landed at the Bahía de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs) on the southern coast of Cuba. Hoping to find support from the local population, they intended to cross the island to Havana.

It was evident from the first hours of fighting, however, that the exiles were likely to lose. President Kennedy had the option of using the U.S. Air Force against the Cubans but decided against it.

Consequently, the invasion was stopped by Castro's army. By the time the fighting ended on April 19, 90 exiles had been killed and the rest had been taken as prisoners.

Additionally, the invasion made Castro wary of the U.S. He was convinced that the Americans would try to take over the island again. From the Bay of Pigs on, Castro had an increased fear of a U.S. incursion on Cuban soil.

The failure of the invasion seriously embarrassed the young Kennedy administration. Some critics blamed Kennedy for not giving it adequate support and others for allowing it to take place at all.

The captured exiles were taken to Cuban prisons.

Bay of Pigs

The invasion made Castro distrustful of the United States. He was convinced that the Americans would try to take over the Cuba again and became closer to the Soviet Union for support.

Monday, October 15th 1962 until Sunday, October 28th 1962

Some Key Players in the Crisis:Robert McNamara, Robert Kennedy

Dean Rusk, Nikita Khruschev

An American U-2 Spy Plane developed in 1956 specifically to spy on the Soviets was

used to observe military movement in Cuba.

Alarming Photos – October 14, 1962• US spy planes find evidence that Cuba might be assembling nuclear

weapons

• Soviets are suspected of installing missile silos

• Missiles do not appear to be operational yet

Image from US-Spy Image from US-Spy PlanePlane

Soviet Ship photographed taking what could be missiles toward Cuba

Special Council set up by the Kennedy Administration called “Ex Comm” (Executive

Committee) meets to discuss how to deal with the Missile Crisis in October, 1962.

The Cuban Missile Crisis Oct. 14-28, 1962 • World is brought to brink of Nuclear War.• Caused by the question of principle regarding the

soviet intermediate ranged nuclear missiles being assembled with Russian help on Cuban soil.

The Cuban Missile Crisis

• US sees this situation as “unacceptable“

Irony: US had similar “Jupiter” missiles in Turkey!

Robert McNamara, General Maxwell Taylor, and JFK in the “oval office”

The Soviet foreign minister Andre Gromyko denies the existence of soviet Missiles on

October 18th

What should the US do now?

US Ambassador to the UN Adalai Stephenson embarrasses Gromyko after he publically

denies the presence of soviet missiles at the UN when he produces spy photos of them.

US President Kennedy goes on Live Television October 22.

Announces to World:• The presence of the Missiles. • Quarantine or blockade of

Cuba.• An attack from Cuba will be

regarded as an attack from

the USSR and will be met by

retaliation.• Puts US military forces on

high alert.

JFK announces decision to blockade Cuba to the public on T.V.

The world anxiously waits to see what will happen when the blockade starts..

American citizens protest against aggressive measures

German Cartoon (1962). In the cartoon, Kennedy is saying: “How rude it is to put rockets in front of

my front door.”

Political Cartoon illustrating the standoff

Soviet reaction on October 24th - two Soviet ships heading to Cuba stop for U.S.

ships on blockade line and turn around

1st Letter from Khrushchev• suggested that the soviets could remove the

missiles from Cuba in exchange for a promise not to invade Cuba in the future.

Two Letters Sent by the Soviets

2nd Letter from Politburo • demanded the removal of US Missiles in Turkey

for the removal of the Missiles in Cuba.

Dilemma• Does the US ignore both? • Ignore One? • Which one? • Does the Politburo know about the letter

Khruschev sent? • What are the risks of accepting the wrong one?

Robert and John Kennedy during the Missile Crisis

The Crisis Ends

• Resolved on October 28 when USSR agreed not to supply Cuba with missiles.

• USSR agreed to dismantle weapons in Cuba

The Crisis Ends

Spy photos confirm the removal of Soviet Missiles

Results of the Crisis

• US exchanges 53 Million in baby food and medicine in exchange for 1,113 exiles of Bay of Pigs invasion

• Some remain prisoners until 1986

• Feb 8, 1963 – all financial and commercial transactions with Cuba are made illegal for US citizens

More effective communication between the two superpowers:

• A telephone “Hotline” was established between Washington and Moscow to replace telegraphs

Results of the Crisis

Detente• Threat of Nuclear war - Went from era of

MAD to era of “Détente” or relaxation of tensions.

Results of the Crisis

• Exemplified by the “Test Ban Treaty” of 1963 in which superpowers agreed to stop testing nuclear weapons.

Results of the Crisis

Photograph of a Soviet Mobile Missile Launcher similar to the ones in Cuba during

the crisis

Assessment of the Missile Crisis

Kennedy and America• Gained respect from world despite his youth• Successful in keeping soviet weapons out of

hemisphere

Castro and Cuba• Political protection and recognition from Soviets• No missiles meant Castro could not have profound

impact on US

Assessment of the Missile Crisis

Khrushchev and the Soviets

• Khrushchev criticized for not adequately protecting soviet interests

• Loss of respect for Khrushchev at home, but not abroad.

• Khrushchev voted out of power in 1964.

• USSR seen as more reasonable than before

Historical Source, the movie:

“13 Days”A film based upon Robert Kennedy’s Book

American Film(2000)

Key People in “13 Days”

LEADERS:

• Fidel Castro – President of Cuba – Came to power in 1959

• Nikita Khrushchev – Prime Minister of USSR – came to power in 1956

• John F. Kennedy – Newly elected President of US – youngest in the history of States

Key People in “13 Days”

ADVISORS TO KENNEDY:• Robert Kennedy – Attorney General of US – JFK’s

trusted brother• Kenneth O’Donnell – Special Advisor to the President• Dean Acheson – Former Secretary of State under

Truman - during start of the Cold War• Robert McNamara – Secretary of Defense – originally

took a cautious position• John McCone – Director of the CIA• Ted Sorenson – Special advisor to President Kennedy

and his main Speech Writer• Dean Rusk – Secretary of State• General Maxwell Taylor – Chairman of Chiefs of Staff• Curtis LeMay – Chief of Staff of US Air Force

Key People in “13 Days”

DIPLOMATS:

• Adlai Stevenson – US Ambassador to UN• Anatoly Dobrynin – Soviet Ambassador to UN• Andre Gromyko – Soviet Ambassador to the United

States