7/13/2020 Executive Discussions on the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
https://media.pearsoncmg.com/pls/az/gcu/1323178368/Cuban_Missile_Crisis_1962.html 1/3
Executive Discussions on the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
In 1959, Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba and eventually sought close ties with the USSR. For the Soviet
government, having an ally 90 miles off the coast of the Union States and in a position to influence the western
Caribbean was a great advantage. In 1962, the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and Castro negotiated the placement
of Soviet nuclear missiles that could reach targets in the United States almost as soon as their launch could be
detected. These missiles not only could have altered the Cold War balance of power, but they also could have become
a great propaganda coup. Historians still debate the exact motives for stationing the missiles on Cuba.
What sort of U.S. reaction the Soviet government expected is unclear, although Khrushchev had not been impressed
with Kennedy’s statesmanship at their meeting in Vienna the previous year. When the U.S. government discovered the
missiles, the events of October 1962 brought the world as close to the brink of nuclear war as it has ever been. As
these documents show, it was difficult for the Kennedy administration to determine a course of action that would
neither show weakness nor lead to war. First, the government had to assess the threat, and then the President had to
inform the American people of that threat and of the U.S. government’s response.
The first document is a transcript of what was said at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Security
Council (Excomm), a group of the president’s closest advisors, held in the early stages of the conflict. The second is
President Kennedy’s address to the American people, broadcast live on television on October 22, 1962.
BUNDY: But, the, uh, question I would like to ask is, quite aside from what we’ve said-and we’re very hard-locked into
it, I know-What is the strategic impact on the position of the United States of MRBMs [medium-range ballistic missiles]
in Cuba? How gravely does it change the strategic balance?
MCNAMARA: Mac, I asked the Chiefs that this afternoon, in effect. And they said, substantially. My own personal view
is not at all.
BUNDY: Not so much.
MCNAMARA: And, I think this is an important element here. . . .
[discussion of the psychological impact of Soviet weapons in Cuba]
DOUGLAS DILLON: Yeah. That is the point.
EDWIN M. MARTIN: Yeah. The psychological factor of our having taken it.
DILLON: Taken it, that’s the best.
RFK: Well, and the fact that if you go there, we’re gonna fire it.
JFK: What’s that again, Ed? What are you saying?
MARTIN: Well, it’s a psychological factor that we have sat back and let ’em do it to us, that is more important than the
direct threat . . .
JFK: [unintelligible] I said we weren’t going to.
MARTIN: [unintelligible]
BUNDY(?): That’s something we could manage.
JFK: Last month I said we weren’t going to.
7/13/2020 Executive Discussions on the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
https://media.pearsoncmg.com/pls/az/gcu/1323178368/Cuban_Missile_Crisis_1962.html 2/3
[laughter]
JFK: Last month I should have said . . .
[UNIDENTIFIED]: Well . . .
JFK: . . . that we don’t care. But when we said we were not going to and they go ahead and do it, and then we do
nothing, then . . .
[UNIDENTIFIED]: That’s right.
JFK: . . . I would think that our risks increase. Oh, I agree. What difference does it make? They’ve got enough to blow
us up now anyway. I think it’s just a question of . . . After all this is a political struggle as much as military. . . .
[McNamara advocates examining political response-“We haven’t discussed it fully today.”]
MCNAMARA: I, I, I’ll be quite frank. I don’t think there is a military problem here. This is my answer to Mac’s question.
. . .
BUNDY: That’s my honest [judgment(?)].
MCNAMARA: . . . and therefore, and I’ve gone through this today, and I asked myself, Well what is it then if it isn’t a
military problem? Well, it’s just exactly this problem, that, that, uh, if Cuba should possess a capacity to carry out
offensive actions against the U.S., the U.S. would act.
[UNIDENTIFIED]: That’s right.
[UNIDENTIFIED]: That’s right.
MCNAMARA: Now, it’s that problem, this . . .
[UNIDENTIFIED]: You can’t get around that one.
MCNAMARA: . . . this is a domestic political problem. . . .
[McNamara suggested blockade and 24-hour surveillance. George Ball pointed out that 24-hour surveillance has holescan’t monitor during darkness.]
MCNAMARA: Oh, well, it’s really the, yes, it isn’t the surveillance, it’s the ultimatum that is . . .
BALL (?): Yeah.
