Transcript
Page 1: The Cuban Missile Crisis - University of North Carolina at ...civics.sites.unc.edu/files/2012/04/CubanMissileCrisis.pdfThe Cuban Missile Crisis Overview In this lesson, students will

TheCubanMissileCrisisOverviewInthislesson,studentswillgainanunderstandingofthetensionsthatexistedamongworldpowersduringtheCubanMissileCrisis.Afterparticipatinginamockair-raid,studentswilllistentotheactualspeechPresidentKennedygaveduringtheCrisistoaddresstheSovietthreatcomingfromCuba,anddiscusstheimplicationsforAmericancitizensduringtheperiod.Finally,studentswillcomposealettertoKhrushchevfromtheperspectiveofthePresident,indicatinghowtheybelievearesolutioncouldbereached.Grade8NorthCarolinaEssentialStandards• 8.H.1.3-Useprimaryandsecondarysourcestointerpretvarioushistoricalperspectives.• 8.H.1.5-Analyzetherelationshipbetweenhistoricalcontextanddecision-making.• 8.H.2.1-Explaintheimpactofeconomic,political,social,andmilitaryconflicts(e.g.war,slavery,states’rights

andcitizenshipandimmigrationpolicies)onthedevelopmentofNorthCarolinaandtheUnitedStates.• 8.H.2.3-Summarizetheroleofdebate,compromise,andnegotiationduringsignificantperiodsinthehistory

ofNorthCarolinaandtheUnitedStates.Materials• Alarmsound(tosimulateairraiddrill)• Imagesof1950airraidsheltersandshelterhandbook,attached• Optional:“DuckandCover”YouTubevideo:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2kdpAGDu8s(Sincemany

schooldistrictsblockaccesstoYouTube,teachersshouldcheckaccessbeforeclassanddownloadthevideofromahomecomputerifnecessary.)

• OverviewoftheCubanMissileCrisis,attached• RecordingofKennedy’sSpeechtotheUSduringtheCubanMissileCrisis,availablefordownloadorstreaming

audioonlineathttp://www.archive.org/details/jfks19621022• GuidedListeningQuestions,attachedDuration1-2periodsPreparationStudentsshouldhaveabasicunderstandingofWorldWarIIandtherelationshipsamongcountriesinvolvedintheconflictimmediatelyfollowingtheWar.Additionally,studentsshouldhaveabasicunderstandingofthecommunistideologyandhowitdiffersfromdemocracy.Procedure

SimulatingAirRaids1. Onceallstudentshaveenteredtheroomandtakentheirseats,tellthemnottobescared,butasasecurity

measure,allschoolsarerequiredtohaveperiodic“airraid”drillstoproperlypreparestudentsintheunlikelyeventofanattackbyterroristgroups.Tellthemthatwhentheyhearthealarm,theyaretogetundertheir

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desks,puttheirheadsbetweentheirlegs,andfoldtheirarmsovertheirheadstoshieldthemselvesagainstdebris.Youmayneedtodemonstratetheposition.Onceyouhaveexplainedtheproceduresoundanalarmandhavethempractice.Youwillverylikelybemetwithdisbelieforhostility.Tellstudentsitisfortheirowngood,itisonlypractice,andaskthemtopleaseparticipateinthedrill.

2. Afterstudentshaveassumedtheposition,turnoffthealarmandhavethemreturntotheirseats.Askprobingquestionsabouttheirthoughtsandfeelingsconcerningthedrill.Forexample:• Howdidyoufeelwhenyoufirstheardwewouldbehavinganairraiddrill?• Howdidyoufeelabouthavingtogetunderyourdesk?• Doesthethoughtofapossibleattackscareorworryyou?• Ifonedayduringclass,weheardanairraiddrillsound,withouttherehavingbeenanywarningofa

“test,”wouldyoufeeldifferentlycrawlingunderyourdesks?Explain.• Doyouthinkairraiddrillsareagoodthingtopractice?Whyorwhynot?

3. Informstudentsthatinactuality,therearenocurrentthreatsagainsttheUnitedStatesthatwarrantairraiddrills,andthatthedrillwasreallyasimulationtogivethemanappreciationoftheveryrealnuclearthreatAmericansfacedfordecadesafterWorldWarII,duringwhatisreferredtoasthe“ColdWar.”Tellthemthatthisnuclearthreatwasparticularlyintenseovera14dayperiodin1962calledtheCubanMissileCrisis,probablythemostintense2weeksoftheentireColdWar.

