The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred in October 1962 and brought the US and Soviet Union close to nuclear war. The Soviet Union had placed nuclear missiles in Cuba to counter the US's nuclear advantage. US reconnaissance flights discovered the missile sites under construction in Cuba. President Kennedy established a naval blockade of Cuba and demanded the Soviets remove the missiles. After several tense days of negotiations, the Soviets agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for the US agreeing not to invade Cuba and removing its missiles from Turkey. The crisis ended on October 28th, averting nuclear conflict.

1. The Cuban Missile Crisis October, 1962

4. President John F. Kennedy During the Cuban Missile Crisis President John F. Kennedy was in office. One cause of this crisis was due to a missile gap President Kennedy spoke of during his campaign in 1960. Although the United States had more missiles than the Soviet Union, he stated otherwise. As President, it was up to Kennedy to decide whether or not to react to the serious nuclear threat from the Soviet Union. He agreed never to invade Cuba and remove all missiles stationed in Turkey in order to bring the Cuban Missile Crisis to an end.

5. Nikita Khrushchev Premier Nikita Khrushchev was First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The Soviet feared attack from the United States because they did not have missiles powerful enough to be launched against the country. Khrushchev produced a plan to place intermediate-range missiles in Cuba to reestablish the balance of power in the Cold War. Nikita Khrushchev had no intentions of starting a war but he knew the United States was serious about an attack. He worked with President Kennedy to end the crisis. High Communist party officials were displeased with the agreement between the two and two years later, after further discontent, he was removed from office.

6. Fidel Castro Fidel Castro became dictator of Cuba in 1959. When Castro came into office, Cuba’s relations with the United States weakened. President Kennedy attempted to overthrow Castor in the Bays of Pigs Invasion, but failed. It did, however make him take precautions for another United States attack. When Nikita Khrushchev proposed his idea to place nuclear missiles in Cuba, Castro approved. As dictator of Cuba, he did not have a big role in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Furthermore, he did not have much say so in the outcome of the event.

8. This map shows missile sites in Cuba and their range.

11. Timeline January 1, 1959 Fidel Castro assumes power in Cuba. January 3, 1961 U.S. rids of diplomatic and consular relation with Cuba. April 12, 1961 Kennedy pledges the U.S. will not use military force to overthrow Castro. April 15-19, 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion June 4, 1961 Kennedy and Khrushchev meet for the first time at the Vienna Summit August 10, 1962 Kennedy receives word that Soviet middle-range missiles are supposedly being based in Cuba August 31,1962 There is evidence of Soviet missile installations October 14, 1962 U-2 flew over western Cuba and discovered missile sites October 16, 1962 Kennedy holds a meeting with advisors to discuss what actions should be taken against Cuba October 17, 1962 Intermediate-range nuclear missiles are discovered

12. Timeline October 18, 1962 Kennedy and Soviet Foreign Minister Andrie Gromyko meet October 20, 1962 Kennedy met with EX-COMM to discuss the speeches he was to give and the idea of a blockade on Cuba October 21, 1962 Kennedy decides on a quarantine of Cuba October 22, 1962 Kennedy tells the public of the missile sites in Cuba in a televised speech October 23, 1962 Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev October 26, 1962 Khrushchev sends Kennedy another letter proposing to remove Soviet missiles if he publicly announces to never invade Cuba October 27, 1962 An American U-2 was down over Cuba, a U-2 flew off course over Russia, and another letter was received form Khrushchev October 28, 1962 Khrushchev announces to remove all missiles from Cuba November 20, 1962 Planes were officially removed and returned to the U.S.S.R November 21, 1962 Kennedy formally ended the quarantine

13. EX-COMM Meeting Meeting of President Kennedy and his advisors discussing possible ways to handle the crisis.

14. From Khrushchev to Kennedy This is a letter from Nikita Khruschev to President Kennedy. During the crisis, they used letters as a form of communication to make proposals and and come to an agreement on ending the Cuban Missile Crisis.

15. Cuban Missile Site One site where nuclear missiles were placed.