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Cuban Missile Crisis
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B-52 and H-bomb 2 A B-52 crew delivers a Hydrogen Bomb weapon or HBomb, more powerful than an Atomic Bomb and detonates off Bikini Atoll, circa 1956. Sequence from "Nuclear Rescue 911." Robert McNamara commentary on the Cuban missile crisis Mr. Khrushchev & Fidel Castro September 19, 1960 Cuba's Fidel Castro arrives at Idylwild in NY for UN meeting, surrounded by security guards, speaks at airport in English; Novotny of Czech and Gomulka of Poland, speaks in Polish, Khrushchev arrived on boat on East River, Pier 73. Cuban Missile Crisis September 1962 The U.S. and the U.S.S.R. trade warnings of a nuclear confrontation if Cuba becomes a base for Soviet offensive weapons or if the United States should invade Cuba. Rumors of offensive missiles in Cuba persist without hard evidence to substantiate them. Red Army troops begin arriving secretly in Cuba. The Kennedy administration is unaware of a force which will eventually reach 40,000 men. American intelligence assumes that there are about 2,000 or 3,000 troops in Cuba to guard the missile sites. Nearly three decades will pass before the presence of this large Soviet force is revealed. (JFK Library)
1962 - A U.S. reconnaissance plane photographs a Soviet nuclear missile site under construction at San Cristobal, 100 miles west of Havana.Sunday, October 14 40 Years of the U2 Monday, October 15 prelude In the decades after W W 2, The Soviet Union and the United States were not on the best of terms, to say the least. Korea, The Cuban Missile Crisis, Viet Nam, and a lot of other head bumping was taking place. The term "Cold War", was used to describe the tense situation between the two "Superpowers". Each "Superpower", had a nuclear arsenal, and at times, seemed ready to use them! The Cuban Missile Crises was a really tense period in 1962. Fidel Castro was in power in Cuba and allied with the mighty Soviet Union. Castro, Only 90 miles from American soil, and armed with rockets that could strike with nuclear warheads, as far away as Los Angeles. America, indeed the whole world, seemed on the brink of destruction. Here in Florida, nearly 100,000 troops were poised for a suicide attack on Cuba. A naval confrontation between the U.S and Soviets, was about to take place. Everyone, was anxious about the situation. Grocery store shelves emptied in a matter of hours as Americans scrambled to hoard supplies. People were practically glued to a television or radio, as the constant clatter of nuclear destruction filled the airwaves.
Tuesday, October 16, 1962 From JFK Library - The United States had caught the Soviet Union building offensive nuclear missile bases in Cuba, just 90 miles from U.S. soil, and the two superpowers were now joined in the first direct nuclear confrontation in history. Reconnaissance flights over Cuba had begun in the summer of 1962, and surveillance photographs taken on October 14 showed the beginnings of a Soviet medium-range ballistic missile base near San Cristobal. Two days later, the President called together his most trusted advisers to serve as an Executive Committee of the National Security Council (ExComm). They discussed several courses of action -- everything from doing nothing to invading Cuba. After much debate, a naval blockade of the island emerged as the leading choice.
1962 World Series America's attention focused on the the as the N.Y. Yankees beat the San Francisco Giants in Game 7, what the American public was about to find out in the next few days, would upset the daily routine for a long time. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1962
Military units begin moving to bases in the Southeastern U.S. Photos from another U-2 flight show additional sites and 16 to 32 missiles. President Kennedy attends a brief service at St. Matthew's Cathedral in observance of the National Day of Prayer. He has lunch with Crown Prince Hasan of Libya, and then makes a political visit to Connecticut in support of Democratic congressional candidates. (JFK LIbrary) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1962
President Kennedy is visited by Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko, who asserts that Soviet aid to Cuba is purely defensive and does not represent a threat to the United States. Kennedy, without revealing what he knows of the existence of the missiles, reads to Gromyko his public warning of September 4 that the "gravest consequences" would follow if significant Soviet offensive weapons were introduced into Cuba. By October 18, the president and his advisers weighed only two options: blockade or invasion. Meanwhile, nuclear tests were conducted on Johnson's Atoll about 800 miles west of Hawaii.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1962 President Kennedy, not wanting to tip his hand to the Soviets, and wanting, not to spread panic to the public, decided to keep his routine looking as normal as possible. He kept up with normal business in the White House, and decided to keep campaigning for the mid term elections. This election would be a test for the Democrats, with W W 2 Hero and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower (34th President 1953-1961) actively campaigning for the Republicans.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1962 President Kennedy returns suddenly to Washington and after five hours of discussion with top advisers decides on the quarantine. Plans for deploying naval units are drawn and work is begun on a speech to notify the American people
