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Missiles Found
President Kennedy is told that the Cubans have ICBM's (InterContinental Ballistic Missile). -
Period: to
The 13 days
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Discussions on missile
President Kennedy discusses what he should do about the ICBM's in Cuba -
Diplomatic negotiations
President Kennedy meets with Soviet Foreign and advises him that America will not tolerate Soviet missiles in Cuba. Gromyko denies the presence of any Soviet weaponry in Cuba. -
discuss military options
JFK meets with the Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, and the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss military options -
Discovery and discussion
President Kennedy returns to Washington to discuss the discovery of additional Soviet missiles in Cuba -
Naval blockade
President Kennedy orders a naval blockade of Cuba as soon as possible. The operation is reviewed and approved -
Announced plans
President Kennedy addresses the American public and announces his plan to implement a naval blockade of Cuba. U.S. military go into DEFCON 3. -
review and discuss options of confrontation
The OAS (Organization of American States) supports the decision to quarantine Cuba. Reconnaissance photos reveal that Soviet missiles are ready for launch. McNamara, Kennedy review and discuss options of confrontation -
U.S. military go into DEFCON 2
Soviet ships reach the quarantine line, but receive radio orders from Moscow to hold their positions. Detailed briefing on new reconnaissance photos from Cuba and discussion of the need to disperse planes at Florida bases in the event of attacks by MIGs based in Cuba. 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 -
potential US responses
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 -
Soviets would remove their missiles
EX-COMM 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 -
public promise not to invade Cuba
While one U-2 spy plane accidentally flies into Russia, while another 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 -
The crisis is over
The crisis is over. In a speech aired on Radio Moscow, Khrushchev announces that he has agreed to remove the ICBM's from Cuba
