The Thirteen Days of the Cuban Missile Crisis

·         16^th Oct – Kennedy is informed of Khrushchev’s plans to place nuclear missiles on Cuba.

·         20^th Oct – Kennedy decides to impose a naval blockade around Cuba to prevent further missiles reaching Cuba.

·         22^nd Oct – Kennedy gives a public address officially declaring the blockade and calling on Khrushchev to recall his ships.

·         23^rd Oct – Khrushchev sends a letter to Kennedy stating that Soviet ships will break through the blockade.

·         24^th Oct – Khrushchev issues a statement that the USSR is prepared to launch nuclear weapons if America go to war.

·         25^th Oct – American and Soviet armed forces are on the highest level of alert – they are told to prepare for war. Kennedy writes to Khrushchev asking him to withdraw missiles from Cuba.

·         26^th Oct – Khrushchev responds to Kennedy’s letter, saying that he will withdraw Soviet missiles in return for a guarantee that the USA will not invade Cuba.

·         27^th Oct – Khrushchev receives intelligence that the USA is planning to invade Cuba in 24 hours. He proposed a deal: the USSR will withdraw missiles from Cuba if the USA will agree never to invade Cuba and withdraw its nuclear missiles from Turkey.  An American spy plane is shot down over Cuba. American ‘hawks’ demand retaliation. Robert Kennedy (JFK’s brother and advisor) approached the Russian ambassador accepting Khrushchev’s deal but demands that the withdrawal of American missiles is kept secret.

·         28^th Oct – Khrushchev accepts this secret deal.