Lecture: The Cuban Missile Crisis Declassified

Introduction

40 years ago, the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.
Traditional narrative credits Kennedy’s diplomacy for its resolution.
New documents and interviews reveal a more complex and terrifying situation.

John F. Kennedy: U.S. President, aimed to strengthen capitalism.
Nikita Khrushchev: Soviet Premier, aimed to destroy capitalism, believed in imposing international balance of power.
Fidel Castro: Cuban leader, accepted Soviet missiles to defend Cuba and support world revolution.

Island of Cuba becomes central to Cold War tensions.
October 1962: 15 days of extreme tension as the world faced potential nuclear conflict.

Richard Heiser: U2 pilot who conducted surveillance over Cuba.
Discovery of missile sites in Cuba verified suspicions within U.S. intelligence.
Photographic evidence indicated Soviet nuclear weapons in Cuba capable of hitting Washington in minutes.

U.S. opts for a naval blockade to prevent further delivery of offensive weapons to Cuba.
Kennedy administration debates between military strike and diplomatic negotiations.

McGeorge Bundy: National Security Advisor reveals the U2 photos to Kennedy, confirming Soviet missiles in Cuba.
Before public announcement, Kennedy delivers a televised address to inform American citizens of the crisis and the U.S. response.
DEFCON 3 declared: heightened state of military readiness for the U.S. armed forces.

Khrushchev views the blockade as an aggressive act but interprets it as a willingness to negotiate.
Castro prepares Cuban defenses, mobilizes 170,000 troops.
Soviet ships approach blockade line but eventually turn back, signaling potential for negotiation.

October 27: U2 plane shot down by Soviet forces, further escalating tensions.
Robert Kennedy secretly meets Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin, leading to a deal: removal of Soviet missiles in exchange for U.S. missiles in Turkey, kept secret to save face.
Khrushchev agrees to the deal, preventing nuclear war.

Crisis leads to creation of a direct communication line between the U.S. and Soviet Union, known as the "Hotline."
1963: Kennedy gives a major speech promoting peace and nuclear disarmament, leading to the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
A pivotal moment signifying an intention by both nations to avoid such near-catastrophic escalations in future.
1963: U.S. and Soviet Union sign the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty as a direct outcome of lessons learned from the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Diplomacy and negotiation can prevail even in extreme crises.
Effective communication between superpowers is crucial to avoid misunderstandings that could lead to catastrophic conflict.
Preserving peace requires vigilance, preparedness, and the willingness to seek peaceful resolutions even in tense situations.