-
A U-2 plane discovers missiles while flying over Cuba.
-
-
Military units are moved to southeastern military bases and a second U-2 discovers more missiles in Cuba.
-
Kennedy leaves for a scheduled campaign trip, while his advisors debate over what to do.
-
Kennedy leaves for a scheduled campaign trip and his advisers continue to debate.
-
Kennedy decides on the quarantine of Cuba, and makes plans to deploy a navel blockade.
-
Kennedy meets with General Walter Sweeny and he tells Kennedy an airstrike wouldn't ensure 100% destruction of missiles.
-
Kennedy establishes the Executive Committee of the National Security Council and instructs it to meet daily during the crisis. Kennedy also informs British prim minister of the situation.
-
The ships of the naval quarantine fleet move into place around Cuba.
-
Chairman Khrushchev replies indignantly to President Kennedy's October 23 letter.
-
Kennedy writes to Khrushchev, knowing that some of the missiles were active, asking him to change his course of action.
-
In a private letter, Fidel Castro urges Nikita Khrushchev to initiate a nuclear first strike against the United States in the event of an American invasion of Cuba. Later, a long, rambling letter from Khrushchev to Kennedy makes a similar offer: removal of the missiles in exchange for lifting the quarantine and a pledge that the U.S. will not invade Cuba.
-
A second letter from Moscow demanding tougher terms, including the removal of obsolete Jupiter missiles from Turkey, is received in Washington.
-
Russia agreed to remove missiles in Cuba, as long as the US removes missiles in Turkey and agree to not invade Cuba.
