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Sputnik
Sputnik was the first artificial Earth satellite and promoted the Space Race. The satellite went into the elliptical low Earth orbit and it traveled for three weeks and traveled two months without connection before returning to the earth's atmosphere. Sputnik had a diameter of 22 inches, weighed 184 pound, and traveled 18000 mph. Sputnik showed America how behind they were in space technology. It lead to the U.S. satellite, Explorer, launched about a year later. It completed 1440 orbits. -
U2 Incident
Francis Gary Powers flew a single seat spyplane shot down by S-75 Divina missile at Sverdlvosk Soviet Air Defense Forces for aerial photography in Soviet Union. Powers was taken as a prisoner of war and interrogated Powers and he admitted for working for the CIA. Khrushchev saw it as an "act of aggression" and cancelled the Summit conference between France, Soviet Union, UK, and US. Khrushchev got Turkey, Pakistan, and Norway to not allow any unauthorized U.S. aircrafts above their territories -
Bay of Pigs
The CIA trained 1400 Cuban exiles in attempt to overthrow Castro and his communist regime. Castro was a threat to American affairs and attempted to assassinate him. With the CIA's help, the United States involvement in the Cuban rebellion would be kept secret. After an attempt to destroy the Cuban air force, the rebels surrendered in 24 hours. 114 rebels killed and 1100 Cuban prisoners were taken and surrendered after 24 hours. Americans traded $53 million of supplies for the Cuban rebellions. -
Building Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall prevented emigration from East Berlin to West Berlin. Their claim was to keep Western “fascists” from entering East Germany and ruin socialist status. The Berlin Wall became a symbol of the Cold War and increase tension between the Soviet Union and the US. By August 12, West Berlin and East Berlin had a sealed point. The wall made up of 96 miles of barrier, it was built by concrete wall with sentry ways and minefields. The Soviet armored units protected the wall from US attack. -
Cuban Missile Crisis begins
When photographs saw medium-range missiles in Cuba taken by a high-altitude U-2 spy plane. Khrushchev believed the U.S. was going to invade Cuba and used weapons as prevention. The missiles in Cuba were revenge for U.S. nuclear missiles stationed near the Soviet Union. The 13-day confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union. Kennedy informed the nation of the naval blockade around Cuba. The Soviet Union got rid of their nuclear weapons after the US got rid of theirs in Turkey. -
Kennedy's Speech for Cuban Missile Crisis
After the nuclear strike capability in Cuba, Kennedy mentioned how the medium and intermediate range ballistic missiles could travel 1000 nautical miles and hit America. The Cuban Missile Crisis defied Rio Pact of 1947. This lead to a strict quarantine on exports of military products and increased surveillance of Cuban military buildup. An attack on Cuba would be seen as an attack on the Soviets. An emergency meeting of the Security Council and called Khrushchev to stop the threat of peace. -
DEFCON 2
The Soviet Union was indifferent about the crisis and allowed the US to decide whether there would be a nuclear war. The aggravation of a Soviet tanker Bucharest heading towards the quarantine of Cuba. 40 nation from the U.N. begged for both Soviet Union and US to not begin war. The United States were worried about Soviet threat and initiated high military alert in postwar era DEFCON 3 to DEFCON 2. Kennedy activated the alert in order to prepare for the possibility of nuclear war and a WWIII. -
U-2 pilot Rudolf Anderson Jr. Shot Down in Cuban Missile Crisis
Rudolf Anderson was flying in the high-altitude U-2 spy plane and appeared as a blip on Soviet radar. After the U2 shot down, shrapnel hit the plane's cockpit and Anderson’s pressurized flight suit and helmet. It killed Anderson instantly. Anderson was the first-ever recipient of the Air Force Cross, the service’s highest designation after Medal of Honor. It lead to Kennedy's realization of the impact on American citizens when realizing Anderson had a family and the crisis was out of control. -
End Cuban Missile Crisis
At 5:00 pm Moscow time Radio Moscow broadcast message from Soviet Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev to U.S. President John F. Kennedy. They both agreed to remove missiles from Cuba in exchange for U.S. to respect Cuba’s territorial sovereignty
However, Fidel Castro accused the Russians of backing down from the Americans and deserting the Cuban revolution and lead to tensions between American allies due to being uninformed about negotiations. However, the end of the crisis lead to national relief. -
Kennedy Visits Berlin Wall
Kennedy visited Berlin in 1963 and gave a speech in Rudolph Wilde Platz. He was met with lots of support more than any other American politician in Germany (greeted with flowers, rice, scraps of paper). Known for his statement “Ich bin ein Berilner” (I am a Berliner) but said I am a jelly donut instead. He demonstrated America was together with West Berlin, anger of separation in Berlin Wall, and told Communist supporters to come to Berlin and see Communism is not as good as it seems.
