Cuban Missile Crisis
The Missile Crisis- Day by day 18th October 1962
Soviet Foreign Minister, Gromyko and Kennedy meet but Gromyko denies that there any 'offensive' missiles in Cuba, and Kennedy does not tell him of his discovery.
The Missile Crisis- Day by day 23rd October 1962
The Organisation of American States ( OAS) unanimously supports the blockade of Cuba by the USA. Khrushchev sends letter to Kennedy stating that the blockade was a violation of international law and that they would not recognize the blockade U Thant, secretary general of the UN appealed for restrain from both sides
The Nuclear Arms race:
The USA, and USSR built up stockpiles of nuclear bombs in the early 1950s. This was serious enough when these weapons were to be dropped by bomber planes, but missiles were far more deadly. The Soviets too the lead in missile technology in the 1950s, building on the achievement of their successful space program. They invented the ICBM (Inter-continental Ballistic Missile) The new Soviet leader Krushchev was a strong supporter of the space and missile programme. He convinced his colleges in the Communist Party that nuclear missiles were the key to USSR's future security.
Why did Khrushchev put missiles in Cuba:
The USSR supplied many of its allies with non-nuclear weapons, but the Cuban crisis was the first time that nuclear weapons were installed outside Soviet boundaries. There were several reasons for Krushchev's actions: 1. Krushchev wanted to produce more nuclear warheads and close the 'missile gap' between the USA and the USSR. 2. The USA had missiles in in Western Europe and Turkey, well within range of the USSR. Placing missiles in Cuba would help restore the middle balance. 3. The USSR had many more cheap, medium-range missiles than the USA so a launch site in Cuba, close to the US coast, was an ideal place to put missiles. 4. Soviet missiles in Cuba would strengthen Krushchev's bargaining position against the USA. 5. Krushchev was very keen to defend Castro. Cuba was the only Communist country in the western hemisphere and had just survived the Bay of Pigs attack. 6. Krushchev was keen to strengthen his own political in the USSR. Missiles in Cuba would be seen as another major propaganda victory against the USA.
Why did Kennedy react as he did ?
There was no doubt as to the seriousness of the Cuban missile crisis. 1. Kennedy was under serious pressure from US military leader to bomb and invade Cuba immediatly. This would of most certaintly led to war with the USSR. 2. Kennedy tried to give himself and Khrushchev a means of solving the crisis without immediate conflict. This is why he chose a blockade. 3. Kennedy also realised that he needed to give Krsuhchev a way out without appearing to humiliate the Soviet leader- this is why, in private he agreed not to invade Cuba, and later remove US missiles from Turkey. 4. Kennedy used the opportunity of Krushchev's first letter to explore ways to solve the crisis whilst at the same time convincing the Soviets that he was prepared for war.
Missile Gap:
These technological advances by the USSR rocked public opinion in the USA. The US public was alarmed by the fear that the USSR had many more nuclear missiles than the USA. The idea of the 'Missile gap' was widely reported in the American media during the 1950s. With hindsight, we now know that the Missile Gap was a myth, Krushchev was not going to admit this because he would look foolish and it wouldn't help his critics inside the USSR. At the same time, the American military commanders were happy to go along with the claims that there a missile gap because it helped get them funding from the government to pay for the development of new weapon systems. President Eisenhower was concerned about the cost of these new systems but he was in a difficult position too. By the early 1960s Eisenhower knew the Missile Gap was a myth because he had a important source in the Soviet military who had defected to the CIA. However, because this contact was still in the USSR, Eisenhower could not admit he knew how many missiles the Soviets actually had without revealing his source. When John JFK became president in January 1961 he faced the same problem.
5. Blockade (Quarantine)
This was US navy stopping Soviet ships delivering any further weapons to Cuba, along with a demands for missiles already in Cuba to be removed. FOR- This would show firm action by the USA without using immediate force. -It would give Krushchev time to consider his next actions and the USA the option to an air strike or invasion later if the blockade did not work. AGAINST- A blockade would not remove the weapons already in Cuba. -Action was likely to be slow in producing results. It did not rule out Soviet relations in other parts of the world, for example, Berlin.
