The Cuban Missile Crisis

Relevance

100

One year after the crisis ended, what did your two nations agree on?

What is American put an agreement into action that effectively ended above ground testing of atomic weapons.

200

“What did the Cold War show about your nations’ diplomatic policy?”

What is Americans: The Cuban Missile Crisis proved that the United States of America will always hold its ground and remain calm, cool, and collected during a crisis like this one. President, JFK pulled one of his greatest moves as president when he stood his ground and waited, using a naval blockade to detour the Soviets. Soviets: From this perspective, this crisis proved that contrary to popular belief, they can be very diplomatic. Soviets did not want to start a nuclear Holocaust, but did want to have their presence displayed in Cuba. This event proved that they are willing to take the necessary steps to avoid a potential full-scale nuclear war.

300

What treaty resulted from the Cuban Missile Crisis that both of your nations signed in 1968?

What is Soviets: The NTP or Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968 was an agreement between these nations, as well as others that established cooperation in the stemming the spread of nuclear technology. It proved that these two nations can work together in a diplomatic context.

400

After the crisis, many soviet leaders were upset with Khrushchev’s “soft” approach. One of these leaders was the most influential in the removal of Khrushchev. Who was he?

Who is Soviets: Leonid Brezhnev. He was the Supreme Soviet presidium chairman and nominal head of state who lead the revolt against Khrushchev’s for many other reasons than just his so called “soft” policy displayed in the Missile Crisis.

Context

100

When did the cold war start?

What is 1947?

200

What types of things caused the Cold War?

What is Americans: The USSR was trying to spread their communist regime throughout Eastern Europe. USSR: America had powerful weapons and was trying to strongarm us away from our goals.

300

What was the Berlin Blockade?

What is America: The USSR blocked access to food and supplies meant for West Berlin, forcing America to airlift them necessities.

400

Why was the Berlin Wall set in place?

What is Americans: To keep Eastern Germans from escaping and causing a “brain drain” of workers.

500

Why did the Cold War never break out into all out war?

What is MAD (Mutually assured destruction) Kruschev: Castro wanted war, but this was never his aim. Krushchev only wanted to get American missiles out of Turkey.

Political Leaders

100

Which leader had to abruptly cancel his planned public events because of a “cold” when instead spent the day with personal advisors about the events in Cuba?

Who is John F. Kennedy

200

How were Kennedy’s actions seen after the crisis was averted?

What is A: His actions were exemplary and other chief executives should strive to be in his likeness with his decisions during this time. R: his actions were a complete overreaction and would not have been able to be justified if they would have just assessed the Soviet’s intentions and strategic goals.

300

Which leader had a fiery temper and was not allowed entrance into Disneyland?

Who is Nikita Khrushchev

400

True or False- Khrushchev and his Communist regime were not a war-desiring nation, but wished for peace and harmony for themselves and all other nations as well.

What is R: True. Even in Khrushchev’s letter to Kennedy he said quote, ”Everyone needs peace: both capitalists, if they have not lost their reason, and, still more, Communists, people who know how to value not only their own lives but, more than anything, the lives of the peoples. Communists are against all wars between states in general and have been defending the cause of peace since they came into the world. Communists have always regarded war as a calamity, and not as a game nor as a means for the attainment of definite goals, nor, all the more, as a goal in itself. Their goals are clear, and the means to attain them is labor. War is the enemy and a calamity for all the peoples.” A: This answer is obviously false. Khrushchev knew exactly what he was doing when he placed nuclear weapons in Cuba and any leader who does this clearly does not see war is the enemy, but as a reasonable action for gaining influence and power. R: Khrushchev surely did not place nuclear weapons in Cuba to premeditate any aggressive action. Yes, Soviets placed weapons in Cuba but the Americans also had weapons in Turkey. Kennedy was the one who threatened us with war when the hands of power seemed to shift. Weapon placement in Cuba was not a call for war, but a call for defense. We did not want the United States to invade Cuba, especially after the embarrassing Bay of Pigs incident.

500

Which leader was not consulted with the various negotiation arrangements and wished for war, rather than peace?

Who is Fidel Castro

Executive Action

100

What actions did Krushchev take and Why did Krushchev take forceful action?

