Navigation
Analyzes the escalation of the nuclear arms race and the high-stakes diplomacy of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
For thirteen days in 1962, the survival of the human race depended on a secret letter sent in the middle of the night. What happens when the only way to keep the peace is to prove you are willing to start a nuclear war?
The Cold War arms race was governed by a terrifying paradox known as Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). This doctrine suggested that if two opposing sides possessed enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other completely, neither would start a war because doing so would result in their own total annihilation. For MAD to work, both sides needed a second-strike capability—the ability to absorb a nuclear hit and still fire back. This created a fragile 'balance of terror.' By the early 1960s, the USSR sought to close the gap in missile range by placing medium-range ballistic missiles in Cuba, just miles from Florida. This move threatened to upset the MAD equilibrium by reducing the US response time to nearly zero.
Quick Check
Why is 'second-strike capability' the most important element of the MAD theory?
Answer
It ensures that even if a country is attacked first, it can still destroy the attacker, making any initial strike a suicidal move.
On October 16, 1962, President Kennedy was shown U-2 spy plane photos of Soviet missile sites. This began the 13 Days, a period of intense deliberation within the Executive Committee (ExComm). Kennedy faced three main options: a surgical air strike, a full-scale invasion, or a naval blockade. Choosing a middle path, JFK announced a naval 'quarantine' of Cuba. He used this specific term because a 'blockade' is technically an act of war. The tension peaked on 'Black Saturday,' October 27, when a US U-2 plane was shot down over Cuba, and a Soviet submarine nearly launched a nuclear torpedo after being harassed by US Navy depth charges.
1. US intelligence identifies Soviet R-12 missiles in Cuba. 2. Kennedy rejects the 'Hawks' who want immediate bombing to avoid a 'Pearl Harbor in reverse.' 3. The US Navy establishes a -mile perimeter around Cuba. 4. Soviet ships carrying more equipment stop or turn back, but the missiles already in Cuba remain operational, leading to a stalemate.
Quick Check
How did the choice of the word 'quarantine' instead of 'blockade' help de-escalate the situation?
Answer
A blockade is an act of war; a quarantine allowed the US to stop shipments without legally starting a war, giving the USSR room to negotiate.
While the public saw a game of 'nuclear chicken,' the crisis was resolved through secret diplomacy. Soviet Premier Khrushchev sent two letters: one conciliatory, the other demanding the removal of US missiles from Turkey. Publicly, Kennedy ignored the second letter. Privately, Robert Kennedy met with Soviet Ambassador Dobrynin. They reached a quid pro quo: the USSR would remove missiles from Cuba if the US pledged never to invade the island and secretly removed its Jupiter missiles from Turkey later. This back-channel communication allowed both leaders to 'save face' domestically while avoiding a global catastrophe.
Analyze the complexity of the secret trade: 1. Publicly: Kennedy looks strong by 'forcing' Khrushchev to back down. 2. Privately: Kennedy concedes the Turkey missiles to satisfy Soviet security concerns. 3. Result: The US avoids looking like it abandoned NATO allies, while Khrushchev can claim he protected Cuba from US invasion.
What was the primary purpose of the 'quarantine' around Cuba?
Which secret concession did the US make to resolve the crisis?
The theory of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) assumes that both sides are rational actors who value survival.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to recall the three options Kennedy's ExComm considered and why he chose the 'quarantine.'
Practice Activity
Research the 'Moscow-Washington Hotline' and explain how it was a direct result of the communication failures during the crisis.