4. Next,showthefollowing10minuteeducationalfilmfromthe1950’sregardingairraiddrills:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2kdpAGDu8s.(SincemanyschooldistrictsblockaccesstoYouTube,teachersshouldcheckaccessbeforeclassanddownloadthevideofromahomecomputerifnecessary.)Sharethefollowingbackgroundinformationwithstudentsbeforeshowingthevideo;• “DuckandCover”wasasocialguidancefilmproducedin1951bytheUnitedStatesfederalgovernment's

CivilDefensebranchshortlyaftertheSovietUnionbegannucleartesting.WrittenbyRaymondJ.MaueranddirectedbyAnthonyRizzoofArcherProductionsandmadewiththehelpofschoolchildrenfromNewYorkCityandAstoria,NewYork,itwasshowninschoolsasthecornerstoneofthegovernment's"duckandcover"publicawarenesscampaign.ThemoviestatesthatnuclearwarcouldhappenatanytimewithoutwarningandthusU.S.citizensshouldkeepthisconstantlyinmindandalwaysbeready.

5. Playthevideoandoncefinished,discussthefollowingquestions:

• Doyouthinkthisvideoisaneffectiveteachingtool?Whyorwhynot?• Is“duckingandcovering”aneffectivewaytoavoidbeinghurtduringanuclearattack?• Whydoyouthinkthegovernmentwouldproducethisfilmwheninactualityduckingandcoveringis

uselessagainstanuclearattack?• Canyouthinkofothermeasuresthegovernmenthastakentomakethepopulacefeelsafer,butthatare

ultimatelyuseless?

6. Askstudentstothinkabouthowoldtheirgrandparentsaretoday(orhowoldtheywouldbeiftheywerestillalive).Tellthemthatiftheyareovertheageof56,thentheylivedthroughthisperiod.Iftheirgrandparentsareolderthan61,itmeanstheywereoldenoughtogotoschoolduringtheearly1960s,itisverylikelythattheyhadtoparticipateinsimilardrillsorevenworse.Presentstudentswiththeattachedpictureofanactualpublicschooldrillfromthe1950s.Pointoutthatwhiletheymighthavefeltfoolish“hiding”undertheirdesks,atleasttheydidnothavetogooutinthehallwayandlayonthegroundfacedown.Discusstheimagesandstudents’reactionstothem.

IntroductiontotheCubanMissileCrisis7. Togaugepriorknowledge,askstudentswhattheyalreadyknowabouttheColdWarortheCubanMissile

Crisis.Oncestudentshaveexhaustedwhattheyknow,orthinktheyknow,givethemsomebackgroundinformation:

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• TheColdWarwastherivalrythatdevelopedbetweentheUnitedStatesandtheSovietUnionafterWorldWarII,whichpersistedfornearly40years.

• WhiletheUnitedStatesandSovietUnionwerealliesduringWWII,theiralliancequicklybrokedownafterGermanysurrenderedbecauseJosephStalin,theSovietleader,begansettinguptotalitariangovernments—governmentsthatcontrolledallaspectsofpeoples’lives—insteadofdemocraticgovernmentsinEasternEuropeasheoriginallypromised.

• TheColdWardescribesthetenseandhostilerelationshipthatdevelopedbetweentheSovietUnionandtheU.S.followingWWII.ThecommunistgovernmentoftheSovietUnionwantedtoconvertothercountriestocommunism.TheUSpledgedtosupportfreecountriessotheycouldresistcommunism.Bothcountrieshadnuclearweaponsandwerecapableoflaunchinganuclearwar.

• Othercountriestooksidesinthisinternationalconflict.ManyWesternEuropeancountriessidedwiththeUStoformNATO(NationalAtlanticTreatyOrganization)in1949.ManyEasternEuropeancountriessignedtheWarsawPactandformedanalliancewiththeSovietUnion.Cuba,locatedonly90milesoffthecoastofFlorida,sidedwiththeSovietUnionafterFidelCastrocametopowerin1959.

• TheCubanMissileCrisiswasoneofthemajorclimaxesoftheColdWar,bringingtheworldtheclosestithaseverbeentoanuclearwar.