More nuclear tests are conducted on Johnson's Atoll west of Hawaii. (see map above for location) SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21 After attending Mass at St. Stephen's Church with Mrs. Kennedy, the President meets with General Walter Sweeney of the Tactical Air Command who tells him that an air strike could not guarantee 100% destruction of the missiles.(JFL library) MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1962 President Kennedy phones former Presidents Hoover, Truman and - Eisenhower to brief them on the situation. Meetings to coordinate all actions continue. Kennedy formally establishes the Executive Committee of the National Security Council and instructs it to meet daily during the crisis. Kennedy briefs the cabinet and congressional leaders on the situation. Kennedy also informs British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan of the situation by telephone.(JFL library) President Kennedy writes to Nikita Khrushchev, Premier of the Soviet Union, prior to addressing the American public on live television: ... I have not assumed that you or any other sane man would In this nuclear age, deliberately plunge the world into war which it is crystal clear no country could win and which could only result in catastrophic consequences to the whole world, including the aggressor.(JFL library) At 7:00 p.m. Kennedy speaks on television, revealing the evidence of Soviet missiles in Cuba and calling for their removal. He also announces the establishment of a naval quarantine around the island until the Soviet Union agrees to dismantle the missile sites and to make certain that no additional missiles are shipped to Cuba. Approximately one hour before the speech, Secretary of State Dean Rusk formally notifies Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin of the contents of the President's speech.(JFL library) Radio and Television Report to the American People on the Soviet Arms Buildup in Cuba, President’s Reading Copy, October 22, 1962
In a televised address on October 22, 1962, President Kennedy informed the American people of the presence of missile sites in Cuba. When the United States put a naval blockade in place around Cuba, tensions mounted, and the world wondered if there could be a peaceful resolution to the crisis. After this announcement, you can only imagine the public response. In the days and months to come, there was a type of a scramble by Americans, getting ready to survive the bomb. With the cat out of the bag, The next step was to get in touch, directly with the Soviet head of state. Communication in the early 60's, although for the time were cutting edge, would today seem pitiful. Ordinary citizens from various countries, today, are able to chat one on one, or in groups, via internet with computers. During the period of the 50's and 60's, even leaders of nations had a slow way to go. Telegraph was one form of long distance communication, which is how Kennedy and Khrushchev traded ideas. In those days we watched black and white TV programs. A household was lucky to have good enough reception with rabbit ears or an outside antenna to watch all three networks, NBC, ABC, CBS. Yes three While mass communications technology was in it's first stages, Military technology was quite advanced, even by today's standards. The X-15 rocket plane, was setting speed records, that still stand. One of the pilots of the X-15, would in just a few short years, be the first human to set foot on the Moon. Neil Armstrong, would make that giant leap for mankind. Another military technology of the 60's, weapons of mass destruction, ICBM's (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) armed with nuclear warheads, were powerful and plentiful enough to kill everyone on the planet 3 times, or so it was commonly said. The big question of the day was, how many times did you need to be killed before you were dead. It seemed three would do it! Both countries were led by World War 2 veterans. During the Great Depression and WW2, day to day existance was incredibly difficult, and it produced incredibly tough individuals. John Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev were two such individuals. Today's global economic downturn, while very difficult to deal with, and may yet grow worse, would have been a walk in the park for the people of that era. Today we are losing jobs, then you could not beg a job. Today, we have high prices. Then, consumer goods were rationed, or non existant. No doubt, these two men's war and life experiences were fresh on their minds, that and the thought of the awesome forces of annihilation at the disposal of these two countries, as they each sat down to communicate with one another. President John F. Kennedy And Chairman Nikita Sergyeyevich Khrushchev
Letter From President John F. Kennedy to Chairman Khrushchev, October 22, 1962The White House Sir: A copy of the statement I am making tonight concerning developments in Cuba and the reaction of my Government thereto has been handed to your Ambassador in Washington. In view of the gravity of the developments to which I refer, I want you to know immediately and accurately the position of my Government in this matter. In our discussions and exchanges on Berlin and other international questions, the one thing that has most concerned me has been the possibility that your Government would not correctly understand the will and determination of the United States in any given situation, since I have not assumed that you or any other sane man would, in this nuclear age, deliberately plunge the world into war which it is crystal clear no country could win and which could only result in catastrophic consequences to the whole world, including the aggressor. At our meeting in Vienna and subsequently, I expressed our readiness and desire to find, through peaceful negotiation, a solution to any and all problems that divide us. At the same time, I made clear that in view of the objectives of the ideology to which you adhere, the United States could not tolerate any action on your part which in a major way disturbed the existing over-all balance of power in the world. I stated that an attempt to force abandonment of our responsibilities and commitments in Berlin would constitute such an action and that the United States would resist with all the power at its command. It was in order to avoid any incorrect assessment on the part of your Government with respect to Cuba that I publicly stated that if certain developments in Cuba took place, the United States would do whatever must be done to protect its own security and that of its allies. Moreover, the Congress adopted a resolution expressing its support of this declared policy. Despite this, the rapid development of long-range missile bases and other offensive weapons systems in Cuba has proceeded. I must tell you that the United States is determined that this threat to the security of this hemisphere be removed. At the same time, I wish to point out that the action we are taking is the minimum necessary to remove the threat to the security of the nations of this hemisphere. The fact of this minimum response should not be taken as a basis, however, for any misjudgment on your part. I hope that your Government will refrain from any action which would widen or deepen this already grave crisis and that we can agree to resume the path of peaceful negotiations. Sincerely, JFK Chairman Khrushchev's Letter to President Kennedy, October 23, 1962
