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In a televised speech of extraordinary gravity, President John F. Kennedy announces on October 22, 1962 that U.S. spy planes have discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba. These missile sites—under construction but nearing completion—housed medium-range missiles capable of striking a number of major cities in the United States, including Washington, D.C.
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Kennedy announced that he was ordering a naval “quarantine” of Cuba to prevent Soviet ships from transporting any more offensive weapons to the island and explained that the United States would not tolerate the existence of the missile sites currently in place. The president made it clear that America would not stop short of military action to end what he called a “clandestine, reckless and provocative threat to world peace.”
What is known as the Cuban Missile Crisis actually began on October 14, 1962—the day that U.S. intelligence personnel analyzing U-2 spy plane data discovered that the Soviets were building medium-range missile sites in Cuba. The next day, President Kennedy secretly convened an emergency meeting of his senior military, political, and diplomatic advisers to discuss the ominous development. The group became known as ExComm, short for Executive Committee. After rejecting a surgical air strike against the missile sites, ExComm decided on a naval quarantine and a demand that the bases be dismantled and missiles removed. On the night of October 22, Kennedy went on national television to announce his decision. During the next six days, the crisis escalated to a breaking point as the world tottered on the brink of nuclear war between the two superpowers.
At the time this happened, I would kid living in Arkansas. Our teacher told the class that we were being sent home with permission slips that our parents needed to sign, the slips granted permission to issue us "Dog Tags". I gavenede the slip to my Mom. She had a stricken look on her face as she and Dad signed it. I heard them talking later, Mom wanted to what to do. Dad told there was very little. We lived within spitting distance of Missel Silo's in El Dorado, Arkansas. My Grandmother in Little Rock, about a half a mile Little Rock Air Force Base. I turned in the permission and Dad drove us to Little Rock to stay a days with my Grandmother. I had never my parents or my Grand Mother so afraid.
Cuban Missile Crisis - Causes, Timeline & Significance | HISTORY
The Cuban Missile crisis was a 13-day political and military standoff in October 1962 over Soviet missiles in Cuba.
Kennedy announced that he was ordering a naval “quarantine” of Cuba to prevent Soviet ships from transporting any more offensive weapons to the island and explained that the United States would not tolerate the existence of the missile sites currently in place. The president made it clear that America would not stop short of military action to end what he called a “clandestine, reckless and provocative threat to world peace.”
What is known as the Cuban Missile Crisis actually began on October 14, 1962—the day that U.S. intelligence personnel analyzing U-2 spy plane data discovered that the Soviets were building medium-range missile sites in Cuba. The next day, President Kennedy secretly convened an emergency meeting of his senior military, political, and diplomatic advisers to discuss the ominous development. The group became known as ExComm, short for Executive Committee. After rejecting a surgical air strike against the missile sites, ExComm decided on a naval quarantine and a demand that the bases be dismantled and missiles removed. On the night of October 22, Kennedy went on national television to announce his decision. During the next six days, the crisis escalated to a breaking point as the world tottered on the brink of nuclear war between the two superpowers.
At the time this happened, I would kid living in Arkansas. Our teacher told the class that we were being sent home with permission slips that our parents needed to sign, the slips granted permission to issue us "Dog Tags". I gavenede the slip to my Mom. She had a stricken look on her face as she and Dad signed it. I heard them talking later, Mom wanted to what to do. Dad told there was very little. We lived within spitting distance of Missel Silo's in El Dorado, Arkansas. My Grandmother in Little Rock, about a half a mile Little Rock Air Force Base. I turned in the permission and Dad drove us to Little Rock to stay a days with my Grandmother. I had never my parents or my Grand Mother so afraid.
