By using a comparative analysis, one can examine the process of. Oct 02, 2011 jfk spoke to a panicked nation on the evening of october 22, 1962. The cuban missile crisis was the signature moment of john f. Harvard kennedy schools belfer center has created this site as a resource for the cuban missile crisis. Within a year, kennedy and khrushchev signed the nuclear test ban treaty, the first disarmament agreement of the nuclear age. The secrecy that surrounded the negotiations that ended the crisis allowed kennedy to convey to the public the impression that he had prevailed through steely resolve in the face of soviet pressure. I want to say a few words to the captive people of cuba, to whom this speech is being directly carried by special radio facilities. The cuban missile crisis was one of the major moments in the presidency of john f. Kennedys inaugural address in january 1961 foreshadowed his cuban missile crisis speech of october 22, 1962. Kennedy s speech on radio and television october 22, 1962. Dod, transcripts, secret, notes taken from transcripts of meetings of the joint chiefs of staff, octobernovember 1962. The cuban missile crisis was perhaps the greatest test of john f.
This entry was posted in uncategorized and tagged cold war, cuban missile crisis, deterrence, jfk, jfk air strike speech, jfk airstrike speech, john f. The first week of the cuban missile crisis played out in secret. Dec 12, 2017 the cuban missile crisis was perhaps the greatest test of john f. The cuban missile crisis bought the world closer to extinction than ever before. Cuban missile crisis, major confrontation at the height of the cold war that brought the united states and the soviet union to the brink of a shooting war in october 1962 over the presence of soviet nucleararmed missiles in cuba. This government, as promised, has maintained the closest surveillance of the soviet military buildup on the island of cuba.
Cuban missile crisis 4 the first consignment of r12 missiles arrived on the night of september 8, followed by a second on september 16. Limited nuclear test ban treaty 1963 assassinated by lee harvey oswald reasons for selection. In a speech in october 1960, senator john f kennedy. Cuban missile crisis for thirteen days in october 1962 the world waitedseemingly on the brink of nuclear warand hoped for a peaceful resolution to the cuban missile crisis. It was through the decisive actions of newly elected president john f kennedy and then premier of the ussr nikita khrushchev that the confrontation did not escalate into all out nuclear war. Kennedy delivered a televised speech announcing the presence of soviet missiles in cuba. Eisenhowers reluctant adventurism to use a favorite marxist word plunged us into the most dangerous period of the cold war. Kennedy, martin hellman, nuclear deterrence, nuclear risk, nuclear war, nuclear weapons, stanford.
Nov 16, 2012 this entry was posted in uncategorized and tagged cold war, cuban missile crisis, deterrence, jfk, jfk air strike speech, jfk airstrike speech, john f. The cuban missile crisis began for the united states on the morning of october 16, when president kennedy was informed of the discovery of missile sites in cuba by u2 surveillance aircraft. Rhetorical devices of kennedys cuban missile crisis speech. Three days after kennedys speech, the chinese peoples daily announced. Americas response was to threaten launching nuclear missiles at the russians. The cuban missile crisis essay 2455 words 10 pages. Kennedy and of the decadeslong cold war between the u. The cuban missile crisis was a day political and military standoff between the u. Jfk on the cuban missile crisis 1962 today in history 22 oct 16 on october 22, 1962, in a nationally broadcast address, president john f.
Cthe inauguration marked the commencement of john f. Jun 17, 2019 the cuban missile crisis was among the scariest events of the cold war. The r12 was the first operational intermediaterange ballistic missile, the first missile ever massproduced, and the first. As the 50th anniversary of the crisis approaches, it is useful to reflect on a speech kennedy delivered at the university of maine more than a year later. It was the period that the cold war reached its peak because of the possible confrontation between the two superpowers, the us and the ussr, at the time. Kennedys presidency, and while he and khrushchev were able to achieve a peaceful resolution, the crisis had a number of farreaching historical consequences. President kennedy and secretary of defense mcnamara in an excomm meeting.
Just prior to the cuban missile crisis, it appeared that the soviet union was. The cuban missile crisis greatly reflects the struggle of power between the united states and soviet union throughout the cold war. The r12 was the first operational intermediaterange ballistic missile, the first missile ever massproduced, and the first soviet missile deployed with a thermonuclear warhead. In the speech draft the next day, kennedy sided further with the blockadeultimatum faction.
Khrushchev letter to u thant, accepting his proposal. Cuba and the missile crisis article pdf available in journal of latin american studies 2212. During the cuban missile crisis, kennedy s advisors discussed many options regarding how they might respond to the installation of soviet missiles in cuba. Kennedy s inaugural address in january 1961 foreshadowed his cuban missile crisis speech of october 22, 1962.
The cuban missile crisis, also known as the october crisis of 1962 spanish. From october 16, 1962 to october 22, 1962, kennedy formed the executive committee. Click download or read online button to thecubanmissilecrisis book pdf for free now. Cuban missile crisis world history free pdf download. Cuban missile crisis anniversary brings analysis of. Through a realist analysis of the cuban missile crisis, it is clear that the actions of both states reflect these realist fundamentals. The cuban missile crisis known as the october crisis in cuba or russian. The cuban missile crisis changed kennedy and khrushchev, and thereby. In a speech in cincinnati five months before the war. Pdf this chapter develops a new explanation of the cuban missile crisis, from a general escalation model of interstate conflict.
