How did Kennedy react to USSR
missiles in Cuba?
Learning objective – to understand how
Kennedy reacted to the USSR missiles in
Cuba.
I can describe the
different options
open to Kennedy
and what he did.
Grade D
I can explain the
different
options
Kennedy had and
why he chose the
option he did.
Grade B
I can explain and
outline
the
importance
of
Kennedy’s actions
and why events
turned out the way
they did.
Grade A and A*
What was Kennedy’s reaction to
photos of the Cuban missiles?
Once it was confirmed that the photos did show USSR
missiles in Cuba, Kennedy formed a group of advisors on
16th October 1962. to decide what to do next.
Kennedy had five options………
Option one – Do nothing
Pros – Overreacting may lead to nuclear war. The
USA still had more missiles than USSR.
Cons – To do nothing may be seen as a sign of
weakness and encourage the USSR to challenge USA
influence elsewhere in the world.
Option two – Surgical air strike
Pros – Destroys the missiles before they become
operational.
Cons – No guarantee that an air strike could destroy
all the missiles. Some might be launched against US
cities. Bombing would probably kill USSR soldiers
and that would be seen as an escalation of the Cold
War into a Hot War.
Option three – Invasion
Pros – Remove missiles and Castro from power.
Cons – Seen as an escalation. USSR would react with
a possible nuclear war or invasion of West Berlin.
Option four – Diplomatic
pressure
Pros – Involvement of UN and other countries may
force USSR to withdraw missiles.
Cons – Seen as a weak option and one that would
unlikely produce the desired reaction from
Khrushchev.
Option five – naval
blockade
Pros – This would show firm action without direct
confrontation. It would also buy time to consider
next actions.
Cons – A blockade would not remove the missiles
already placed in Cuba. Action would likely to be
slow.
What happened on 22nd October 1962?
Kennedy made his decision and
announced it live on television. He
informed the world that Soviet
missiles had been found on Cuba and
that the US would launch a naval
blockade around Cuba which would
search any ships going through the
blockade.
Why did Kennedy choose the blockade
option?
Kennedy wanted to avoid war despite
pressure from US military leaders to
bomb Cuba.
Kennedy wanted to give Khrushchev a
way out without to appear to
humiliate the Soviet leader.
Kennedy wanted to buy time to try
and solve the crisis without direct
confrontation.
Was the US naval blockade of Cuba
successful?
The blockade was launched on 23rd
October. At this point both US and
USSR armed forces went on red alert.
Khrushchev denied that there were
USSR missiles on Cuba and ordered
his ships to continue their journey to
Cuba.
On 24th October, a USSR ship is
stopped at the US blockade and
searched. No missiles were found.
Other USSR ships with questionable
cargo turn back.
What was the impact of Khrushchev’s
letter?
On 26th October, Khrushchev sends a
message to Kennedy stating that if the
blockade was lifted and US promise not
to invade Cuba and then USSR would
consider withdrawing its missiles.
However, the next day a U2 spy plane
was shot down over Cuba and
Khrushchev sent a tougher message
arguing that USSR missile in Cuba
were no more dangerous than US
missiles in Turkey.
The Cuban Missile Crisis was at its
peak.
How did Kennedy respond to
Khrushchev’s tougher stance?
On 27th October, Kennedy simply
ignored Khrushchev’s second message
and responded to the first. He agreed
to lift the blockade and not to attack
Cuba as well as removing missiles from
Turkey if the USSR removed its missiles
from Cuba.
On 28th October, US spotted USSR
ships turning away from the blockade
and Khrushchev sent a message
agreeing with Kennedy.
The Cuban Missile Crisis was over as
Dean Rusk said ‘ We went eyeball to
eyeball and the other guy has just
blinked’
Plenary
From what you have learnt this lesson, give –
5 key points that summarise the Cuban Missile Crisis.
3 questions that you could answer about the Cuban Missile Crisis.
1 most important option that Kennedy had to deal with the USSR
missiles in Cuba.