-
U-2 Plane
A U-2 reconnaissance plane flies over Cuba and discovers several SS-4 nuclear missiles. -
Crisis Begins
The President calls in his Executive Committee to take a look at the options the U.S. can take. -
President Meets With USSR
President Kennedy meets with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko and advises him that America will not tolerate Soviet missiles in Cuba. Gromyko denies the presence of any Soviet weaponry in Cuba. -
President Returns
President Kennedy returns to Washington to discuss the discovery of additional Soviet missiles in Cuba. -
The Presidents Plan
President Kennedy addresses the American public and announces his plan to implement a naval blockade of Cuba. U.S. military alert is set at DEFCON 3 and Castro mobilizes all of Cuba's military forces. -
More Information is Received
Recognizance photos reveal that the Soviet missiles are ready to launch. -
The Letter
EX-COMM receives a letter from Khrushchev stating that the Soviets would remove their missiles if President Kennedy publicly guarantees the U.S. will not invade Cuba. -
A Second Letter
EX-COMM receives a second letter from Khrushchev stating that, in addition to a public promise not to invade Cuba, the U.S. remove its missiles from Turkey. -
The Crisis is Over
The crisis is over. In a speech aired on Radio Moscow, Khrushchev announces the dismantling of Soviet missiles in Cuba and does not insist on his demands concerning the removal of U.S. missiles from Turkey. -
Soviets Remove Their Bombers
Just over a month after the crisis began, President Kennedy terminates the quarantine when Khrushchev agrees after several weeks of tense negotiations at the UN to withdraw Soviet IL-28 nuclear bombers from Cuba.