Department of State Embossed Seal of the USSR Moscow, October 23, 1962 Mr. President. I have just received your letter, and have also acquainted myself with the text of your speech of October 22 regarding Cuba. I must say frankly that measures indicated in your statement constitute a serious threat to peace and to the security of nations. The United States has openly taken the path of grossly violating the United Nations Charter, path of violating international norms of freedom of navigation on the high seas, the path of aggressive actions both against Cuba and against the Soviet Union. The statement by the Government of the United States of America can only be regarded as undisguised interference in the internal of the Republic of Cuba, the Soviet Union, and other states. The United Nations Charter and international norms give no right to any state to institute in international waters the inspection of vessels bound for the shores of the Republic of Cuba. And naturally, neither can we recognize the right of the United States to establish control over armaments which are necessary for the Republic of Cuba to strengthen of its defense capability. We affirm that the armaments which are in Cuba, regardless of the classification to which they may belong, are intended solely for defensive purposes, in order to secure the Republic of Cuba against the attack of an aggressor. I hope that the United States Government will display wisdom and renounce the actions pursued by you, which may lead to catastrophic consequences for world peace. The viewpoint of the Soviet Government with regard to your statement of October 22 is set forth in statement of the Soviet Government, which is being transmitted to you through your Ambassador at Moscow. [s] N. Khrushchev N. Khrushchev President Kennedy's Letter of October 23 as Transmitted by State Department Telegram Washington, October 23, 1962, 6:51 p.m. 985. You should deliver following letter addressed by the President to Chairman Khrushchev immediately. This replaces message contained Deptel 982. "Dear Mr. Chairman: I have received your letter of October twenty-third. I think you will recognize that the step which started the current chain of events was the action of your Government in secretly furnishing offensive weapons to Cuba. We will be discussing this matter in the Security Council. In the meantime, I am concerned that we both show prudence and do nothing to allow events to make the situation more difficult to control than it already is. I hope that you will issue immediately the necessary instructions to your ships to observe the terms of the quarantine, the basis of which was established by the vote of the Organization of American States this afternoon, and which will go into effect at 1400 hours Greenwich time October twenty-four. Sincerely, JFK." On the Brink of Destruction: The Cuban Missile Crisis The Story of the Cuban Missile Crisis, set behind the soundtrack of Pink Floyd. USA vs CUBA - Cuban Missile Crises Spy Plane The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation between the United States, the Soviet Union, and Cuba in the early 1960s during the Cold War
Declassified U.S. Nuclear Test Film #58 0800058 - U.S. Navy Training Film - Mark 43 and Mark 57 Weapons - Shipboard Handling, Including Aircraft Loading - 1963 -20:25 - Black&White - An A-4 Skyhawk aircraft rises into view on a platform aboard the aircraft carrier USS Independence. A double rigged crane transfers Mark 43 and Mark 57 nuclear weapons in a coffin to the Independence from a carrier support ship. This video demonstrates how nuclear weapons and delivery aircraft function in a coordinated effort that could effectively be used against an enemy of the U.S. The weapons, one by one, are placed on an elevator and taken to a lower deck to await mating with an A-4. They are removed from the transportation cart and placed in a sturdy fixture bolted to the floor. Reflecting the times in 1963, the narrator of the video emphasizes the importance of readiness and safety as twin components of reliability to counter any enemy threat in the Cold War. The video shows a drill in which a nuclear strike plan is created and sent to weapon assembly officers on board. They direct teams to take the weapons from storage, move them to the A-4s, and install them. The Mark 57 was a lightweight, multipurpose nuclear depth charge for antisubmarine warfare and a bomb for land warfare. It was 118 inches long with a diameter of 14.75 inches and weighed approximately 510 pounds. The fission device was in the stockpile from 1963 to 1992. The Mark 43 was a thermonuclear strategic and tactical nuclear weapon carried by most of the nuclear capable aircraft in the U.S. inventory. It was one of the first laydown bombs, developed to minimize aircraft losses by delivering the bomb at transonic speeds, at altitudes of 100 to 200 feet. The weapons components could withstand the ground impact shocks and then be detonated at a preset time. It also could be delivered as a parachute-retarded airburst, a surface burst, or a free-fall airburst. The Mark 43, in the stockpile from 1961 to 1991, was 12.5 feet long with a diameter of 18 inches and weighed approximately 2,100 pounds.
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