Kennedy chose a naval quarantine over an air strike, and a public no-invasion pledge plus a secret deal on Turkey ended the crisis.
On 14 October 1962, a U-2 spy plane photographed missile sites in Cuba. From 16 October, Kennedy debated options with his advisers, the Executive Committee (ExComm). Military leaders favoured air strikes and invasion. Kennedy chose a naval quarantine to stop further weapons reaching Cuba.
On 22 October, Kennedy announced the quarantine on television and demanded that the missiles be removed. On 24 October, Soviet ships approaching the quarantine line stopped or turned back.
On 26 October, Khrushchev sent a letter suggesting the missiles could go if the USA promised not to invade Cuba. On 27 October, a second letter also demanded the removal of US missiles from Turkey. The same day, a U-2 was shot down over Cuba, killing its pilot. Tension peaked.
Kennedy publicly answered the first letter, accepting a no-invasion pledge in return for removal. Privately, Robert Kennedy told Soviet ambassador Dobrynin that the Jupiter missiles in Turkey would be removed later, if this was kept secret. On 28 October, Khrushchev announced the withdrawal.
- U-2 photographs
- 14 October 1962.
- Quarantine announced
- 22 October 1962.
- Black Saturday
- 27 October: U-2 shot down; Turkey demand.
- Withdrawal announced
- 28 October 1962.
Worked example: Tracing a turning point
Why was 27 October 1962 the most dangerous day?
- A U-2 was shot down over Cuba, which could have triggered US retaliation.
- Khrushchev's new demand on Turkey seemed to harden the Soviet position.
- Kennedy's response combined a public offer with a secret concession.
- The crisis turned within a day, showing leaders' choices mattered.
Watch out for this
Khrushchev simply backed down and got nothing in return.
He got a public US pledge not to invade Cuba and a secret promise to remove the Jupiter missiles from Turkey.
Check your understanding
What did the USA secretly promise to end the crisis?
- To remove its Jupiter missiles from Turkey later
- To withdraw from Berlin
- To end the embargo on Cuba