How did President John F. Kennedy help to avoid a nuclear disaster during the Cuban Missile Crisis? include three examples. -President Kennedy helped to avoid a nuclear disaster during the Cuban Missile Crisis in the following ways. First he_____________   Second he___________   Third he____________   As illustrated in the examples above, President Kennedy helped to avoid a nuclear disaster during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

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How did President John F. Kennedy help to avoid a nuclear disaster during the Cuban
Missile Crisis? include three examples.

-President Kennedy helped to avoid a nuclear disaster during the Cuban Missile Crisis in
the following ways.

First he_____________

 

Second he___________

 

Third he____________

 

As illustrated in the examples above, President Kennedy helped to avoid a nuclear
disaster during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Khrushchev also reasoned that support-
ing Cuba would help equalize the "balance of
power" between the United States and the Soviet
Union. The Americans possessed many more
nuclear weapons than the Soviets. They even
had missiles pointing at the Soviet Union from
the neighboring country of Turkey. Now Khrush-
chev decided to "throw a hedgehog down Uncle
Sam's pants," as he put it. He would station hist
own nuclear missiles in Cuba-a country only 90
miles from the United States.
In October 1962, President Kennedy's advi-
sors brought him an alarming report. An Ameri-
can spy plane flying 70,000 feet above Cuba
had photographed nuclear missile sites under
construction in Cuba. The construction was just
States appeared weak in the face of this threat,
it would encourage a Soviet arms buildup in the
Western Hemisphere. But the young
The US
commander in chief also distrusted
Constitution
identifies the
president as
commander
in chief of the
armed forces
the top military men who urged an
attack. He had served in the navy
in World War II, and had become
convinced that war between the
superpowers, especially nuclear war,
would be catastrophic.
Faced with few options and potentially
catastrophic consequences, the president chose
another course. He ordered a naval blockade of
Cuba, to keep more weapons from reaching the
island, and to pressure the Soviets to dismantle
the existing missile sites. He realized that if his
strategy failed, he might soon be leading his
country into a third world war.
days away from completion. When finished, the
sites would be able to launch nuclear missiles
that could hit cities in the United States.
Kennedy was stunned and horrified. He
quickly began a series of almost nonstop meet-
ings with his top military leaders and statesmen.
They all realized that once the missile sites were
finished, the Soviet Union would be able to strike
the United States with little or no warning.
Some of Kennedy's advisors urged him to
bomb the missile sites before they were ready
for use. Some argued that he should also invade
Cuba by air and sea. Others warned that an
attack on the island could prompt the Soviets to
seize West Berlin. It might well start a nuclear
war. Some urged Kennedy to avoid confronta-
tion and give diplomacy a chance.
Kennedy realized that he had little time
for diplomacy. He believed that if the United
searched to make sure they carried no weapons
that could be used to attack another nation. "I call
upon Chairman Khrushchev to halt
and eliminate this clandestine, reck
less, and provocative threat to world
peace," Kennedy said. He also declared
that the use of Soviet nuclear weapons
anywhere in the Western Hemisphere would lead
to a retaliatory attack on the Soviet Union.
Clandestine
ans done in
a secretive
sidden way
Nikita Khrushchev responded that a naval
blockade of Cuba was "an act of aggression and
a violation of international law. He cautioned
that if U.S. Navy vessels tried to stop Soviet
ships at sea, Soviet subs might sink them. The
USSR would not start a nuclear war, he warned,
but "if the U.S. insists on war, we'll all meet
together in hell."
People around the world held their breath
and waited to see if Soviet ships would chal-
lenge the American blockade. Some ships were
reported to have stopped dead in the water, or
to have turned back from Cuba. A Soviet tanker
approached the island. A U.S. Navy ship stopped
the tanker, searched it, determined that it carried
only oil, and let it pass.
Meanwhile, U.S. and Soviet officials ex-
changed urgent messages. The Soviets reminded
the Americans that the United States had put
missiles in Turkey aimed at the Soviet Union.
Could they not understand that the Soviets felt
just as threatened by the American missiles? But
Kennedy stuck to his demand-the Cuban mis-
siles had to go.
At the end of October, the Soviets backed
down. They agreed to remove their missiles from
Cuba in exchange for an end to the blockade and
an American pledge not to invade the island. The
American secretary of state commented, "We
were eyeball to eyeball, and I think the other fel-
low blinked." But Khrushchev gained something
he wanted, too. Kennedy had secretly agreed to
withdraw U.S. missiles from Turkey.
The tense standoff between the superpowers in
the Cuban Missile Crisis had an unexpected result.
It led to a thaw in relations between the United
States and the Soviet Union. Frightened by their
journey to the nuclear brink, the two nations began
