Title: The Cuban Missile Crisis
1The Cuban Missile Crisis
2Memo from the CIA on the Bay of Pigs Invasion
(1961)
- J.D. Esterline became director of a task force to
direct the Cuban project on January 18, 1960. - He reported to Richard M. Bissell, although
Bissell's principal aide, Tracy Barnes, acted for
Bissell about 50 percent of the time. - This memo outlined the preparations for military
action against Cuba. - The question of whether the incoming
administration of President-Elect Kennedy will
concur in the conduct of the strike operations
outlined above needs to be resolved at the
earliest possible time. - Recommendation. That the strike operation be
conducted in the latter half of February, and not
later than 1 March, 1961.
Esterline
Barnes
Bissell
3Memo from the CIA on an Invasion of Cuba (1961)
- In the minutes from a meeting to discuss possible
action in Cuba, again the desire to learn what
the Kennedy Administrations stand would be on
action in Cuba is emphasized. - It also expresses a reluctance to land U.S.
forces in Cuba. - Mr. Mann said he had talked with members of the
Latin American diplomatic corps and had indicated
to them that the (US) wanted to know whether the
OAS system could prevent Castro's exportation of
communism They wanted to know first where the
Kennedy administration and the Quadros
administration would stand. - The Secretary then commented on the enormous
implications of putting U.S. forces ashore in
Cuba and said we should consider everything short
of this, including rough stuff, before doing so.
4Bay of Pigs Map
5Joint Chiefs of Staff Conference with President
Kennedy (January 1961)
- Once Kennedy was in office, the looming threat of
Cuba had to be dealt with. - This memo discusses the looming threat in Cuba
and the need to take strong action soon. - The President asked what the Chiefs think should
be done regarding Cuba. General Lemnitzer
replied, recalling that the initial plans were
for clandestine operations the clandestine
forces are not strong enough. - General Decker added that this action should be
taken under a recognized Cuban leader, and,
unfortunately, we do not have one at present
Admiral Burke agreed that there is lack of a
leader to rally around, and that we need somebody
to fill this role. - In the audio clip, Kennedy expresses the intent
of his administration to fight Communism in the
western hemisphere.
Kennedy on The Bay of Pigs
6Ernesto Che Guevara Mobilizing the Masses for
the Invasion (28 March 1961)
- This speech was made to sugar workers in Santa
Clara twenty days before the Bay of Pigs
invasion. - We have to remind ourselves of this at every
moment that we are in a war where the two
adversaries - this tiny champion of the Caribbean
and the immense imperialist hyena - are face to
face and aware that one of them is going to end
up dead in the fight. - It will mean the beginning of the end of
colonial domination in America, that is, the
definitive beginning of the end for North
American imperialism. - The murder of Patrice Lumumba is an example of
what the empire is capable of when the struggle
against it is carried on in a firm and sustained
way. Imperialism must be struck on the snout
once, and again, and then again, in an infinite
succession of blows and counter-blows. That is
the only way the people can win their real
independence.
Guevara
Lumumba
7Fidel Castro Second Declaration of Havana (4
February 1962)
- The Cuban Revolution of 1959 was a broadly based
nationalist revolution against a corrupt
government. - It was lead by Fidel Castro. He apparently had
the support of most Cubans in his broad based
"provisional government". - By 1962, after the US began to give "covert"
assistance to Cuban exiles opposing the
revolution, Castro had adopted Marxism-Leninism
as the ideology of the Cuban Revolution. - What is Cuba's history but that of Latin
America? What is the history of Latin America but
the history of Asia, Africa, and Oceania? And
what is the history of all these peoples but the
history of the cruelest exploitation of the world
by imperialism?
8A. Adzhubei Account of Visit to Washington to
the CPSU (12 March 1962)
- This memo outlines a conversation Adzhubei had
with President Kennedy regarding Cuba. - (Kennedy) paused a little and said How is Che
Guevara? - I answered that he didn't seem to look bad,
although I didn't see him often, and asked him in
turn, why was the president suddenly interested
in one of the participants of the Cuban
revolution? - I read some dispatches to the press, answered
Kennedy. - In turn I remarked You are interested in the
events in Cuba, that is your right. But when we
read that the USA plans to invade Cuba, we don't
think that this is your right. - We are not planning an invasion of Cuba,
Kennedy answered - Kennedy remarked sharply We will not meddle
with events in Cuba. - It's a very big shame, Mister President, I
said to him, that your words are not allowed to
be published in the newspapers.