MCNAMARA: . . . the key part of this.
BALL (?): Yeah.
MCNAMARA: And what I tried to do was develop a little package that meets the action requirement of the paragraph I
read.
[UNIDENTIFIED]: Yeah.
MCNAMARA: Because, as I suggested, I don’t believe it’s primarily a military problem. It’s primarily a, a domestic,
political problem.
President Kennedy’s Address to the American people, October 22, 1962
Good evening, my fellow citizens. This Government, as promised, has maintained the closest surveillance of the Soviet
military build-up on the island of Cuba. Within the past week unmistakable evidence has established the fact that a
series of offensive missile sites is now in preparation on that imprisoned island. The purposes of these bases can be
none other than to provide a nuclear strike capability against the Western Hemisphere.
Upon receiving the first preliminary hard information of this nature last Tuesday morning [October 16] at 9:00 A.M., I
directed that our surveillance be stepped up. And now having confirmed and completed our evaluation of the evidence
7/13/2020 Executive Discussions on the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
https://media.pearsoncmg.com/pls/az/gcu/1323178368/Cuban_Missile_Crisis_1962.html 3/3
and our decision on a course of action, this Government feels obliged to report this new crisis to you in fullest detail.
The characteristics of these new missile sites indicate two distinct types of installations. Several of them include
medium-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying a nuclear warhead for a distance of more than 1,000 nautical
miles. Each of these missiles, in short, is capable of striking Washington, D.C., the Panama Canal, Cape Canaveral,
Mexico City, or any other city in the southeastern part of the United States, in Central America, or in the Caribbean
area.
Additional sites not yet completed appear to be designed for intermediate-range ballistic missiles capable of traveling
more than twice as far-and thus capable of striking most of the major cities in the Western Hemisphere, ranging as far
north as Hudson Bay, Canada, and as far south as Lima, Peru. In addition, jet bombers, capable of carrying nuclear
weapons, are now being uncrated and assembled in Cuba, while the necessary air bases are being prepared.
This urgent transformation of Cuba into an important strategic base-by the presence of these large, long-range, and
clearly offensive weapons of sudden mass destruction-constitutes an explicit threat to the peace and security of all the
Americas, in flagrant and deliberate defiance of the Rio Pact of 1947, the traditions of this nation and Hemisphere, the
Joint Resolution of the Eighty-seventh Congress, the Charter of the United Nations, and my own public warnings to the
Soviets on September 4 and 13.
This action also contradicts the repeated assurances of Soviet spokesmen, both publicly and privately delivered, that
the arms build-up in Cuba would retain its original defensive character and that the Soviet Union had no need or desire
to station strategic missiles on the territory of any other nation. . . .
In that sense missiles in Cuba add to an already clear and present danger-although it should be noted the nations of
Latin America have never previously been subjected to a potential nuclear threat.
But this secret, swift, and extraordinary build-up of Communist missiles-in an area well known to have a special and
historical relationship to the United States and the nations of the Western Hemisphere, in violation of Soviet
assurances, and in defiance of American and hemispheric policy-this sudden, clandestine decision to station strategic
weapons for the first time outside of Soviet soil-is a deliberately provocative and unjustifiable change in the status quo
which cannot be accepted by this country if our courage and our commitments are ever to be trusted again by either
friend or foe.
Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply
Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?
Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.
Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?
- Plagiarism free papers
- Timely delivery
- Any deadline
- Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
- Subject-relevant academic writer
- Adherence to paper instructions
- Ability to tackle bulk assignments
- Reasonable prices
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Get superb grades consistently
Online Academic Help With Different Subjects
Literature
Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.
Finance
Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.
Computer science
Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!
Psychology
While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.
Engineering
Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.
Nursing
In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.
Sociology
Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.
Business
We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!
Statistics
We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.
Law
Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.
What discipline/subjects do you deal in?
We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.
Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?
Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.
What if I don’t like the paper?
There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.
Reasons being:
- When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
- We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.
In the event that you don’t like your paper:
- The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
- We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
- Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.
Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?
Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.
What if the paper is plagiarized?
We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.
When will I get my paper?
You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.
Will anyone find out that I used your services?
We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.
How our Assignment Help Service Works
1. Place an order
You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.
2. Pay for the order
Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.
3. Track the progress
You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.
4. Download the paper
The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.
GET A PERFECT SCORE!!! 
