-
Beginning of the Cuban Missile Crisis
Fidel Castro assumes power after the Cuban Revolution. Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was the Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976 and then President from 1976 to 2008. -
Cuba's getting ready
Cuba openly aligns itself with the Soviet Union and their policies. -
The Bay of Pigs
A group of Cuban refugees, backed by the US, invades Cuba at the Bay of Pigs in a failed attempt to trigger an anti-Castro rebellion. Cuba attempts to end the communist government of Fidel Castro. But in the end the attack was an utter failure. -
Vienna summit
Khrushchev and Kennedy hold summit talks in Vienna regarding the Cuban Missile Crisis. -
Soviet Missiles
Senator Kenneth Keating tells the Senate that there is evidence of Soviet missile installations in Cuba. -
A warning from Andrei Gromyko
Soviet Foreign Minister, Andrei Gromyko, warns that an American attack on Cuba could mean war with the Soviet Union. Andrei Andreyevich Gromyko was a Soviet communist politician during the Cold War. -
The U-2 sees all
A U-2 flying over western Cuba obtains photographs of missile sites.
The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady", is an American single-jet engine, ultra-high altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency. -
Period: to
Telling Kennedy what to do
The Joint Chiefs of Staff strongly advise Kennedy to make an air strike ( the discussions are implied to the EX-COMM's ) -
Gromyko and the "defensive capabilities of Cuba"
Gromyko assures Kennedy that Soviet Cuban aid has been only for the "defensive capabilities of Cuba."
Andrei Andreyevich Gromyko was a Soviet communist politician during the Cold War. -
Soviet missile, Cuban installations
Congressional leaders are shown the photographic evidence of the Soviet missile Cuban installations and the President addresses the nation regarding the Cuban crisis. -
DEFCON 3
U.S. military forces go to DEFCON 3. A high DEFCON level a word for a severe situation so that it needs prompt, extreme action. -
Khrushchev's letter
Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev in which Khrushchev states that there is a, "serious threat to peace and security of peoples." Robert Kennedy speaks with Ambassador Dobrynin. -
DEFCON 2
Soviet ships, en route to Cuba, reverse their course except for one. US Military forces go to DEFCON 2. -
JFK's letter
JFK sends a letter to Khrushchev placing the responsibility for the crisis on the Soviet Union. -
Khrushchev's second letter
Khrushchev sends a letter to President Kennedy proposing to remove his missiles if Kennedy publicly announces never to invade Cuba. -
U-2 killing Cuban pilot
An American U-2 is shot down over Cuba killing the pilot, Major Rudolf Anderson. -
The U-2 goes
A U-2 goes into Soviet airspace, near Alaska, and is nearly intercepted by Soviet fighters. -
Kennedy's other letter
Kennedy sends Khrushchev a letter stating that he will make a statement that the U.S. will not invade Cuba if Khrushchev removes the missiles from Cuba. -
The final day
Khrushchev announces over Radio Moscow that he has agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba.
In return the US agrees to the withdrawal of US nuclear missiles from Turkey ending the Cuban Missile Crisis.
