Overview
This lecture reviews the Cuban Missile Crisis, a tense confrontation between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. during the Cold War, highlighting key events, decisions, and outcomes.
Background and Causes
- The Cold War was a period of nuclear tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union after World War II.
- The failed U.S. Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 pushed Cuba to seek Soviet support.
- The Soviet Union secretly deployed nuclear missiles to Cuba to protect it and counter U.S. missiles in Italy and Turkey.
Key Events of the Cuban Missile Crisis
- U.S. intelligence discovered Soviet missile installations in Cuba in October 1962.
- Military advisors recommended airstrikes and invasion, but President Kennedy chose a naval "quarantine."
- The "quarantine" intercepted shipments to Cuba but was viewed by the Soviets as an act of war.
- Tensions peaked when a U.S. spy plane was shot down and a Soviet submarine nearly launched a nuclear torpedo, prevented by officer Vasili Arkhipov.
- The U.S. military moved to DEFCON 2, the highest readiness before nuclear war.
Resolution and Aftermath
- Secret negotiations between U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy and Soviet Ambassador Dobrynin led to a deal.
- The U.S. agreed to remove missiles from Turkey and Italy and not invade Cuba in exchange for Soviet withdrawal from Cuba.
- Khrushchev announced the removal of Soviet missiles, ending the crisis.
Lessons and Historical Impact
- The crisis showed nuclear war could be triggered by miscommunication or quick decisions.
- Kennedy and Khrushchev are now admired for their diplomacy during the crisis.
- Vasili Arkhipov's refusal to launch the torpedo likely prevented a nuclear war.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Cold War — A period of geopolitical tension and nuclear threat between the U.S. and Soviet Union (1945–1991).
- Bay of Pigs — Failed 1961 U.S. invasion to overthrow Cuba's communist government.
- Quarantine — U.S. naval blockade to stop shipments to Cuba, avoiding the term "blockade" to reduce war risk.
- DEFCON 2 — The U.S. military's defense readiness state, one step from nuclear war.
- Doomsday Clock — A symbolic clock representing proximity to global catastrophe.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the timeline of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
- Study the roles of Kennedy, Khrushchev, and Arkhipov in crisis resolution.