Cuban Missile Crisis

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a military confrontation between the United States, the Soviet Union and Cuba that spanned thirteen days and is considered by many historians to be the height of Cold War tensions.

1. April 15, 1961: Bay of Pigs Invasion spurs Fidel Castro to upgrade Cuban military
2. February, 1962: United States establishes trade embargo against Cuba
3. May, 1962: Khrushchev sends Soviet-controlled nuclear warheads to Cuba
4. October 14: U.S. U-2 reconnaissance flight discovers missiles in Cuba
5. October 22: Kennedy addresses the nation about the missile discovery
6. October 28: U.S. secretly removes missiles from Turkey; Soviets remove missiles from Cuba

The United States strongly considered an immediate attack on Cuba to destroy the missile sites, reasoning that the Soviets would not attempt to stop it. However, Kennedy feared it would create an excuse for Russia to attack Berlin, further escalating an international crisis.

• October 14, 1962: U-2 over western Cuba discovers missile sites and takes photographs.

• October 16, 1962: President Kennedy is told of the photos and calls a meeting whose body of members is later referred to as EXCOMM. Members discuss plans of action.

• October 17, 1962: The Joint Chiefs recommend an air strike. U-2 planes discover more missiles in Cuba.

• October 18, 1962: Kennedy and Andrei Gromyko meet. Gromyko insists the missiles are for defense of Cuba.

• October 20, 1962: Kennedy orders a "quarantine" of Cuba.

• October 21, 1962: U-2s discover missiles are assembled quickly and cruise missile sites are being built along the shore.

• October 22, 1962: Congressional leaders meet with Kennedy. The President addresses the nation. US Military goes to DEFCON 3. The US military base at Guantanamo Bay is reinforced with Marines.

• October 23, 1962: Khrushchev sends Kennedy a letter stating there is a serious threat to peace and security of peoples. Kennedy decides to give Khrushchev more time.

• October 24, 1962: US Military goes to DEFCON 2, the highest in military history.

• October 25, 1962: Kennedy sends a letter to Khrushchev laying the blame on Russia. EXCOMM discusses withdrawing missiles from Turkey in exchange for Russia withdrawing from Cuba.

• October 26, 1962: The CIA reports there is no halt in missile preparedness in Cuba. Khrushchev sends Kennedy a letter stating Russia will withdraw from Cuba is Kennedy announces publicly that the US will never invade Cuba.

• October 27, 1962: Khrushchev sends a letter to Kennedy proposing the Russian missiles in Cuba be traded for the US missiles in Turkey. A U-2 is shot down over Cuba, killing the pilot. Kennedy sends Khrushchev a letter stating that if Russian missiles withdraw from Cuba he will release a statement that the US will not invade Cuba.

• October 28, 1962: Khrushchev announces on Radio Moscow that he has agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba.