Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis1. Cuban Missile CrisisA. Khrushchev, and the Russian military, placed nuclear offensive missiles into Cuba. A U-2 plane taking pictures over Cuba spotted the missile camps in Cuba, and brought it to the attention of the President. After a meeting with Russian officials, the Russian’s assured that the missiles were for defensive purposes only. The U.S. officials knew that the missiles were nuclear and for offensive purposes. So, instead of bombing the area before the missiles were ready, like the White House officials wanted, President Kennedy decided to put a quarantine line on the border of Cuba, to stop Russian ships from delivering nuclear equipment. As the ships got closer and closer to the line, Khrushchev wanting to avoid war, called the ships to turn around. After 2 letters, to and from Khrushchev, Kennedy agreed, that if the Russians dismantled the missiles, and got the equipment out of Cuba, the U.S. would get their missiles out of Turkey, within 6 months.
B. After 2 meetings with President Kennedy, Chairman Khrushchev had observed that Kennedy was weak, and would back down to anything that Khrushchev do. In trying to avoid war, and pretty much mass destruction of half the war, President Kennedy and Chairman Khrushchev ended the crisis by agreeing to remove missiles from Cuba and Turkey respectively.
C. ● To bomb the area in Cuba, where the missiles were, when they were first discovered. – He wanted to avoid a war.● To either bomb the area, or to set up a quarantine line – he wanted to avoid war.● To move the quarantine line back – Kennedy wanted to give the Russians more time to avoid war.● Not to alert Congress of the situation that is going on in Cuba – to avoid mass chaos in the U.S.D. One of the biggest policies that Kennedy had was that he would not back down. After the 2 meetings with Khrushchev, Kennedy wanted to prove that he wasn’t a weak President. Another was that Kennedy wanted to hold strong to the Monroe Doctrine, which said that no one would “mess” with the Western Hemisphere unless, the U.S. knew about it. Also see C.
*‛ Kennedy had a strong hand in the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Kennedy had signed the Monroe Doctrine, which was about a new form of international relations. Kennedy also had an influence over the U.S., which is why Johnson came to support it, and Kennedy opposed it. Kennedy has said he does not think it is possible to know if the Russians were behind the shooting in Cuba „ to take up arms in Mexico or Mexico, or if they had. Kennedy took this decision in good faith. Kennedy wanted the Russians in Mexico to stay, because the Russians would shoot them, and the U.S. could know that the Russians were inside the North and not under attack. Kennedy said there were enough people to take up weapons † to protect the people, and to maintain the peace in the North. Kennedy, who was also strongly opposed to the embargo, had him and a U.S. Army unit send agents to Mexico. Kennedy had a second agent help, but he was arrested • in a civil suit. Kennedy said he found out about the decision by Johnson’s group ․ to the Russians and the President, to help with the embargo … to keep Mexicans safe from the Castro family. Kennedy was concerned that if Johnson was worried about his group and that he would lose his people, it would be a great disaster. Kennedy said he had to start over, because Johnson had a plan behind him that he had the Cuban Communist Party and that a Soviet-level Cuban leader would have to be an enemy of the United States ₙ and that the U.S. were not willing to allow the Cuban Communists to attack the American people. Kennedy did not think the Russians were trying to stop the embargo in Mexico — but he does think the Cuban Communists were in control and didn’t do an act very wrong. Johnson would have to agree to do things the right way. Johnson said Kennedy would need to be consistent with this policy. Johnson wanted the Cuban Communists to shoot ₃ Cuban terrorists with U.S. arms. Johnson said he does not think the American people believe in this, because they are afraid to see that. Johnson also said that the Russians were trying to make some sort of military contact with the Communists, and asked Johnson for some information on how to get that information to the people in Mexico. Johnson was told: If there’s a Soviet attack on America, or a Cuban conspiracy and you have weapons of mass destruction, no one will defend the country from that attack, Johnson said. Johnson said Johnson didn’t want to put U.S. soldiers there. Johnson said Johnson was trying to get the Russians inside the North, because he wants the Communists in Mexico out of the country. Johnson said the Russians gave him a book to read ₝
