Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Why didn't the missile crisis lead to nuclear war?
For six days between 16-22 October, Kennedy and his advisers discussed what they should
do. They informed Harold Macmillan, the British Prime Minister, of the developments in Cuba.
Then Kennedy went on national television to alert people to what was happening.
Kennedy was aware that the crucial mid-term elections for Congress were to be held in
November. A weak presidential performance in a crisis in October could lead to a disaster for
the Democratic Party in the election.
He decided to impose a blockade or quarantine zone around Cuba to bring the Soviet build-up
to an end. The United States defined a list of items that were considered offensive weapons,
which they would not allowed shipped to Cuba. More than fifty warships were used to
implement the blockade line off the Cuban coastline.
United States forces were initially placed on DEFCON 3 alert, which was then increased to
DEFCON 2, the highest possible state of alert short of war. All military leave was cancelled.
More than 200 ICBMs held in storage in the United States were prepared for launch.
There was a real fear that nuclear war was imminent. In the USA, a cartoon figure, Burt the
Turtle, reminded viewers to 'duck and cover'. In schools, children went through an emergency
drill in which they took cover under their desks. One Massachusetts schoolgirl wrote a letter to
a friend saying 'Can you imagine not seeing another Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, birthday,
dance, or even Halloween? We're just too young to die'. The sense of danger was also felt
around the world.
Most historians agree that it was precisely because the consequences would have been so
terrible, that a nuclear war was avoided. Both sides knew that they had nothing to gain from a
missile exchange. They both had time to think about the terrible results of making the wrong
move.
Based on previous confrontations, it seems that Khrushchev underestimated what Kennedy
would so. Now, faced with a firm response, the Soviet Union had little choice but to back down.
Kennedy's skill came in offering Khrushchev a way out. When Khrushchev ordered his ships to
stop, Kennedy made certain that his government did not sound triumphant. Kennedy's
undertaking not to invade Cuba was also critical. The final piece of the bargain was a secret
deal in which the Americans agreed to remove their missiles from Turkey.
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Learning Curve
HEROES & VILLAINS
Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Examine these sources to find out more:
Kennedy's speech
to the nation,
22 October 1962
Messages between
UK & USA, 21-24
October
Khrushchev's
statement about
Cuba, 1960
US information
booklet on
Cuba, 1962
British civil defence
poster on the
H bomb
Khrushchev's letter
to Kennedy, 26
October 1962
Kennedy to
Khrushchev, 27
October 1962
Letter from Fidel
Castro, November
1962
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HEROES & VILLAINS
Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 1
Extracts from Kennedy's television address to the nation, 22 October 1962
(Sound courtesy of the JF Kennedy Library and Museum; text from a 1962 telegram
from the British ambassador in the U.S.A., catalogue ref: PREM 11/3689)
1a
1b
1c
Questions
1. Years later, one of Kennedy's closest advisers, McGeorge Bundy, said he felt that the
language the president used was 'excessively nerve-racking'. What phrases from the
speech support this view?
2. One historian has called the speech 'the most alarming ever delivered by an American
President' and said that it 'frightened the American people'. Would you agree with this?
Would you say that this was a bad thing or a good thing?
3. Do you think that this speech would make the situation better or worse?
4. What phrases from the speech suggest that Kennedy was trying to negotiate a peaceful
end to the crisis?
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 1a
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 1b
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 1c
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HEROES & VILLAINS
Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 2
Messages between Britain and the United States, 21-24 October 1962
(Catalogue ref: 2a-b, PREM 11/3689; 2c, PREM 11/4052; 2d, CAB 129/111)
2a
2b
2c
2d
Questions
1. In Source 2a, Kennedy tells Prime Minister Harold Macmillan that there are Soviet missiles
in Cuba. Kennedy refers to 'the dangers we will now have to face together'. Are Britain and
the United States really in this crisis together?
2. Source 2b is the British Ambassador's account of his secret meeting with Kennedy.
According to him, why has Kennedy decided to take action?
3. What might be the consequence of a U.S. air strike on Cuba?
4. Why do you think Kennedy ended up rejecting the ideas of some of his military advisers
who wanted an air strike or a full invasion?
