Cuban Missile Crisis Thirteen Days in October 1962

Cuban Revolution and American Politics January 1959 – Cuban Revolution, Castro entered Havana Castro nationalized American owned companies; US retaliated with an embargo Fall 1960 – Presidential election campaign. –Richard Nixon – Republican candidate –John F. Kennedy – Democratic candidate January 1961 – JFK took office April 1961 – Bay of Pigs invasion

The Confrontation Cuba turned to Soviet Union for defense Soviet troops and arms sent to Cuba – summer of 1962 October 14: U2 spy plane photographed nuclear missiles in Cuba October 16-28: Thirteen Day crisis brought world to brink of nuclear war

Aftermath Soviets removed nuclear weapons from Cuba United States agreed not to invade Cuba United States removed nuclear weapons from Turkey US and USSR set up telephone “hot line” to avoid further crises June 63: first Nuclear Test Ban Treaty November 1963: Kennedy assassinated