In this lesson plan, students consider some of the options discussed, what groups and which individuals supported each option, and the respective pros and cons of the alternatives. President kennedy s approach to the cuban missile crisis is important the standard histories of the cold war in which the missile crisis is. Jfk spoke to a panicked nation on the evening of october 22, 1962. Kennedy gave during the crisis to address the soviet threat coming from cuba. It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from cuba agains t any nation in the western hemisphere as an attack by the soviet union on the united states, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the soviet union. The cuban missile crisis was an event occurred in october 1962 when the usa detected that the ussr had deployed medium range missiles in cuba, which was ninety miles away from florida. Soviet leader, nikita khrushchev, and cuban leader, fidel castro, had joined alliance together, against the. Pdf a general explanation of the cuban missile crisis. S was at its closest to a nuclear war against the soviet union due to nuclear missiles being planted in cuba. An analysis of crisis communication within our nation jamie long and sean swett april 28th, 2010 in october 1962, tensions were high between the united states and the soviet union because of the cold war. In october 1962, an american u2 spy plane secretly photographed nuclear missile sites being built by the soviet union on the island of cuba.
The cuban missile crisis was a time of heightened confrontation between the soviet union, the united states, and cuba during the cold war. Kennedy, 19171963 by robert dallek little, brown, to be published in 2003 kennedy by. The cuban missile crisis presented a threat to the world, in which the ussr planted nuclear missiles on cuba. Oct 19, 2012 historians say the world has never been closer to nuclear conflict than it was during the cuban missile crisis. Recording of kennedys speech to the us during the cuban missile crisis. Kennedy library, sta26162 the cuban missile war was the most devastating war in world history.
Three days after kennedy s speech, the chinese peoples daily announced that 650,000,000 chinese men and women were standing by the cuban people. Kennedy as the 35th president of the united states was held on friday, january 20, 1961 at the eastern portico of the united states capitol in washington, d. It was through the decisive actions of newly elected president john f kennedy and then premier of the ussr nikita khrushchev. Horelick in a television interview not long after the cuban missile crisis of october i962, president kennedy observed that both the united states and the soviet union. The president of the united states at the time was john f. Finally, students will compose a letter to khrushchev from the perspective of.
The executive committee of the national security council excomm, meeting in the white house cabinet room, sorted through intelligence and advised the president during the cuban missile crisis. Indeed, on the fever chart of these fortyfive years. The cuban missile crisis overview in this lesson, students will gain. Kennedy delivered his cuban missile crisis speech on television to alert americans that soviet missiles were discovered in cuba and that the united states would. Historical context of the crisis creates an understanding of how power was obtained, whilst the crisis itself fixates on the struggle to retain and gain power. Kennedy letter to u thant, politely rejecting his proposal. Some scholars have questioned the utility of studying the cuban missile crisis. As kennedy would say eight months later in the peace speech. The cuban missile crisis the belfer center for science and. Key documents cuban missile crisiscuban missile crisis. Most americans viewed the outcome of the cuban missile crisis as a triumph for john f. Kennedy john swift examines the events that led the world to the brink of nuclear catastrophe.
Second holocaust had it not been for the downing of the u2, the cuban missile crisis of october 1962 might never have come about. Finally, i want to say a few words to the captive people of cuba, to whom this speech is being directly carried by. A realist analysis of the cuban missile crisis essay. Kennedy, containing the public messages, speeches and statements of the. Kennedy s cuban missile crisis 1278 words 6 pages president, john f kennedy, in his speech to the american people, cuban missile crisis, recounts a time when the u. After participating in a mock airraid, students will listen to the actual speech president kennedy gave during the crisis to address the soviet threat coming from cuba, and discuss the implications for american citizens during the period.
Source 4 cold war the cuban missile crisis 1962 extract from president kennedys tv broadcast announcing the presence of soviet missiles in cuba sixth. Cia special national intelligence estimate, major consequences of certain u. In russia, it is known as the caribbean crisis russian. Kennedy s presidency, and while he and khrushchev were able to achieve a peaceful resolution, the crisis had a number of farreaching historical consequences. Cuban missile crisis a historical perspective john f. President kennedys chief speech writer, could not draft a suitable statement. Kennedy and his advisers quietly evaluated the results of the u2 overflights and formulated a response. The fear of losing cuba in an invasion the cuban missile crisis was a conflict during the cold war, between the soviet union and the united states cuban missile crisis. In west germany, newspapers supported the us response by contrasting it with the weak american actions in the region during the preceding months. The most dramatic moments of that crisisthe famed thirteen dayslasted from october 16, 1962, when president kennedy first learned that the soviet union was constructing missile launch sites in cuba, to october 28, when soviet premier nikita khrushchev. Why we should still study the cuban missile crisis united states. Cuban missile crisis jfk speech by alyssa fiske on prezi. Within the past week, unmistakable evidence has established the fact that a series of offensive missile.
Missile crisis page 8 october 25 thursday first interception, of soviet tanker bucharest, is ascertained without boarding that it carries only oil, allowed through quarantine. Nov 18, 20 the cuban missile crisis the cold war by peter chrisp hodder wayland, 2001 an unfinished life. Kennedy convened an informal group of cabinet officials and top civilian and military advisors the ex comm to consider and plan an appropriate response. An event known as the cuban missile crisis began on october 14th. Educational materials were developed through the teaching. Kennedys speech on radio and television october 22, 1962. A realist analysis of the cuban missile crisis essay example. Kennedy made public the presence of soviet missiles in cuba in this speech to the american people. Oct 23, 2012 the first week of the cuban missile crisis played out in secret. Under the charter of the united nations, we are asking tonight that an emergency meeting of.
In october 1962, an american u2 spy plane secretly photographed nuclear missile sites. Finally, i want to say a few words to the captive people of cuba, to whom this speech is being directly carried by special. This speech has been a subject of scholarship in the field of communication, yet no critic has performed a comprehensive analysis of its multiple drafts and their relationship to the final version. The crisis was a defining moment in the presidency of john f. The day showdown brought the worlds two superpowers to the brink of nuclear war. Lessons drawn from the cuban missile crisis, or interpretations of it, continue to shape the thinking of.
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