The Cuban Missile CrisisThe Cuban Missile Crisis

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

1.1. The Truman DoctrineThe Truman Doctrine

2.2. The Marshall PlanThe Marshall Plan

3.3. ContainmentContainment

4.4. The Domino TheoryThe Domino Theory

5.5. The Berlin BlockadeThe Berlin Blockade

6.6. The Berlin WallThe Berlin Wall

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

Based on your knowledge of the Cold War, outline the reasons why your historical policy or event helped increase the tension at the outset of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

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 Cuban Revolution that saw 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.

The Crisis Begins

October 15, 1962 Monday

The Crisis Begins A U-2 reconnaissance pilot, Richard Heyser,

takes photos which reveal the presence of SS-4 Nuclear missiles in Cuba.

The Aerial PhotosThe Aerial Photos

Meanwhile back in Montana~

Malmstrom Air Force Base had the first and only solid fueled rocket, however they lacked ability to launch it.

October 16, 1962

Tuesday

October 16, 1962 President John F. Kennedy was informed

of the missiles while eating breakfast. President Kennedy convened EX-COMM,

his twelve most important advisors. What the president didn’t know was that

Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev had given the Soviet field commanders in Cuba permission to launch nuclear missiles if the United States invaded.

October 17, 1962 Wednesday

October 17, 1962 The first of three SS-5 Intermediate

Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBM) were detected in Cuba.

Range of WeaponsRange of Weapons

October 18, 1962

Thursday

October 18, 1962 President John F. Kennedy meets with and

advises Soviet Foreign Minister Andrie Gromyko that the United States will not tolerate the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. Gromyko denies having weapons of any sort in Cuba.

FridayOctober 19,1962

October 19, 1962 President Kennedy

meets with secretary of defense Robert McNamara to discuss military options. JFK left later to Chicago, he was told not to tell anybody about the crisis.

Meanwhile back in Montana~

Airmen at Malmstrom Air Force Base started laying wire to launch solid fuel rockets. Construction sites were in the middle of fields, and even on farms.

SundayOctober 21,1962

October 21,1962 Kennedy asks the Air

Force if they could take out all of the Cuban missiles. “Only the ones we know about” replied the Air Force. President Kennedy decided to navel block Cuba.

Another U-2 plane discovered missiles being built on the North Shore of Cuba. President Kennedy told the media that he would tell the American Public tomorrow.

TOP SECRETSOME PICTUES

TAKEN BY U-2 Spy

PLANES

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 Nothing

2.2. Go to the United Go to the United NationsNations

3.3. *Naval Blockade**Naval Blockade*

4.4. Strategic Air strikeStrategic Air strike

5.5. Full Invasion of Full Invasion of CubaCuba

Which policy do you think the USA should have employed with the Soviets?In groups of 5 or 6 which I will choose – make a case for your option.

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

October 22 1962Monday

October 22, 1962 The public was informed of

the crisis on this day. Senate leaders were

informed of the crisis and called for air strikes.

Kennedy reinforced his decision for a quarantine.

Marines reinforced the base at Guantanamo Bay.

President Kennedy’s Speech Addressed the nation about what was going on in

Cuba Announced plans to implement a naval blockade

of Cuba. Sets military alert to DEFCON 3. Instructions were given to be ready to launch

missiles within minutes of the President's speech. In response to this speech, Castro mobilized of

Cuba’s military forces.

Meanwhile back in Montana~

Kennedy ordered Malmstrom officials to be prepared to launch the missiles at any time.

October 24, 1962

Wednesday

Wednesday

Soviet ships approached the quarantine. EX-COMM was worried that Khrushchev had not got hold

of the ships to tell them to turn back. They got information later telling them Soviet ships had

stopped.

Wednesday Secretary of State Dean Rusk quoted, “We were

eyeball to eyeball and the other guy just blinked.” The crisis was not at its end.

October 25,1962Thursday

October 25, 1962 U.S. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson confronts the Soviets at

the U.N. but they refuse to answer. American military forces are instructed to set DEFCON 2 the

highest ever in U.S. history. The military could, at a moment's notice, launch an attack on

Cuba or the Soviet Union. Kennedy sends letter to Khrushchev blaming the soviets for

the start of this crisis. EX-COMM discusses a proposal to withdraw missiles from

Turkey if the Soviets withdraw their missiles from Cuba.

October 27, 1962

Saturday

Saturday Khrushchev sends a letter

saying if the U.S. removes its missiles from Turkey they will remove theirs in Cuba.

Pilot, Major Rudolf Anderson an American U-2 flier was shot down over Cuba.

Saturday U-2 pilot strays into Soviet airspace accidentally while

flying in Alaska. Soviet fighters nearly took the plane down. President Kennedy will make a statement saying he will not

invade Cuba.

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)

Why was the USSR interested in Why was the USSR interested in helping Cuba?helping Cuba?

Cuba was a new Communist stateCuba was a new Communist state Cuba provided a launch base for USSR inter-Cuba provided a launch base for USSR inter-

continental missiles (ICMs)continental missiles (ICMs) Khrushchev wanted to test strength of new US Khrushchev wanted to test strength of new US

president, JFKpresident, JFK Khrushchev wanted to force JFK into bargaining over Khrushchev wanted to force JFK into bargaining over

US missile in EuropeUS missile in Europe