5. Source 2c is Macmillan's reply to Kennedy. What aspects of Kennedy's proposed actions
worry the British leader? Name at least three aspects.
6. Why are the British concerned about Berlin?
7. In Source 2d, what is the opinion of the writer about the plan to blockade Cuba?
8. What might be the consequences of a U.S. blockade of Cuba?
9. Some historians think Kennedy's decision against direct military action was his most
important decision of the entire crisis. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer.
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 2a
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 2b
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 2c
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 2d
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 3
Statement made about Cuba by the Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, to the United
Nations in September 1960
(Catalogue ref: FO 371/151930)
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
According to Khrushchev, why are there bad relations between Cuba and the USA?
What words does Khrushchev use to describe Cuba and the Cuban people?
What is his attitude towards the United States and its actions?
Compare this source with the viewpoint in source 4. Which viewpoint do you find most
persuasive?
5. Is this source biased? Is it of value to historians? Explain your answer.
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 3
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 4
Extracts from a United States information booklet on the situation in Cuba, 29 October
1962
(Catalogue ref: FO 371/162401)
4a
4b
4c
4d
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
According to this source, why are there bad relations between Cuba and the USA?
What is the attitude of this source towards Communists?
What is the attitude of this source towards the United States and its actions?
What do you think is the purpose or reason for writing this booklet?
Compare the viewpoint of this source with the viewpoint in source 3. Which do you find
most persuasive?
6. Is this source biased? Is it of value to historians? Explain your answer.
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 4a
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 4b
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 4c
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 4d
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 5
British civil defence poster on the hydrogen bomb and what to do in a nuclear
explosion, not dated
(Catalogue ref: INF 13/281 f.7)
Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
Why do you think this source was written? What were the objectives of the government?
To what extent do you believe people would have been reassured by such information?
How realistic are the defence measures contained in this information?
Would you agree or disagree with the view that this poster deliberately gave a misleading
impression by playing down the real impact of a hydrogen bomb?
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HEROES & VILLAINS
Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 5
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 6
Extracts from Khrushchev's letter to Kennedy, 26 October 1962
(Catalogue ref: PREM 11/3691)
6a
6b
6c
Questions
1. How convincing are the arguments used by Khrushchev in this letter about:
a. the Communists wanting peace,
b. the likely result of a war,
c. the missiles in Cuba not being intended for an attack?
2. How would you have replied if you had wanted to bring the crisis to a peaceful end?
3. How would you have replied if you had wanted to show the Soviet Union that you were not
prepared to let the missiles remain in Cuba?
4. Having read this letter, do you regard Khrushchev as recklessly risking world peace or as a
reasonable leader prepared to compromise?
5. Why do you think Khrushchev rather than Kennedy was the first to give way?
6. Does this mean that Khrushchev should be given greater credit for resolving the missile
crisis than Kennedy?
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 6a
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 6b
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 6c
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 7
Message from Kennedy to Khrushchev, 27 October 1962
(Catalogue ref: FO 371/162388)
7a
7b
Questions
1. How convincing are the arguments used by Kennedy in this letter about:
a. wanting to achieve a quick, peaceful solution to the Cuban missile problem,
b. reducing tensions between the two sides in general?
2. Having read this letter, do you regard Kennedy as someone recklessly risking world peace
or as a reasonable leader prepared to compromise?
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 7a
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 7b
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 8
Extracts from a letter from Fidel Castro, leader of Cuba, to the Secretary General of the
United Nations, broadcast on Havana Radio in November 1962
(Catalogue ref: FO 371/162405)
8a
8b
Questions
1. The tone of this source is very dramatic. What do you think is Castro's purpose or reason
for writing in this way?
2. Who are his intended audiences?
3. What words or phrases suggest Castro wants peace?
4. What words or phrases suggest Castro is ready for a fight?
5. Compare this with the viewpoint in source 4. Which viewpoint do you find most persuasive?
6. Is this source biased? Is it of value to historians? Explain your answer.
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Kennedy & Cuba > Why didn't this lead to nuclear war?
Source 8a
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Source 8b
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