Cuban M issile Crisis

1. Cuban Missile Crisis By: Timothy zurrica

2. Cuban Missile Crisis • Kennedy spoke of missile gap, USA, USSR • Despite Pentagon telling him U.S. had more • Kennedy maintained his claim, USA has less • After election, khrushchev tested kennedy • 1961 Khrushchev applied pressure to Berlin • eventually built a wall surrounding West Berlin.

3. Cuban Missile Crisis • Kennedy told Khrushchev no missile gap. • Khrushchev knew U.S. had more missiles • now he knew the Americans knew. • Soviet missiles can only hit Europe • U.S. missiles can hit Soviet Union. • Khrushchev was boxed in by enemies.

4. Cuban Missile Crisis • U.S. missiles in Turkey 150 miles from U.S.S.R. • Cuba was 90 miles from Florida • Khrushchev, “the 60 mile difference was nothing for a missile" • Khrushchev feared first-strike by the U.S. • If USSR lost arms race U.S. would attack • Khrushchev looked to counter U.S. lead.

5. Cuban Missile Crisis • Closest world came to nuclear war • United States highest state of readiness • Soviets Cuba prepared battlefield nuclear weapons • 1962,USSR behind US arms race. • Soviet missiles could only reach Europe • U.S. missiles could striking entire USSR

6. Cuban Missile Crisis • April 1962, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev • placing intermediate-range missiles in Cuba. • deployment would double Soviet strategic arsenal • provide real deterrent from U.S. attack • Meanwhile, Castro wanted defense from U.S. • Bay of Pigs failed, 2nd attack inevitable.

7. Cuban Missile Crisis • Castro approved Khrushchev to place missiles • summer 1962 USSR built missile installations • USA, crisis began October 15, 1962 • Reconnaissance photographs revealed missiles in Cuba. • Kennedy immediately organized EX-COMM • group of advisors to handle crisis.

8. Cuban Missile Crisis • after seven days of guarded; intense debate • Kennedy concluded impose naval quarantine around Cuba. • wished prevention of more weapons on Cuba. • October 22, public told about missiles, quarantined island. • missile launched, regarded as attack on USA • Demand Soviets remove offensive weapons

9. Cuban Missile Crisis • During public Crisis, tensions built • Kennedy ordered low-level reconnaissance missions • 25th, Kennedy pulled quarantine line back • military readiness raised to DEFCON 2. • 26th, EX-COMM got impassioned letter from Khrushchev • will remove missiles if USA doesn’t attack

10. Cuban Missile Crisis • October 27, worst day of the crisis. • A U-2 shot down over Cuba • EX-COMM received second letter from Khrushchev • demanding U.S. remove missiles, exchange Soviet’s missiles. •  Attorney general Robert Kennedy suggested ignoring letter • contacted S.A. Anatoly Dobrynin tell him of agreement

11. Cuban Missile Crisis • Tensions began easing on October 28 • Khrushchev announced to return missiles to USSR • He trusted USA would not invade Cuba. • Further negotiations held to implement the agreement • USA demand Soviet bombers be removed • specifying USA assured not to invade Cuba.

12. Work Sited Page • http://library.thinkquest.org/11046/days/index.html • http://library.thinkquest.org/11046/days/causes.html