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1.
Rumors surface that Cuban military forces are working to construct missile bases. If true, it would have meant Cuba had ballistic missiles with the capability to attach much of the U.S. eastern seaboard.
More Details can be Found Here -
Period: to
The Cuban Mssile Crisis
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2.
A U.S. Air Force U-2 is launched and sent to determine the validity of these rumors. Using surveillance equipment the U-2 captures images of communist forces in the process of building missile bases. -
3.
President Kennedy is shown photographic evidence of the Cuban missiles. -
4.
Kennedy begins discussing the diplomatic and last-ditch avenues to deal with the issue. -
5,
A second reconnaissance mission is executed and it is discovered that Cuba has nuclear weapons. Military officials advise Kennedy to approve an aerial strike mission. -
6.
Kennedy meets with Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gromyko to discuss the issue. Little headway is made. -
7.
Kennedy cancels his scheduled campaigning trips to deal with the affair and instead discusses options for the quarantine of Cuba to prevent Russia from bringing more military supplies.
JFK's Address to the Nation -
8.
Congress is shown the photos from Cuba and while some support Kennedy, most advocate that aggressive steps be taken.
A clip from the film, "13 Days" Portraying the Events of the CMC. -
9.
The U.S. Navy dispatches several ships to hold at a distance of 800 miles from Cuba and initiate the quarantine. Khrushchev sends a letter to Kennedy warning that this quarantine threatens the peace and could lead to war. Kennedy decides to give Khrushchev breathing room to act and orders that the ships be pulled back to 500 miles. -
10
Soviet ships carrying unknown cargo for Cuba confront the U.S. quarantine. All slow or turn back completely save for one. -
11.
Kennedy accuses that the Soviet Union is solely responsible for the current state of affairs. Some believe that this deployment of weapons by the Soviets in in response to the U.S. placing missiles in Turkey some time earlier. Officials begin to discuss the option of recalling those missiles in exchange for Russia doing the same. -
12.
Further recon missions show that there has been no slowing or stoppage of the construction in Cuba and that soviet forces are attempting to camouflage the weapons. Khrushchev meanwhile sends a second letter proposing to remove that weapons on the U.S.’s word that it never invades Cuba. -
13.
A third letter arrives from the Kremlin proposing that the soviets will recall the missiles if the U.S. will do the same with their weapons in Turkey. After discussing it with his advisors, Kennedy believes that this will make the U.S. susceptible to coercion. Instead he chooses to respond to the previous letter and agrees not to invade Cuba if the missiles are removed. -
14.
Khrushchev publically announces the withdrawal of the weapons from Cuban soil.
