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Secret Training of Cuban Exiles
In March, Cuban exiles secretly began training with the CIA, training that had been approved by President Eisenhower. The CIA did this with hopes that it would spark a new revolution in Cuba to overthrow Castro. Kennedy had been told of this plan only nine days into his presidency. He reluctantly approved. The Soviet Union was unaware. -
Bay of Pigs
The U.S. shipped around 1,500 Cuban exiles, loaded with U.S. weaponry, landed on the south side of Cuba, the Bay of Pigs. Everything went wrong. CIA failed to report the failure of a needed airstrike, a distraction group never reached the island, and the main strike force faced the entire Cuban army without any American backup. All exiles were either killed or imprisoned. This embarrasment sparked incredible tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union -
Weapon Transfer to Cuba
After the Bay of Pigs, Nikita Khrushchev promised to defend and support Cuba with Soviet weaponry. Through all the summer, weapon transportation from the Soviet Union to Cuba increased greatly. These weapons included nuclear warheads. President Kennedy warned the Soviet Union that nukes in Cuba would not be tolerated. U.S. suspicion of the Soviet Union grows. -
Proof of Nuclear Capabilities in Cuba Shows
Photographs taken by American spy planes reveal Soviet nukes ready to launch in Cuba. These missiles, if launched, could reach U.S. cities in just over ten minutes. These photographs showed Soviet preparation for nuclear war and brought up the question of what are they preparing for? America was struck with deep fear. -
Kennedy's address to the Nation
Kennedy finally informed America of the nuclear missile bases found in Cuba. He said that a nuclear attack from Cuba, no matter what size, would result in a full scale invasion of the Soviet Union. Tensions had never been higher. Nobody wanted war, but these were the measures reached -
U.S. Naval Blockade of Cuba
At 10:00 AM, US ships formed a naval barracade around Cuba. The goal was to halt weapon transport to Cuba from the Soviet Union. Some Soviet ships changed course while others proceeded. Tension only grew between America and the Soviet Union. -
Naval Blockade Enforcement and JFK Letter
2 American destroyers halt the Soviet ship, Marcula. Two hours of searching only brought up trucks, automobile parts, etc., and the ship proceeded. All the while, Soviet freighters turned back to Europe JFK personally writes and sends a letter to Khrushchev urging him to change his actions. Efforts toward peace begin to show progress. -
Cuban Missile Crisis Ends.
America and the Soviet Union finally agree to eachother's terms. The Soviet Union would remove the missiles so long as the U.S. pledges not to invade Cuba. America also had to remove active missile bases in Turkey. Despite the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis, America and the Soviet Union still strived for the image of the #1 nation in the world.
