1. Berlin Crisis Cuban Missile Crisis
USA History post 1945
Berlin Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis

2. 1961 – Berlin Wall

3. Berlin in Cold War
Berlin – like Germany – divided into four occupational zones
1948 – Three Allied Zones united as Federal Republic of Germany
The USSR responds with the creation of East Germany and the land blockade of Berlin
Between 1949 and 1961, some 2.5 million East Germans fled from East to West Germany, most via West Berlin.
By August 1961, an average of 2,000 East Germans were crossing into the West every day.
Berlin Wall raised August 15, 1961
By the 1980s, this system of walls and electrified fences extended 45 km through Berlin and 120 km around West Berlin
191 people killed during the escape attempts
November 9, 1989 – East German government lifts travel restrictions
Novermber 10, 1989 – Berlin Wall falls symbolically

5. Kennedy delivers Ich bin ein Berliner speech in Berlin, June 26, 1963

6. Cuba Fidel Castro 1958- 59 - Cuban revolution
American plots to assassinate Castro
Bay of Pigs invasion
Cuban Missile Crisis

7. Bay of Pigs, 17 April 1961
Around 1400 Cuban exile paramilitaries, trained by the C.I.A., depart from Guatemala to ignite a counterrevolution and overthrow Castro
Early on, C.I.A. provided bombers are used for air cover. Later suport is withdrawn by Kennedy.
Invasion fails, most Cuban exiles arrested
Kennedy administration hugely embarrassed
"There's an old saying that victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan ... Further statements, detailed discussions, are not to conceal responsibility because I'm the responsible officer of the Government ...”
Kennedy blamed by the Cuban Exiles, blamed by right wing media, but – interestingly – never (officially or in secret reports) blamed by not by the C.I.A.
Castro a strenghtened hero

8. C.I.A.’s official history of the Bay of Pigs invasion
The C.I.A. exceeded its capabilities in developing the project from guerrilla support to overt armed action without any plausible deniability.
Failure to realistically assess risks and to adequately communicate information and decisions internally and with other government principals.
Insufficient involvement of leaders of the exiles.
Failure to sufficiently organize internal resistance in Cuba.
Failure to competently collect and analyze intelligence about Cuban forces.
Poor internal management of communications and staff.
Insufficient employment of high-quality staff.
Insufficient Spanish-speakers, training facilities and material resources.
Lack of stable policies and/or contingency plans.
Example of groupthinking used by Irving Janis

9. Cuban Missile Crisis
Soviet nuclear missiles and installations discovered in Cuba by American intelligence
Blockade of Cuba (quarantine)
deals with Khrushchev

13. John F. Kennedy Address on the Buildup of Arms in Cuba
Quarantine begins 23. Oct 2963

14. Adlai Stevenson shows the intelligence photographs to the UN Security Council , Oct. 25, 1962

16. Secret deals with Khrushchev
missiles removed from Cuba in exchange of the American promise nto to ever invade Cuba
American missiles secretely removed from Turkey within 6 months
hotline agreement
Kennedy seen as soft on Communism by the right

17. JFK Assassination, Nov. 22, 1963