The Thirteen Days: Unfolding of the Cuban Missile Crisis

The Cuban Missile Crisis, often referred to as the "Thirteen Days," was a period of intense confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.

Discovery of Soviet Missiles in Cuba

The crisis began when American U-2 spy planes discovered Soviet nuclear weapons in Cuba. This discovery immediately raised tensions between the superpowers.

Highlight: The presence of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba was seen as a direct threat to U.S. national security.

Diplomatic Maneuvers

As tensions escalated, Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko visited President Kennedy, assuring him that the weapons in Cuba were purely defensive. However, Kennedy remained skeptical and began planning a response.

Quote: Kennedy later remarked, "There's always some son of a bitch who doesn't get the word."

Kennedy's Address to the Nation

President Kennedy decided to address the American people on live television, informing them of the crisis and outlining the U.S. response. Prior to this, he had written to Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, demanding the removal of the weapons.

Example: Kennedy's televised address on October 22, 1962, was watched by millions of Americans, many of whom feared the outbreak of nuclear war.

Naval Quarantine of Cuba

The U.S. implemented a naval quarantine around Cuba to prevent further Soviet shipments. This move was carefully calculated to avoid direct conflict with Soviet vessels, which could have triggered a war.

Vocabulary: A naval quarantine is a blockade of a country's ports to prevent ships from entering or leaving.

Escalating Tensions

Khrushchev perceived Kennedy's actions as a threat and responded with a strongly worded letter. Meanwhile, new intelligence suggested that the Soviets were preparing the missiles for use.

Highlight: The crisis reached its peak when it appeared that the Soviets might be preparing to launch the missiles.

Castro's Involvement

During this tense period, Cuban leader Fidel Castro urged Khrushchev to launch a preemptive nuclear strike against the United States.

Negotiations and Resolution

Khrushchev proposed a deal: the Soviets would remove their missiles from Cuba if the U.S. lifted the quarantine and promised not to invade Cuba. A second letter added the condition that the U.S. remove its missiles from Turkey.

Definition: Brinkmanship is the practice of pursuing a dangerous policy to the limits of safety before stopping.

Kennedy initially responded only to the first letter, agreeing to lift the quarantine. However, he later secretly agreed to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey as well.

This diplomatic maneuvering ultimately led to a peaceful resolution of the crisis, with both sides making concessions to avoid nuclear conflict.