The Cuban Missile Crisis

Paper Summary:

This paper traces the developments of the Cuban Missile Crisis, detailing the behind-the-scenes diplomacy, maneuvering and leadership of both U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. The paper describes the danger posed to the world by the crisis and the courage displayed by these two world leaders in averting what would have been an all-out nuclear war.

From the Paper:

"Due to the placement of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons around the borders of the Soviet Union, and the range-superior U.S. nuclear arsenal, the Soviets wanted to improve their tactical situation. Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, saw the need for a soviet missile base within close proximity to the United States. He believed that the U.S.S.R needed such a base to gain leverage over the United States (Wiersma & Larson, 1997, 3). At the same time, Cuba hoped to gain some way to defend their nation from an attack from the United States. They feared such an attack ever since the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961. In July of 1962, Fidel Castro, the dictator of Cuba, sent his brother to Moscow in an unexplained visit. Soon afterwards the Soviets began to ship military supplies to Cuba (Abel, 1968, 16). By combining efforts, the Soviets were able to gain leverage through the installation of nuclear weapons, and the Cubans were able to defend their island with the Soviet military supplies. Initially, the United States had no idea that the Soviets were building up such a military presence in Cuba, but when they found out, they were driven almost to a panic. The leaders of the U.S. were forced to decide whether to attack or talk with the Soviets and Cuba."

More papers on The Cuban Missile Crisis:

• Analytical Essay # 3911 : "Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis"
• Term Paper # 131747 : "American Intelligence and the Cuban Missile Crisis"
• Analytical Essay # 74125 : "President Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis"
• Analytical Essay # 134074 : "The Cuban Missile Crisis: An Analysis"

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