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A 10 page document from the C.I.A, aimed at the replacement of the Castro regime with the true interests of the Cuban people in mind. It was a C.I.A document that was approved by Dwight Eisenhower in March 1960. The exact date is unkown as the document was requested to be kept under complete secrecy.
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When JFK came to office on May 29, 1917, he inhereted the C.I.A program. He was never enthusiatic about the plan and in mid March, 1960, he called Alan Dollars, one of the heads in the C.I.A to discuss cancelling the operation.
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C.I.A agents encouraged president JFK that the Cuban operations could be kept secret and eventually lead to a rise up against Castro. JFK decided to to launch an operation entitled the 'Bay of Pigs'. On April 15, 1961 the operation began. The operation in its early stages was designed to destroy Castro's air force. Cuban exciles flew from Nicaragua in B-26 bombers that had been painted to look like Cuban planes. They began to strike Castros airfields, however, the plan ended in failure.
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On April 17, 1961, more Cuban exciles entered Cuba to attack the Castro regime however hundreds were killed and many arrrested. The operation was officially a failure. President Kennedy was still very cautious as to not create tensions between America, Cuba and the Soviets.
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President JFK has a meeting, briefing him on the fact that Soviets have missiles aimed at Cuba, just 90 miles off of Florida. This is the first time the president becomes aware of the missiles.
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JFK is visited by the Soviet foreign minister, the minister tells him that the nuclear weapons are purely defensive and are no threat to the United States. JFK is still very weary and wants the missiles removed.
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Despite JFK's efforts to keep the peace between America and Soviet - Cuba, the Cuban missile crisis begins. The president addresses the nation, informing them that the Soviets had nuclear weapons aimed towards Cuba, just a few hundred miles off the coast of America.
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President JFK enforces a naval blockade around Cuba to show the American presence in Cuba still exists and to protect Cuba from Soviet ships
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America moves from DEFCON 4 to DEFCON 3 as further risk is anticipated from Soviet nuclear weapons aimed towards Cuba.
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President JFK calls Eisenhower and and Truman to inform them of the situation and to draw up a plan to try and encourage Soviets to remove the missiles.
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Soviet ships on route to Cuba reached the U.S. blockade that had been enforced on the 23rd. The Soviet ships stopped short of the blockade and eventually changed their course to retreat.
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America moves from DEFCON 3 to DEFCON 2 as the threat of a nuclear war becomes increasingly likely. America prepares itself for a nuclear war.
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JFK sends a letter to the Soviet leader, Khrushchev, blaming the Soviet Union for the entire crisis.
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President JFK learns of missiles in Cuba that are now operational. With this knowledge in mind he sends a letter to the Soviet leader encouraging him to remove his missiles, knowing that if one missile was fired from either side it could spark another world war and mass destruction with the possibility of destroying the entire population.
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JFK demands that there is more U.S. presence in Cuba, ordering that more planes should be flown over Cuba and spy planes should be used to ensure that the U.S. is aware of any new developments
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The Soviet Union respond to JFK's letter by sending the U.S. a letter back claiming that they would remove the missiles if the U.S announced that it would not invade Cuba
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An American reconaissance plane was shot down over Cuba by Soviet forces, tenstions continue to rise as America is yet to respond to the Soviet negotiation
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U.S. invasion force is readied in Florida, the military is on high alert and ready to invade at any time. America still to respond to Soviet negotiation
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Just a few days after the crisis arouses it is over. America agrees to respect Soviet soverignty and the Soviet missiles are removed