9Malinovsky Zakharov Memo on Deployment of
Soviet Forces to Cuba (24 May 1962)
- This memo was the first general plan for the
deployment of Soviet nuclear missiles to Cuba
prepared by the General Staff, in response to a
request by Khrushchev. - It was discussed at a CPSU Presidium (Politburo)
and unanimously approved. - The Ministry of Defense proposesto deploy on
the island of Cuba a Group of Soviet Forces
comprising all branches of the Armed Forces - To send as part of the Group of Forces in Cuba
in July-AugustTwo regiments of FKR (16
launchers) with PRTB, with their missiles and 5
special Trans nuclear warheads for each
launcher. Range of the FKR is up to 180 km.
Malinovsky
Zakharov
10President John F. Kennedy Statement on Cuba
(September 4, 1962)
- JFK states that the Soviet Union is aiding the
Communists in Cuba, but they have yet to violate
any treaties. - Information has reached this Government in the
last four days from a variety of sources which
establishes without doubt that the Soviets have
provided the Cuban Government with a number of
anti-aircraft defense missiles extensive radar
and other electronic equipment (and) several
Soviet-made motor torpedo boats carrying
ship-to-ship guided missiles - There is no evidence of any organized combat
force in Cuba from any Soviet bloc country of
military bases provided to Russia of a violation
of the 1934 treaty relating to Guantanamo of the
presence of offensive ground-to-ground missiles
or of other significant offensive capability
either in Cuban hands or under Soviet direction
and guidance. Were it to be otherwise, the
gravest issues would arise.
11Malinovsky Zakharov Soviet Memo Authorizing
Use of Nuclear Weapons in Cuba (8 September 1962)
- To the Commander of the Group of Soviet Forces
in Cuba - For the purpose of strengthening of the Group of
Soviet Forces in Cuba and increasing its
capability to fight against the enemy landing,
we are sending you additional means - squadron of plane-carriers IL-28 (6 planes and 6
nuclear bombs407 H) with PRTB - three battalions of "Luna" (6 launchers, 12
missiles, 12 special warheads and 24 conventional
missiles) with PTRB - In a situation of an enemy landing on the island
of Cuba when the destruction of the enemy is
delaying further actions and there is no
possibility of receiving instructions from the
USSR Ministry of Defense, you are permitted to
make your own decision and to use the nuclear
means of the "Luna," IL-28 or FKR-1 as
instruments of local warfare for the destruction
of the enemy on land and along the coast in order
to achieve the complete destruction of the
invaders on the Cuban territory and to defend the
Republic of Cuba.
12Soviet Missile Installation in Cuba (1962)
Low-level photograph of 6 Frog (Luna) missile
transporters under a tree at a military camp near
Remedios
13Ranges of Nuclear Missile Launches from Cuba
14Soviet Statement on Potential Cuban Attack by
U.S. (11 September 1962)
- In this statement issued by the Soviet
government, they express their concern over the
calling-up of US reservists. - They state that any action in Cuba would lead to
a nuclear confrontation while maintaining their
motivations for peace. - The Government of the U.S.S.R. deems it
necessary to draw the attention of the
governments of all countries and world opinion to
the provocations the United States Government is
now staging, provocations which might plunge the
world into the disaster (of) a universal world
war with the use of thermonuclear weapons. - The President of the United States asked
Congress to permit the call-up of 150,000
reservists to the armed forcesSuch a step
cannot be assessed otherwise than a screen for
aggressive plans and intentions of the United
States itself This is a provocation against the
peace, this is done in the interests of war, in
the interests of aggression.
15Director of Central Intelligence McCone Memo (11
October 1962)
- This memo details information regarding
intelligence photographs of Soviet bombers being
transported to Cuba. - Concern is expressed by the President regarding
the dissemination of this information to the
public prior to the election. - I then showed the President photographs of the
crates which presumably were carrying Soviet
medium bombers, and were deck loaded on a ship
which had arrived in Havana in the early days of
October. The President requested that such
information be withheld at least until after
elections as if the information got into the
press, a new and more violent Cuban issue would
be injected into the campaign and this would
seriously affect his independence of action.