• DuringtheCubanMissileCrisisnuclearweaponsinCubawereaimedattheUS,andatthesametimenuclearweaponsintheUSwereaimedatCuba.Withthepushofabuttononeitherside,anuclearweaponcapableofdestroyingentirecitiescouldbedeployed.Assoonasaweaponwasdeployed,theothersidewouldinevitablyretaliate,leadingtoafull-scalenuclearwarandpossiblyevennuclearannihilation.Manypeoplewholivedduringthetimefearedthatifonesidelaunchedanuclearweapon,theentireplanetcouldbevirtuallydestroyed,ifnotfromthedestructioncauseddirectlybynuclearweaponsthenbythenuclearfalloutwhichwouldmakehugeareasoflanduninhabitableforextendedperiodsoftime.

8. Redirectstudentattentionbacktothewarmupanddiscuss:• ImaginethatyouarelivingduringtheyearsoftheCubanMissileCrisis.Howdoyouthinkitwouldfeelto

knowthatnuclearweaponswereaimedatyourcity,andcouldbedeployedatanyminute?• Considerthefeelingsyouexpressedearlieronhavingtoparticipateinanairraiddrill.Doyouthinkyour

opinionwouldbedifferentifyouwerelivingduringtheCubanMissileCrisis?Explain

FalloutShelters9. Explaintostudentsthatmanypeopleworriedaboutthepossibilityofnuclearfalloutandthustook

precautionstoprotectthemselves.Projecttheattachedimagesofanairraidshelterandafalloutshelterandaskstudentstoguesswhattheythinktheyarelookingat.Oncestudentshavediscussed,explainthatonesuchprecautionsomepeopletookduringtheColdWarwastobuildafalloutshelter,whichisanenclosedspacedesignedtoprotectoccupantsfromradioactivedebris,or“fallout,”thatresultsfromanuclearexplosion.Onceanuclearweaponhadbeenfired,inthemonthsaftertheexplosionthisradiationwouldbedeadlytoanyonecomingintocontactwithit.Thus,falloutsheltersweredesignedtoallowtheiroccupantstominimizeexposuretoharmfulfalloutuntilradioactivityhasdissipatedtoasaferlevel.Thesesheltersweregenerallybuiltbelowground,atdepthswhereradiationwouldnotseep.Allowstudentstodiscuss:• Howdoyouimagineitwouldfeeltoliveinoneoftheseshelters,belowground,formonths?• Asyoulivedthere,whatdifficultiesmightyouexperience?Whatworrieswouldyouhave?

10. Toenrichtheconversation,projectorhandouttheattachedprimarysourceimagesfroma1960shandbookonfalloutshelters.Additionalimagesareavailableathttp://wardomatic.blogspot.com/2006/11/fallout-shelter-handbook-1962.html.Askstudentstodiscuss:• Whatdoyouthinkthepurposeofthishandbookwas?• Whatisthepurposeofthisimageinparticular?

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• Whatdoyounoticeaboutthepeople,objects,etc.intheimage?• Howdotheseimagescompare/contrasttosomethingyoumightseetoday?

OverviewoftheCubanMissileCrisis11. DistributetheattachedoverviewoftheCubanMissileCrisis.Readaloudasaclass,takingtimetoaddressthe

“take-away”/discussionquestionsfollowingeachbriefsection.

12. OncetheclasshascompletedtheirdiscussionoftheCubanMissileCrisisoverview,distributeorprojectthe“GuidedListeningQuestions,”attached.Tellstudentsthatyouwillbelisteningtothefirst11minutesofPresidentKennedy’saddresstothepeopleoftheUnitedStatesduringtheheightoftheCubanMissileCrisis.Instructthemtolistencarefullyandanswertheguidedlisteningquestionsastheyhearthemaddressed.Playtherecording,whichcanbedownloadedorplayedinstreamingaudioat:http://www.archive.org/details/jfks19621022.