The Missile Crisis- Day by day 15th October 1962
US intelligence agencies analyse the photographs and confirm that Soviet nuclear missiles have been placed in Cuba
The Missile Crisis- Day by day 24th October 1962
10am the US blockade of Cuba begins when 2 of 6 soviet ships arrived. 1 oil tanker was allowed through without being searched The others turned back
The Missile Crisis- Day by day 14th October 1962
A US U-2 flying over Western Cuba takes photographs of missile sites under construction
The Missile Crisis- Day by day 27th October 1962
A new 2nd official letter from Krushchev arrives, proposing a public trade of Soviet missiles in Cuba for US missiles in Turkey. An American U-2 spy plane is shot down over Cuba, killing the pilot- Major Rudolf Anderson. Kennedy decides to delay an attack on Cuba. He ignores Krushchev's second letter and agrees to the terms in the first letter. Kennedy sends his brother Robert, one of his advisors, to meet the Soviet ambassador (Gromyko) in Washington DC. The Soviets are told secretly that the USA will not invade Cuba and will remove its missiles from Turkey within 6 months. If the Soviets do not agree to this deal, Kennedy informs them that the USA will invade Cuba immediately.
Cuban Missile Crisis(beginning):
After the Bay of Pigs, Krushchev gave Castro large amounts of Soviet military equipment to prevent a follow-up American invasion of Cuba. The Americans became increasingly alarmed about the Soviet Military build up in Cuba. In September 1962, the Soviets told Kennedy they had no intention of placing nuclear missiles in Cuba; it was a lie.
Definitions:
Blockade- Ways of physically stopping vessels from entering or leaving the ports of a country Brinkmanship- Taking a situation to the limits of safety in order to win an advantage Economic embargo- A refusal to trade Quarantine- A period of enforced isolation
The Missile Crisis- Day by day 22nd October 1962
Kennedy broadcasts live on us TV and tells the American public about the existence of the missiles and his intention to quarantine Cuba as the first step to getting them removed. Put all American forces on alert Ordered Naval Blockade Gave Khrushchev an Ultimatum- dismantle the missile sites ad turn back the ships heading to Cuba
The Missile Crisis- Day by day 17th October 1962
Kennedy continues his normal duties as president so it doesn't look suspicious while EX-COMM works on possible options.
The Missile Crisis- Day by day 16th October 1962
Kennedy forms a group of advisers called EX-COMM, which begins to discuss in secret how to respond to the crisis.
The Missile Crisis- Day by day 26th October 1962
Kennedy is informed that evidence from reconnaissance flights shows that the missile sites are nearing completion. Krushchev sends a private letter to Kennedy proposing to remove Soviet missiles if Kennedy publicly announces he will never invade Cuba.
The Missile Crisis- Day by day 9th October 1962
Kennedy orders a US U-2 spy plane reconnaissance(military observation of a region to locate an enemy or ascertain strategic features) flight over Cuba. The flight was delayed until the 14th October because of bad weather.
The Missile Crisis- Day by day 21st October 1962
Kennedy's military advisers tell him that an air strike could not guarantee to destroy all Soviet Missiles in Cuba. Kennedy decides on a blockade of Cuba.
The Missile Crisis- Day by day 28th October 1962
Krushchev announces on Radio Moscow that he has agreed to remove the missiles in Cuba. Sends a letter to Kennedy saying that the missiles will be dismantled
Kennedy's Options to retaliate:
On 14th October 1962, a US spy plane photographed the construction of nuclear missile sites on Cuba. In the days that followed Kennedy and his advisers had several option 1: Do nothing 2: Surgical Air strikes 3. Invasion 4. Diplomatic pressure 5. Blockade ( quarantine)
The end of the crisis and its consequences
On the morning of the 28th October, Radio Moscow broadcast that the USSR was prepared to remove the missiles from Cuba. The missile crisis was over, but important lessons had be learned by both sides. 1. Firstly, it is widley agreed that the Cuban missile crisis was the closest that the USA and USSR came to nuclear conflict throughout the whole of the Cold war. There were general agreements that future disputes like this had to be avoided, so the missile crisis actually helped improve US-Soviet relations. 2. Secondly, the USA and USSR decided to set up a telephone link between Moscow and Washington DC so that problems could be discussed to avoid future crises. 3. Thirdly, nuclear arms talk began and, in 1963, a Test ban Treaty was signed by the USSR and the USA and Britain 4. Khrushchev stated that a new policy of peaceful co-existance with the west was to take place. *The term MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) was given to the situation of a nuclear war broke out*
