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Sputnik
The Soviet Union started the space race by successfully launching Sputnik into space. Sputnik is a satellite that from orbit could radio signals down and give data about the ionosphere. The Space race was a competition between the United States and the Soviet Union, leading to huge technological advancements. -
The U-2 Incedent
The U-2 incident was caused by a missile shooting down a U-2 flying over Russian air space. Gary powers was captured and sentenced to 10 years of prison. But 2 years later he was traded for a KGB spy, Rudolf Abel. The United States tried to play off the event as a weather plan but was caught in a lie and eventually admitted to spying on the Soviets. This untrust led to the collapse of a summit conference in paris between the United States and the Soviet Union. -
First Human In Space
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first person to go into space. In space he orbited earth once with 108 minutes total in space. He was named a hero to soviets. This event was another win for the Soviets as it showed the lead they had over the US in space and technology. -
Bay Of Pigs
1500 Cuban exiles trained by CIA in Guatemala invaded Cuba.
The plan was to invade through the southwest side of the island called the bay of pigs. The plan also relied on other cubans joining the revolution after it started. Though the plan was kept a secret word still got out and the Cuban military was ready when the invasion started. The invasion backfired as more support was rallied for Castro. The whole ordeal was a huge disaster as 114 were killed and over 1,100 were taken prisoner. -
Vienna Summit
Kennedy meets with Khrushchev at the Vienna Summit to speak about the relationship between their countries. Khrushchev was extremely more experienced and showed that JFK was unprepared. Even though the disaster of what happened it was still considered a diplomatic success. -
U-2 Finds Missile Sites
A U-2 flying over western Cuba discovers missile sites.
Photographs obtained by this flight provide hard evidence that Soviets have missiles in Cuba. JFK's reaction to this was to set up a naval blockade or a "Quarantine" that allows supplies to go in and out but blocking any military ships. Khrushchev was furius and claimed that this was an act of war by erecting a naval blockade. -
DEFCON 2 Initiated
Military forces go to DEFCON 2 the highest ever in U.S. history. DEFCON 2 has the exercise term of FAST PACE with the description being the next step to nuclear war and with readiness of Armed Forces ready to deploy and engage in less than 6 hours later on in the future DEFCON 2 was initiated once more in 1991 during the Gulf War. -
U-2 Shot Down Over Cuba
An American U-2 is shot down over Cuba killing the pilot, Major Rudolf Anderson. This is the only known direct casualty in the cold war between the US and the USSR. This greatly increased tensions between the two superpowers. JFK awarded Anderson the first Air Force Cross, as well as the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Cheney Award after his death. -
Khrushchev Goes On Radio
Khrushchev announced over Radio Moscow that he has agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba. President Kennedy agreed to respect Cuba’s territorial sovereignty and (secretly) remove missiles from Italy and Turkey. This exchange between the two leaders defused the Cuban missile crisis. Khrushchev was greatly criticized by hard-liners within the Soviet Union and claimed it made him look weak. -
President Kennedy’s speech at the Berlin Wall
Two years after the Berlin Wall was created JFK went to West Berlin and spoke. He talked about US support for West Germany. With about 120,000 spectators attended the speech. "Ich bin ein Berliner" is a well-known quote from JFk meaning I am a Berliner.
