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Kennedy is Warned
President Kennedy is told that Cuba has Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. -
Period: to
The 13 Days
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What to do.....
Kennedy discusses what to do about Cuba's possession of missiles. -
Kennedy meets with Soviets
Explains that the U.S. will not tolerate Soviet missiles in Cuba -
JFK meets with the Secretary of Defense
JFK meets with the Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, to discuss military options. -
New Missiles
Kennedy returns to Washington to discuss the discovery of additional Soviet missiles in Cuba. -
Naval Blockade
JFK orders a naval blockade of Cuba ASAP. It is approved. -
Public Adress
Kennedy addresses American public and explains the decision to blockade Cuba. -
Quarantine Cuba?
The Organization of American States supports the decision to quarantine Cuba. Reconnaissance photos reveal that Soviet missiles are ready for launch. McNamara and Kennedy discuss options of confrontation -
Too Close for Comfort
Soviet ships reach the quarantine line, but hold their positions. McNamara talks of a very dangerous situation since ships approaching the quarantine line are being shadowed by a Soviet submarine. U.S. military go into DEFCON 2, the highest in U.S. history. -
Silent Treatment
U.S. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson confronts the Soviets at the U.N. but they refuse to answer. Review of the movement of ships toward the quarantine line and potential US responses -
Sliver of Hope
U.S. receives a letter from Khrushchev stating that the Soviets would remove their missiles if President Kennedy publicly guarantees the U.S. will not invade Cuba. The CIA reports that the construction of the missile sites is continuing and accelerating -
Nearing the End
U-2 spy plane is shot down over Cuba. EX-COMM receives a second letter from Khrushchev stating that, in addition to a public promise not to invade Cuba, the U.S. removes its missiles from Turkey. -
Crisis Averted
The crisis is over. Khrushchev announces that he has agreed to remove the ICBM's from Cuba.