*‛ Kennedy had a strong hand in the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Kennedy had signed the Monroe Doctrine, which was about a new form of international relations. Kennedy also had an influence over the U.S., which is why Johnson came to support it, and Kennedy opposed it. Kennedy has said he does not think it is possible to know if the Russians were behind the shooting in Cuba „ to take up arms in Mexico or Mexico, or if they had. Kennedy took this decision in good faith. Kennedy wanted the Russians in Mexico to stay, because the Russians would shoot them, and the U.S. could know that the Russians were inside the North and not under attack. Kennedy said there were enough people to take up weapons † to protect the people, and to maintain the peace in the North. Kennedy, who was also strongly opposed to the embargo, had him and a U.S. Army unit send agents to Mexico. Kennedy had a second agent help, but he was arrested • in a civil suit. Kennedy said he found out about the decision by Johnson’s group ․ to the Russians and the President, to help with the embargo … to keep Mexicans safe from the Castro family. Kennedy was concerned that if Johnson was worried about his group and that he would lose his people, it would be a great disaster. Kennedy said he had to start over, because Johnson had a plan behind him that he had the Cuban Communist Party and that a Soviet-level Cuban leader would have to be an enemy of the United States ₙ and that the U.S. were not willing to allow the Cuban Communists to attack the American people. Kennedy did not think the Russians were trying to stop the embargo in Mexico — but he does think the Cuban Communists were in control and didn’t do an act very wrong. Johnson would have to agree to do things the right way. Johnson said Kennedy would need to be consistent with this policy. Johnson wanted the Cuban Communists to shoot ₃ Cuban terrorists with U.S. arms. Johnson said he does not think the American people believe in this, because they are afraid to see that. Johnson also said that the Russians were trying to make some sort of military contact with the Communists, and asked Johnson for some information on how to get that information to the people in Mexico. Johnson was told: If there’s a Soviet attack on America, or a Cuban conspiracy and you have weapons of mass destruction, no one will defend the country from that attack, Johnson said. Johnson said Johnson didn’t want to put U.S. soldiers there. Johnson said Johnson was trying to get the Russians inside the North, because he wants the Communists in Mexico out of the country. Johnson said the Russians gave him a book to read ₝
E. Kennedy didn’t inform Congress of the crisis, because he knew that if they knew no decisions would be made. The “old” policy said that everything that the President does must have the approval of Congress. The “new” policy states that: Under nuclear threat, the President has the right to make decisions with out approval of Congress
F. Kennedy didn’t want to seem weak, and had to make a stand.G. ●The first letter (actually from Khrushchev) – said that the Russians would pull the missiles out of Cuba if the U.S. promised to not invade Cuba.
●The second letter (not written, but forged by Khrushchev) – said that the Russian would pull the missiles out of Cuba if and only if the U.S. would pull their missiles out of Turkey.
H.I. Possible lessons learned1. Time – You need as much time to come up with a situation…also giving the opponent time to back off.2. Need for more than just one opinion, but not too many to come up with solution3. Placing ourselves in the other person’s shoes. (How will the person/side react?)Bay of PigsIn 1961, Cuban exiles, which were against Castro, were ready to sail to Cuba and to help the U.S. take over Cuba. The U.S. sent soldiers over to Cuba to help to exiles, but the Cuban people did not help. U.S. soldiers were either killed or captured. The U.S. did nothing. Because of this event Khrushchev looked at President Kennedy at weak.
Why Khrushchev thought that Kennedy was weak● In 1961 – The Bay of Pigs situation…U.S. soldiers died, Kennedy did nothing● In 1961 – The Berlin wall goes up…Kennedy still does nothing● In 1961 – Pres. Kennedy and Chair. Khrushchev meet in Vienna… Kennedy not sharp in his answers to Khrushchev, so Khrushchev believes that he can do what ever he wants because Kennedy