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President Kennedy decides on a blockade of Cuba
On October 20, President Kennedy decided on a blockade of Cuba by the U.S. Navy to prevent further shipments of military supplies to the island. The president decided to use the word “quarantine” instead of the word “blockade” because international law considered a blockade to be an act of war. -
Telivesed Speech by President Kennedy
On the evening of October 22, Kennedy announced in a televised speech to the American public that the Soviets were installing nuclear missiles in Cuba. He then informed the nation of his decision to enforce a quarantine of Cuba until the missiles were removed. -
What miliatry steps did the U.S take?
the crisis intensified, many Americans feared that war, possibly nuclear war, was probable. The U.S. naval quarantine went into effect October 24. Initially, Khrushchev ordered Soviet ships to race toward the quarantine line. The Soviets threatened to sink any U.S. vessel that tried to prevent their passage to Cuba. That same day, the government put U.S. nuclear forces on DEFCON 2 alert for the first and only time in history: bombers -
Kennedy Recieves a Letter
Two letters Khrushchev wrote to Kennedy marked a new stage in the crisis. The first letter, recieved was an emotional appeal, apparently written by Khrushchev himself., calling on Kennedy to avoid the catastophe of nuclear war. The soviets said they would take their missiles out of Cuba if the U.S pledge not to invade the island -
Second Letter from Khrushchev
Kennedy recieves another lettet from Khrushchev. This letter had a much more hardline position, insisiting the the U.S removie its nuclear missiles from Turkey in return for a withdrawl of Sovie missiles from Cuba. Kennedy didn't like the demands contained in the second letter, he found them unacceptable for two reasons. First, Turkey was not willing to have the Jupiter missiles removed; Second, Kennedy did not want to seem weak to the world -
Khrushchev recieves a letter from Kennedy