talks aimed at limiting the use of nuclear weapons.
The world has never again come so close to
a nuclear conflagration. Of those two weeks in
October 1962, one historian has said, "The Cuban
Missile Crisis was the most dangerous event in
human history."
Transcribed Image Text:Khrushchev also reasoned that support- ing Cuba would help equalize the "balance of power" between the United States and the Soviet Union. The Americans possessed many more nuclear weapons than the Soviets. They even had missiles pointing at the Soviet Union from the neighboring country of Turkey. Now Khrush- chev decided to "throw a hedgehog down Uncle Sam's pants," as he put it. He would station hist own nuclear missiles in Cuba-a country only 90 miles from the United States. In October 1962, President Kennedy's advi- sors brought him an alarming report. An Ameri- can spy plane flying 70,000 feet above Cuba had photographed nuclear missile sites under construction in Cuba. The construction was just States appeared weak in the face of this threat, it would encourage a Soviet arms buildup in the Western Hemisphere. But the young The US commander in chief also distrusted Constitution identifies the president as commander in chief of the armed forces the top military men who urged an attack. He had served in the navy in World War II, and had become convinced that war between the superpowers, especially nuclear war, would be catastrophic. Faced with few options and potentially catastrophic consequences, the president chose another course. He ordered a naval blockade of Cuba, to keep more weapons from reaching the island, and to pressure the Soviets to dismantle the existing missile sites. He realized that if his strategy failed, he might soon be leading his country into a third world war. days away from completion. When finished, the sites would be able to launch nuclear missiles that could hit cities in the United States. Kennedy was stunned and horrified. He quickly began a series of almost nonstop meet- ings with his top military leaders and statesmen. They all realized that once the missile sites were finished, the Soviet Union would be able to strike the United States with little or no warning. Some of Kennedy's advisors urged him to bomb the missile sites before they were ready for use. Some argued that he should also invade Cuba by air and sea. Others warned that an attack on the island could prompt the Soviets to seize West Berlin. It might well start a nuclear war. Some urged Kennedy to avoid confronta- tion and give diplomacy a chance. Kennedy realized that he had little time for diplomacy. He believed that if the United searched to make sure they carried no weapons that could be used to attack another nation. "I call upon Chairman Khrushchev to halt and eliminate this clandestine, reck less, and provocative threat to world peace," Kennedy said. He also declared that the use of Soviet nuclear weapons anywhere in the Western Hemisphere would lead to a retaliatory attack on the Soviet Union. Clandestine ans done in a secretive sidden way Nikita Khrushchev responded that a naval blockade of Cuba was "an act of aggression and a violation of international law. He cautioned that if U.S. Navy vessels tried to stop Soviet ships at sea, Soviet subs might sink them. The USSR would not start a nuclear war, he warned, but "if the U.S. insists on war, we'll all meet together in hell." People around the world held their breath and waited to see if Soviet ships would chal- lenge the American blockade. Some ships were reported to have stopped dead in the water, or to have turned back from Cuba. A Soviet tanker approached the island. A U.S. Navy ship stopped the tanker, searched it, determined that it carried only oil, and let it pass. Meanwhile, U.S. and Soviet officials ex- changed urgent messages. The Soviets reminded the Americans that the United States had put missiles in Turkey aimed at the Soviet Union. Could they not understand that the Soviets felt just as threatened by the American missiles? But Kennedy stuck to his demand-the Cuban mis- siles had to go. At the end of October, the Soviets backed down. They agreed to remove their missiles from Cuba in exchange for an end to the blockade and an American pledge not to invade the island. The American secretary of state commented, "We were eyeball to eyeball, and I think the other fel- low blinked." But Khrushchev gained something he wanted, too. Kennedy had secretly agreed to withdraw U.S. missiles from Turkey. The tense standoff between the superpowers in the Cuban Missile Crisis had an unexpected result. It led to a thaw in relations between the United States and the Soviet Union. Frightened by their journey to the nuclear brink, the two nations began talks aimed at limiting the use of nuclear weapons. The world has never again come so close to a nuclear conflagration. Of those two weeks in October 1962, one historian has said, "The Cuban Missile Crisis was the most dangerous event in human history."
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Introduction:

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a defining moment of the Cold War and a critical test of leadership for President John F. Kennedy. In this historical event, the United States and the Soviet Union came dangerously close to nuclear war. However, President Kennedy's actions and decisions helped to avoid a catastrophic outcome.

 

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