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Sputnik
The Soviet Union launches the very first artificial Earth satellite and begins the space race - the competition between the US and USSR for dominance in space exploration and technology. The successful launch shocked the United States, who thought they'd be the first to accomplish the feat. The launch of Sputnik led to the National Defense and Education Act and creation of NASA in 1958, and increased tension between the two superpowers. -
Fidel Castro assumes power in Cuba
Castro assumed military and political power as Cuba's Prime Minister following the overthrow of Cuban President Fulgencio Batista during the Cuban Revolution. Castro converted Cuba into a nation under communist influence. As a result, the US were offended by Cuba's new communist leader and his ideals. The US was concerned with their soon-to-be relations with the Soviet Union. -
Bay of Pigs
Through the CIA, 1,400 Cuban exiles prepare to instigate a rebellion on communist Cuba and overthrow Castro. The US set exile leader José Miró Cardona to become Cuban president. The entire mission was a failure.The exiles were to told to help other exiles escape Cuba.The Cubans didn't revolt, it took took too long for troops and ammo to get off ships, and Paratroopers landed in wrong locations and were surrounded. The failed attack made the US gov't look bad while strengthening Cuba’s gov’t. -
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Vienna Summit
A meeting is held in Austria between JFK and Khrushchev. There they discussed numerous issues in the relationship between their countries. Kennedy felt very unprepared and inexperienced. JFK ignored his advisers and talked about communist ideology and that he considered Sino-Soviet forces and U.S.-Western European forces to be pretty balanced, and made a fool of himself. Kennedy responded to Khrushchev's question whether war was imminent by saying "there will be a war. It will be a cold winter." -
U2 flight discovers missiles in Cuba
A U2 spy plane discovered nuclear missile sites under construction in Cuba as it was flying overhead. The US was alarmed prompting JFK to gather a group of senior officials to debate the crisis. This event gave rise to the Cuban Missile Crisis - a 13-day period where the US was on the brink of nuclear war with the USSR. -
JFK Addresses the Cuban Missile Crisis
JFK meets with congressional leaders when shown photographic evidence of Soviet missile installations in Cuba. The leaders express support, but many advocate stronger action. Kennedy speaks on television of the Soviet missiles discovered in Cuba and calls for their removal. He announces the establishment of a naval quarantine around the island. As the US military go to DEFCON 3, the US base at Guantanamo Bay is being reinforced by Marines. -
Military go to DEFCON 2
Soviet ships carrying military cargo have slowed, altered, or reversed their course to Cuba due to US quarantine. There is one exception - the tanker Bucharest. During this time, U.N. Secretary-General U Thant sent urged Kennedy and Khrushchev to "refrain from any action that may aggravate the situation and bring with it the risk of war.” Despite this, US military forces go to DEFCON 2, the highest alert level reached in US history. -
Kennedy Negotiates with Khrushchev
Kennedy informed EXCOMM that he believed invasion would remove the missiles. The CIA finds the missiles still being built and the Soviets camouflaging the missiles. John Scali of ABC News had lunch with Aleksandr Fomin, the KGB station chief, in Washington about the removal of the weapons. US asked Brazil to tell Castro that the US would be "unlikely to invade" if the missiles were removed. Khrushchev sent a message to Kennedy offering to remove the missiles if US promises not to invade Cuba. -
U2 is shot down over Cuba
Khrushchev sends a letter saying the missiles would be removed if the US removes the Jupiter missiles from Italy and Turkey. JFK knew the missiles in those countries were useless and were going to be removed anyway. A U2 was shot down, killing Major Rudolf Anderson, as it was flying over Cuba. stress in negotiations between the Soviets and the US intensified. Robert Kennedy and Dobrynin meet to discuss the missile removal. JFK decides to go with Khrushchev's first offer and sends him a letter. -
Khrushchev Announces Removal of Missiles
Khrushchev announced his acceptance of Kennedy's proposal over Radio Moscow for the US to hear, JFK finds out Khrushchev's decision and is delighted, thinking the trade is fair. -
JFK’s Speech at the Berlin Wall
In West Berlin, Kennedy spoke in front of a crowd of 120,000 Berliners at the Schöneberg Rathaus. He discussed the US support for West Germany two years after Berlin Wall was built. The famous line "Ich bin ein Berliner" was used twice in the speech, translating to "I am a Berliner", meaning all free men were citizens of Berlin. JFK also said "Lasst sie nach Berlin kommen", translating to "Let them come to Berlin”, which was addressed at those claiming "we can work with the Communists."