What is Khrushchev had become consumed after the April 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion with the need to protect Castro's communist government. "We decided if we put missiles in Cuba, then we needed to protect them. So we also needed infantry . . . approximately several thousand." (Eventually the number climbed to somewhere between 40,000 and 50,000.) Of course, those troops also had to be protected, especially against an air attack, and so antiaircraft batteries were added. Then, Khrushchev recalled, "we decided that we needed artillery and tanks in case of a landing assault." Other significant weapons that followed included IL-28 (nuclear-capable) bombers, MIG-21 fighters, an array of battlefield nuclear weapons that included about 80 short-range FKR-1 nuclear-capable cruise missiles (that could be fired at attacking U.S. Navy vessels), several dozen LUNA (NATO designated FROGs) tactical nuclear weapons (that could be used to kill assault troops as they landed), and submarines armed with nuclear torpedoes.

200

What actions did Kennedy take?

What is He said the United States was demanding that all the offensive missiles be removed from Cuba forthwith—or else—and announced that a "quarantine" of Cuba (calling it a blockade would have represented it as an act of war) was only the first step toward forcing the removal of the offending weapons. And he added that any missile launched from Cuba would be considered to have originated from the Soviet Union and would require "a full retaliatory response" upon the USSR—(The blockade of Cuba, and the other responses detailed in the President's dramatic 20-minute speech, had been devised by a select group of advisers during the previous week in secret meetings that often lasted late into the night.)

300

What did the ExComm want to do?

What is During that first (covert) week of the crisis preceding the President's speech—October 16–22—the ExComm members debated whether to bomb the missile sites, invade Cuba, surreptitiously approach Khrushchev with an ultimatum, or begin the effort to force the removal of the missiles with a blockade. (Krushchev and Castro unaware that missiles discovered at this time)

400

Did the CIA have adequate detail?

What is The intelligence the CIA provided was flawed and inadequate. Not only had the agency missed the deployment of the medium- and intermediate-range missiles until it was almost too late to respond, but it was also unaware that the Soviets had on hand 35 LUNA battlefield nuclear weapons that would have devastated any American landing force. The CIA's best estimate of the number of Soviet ground forces in Cuba was 10,000–12,000; in fact, more than 40,000 battle ready Soviet combat troops were prepared to confront a U.S. assault.

500

Who prevented war?

What is War was prevented for two reasons, and the ExComm's members were responsible for neither. The first, and most important, is that Khrushchev did not want a war. His objective was to protect Castro's government by deterring, not fighting, the United States. "Any fool can start a war," he often remarked; and he had experienced more than enough of war's horrors. The second reason that war was avoided is that the President, not the members of the ExComm (and certainly not the Joint Chiefs, who unanimously and persistently recommended attacking Cuba), insisted on providing Khrushchev with a politically acceptable exit from his failed gamble. The challenge was to find a resolution that gave the Soviet leader options other than capitulate or fight. To do so, it was necessary for the President to empathize with his adversary, to see the crisis from Khrushchev's perspective. He was encouraged in this by two unsung, consistently level-headed advisers.

Events

100

What were the events leading up that resulted in the Crisis situation?

What is America: In 1959, Cuba, which is right off the coast of Florida underwent a Civil War that changed ended up shifting the country to a communist nation. This immediately sent some red flags up because it was so close to America and they were sure that Russia would want to make “friends” with them. So America made a deal with Turkey and sent some nukes their way, so they could keep an eye on Russia. Russia: Well, because America sent nukes towards Russia , they ended up sending nukes the American's way as well. Russia planted missiles in Cuba but America didn’t discover them until 3 years later. (1962) America: Having missiles so close to us and with such an unstable government leading the country, we wanted to immediately step in and be able to protect home. In fact, many leaders just wanted to invade Cuba to solve the problem quickly. But JFK wouldn’t allow them to do that.

200

Q: How did leaders handle the crisis?

What is America: Well, JFK did what he does best. He took a stand for the U.S. by forcing Russia into a tough spot. He put a blockade in place and claimed that he would stop any Russian boats headed to Cuba, to protect American lives. Russia: But America couldn’t do that, which is exactly what Khrushchev said. He was right in saying that doing that would basically be an act of war.

300

Q: How much information did the general public know?

What is America: Looking back, they probably had too much. JFK made his announcement of the blockade on national television, and it caused so many people to panic. So many people thought there was going to be a nuclear war right on the heels of World War II.

400

Q: How did the Crisis ended up be diverted?

What is America: An American named Fomin, suggested that America simply trade. If they promised to leave Cuba alone, then Russia could take their missiles home. Russia: But that wasn’t enough. There were still nukes pointed at us from Turkey, so Khrushchev made a point to make sure that Kennedy would take the nukes out of Turkey. America: That part about Turkey, no one knew about. It made us look tough.