CUBA ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
After viewing Cuba and engaging in the corresponding discussion questions and
activities, students will be able to answer the following:
1. What were the origins of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
2. What role did the personalities of Kennedy, Khrushchev and Castro play in the
Cuban Missile Crisis?
3. What were the different perspectives on the Cuban Missile Crisis?
4. What effect did the decision-making processes of the United States and the Soviet
Union have on the course of the Cuban Missile Crisis?
5. How does Cuba shed light on the broad themes of the Cold War?
Segment One
Throughout the 1940's and 50's, Cuba is allied to the United States. Cuban land and industry are
owned mainly by American corporations. Cuba is led by the dictator Fulgencio Batista. In 1959, a
lawyer- turned-revolutionary named Fidel Castro takes control of Havana. Castro, eager to rid
Cuba of American capitalism, nationalizes almost $1 billion worth of American investments. In the
revolution, 550 members of the old regime are executed. America responds with a trade embargo
and secret CIA operations.

In the 1940's and 50's, what was America's interest in Cuba?

How were American interests in Cuba affected by Castro's revolution in 1959? What does
it mean to "nationalize" land and industry? What American reaction would you predict?

How does Castro describe the "triumph of the 1959 revolution?" How does his
explanation compare with that in the footage that follows?

What can you infer from Oleg Troyanovski's description of Castro's relationship with the
Soviet Union?
Segment Two
American CIA agents train Cuban exiles to invade Cuba. President Kennedy agrees to the
invasion, but only if America's involvement can be denied. On April 15, 1961, six American
bombers disguised in the colors of the Cuban Air Force, take off from Nicaragua for an attack on
Cuban airfields. On April 17, 1,500 Cuban exiles equipped with American arms and ammunition
arrive at the Bay of Pigs, 125 miles south of Havana. Kennedy, faced with international
condemnation for the bombing, cancels all further air support.

How did the United States plan to "get rid of Castro?" Why is it significant that Kennedy
was insistent on denying U.S. intervention in Cuba?

Have you ever made a decision and then changed your mind? Look for evidence of why
the United States first supported the Bay of Pigs Invasion and then withdrew support.

Predict the impact the Bay of Pigs Invasion would have on international opinion.

According to the video, why did the Bay of Pigs fail? What is your reaction to President
Kennedy's response to its failure?
Segment Three
Castro asks for support from the Soviet Union. In July 1962, the first 150 Soviet ships sail for
Cuba loaded with heavily disguised nuclear missiles and more than 40,000 troops. CIA agents
report Russian troops and missile trailers in the streets of Havana; Washington dismisses the
reports as rumor. U-2 spy planes tell a different story.

What can you infer from the video about U.S. intentions for removing Castro from power?

Have you ever been in a situation where you tried to intimidate someone through
words or actions but it was really a bluff. What were the results? Were you
successful, or did someone call your bluff?

Why do you think that the United States staged a practice invasion in 1962? What was
the goal?
o
What message did the U.S. practice invasion send to Castro and the Soviet Union?
o
What did it lead Castro to do?
o
How might it have influenced Soviet or Cuban policy toward the United States?

Why were intermediate-range missiles strategically important for both the Soviet Union
and Cuba? Why did the Soviet Union send missiles to Cuba? What was Castro's reaction
to Khrushchev's offer?

What can you infer about Soviet intentions from the effort to hide the missiles on the
ships coming to Cuba?

At the height of the Cold War, why was the United States surprised to learn about Soviet
missiles in Cuba?
Segment Four
On October 16, 1962, Kennedy is told there are Soviet missiles in Cuba. He assembles an
executive committee of advisers (ExComm). They discuss several options for Cuba, including
invasion, blockade and quarantine. Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobyrin and Soviet Foreign
Minister Andrei Gromyko tell Kennedy that no missiles are present. ExComm chooses to
quarantine Cuba.

According to ExComm member Theodore Sorensen, why didn't ExComm debate why the
Soviet Union had sent the missiles? Why were they more concerned with the secrecy of
it?

What would a first strike from Cuba have destroyed in the United States? Why is this
significant?

What options were discussed by the ExComm members? What appears to have been
the first reaction? Why did Robert Kennedy hesitate to use an air strike?

What was the Soviet perspective on placing missiles in Cuba? What was the American
perspective? How did the difference in perspective lead to increased tensions?

Ultimately, what decision did the ExComm members reach? Why?
Segment Five
Secretary of State Dean Rusk confronts Dobyrin with the information of secret missiles.
Khrushchev responds that he will not back down. As the superpowers prepare for conflict, Cuba
announces a "Combat Alarm." For the first time, the U.S. Strategic Air Command moves to
Defense Condition 2. The next step, DEFCON 1, will mean war.

Using Kennedy's television address, outline the U.S. picture of Soviet intentions. What
specific words does he use to make his point?

Why do you think President Kennedy encouraged his brother Robert to meet in secret
with Anatoly Dobrynin?
o
What do you think he hoped to achieve? On what did Kennedy and Dobrynin disagree?

How did American domestic reaction compare with that in the Soviet Union? How do you
account for the difference?

What criteria would you use to assess the tension created by the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Segment Six
On October 26, Kennedy receives a telegram from Khrushchev who asks for assurance that
Kennedy will not invade Cuba. Then Khrushchev sends a second message demanding a trade:
Soviet missiles in Cuba for U.S. missiles in Turkey. Soviet missiles shoot down a U.S. U-2 spy
plane. Tensions are at an all-time high. Diplomacy prevails as Robert Kennedy and Andrei
Gromyko agree that if the Soviet Union removes its missiles from Cuba, the United States will
agree not to attack Cuba and will remove its missiles from Turkey. Nuclear war is avoided.

How does Roger Hilsman's quotation shed light on the underlying goals of both
Khrushchev and Kennedy regarding the Cuban Missile Crisis?

What "deals" did Khrushchev and Kennedy offer one another?
o
How did Robert Kennedy and Anatoly Dobrynin come to a solution for the crisis? What
was the compromise?

What can be inferred from Castro's reaction to the withdrawal of the missiles from Cuba?

What criteria would you use to determine who won or who lost the Cuban Missile Crisis?
o
Based on the criteria, how would you answer that question?

Think about what causes situations to escalate in our personal lives, in politics or
power struggles. How can situations be de-escalated to bring about an end to the
crisis?