What Options did Kennedy have?
OPTION ONE: Do Nothing
If the USA did nothing, Kennedy's advisers believed America would lost influence around the world. If the Soviets could safely put nuclear missiles on an island 70 miles from the USA, they could do anything. |
OPTION TWO: Launch a surprise air strike on the missile sites to 'knock out' the missiles.
A surprise air attack might start another world war. Although the heads of the US Army and Air Force were in favor of an air strike, Kennedy decided against the idea. |
OPTION THREE: Blockade Cuba with US naval ships to stop nuclear weapons and food being shipped to Cuba.
It was argued that, if Cuba was blockaded, it would look like the Soviet blockade of Berlin in reverse. The blockade would have to be on military equipment only, not food. However, this would stop any further weapons getting to Cuba. |
KENNEDY CHOSE THE THIRD OPTION!
Now let's see what happened!
A Timeline of the Cuban Missile Crisis
Tuesday 16th October
President Kennedy is informed of the missile build-up.
Saturday 20th October
Kennedy decides on a blockade of Cuba
Monday 22nd October
Kennedy announces the blockade and calls on the Soviet Union to withdraw its missiles. ‘I call on Chairman Khrushchev to halt and eliminate this reckless and provocative threat to world peace… He has the opportunity now to move the world back from the abyss of destruction… withdrawing these weapons from Cuba.'
Tuesday 23rd October
Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev saying that Soviet ships will not observe the blockade. Khrushchev denies that there are any nuclear missiles in Cuba.
Wednesday 24th October
The first missile-carrying ships, accompanied by a Soviet submarine approach the 500 mile blockade zone. Then suddenly, at 10:32am, the twenty Soviet ships which are closest to the zone stop or turn around.
Thursday 25th October
Despite the Soviet ships turning around, intensive aerial photography reveals that work on the missile bases is proceeding rapidly.
Friday 26th October
Kennedy receives a long personal letter from Khrushchev. The letter claims that the missiles on Cuba are purely defensive, but goes on: ‘If assurances were given that the USA would not participate in an attack on Cuba and the blockade was lifted, then the question of the removal or destruction of the missile sites would be an entirely different question.
Saturday 27th October AM
Khrushchev sends a second letter – revising his proposals – saying that the condition for removing the missiles from Cuba is that the USA withdraw its missiles from Turkey.
Later that morning a US U-2 plane is shot down over Cuba and the pilot is killed. The President is advised to launch an immediate attack on Cuba.
Saturday 27th October PM
Kennedy decides to delay an attack. He also decides to ignore the second Khrushchev letter, but accepts the terms suggested by Khrushchev on the 26th October. However, he also says that if the Soviet Union does not withdraw, an attack will follow imminently.
Sunday 28th October
Khrushchev replies to Kennedy: ‘In order to eliminate as rapidly as possible the conflict which endangers the cause of peace… the Soviet Government has given a new order to dismantle the arms which you described as offensive and to crate them to the Soviet Union.’
President Kennedy is informed of the missile build-up.
Saturday 20th October
Kennedy decides on a blockade of Cuba
Monday 22nd October
Kennedy announces the blockade and calls on the Soviet Union to withdraw its missiles. ‘I call on Chairman Khrushchev to halt and eliminate this reckless and provocative threat to world peace… He has the opportunity now to move the world back from the abyss of destruction… withdrawing these weapons from Cuba.'
Tuesday 23rd October
Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev saying that Soviet ships will not observe the blockade. Khrushchev denies that there are any nuclear missiles in Cuba.
Wednesday 24th October
The first missile-carrying ships, accompanied by a Soviet submarine approach the 500 mile blockade zone. Then suddenly, at 10:32am, the twenty Soviet ships which are closest to the zone stop or turn around.
Thursday 25th October
Despite the Soviet ships turning around, intensive aerial photography reveals that work on the missile bases is proceeding rapidly.
Friday 26th October
Kennedy receives a long personal letter from Khrushchev. The letter claims that the missiles on Cuba are purely defensive, but goes on: ‘If assurances were given that the USA would not participate in an attack on Cuba and the blockade was lifted, then the question of the removal or destruction of the missile sites would be an entirely different question.
Saturday 27th October AM
Khrushchev sends a second letter – revising his proposals – saying that the condition for removing the missiles from Cuba is that the USA withdraw its missiles from Turkey.
Later that morning a US U-2 plane is shot down over Cuba and the pilot is killed. The President is advised to launch an immediate attack on Cuba.
Saturday 27th October PM
Kennedy decides to delay an attack. He also decides to ignore the second Khrushchev letter, but accepts the terms suggested by Khrushchev on the 26th October. However, he also says that if the Soviet Union does not withdraw, an attack will follow imminently.
Sunday 28th October
Khrushchev replies to Kennedy: ‘In order to eliminate as rapidly as possible the conflict which endangers the cause of peace… the Soviet Government has given a new order to dismantle the arms which you described as offensive and to crate them to the Soviet Union.’