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A U2 spyplane discovers missiles in Cuba.
united states flies a spyplane over Cuba and takes photos of Russian medium-range missiles. -
American political leaders meet
Ex-Comm has its first meeting to discuss the Soviet missiles. -
Photos are taken of long range Soviet missiles
More photos are taken of the missile sites, Cuba also has long-range Soviet missiles. These missiles Can travel 2,200 miles. -
Robert Kennedy meets with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko
Andrei Gromyko does not mention the missiles. Gromyko tells Kennedy that the only help the Soviet Union is giving to Cuba is growing crops and missiles that are only for defense. -
Ex-Comm suggests quarantining Cuba.
Ex-Comm meets and discusses sending U.S. ships to Cuba to prevent Soviet ships from reaching the island. They are careful to call it a quarantine because a blockade is an act of war. -
Robert Kennedy gives Ex-Comm's recommendation to the president.
Robert Kennedy tells the president that Ex-Comm recommends a quarantine. President Kennedy was in Chicago, but lies saying that he is sick so that he can return to Washington to deal with the crisis. -
President Kennedy gives a televised speech to the nation.
President Kennedy gives a speech that is live on television stations across the country to let Americans know that missiles have been found in Cuba And he orders Cuba to remove missiles -
Soviet ships on their way to Cuba are stopped
Khrushchev orders Soviet ships on their way to Cuba to stop in the Atlantic about 750 miles away. This prevents a confrontation with U.S. ships that are around Cuba. -
Khrushchev refuses to remove the missiles from Cuba.
Saying that the U.S. will not intimidate the Soviets, Khrushchev doesn't want to remove the missiles from Cuba. He also accuses Kennedy of putting the world at risk of a nuclear war by ordering the quarantine. -
Kennedy orders increased flights over to Cuba.
no progress with his communications with Khrushchev, President Kennedy orders more flights over Cuba from once to twice per day -
The U.S. begins discussions about invading Cuba.
Concerned that the Soviets may not remove the missiles from Cuba, Ex-Comm begins to discuss plans to invade Cuba to take control of the missiles. Doing this would most likely result in war. -
President Kennedy agrees to not invade Cuba
After Khrushchev says that he will remove the missiles from Cuba if Kennedy does not invade Cuba and Kennedy agrees to it -
Khrushchev agrees to remove the missiles.
The missiles will be removed, Cuba will not be invaded, and the Cuban crisis comes to an end. -
Ted Sorenson writes one of the most important speeches President Kennedy will ever give.
Ted Sorenson, writes the speech that Kennedy will give to the nation. Informing Americans that the Soviets have missiles in Cuba that are pointed at the U.S. will be an important moment in American history and one of the most frightening speech as president ever gives.
