The Cuban Missile Crisis Highlights
1962.
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Monday, October 15
A
U-2 high level
reconnaissance jet records pictures of
nuclear missile sites being assembled in
Cuba.
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Tuesday, October 16 Military advisors hands the pictures to
President Kennedy, two options discussed: air strikes and the blockade.
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Wednesday, October 17 The military discovers that the
missile could reach as far as
Washington state.
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Thursday, October 18 The
Soviets completely
deny that they have nuclear missiles in Cuba.
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Friday, October 19 Kennedy continues on a campaign trip in the Mid-west maintains secrecy of the
discovery.
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Saturday, October 20 Kennedy cancels the
campaign trip because of an
upper respiratory infection and to discuss Cuba.
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Sunday, October 21 Kennedy discusses in detail with his advisors the two major plans of action a
quarantine or an
air strike.
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Monday, October 22 Kennedy addresses the nation saying that he is going to start a quarantine on Cuba.
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Tuesday, October 23 Kennedy orders a low level
reconnaissance mission to examine the sites closer.
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Wednesday, October 24 Soviet ships stop at the quarantine line, military alert raised to
DEFCON 2 (
Defense Condition Two).
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Thursday, October 25 Pictures shown at the
U.N. proving that there are missiles in Cuba.
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Friday, October 26 A Soviet ship is cleared through the
quarantine because it was not carrying any missiles.
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Saturday, October 27 The only casualty is taken when a
U-2 is shot down by a Soviet
surface-to-air missile.
A U-2 is almost shot down over Russia when it strays into
Soviet airspace.
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Sunday, October 28 Soviets agree to move missiles out of Cuba if the
U.S. makes a public statement not to
invade Cuba.