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The Cuban Missile Crisis |
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October 1962 |
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| An American spy-plane spotted
something unusual as it passed over Cuba in October 1962. After close
examination it was clear that a missile site was being built there.
Cuba was friendly with Russia and it was not long before it was clear that the Russians were building a base on the island. It was estimated that the site would be complete and ready to sue in just seven days. The closeness of Cuba to the USA meant that most Americans felt under threat. Khrushchev, the Russian leader denied that they were nuclear missiles and believed that Kennedy was too weak to do anything about it.
The cartoon shows Kennedy and Khrushchev as cowboys fighting out a scene from a western, the third character is the Cuban leader Castro. |
Whatever the response many
people believed that this situation could escalate. If things
were not handled properly at best the USA could be humiliated by the
Russians or at worst a full scale nuclear war would happen.
This was without doubt a real challenge to Kennedy. Many of his critics said he was simply not up to the task. What did he do? Kennedy met and planned his response. he finally made a TV appearance on 22nd October. He demanded the removal of Russia's missiles from Cuba. Khrushchev again replied that there were no missile on the island. The next day Kennedy called Khrushchev's bluff. he said that they were nuclear weapons and that if the ships that were heading to Cuba did not return with their missiles to the Soviet Union he would attack them! Kennedy was to blockade Cuba. The World held its breath. What would happen? On the 24th Russian ships reached the blockade. After a couple of letters between the two letters which were as much about Khrushchev saving face as anything the Russians backed down. The crisis was over and the ships returned to the Soviet Union. Kennedy had proved that he was equal to the job of international leader. |
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