16Malinovsky USSR, directive, TOP SECRET Order to
Pliyev (22 October 1962)
- This is a Top Secret Russian military order to
increase combat readiness in Cuba to assist the
Cuban Army in the event of a US invasion. - TROSTNIK -to comrade PAVLOV
- In connection with possible landing on Cuba of
Americans participating in maneuvers in the
Caribbean Sea, undertake urgent measures to
increase combat readiness and to repel the enemy
by joint efforts of the Cuban Army and all Soviet
troop units, excluding Statsenko's weapons and
all of Beloborodov's cargo.
Pliyev
17JFK Letter to Chairman Khrushchev (22 October
1962)
- In this letter to Chairman Khrushchev Kennedy
states the US position on Berlin and Cuba. - The President expresses his desire for a peaceful
resolution, but insists that action will be taken
if necessary. - The United States could not tolerate any action
on your part which in a major way disturbed the
existing over-all balance of power in the world. - I publicly stated that if certain developments
in Cuba took place, the United States would do
whatever must be done to protect its own security
and that of its allies. - I hope that your Government will refrain from
any action which would widen or deepen this
already grave crisis and that we can agree to
resume the path of peaceful negotiation.
18JFK Report to the American People on the Soviet
Arms Buildup in Cuba (22 October 1962)
- Questions to consider
- 1)What does Kennedy claim is the purpose of the
missile bases on Cuba? - 2)What did the U.S.S.R. claim was the type of
aide they were providing Cuba? - 3)What steps did Kennedy authorize to be taken?
- 4)What does he state will be the result of a
missile attack by Cuba on any nation in the
western hemisphere? - 5)What does he call upon Khrushchev to do?
This was the announcement made to the public by
Kennedy on the build-up of Soviet arms in Cuba.
19Chairman Khrushchev Letter to President Kennedy
(24 October 1962)
- In Khrushchevs response to President Kennedys
letter, the Chairman outlines the reasons for his
refusal to submit to the Presidents arbitrary
demands. - Just imagine, Mr. President, that we had
presented you with the conditions of an ultimatum
which you have presented us by your action. How
would you have reacted to this? I think that you
would have been indignant at such a step on our
part. - You, Mr. President, are not declaring a
quarantine, but rather are setting forth an
ultimatum and threatening that if we do not give
in to your demands you will use force. - The Soviet Government considers that the
violation of the freedom to use international
waters and international air space is an act of
aggression which pushes mankind toward the abyss
of a world nuclear-missile war.
20The Cuban Crisis (1962)
- Questions to consider
- 1) What steps did the U.S. take to hinder weapons
shipments to Cuba? - 3) What does this clip claim Castro has been
doing to prepare for invasion? - 4) What was Castros reaction to UN weapons
inspectors? - 5) How was the U.S. able to determine that Cuba
had missile bases? - 6) What organization pledged their support of
U.S. action?
This newsreel story details the events of the
Cuban Missile Crisis to date.
21Fidel Castro Letter to Premier Khrushchev (26
October 1962)
- In this letter, Castro informs Khrushchev of an
imminent invasion. - He goes on to describe how it will be met by the
Cuban people and makes suggestions as to the
Soviet Unions action in such a case. - From an analysis of the situation and the
reports in our possession, I consider that the
aggression is almost imminent within the next 24
or 72 hours. - The morale of the Cuban people is extremely high
and the aggressor will be confronted heroically. - If the imperialists invade Cuba with the goal
of occupying it, the danger that that aggressive
policy poses for humanity is so great that the
Soviet Union must never allow the circumstances
in which the imperialists could launch the first
nuclear strike against it.
22Crisis Eases Wary U.S. Awaits Missile Removal
(29 October 1962)
- Questions to consider
- 1)Who is arriving at the UN to represent the
U.S.S.R.? - 2)Who is the acting Secretary General of the UN
at this time? - 3)What role is U Thant playing in negotiations?
- 4)Who will supervise the removal of missile sites
in Cuba?
This is a newsreel story in which Russian
Kusnetsov arrives at the UN and meets with U
Thant.
23Missile Bases Castro Balks At U.N. Team (1
November 1962)
- Questions to consider
- 1)From where is U Thant returning?
- 2)What does he predict about the dismantling of
missile bases in Cuba? - 3)When will the process be complete?
- 4)What will happen to the missiles there?
- 5)What does the Whitehouse announce about the
Naval Quarantine?
In this newsreel story, U Thant returns to NY
from meeting with Castro regarding Cuban Missile
Crisis. He speaks to press about his meeting and
his findings there.
24Multimedia Citation
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