Cuban Missile Crisis

International Crisis

Oct 16, 1962

United States air crafts spotted a Soviet Union missile base being made, so President Kennedy was informed.

More Evidence

Oct 17, 1962

U.S. U-2 planes show more evidence of Cuban and Soviet Union missile bases.

Soviet Weapons

Oct 18, 1962

President Kennedy gets confirmed evidence that there is a missile base in Cuba. He notes that if the Soviets bring their weapons it will cause a lot of tension. He thought there might need to be a blockade or invasion.

Debate Continues

Oct 19, 1962

President Kennedy leaves to go to a campaign trip in Ohio and Illinois. His advisors discuss what actions to take.

Kennedy returns to Washington D.C.

Oct 20, 1962

Kennedy returns to Washington to speak with the advisors about what the U.S. should do with this crisis. He pretends to not know much about it so the American citizens don't get worried.

Airstrike not guaranteed

Oct 21, 1962

General Walter Sweeney tells President Kennedy that an airstrike will not completely destroy the Cuban missile base.

Kennedy asks previous presidents

Oct 22, 1962

Kennedy asks previous presidents what to do with this situation. He also tells the prime minister of England. Kennedy wrote a letter to Krushchev before he appeared on television for the conference on the situation.

Blockade

Oct 23, 1962

The United States has some officials meet together to discuss the issue. They decide to put a blockade around Cuba. Then they talk with the Soviet Union.

Kruschev writes back to Kennedy

Oct 24, 1962

Nikita Krushchev writes back to John F. Kennedy saying that what the United States did to Cuba is what they thought of as a threat. He says the Soviet Union is not intimidated.

Cuba is ready

Oct 25, 1962

Cuba has their missile base done. It is ready to launch their missiles against the United States.

Castro and Krushchev

Oct 26, 1962

Fidel Castro speaks to Nikita Kruschev and wants him to start a nuclear war.

American plane shot down

Oct 27, 1962

An American U-2 plane is shot down by a Soviet Union plane. A Soviet pilot was killed so Kenedy wrote his wife a letter to say he felt bad.

Crisis is over

Oct 28, 1962

Khrushchev accepts the United States proposal to end the Cuban missile crisis. Soviets agree to take away missiles, United States agree to sign a non invasion treaty.