Cuban Missile Crisis Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Cold War Era: Post World War II, a 45-year period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union.
  • Nuclear Threat: Both nations had nuclear weapons capable of major destruction.
  • Cuban Missile Crisis: The pinnacle of this threat, lasting 13 days in October 1962.
• Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961): Failed U.S. attempt to overthrow Cuba's communist government.
  • Resulted in Cuba seeking help from the USSR.

Soviet Response

• Nikita Khrushchev: Soviet Premier who secretly deployed nuclear missiles to Cuba.
  • Purpose: Protect Cuba and counteract U.S. missiles in Italy and Turkey.
• U.S. Discovery: Materials for missiles were already in place when discovered by U.S. intelligence.

U.S. Response

• Emergency Meeting (Oct 16, 1962): Military advisors suggested airstrike/invasion.
• President John F. Kennedy: Chose a careful approach instead.
  • Naval Blockade (Oct 22, 1962): U.S. Navy to intercept all shipments to Cuba.
  • Blockade termed as a "quarantine" to avoid being considered an act of war.

Escalation

• Khrushchev's Response: Called the blockade an act of aggression in a letter to Kennedy.
• Six Days of Intense Tension:
  • U.S. demanded missile removal; USSR/Cuba insisted they were defensive.
  • Spy Plane Incident (Oct 27, 1962): U.S. spy plane shot down by a Soviet missile.
  • Submarine Incident: Soviet sub hit by depth charge, almost launched nuclear torpedo.
    • Vasily Arkhipov: Soviet second-in-command who refused authorization, preventing nuclear launch.

Resolution

• DEFCON 2: U.S. military readiness one step away from nuclear war.
• Diplomatic Negotiations:
  • Robert Kennedy and Anatoly Dobrynin negotiated secretly.
  • Proposal: U.S. to remove missiles from Turkey/Italy and promise not to invade Cuba; USSR to withdraw from Cuba under U.N. inspection.
• Khrushchev's Announcement (Oct 28, 1962): Soviet missiles to be removed from Cuba.
• Outcome: Crisis resolved through diplomacy, preventing nuclear war.

Conclusion

• Contemporary Analysis: Admiration for Kennedy and Khrushchev's diplomacy.
• Critical Lesson: Highlighted the fragility of human politics and the catastrophic potential of nuclear power.
• Vasily Arkhipov's Role: His refusal to launch a nuclear torpedo was crucial in preventing a disaster.