1. The Cold War – Bay of Pigs to the Cuban Missile Crisis

2. Latin American Relations Not good! The U.S. had extended aid to Europe, but not Latin America The U.S. had extended aid to Europe, but not Latin America The U.S. continued to intervene in Latin American affairs (i.e. : CIA-led coup in Guatemala) The U.S. continued to intervene in Latin American affairs (i.e. : CIA-led coup in Guatemala) The U.S. supported bloody dictators who claimed to be fighting communism The U.S. supported bloody dictators who claimed to be fighting communism

3. The Bay of Pigs Invasion In April 1961, an invasion force of Cuban exiles trained in the U.S. by the CIA invaded Cuba Only three U.S. made planes bombed Cuban air bases They used U.S. equipment and landed at several sites, the main one being the Bay of Pigs

5. The Bay of Pigs Invasion Castro had agents in the CIA and knew of the invasion plans His troops were waiting for them and captured 1,100 men

6. The Bay of Pigs Invasion The Tractors for Freedom Committee, headed by Eleanor Roosevelt, failed to raise the $28 million demanded by Castro as reparations After negotiations, Castro finally agreed to the repatriation of the prisoners in exchange for $53 million in food and medicine The prisoners were returned from December 1962 to July 1965

7. Importance of Cuba In November 1961, Kennedy asked his brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, to oversee Operation Mongoose This was a program of economic warfare, sabotage, and terrorism designed to topple Castro

8. Importance of Cuba Robert Kennedy informed the CIA that the Cuban problem carries “the top priority in the U.S. Government – all else is secondary – no time, no effort, or manpower is to be spared” in the effort to overthrow the Castro regime Plans were in the works to overthrow the regime by October 1962

9. Flexible Response On May 4, 1962, Robert McNamara created this new policy It replaced the policy of Massive Retaliation It was implemented to develop several options, other than the nuclear option, for quickly dealing with enemy aggression

10. Cuban Missile Crisis Since the U.S. had antagonized the USSR with hostile alliances and nuclear missiles aimed at the country, Khrushchev decided to install medium-range nuclear missiles in Cuba This was done because: It would counter U.S. nuclear missiles It would counter U.S. nuclear missiles They believed it could win a nuclear war They believed it could win a nuclear war Double the number of targets that Soviet missiles were capable of hitting Double the number of targets that Soviet missiles were capable of hitting

11. Cuban Missile Crisis In July 1962, the U.S. government became aware that missiles were being imported and set up in Cuba U-2 spy planes photographed the missile sites By October 16 th, President Kennedy opted for a naval quarantine (blockade) to prevent Soviet ships bearing missiles from reaching Cuba

13. Cuban Missile Crisis The USSR denounced the blockade From October 22 nd -24 th, Soviet ships were on course for Cuba The U.S. put its nuclear forces on red alert and assembled an invasion force in Florida

15. Cuban Missile Crisis On October 24 th, the Soviet ships slowed down and then changed course away from Cuba Khrushchev sent Kennedy a message offering to withdraw the missiles in Cuba in exchange for: A U.S. pledge never to invade the island A U.S. pledge never to invade the island U.S. withdrawal of nuclear missiles in Turkey U.S. withdrawal of nuclear missiles in Turkey

16. Cuban Missile Crisis Kennedy agreed to both provisions by October 28 th During the following weeks, both superpowers began fulfilling their promises

17. Results of the Cuban Missile Crisis It was the closest to nuclear war that any two countries have ever come The Soviet missiles were removed from Cuba The U.S. had to tolerate a Communist country in the Caribbean U.S. missiles were removed from Turkey

18. Results of the Cuban Missile Crisis It led to a decrease in tension in the Cold War (détente) Relations were stained between Khrushchev and Castro Khrushchev was discredited Khrushchev and his successors began the largest peacetime arms race in history so as not to be in a position of humiliation again

19. Results of the Cuban Missile Crisis Democrats fared well in the Congressional elections of 1962 Kennedy pushed for a nuclear test-ban treaty (one was signed in late 1963) Installation in August 1963 of a Moscow- Washington “hot line” for easy communication in case of crisis Kennedy advocated to not think of the Soviet Union as a devil-ridden country