13+Days

October, 1962 - as close as the world will ever come to a nuclear World War III. What happened in those critical 13 days in October? Let's find out as you help President Kennedy make crucial decisions about the future of the United States ... and the world. In your group of advisors, log in to the chatroom for your period and cut and paste the material below into a new page on your Unit 8 notebook.

I need some help from my advisors. Soviet General Secretary Nikita Khrushchev has taken an open and oppositional stand against the United States since taking over from Joseph Stalin in the 1950s. The Soviets have been brutal in Hungary, launched an ICBM, and shot down a U-2 plane (sure it was taking control of military installations, but that’s a different story). Khrushchev has stated that he will “bury” the US (loosely translated), he has repeatedly interrupted the United Nations with his shouting, and he has even taken off his shoe and banged it on a desk in the UN. I am a new President, and obviously the Bay of Pigs incident doesn’t help my international standing with anyone, especially Khrushchev. I know that Castro and Khrushchev have a very freindly relationship, but we have recently had a decent relationship with Cuba.

DAYS 1-3 Tuesday, October 16 to Thursday, October 18 I have just seen pictures that show Russian missile launchers located on the island of Cuba, 90 miles from our border. The launchers could be fitted with nuclear warheads for offensive strikes on U.S. sites as far away as Montana. I need some help in deciding what we should do about these missiles in Cuba. I don’t think I can handle the pressure alone. There are many possible ideas - an air strike, an invasion of mainland Cuba, a naval blockade, a diplomatic protest in the United Nations, and other ideas. I know this decision will be extremely crucial for the safety of Americans and the world in general. What benefits and challenges do the options present, and which option should I take?

OUR RESPONSE AND REASON JRK's response to the missle crisis should involve speaking to the United Nations and trying to avoid an invasion or attack. Through the United Nations he should attempt to communicate with the Soivet Union to create peace. If our Diplomatic approach does not succeed we should reach out to Cuba and persuad them to negociate peace. Our final resolution would be to threaten Cuba and inform them that they will be completely destroyed if they decide to launch their weapons.

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS They decided to create a naval quarantine against Cuba. DAY 4 - 7- Friday, October 19 to Monday, October 22 The Washington press corps has found out that something strange and important is going on. We are working well into the night, and I had to leave a planned trip to Chicago due to “the flu” (wink wink). I have placed the military on full alert, and I have notified our allies that there is some serious trouble brewing with the Soviets. Congress, which is on recess, has been alerted and party leaders are becoming aware of the situation. Nearly 200,000 American troops have been moved to Key West, Florida - the largest invasion force ever assembled on American soil. The news is going to break sooner or later, so I need some more advice. Do I tell the public of the evidence of Soviet missiles in Cuba and the possibility that U.S. ships will be enforcing a quarantine of Cuba? How much do I tell them? Or should I just stay quiet?

OUR RESPONSE AND REASON JFK should partly inform the public of the Cuban Missile Crisis. He should indirectly warn them how to protect themselves if a missile strikes. This way the public feels informed on how to protect themselves and are warned that something might be going on. He should leave the details out because that could cause chaos and complete hystetria throughout the United States. WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS JRK adresses the public an tell them everything, leaving no details out. He warns the Soviet Union that if theylaunch any missile from Cuba the US will retaliate against the Soviet Union. He order the blockade to move forward and demanded that they intercept any ships on the way to Cuba.

DAY 8 - 9 Tuesday, October 23 to <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Wednesday, October 24 <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;">We have put the quarantine into effect and told the Soviet Union of our intentions to stop any and all Soviet ships from entering Cuba. Cuba has bulked up its military along the coasts in preparation for a possible invasion and called the U.S. a bully at the United Nations. Moscow is accusing the U.S. of piracy. A Soviet ship is approaching the quarantine line and attempts to break through the quarantine. What should we do about the oncoming ship, and why?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #800000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">OUR RESPONSE AND REASON <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">SINK IT.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #800000; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">They let the ship pass and unreasont able all of the other ships stopped, assuming that would not let the rest pass.

We also have evidence that the Soviets are installing actual weapons that will be able to fire on the U.S. in a matter of days. My decision is now a matter of peace or war. Should I give the order to fire weapons on the existing missile sites, set an ultimatum for removal of the missiles, destroy Soviet ships in the Caribbean, send troops to Cuba, move nuclear subs toward the USSR, or attempt any further means of peaceful diplomacy? I need some help, EXCOMM!

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #800000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">OUR RESPONSE AND REASON <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">We should create an ultimatum threatining and try to stay peaceful, but if they countinue with their threatining ways we will attack until all necleur materials are removed.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #800000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px;">They waited.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">DAY 10-12- Thursday, October 25 to Saturday, October 27 <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;">Proceedings are becoming heated at the United Nations. Our delegate to the UN has openly challenged the Soviet Union about the missiles, without getting a desired response. Tensions remain high between the two countries. Nikita Khrushchev and the Soviets have made two offers - the first is to remove the missiles from Cuba in exchange for no American invasion of Cuba, and the second demands U.S. removal of missiles from Turkey in return for the removal of Soviet missiles from Cuba. What do you do in this situation - accept either of the offers, make a counter offer, or demand immediate removal or else troops and weapons will be deployed?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #800000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">OUR RESPONSE AND REASON <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #800000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;">xxxxxxxxxxxx

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #800000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #800000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;">xxxxxxxxxxxxx