13. Afterstudentshavehadanopportunitytolistentothespeech,discusstheiranswerstotheguidedlisteningquestions.(Answersareprovidedontheattachedquestionsheet).Additionally,facilitateafollow-updiscussionusingthefollowingquestionsasaguide:• Whatisthedifferencebetweendefenseandoffense?WhywasitokayfortheSovietstohavedefensive

missilesbutnotoffensiveones?• DoyouthinkPresidentKennedy“beataroundthebush”orwasheverystraightforwardwiththe

Americanpeople?Explain.• HowdoyouthinkyouraverageAmericancitizenwouldhavefeltinreactiontothespeech?Howdoyou

thinkyouwouldhavefeltifyoulivedinamajorcity,likeWashington,D.C.,Norfolk,Virginia,orNewYork,NewYork?

WriteaLettertoKhrushchev14. Asaculminatingactivity(orforhomework)askstudentstopretendtheyarethePresidentoftheUnited

StatesduringtheCubanMissileCrisis,andtheyjustreceivedaletterfromKhrushchev,theSovietPremiere,whojustlistenedtoyourspeech.Hisletterstatesthefollowing:

“TheSovietgovernmentconsiderstheviolationofthefreedomofnavigationininternationalwatersandairspacetoconstituteanactofaggressionpropellinghumankindintotheabyssofaworldnuclear-missilewar.Therefore,theSovietgovernmentcannotinstructcaptainsofSovietshipsboundforCubatoobserveordersofAmericannavalforcesblockadingthisisland.OurinstructionstoSovietsailorsaretoobservestrictlythegenerallyacceptedstandardsofnavigationininternationalwatersandnotretreatonestepfromthem.And,iftheAmericansideviolatestheserights,itmustbeawareoftheresponsibilityitwillbearforthisact.Tobesure,wewillnotremainmereobserversofpirateactionsbyAmericanshipsintheopensea.Wewillthenbeforcedonourparttotakethosemeasureswedeemnecessaryandsufficienttodefendourrights.Tothisendwehaveallthatisnecessary.”

15. InformyourstudentsthatthisexcerptwastakenfromanactualletterwrittentoPresidentKennedyfromKhrushchev.Then,asawritingexercise,havestudentsassumethepersonaofPresidentKennedyandcomposealetterinresponsetoKhrushchev.StudentsshouldusetheirknowledgeoftheCubanMissileCrisistoexpresstheirfeelingsabouttheCrisisandwhattheybelieveneedstohappeninordertoavoidnuclearwar.

AdditionalActivities• Havestudentsinterviewparents/grandparentsoraneldercommunitymemberaboutwhatitwasliketobe

aliveduringtheColdWar,andpresenttheirfindingstotheclass.Somesamplequestionsmightinclude:o Whenyouwereachild,didyouhearpeopletalkingaboutnuclearbombs?Ifso,howdidpeopleseemto

feelaboutnuclearbombs?Doyourememberifyouhadanyfeelingsaboutnuclearbombswhenyouwereachild?

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o Didyouunderstandwhotheenemywas?Whatdidyouthinkoftheenemy?WhatdidyouthinkoftheUnitedStatesasanuclearpower?

o Whenyouwereachild,didyourschoolhaveair-raiddrills?Whatdidthestudentshavetododuringanair-raiddrill?Why?

o Whenyouwereyounger,didyoueverhearaboutorseeabombshelter?Whatsuppliesdidpeopleputinbombshelters?Why?Whatfeelingsdidyouhave(anddoyouhave)aboutbombshelters?

o Whenyouwereyounger,wereyouafraidthattheUnitedStatesortheworldwouldbeblownupbybombsormissiles?

o Doyourememberbeingyoungandreadingbooksorseeingmoviesortelevisionshowsaboutnucleardestruction?Howdidthebooksandmoviesmakeyoufeel?

o Didyoustopbeingafraidofnuclearwarasyougrewup?Whyorwhynot?o HowdidyoufeelwhenReaganandGorbachevstartedtalkingaboutreducingnucleararmaments?How

doyoufeelnowaboutthethreatofnuclearwar?Source:http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/reaganlegacy-starwars

• Insteadofsendingstudentsouttodoone-on-oneinterviews,considerinvitingtoclasssomeonewhowenttoanAmericanpublicschoolinthe1950s,whentheColdWarstarted.Asktheguesttotalkabouthowthefearofnuclearwarmanifesteditselfinday-to-dayschoollife.Letthestudents,asagroup,askquestionsoftheguest.

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AirRaidImages

LincolnHighSchoolAir-RaidDrill,1950

FalloutShelterImages

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FalloutShelterHandbook

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Source:http://wardomatic.blogspot.com/2006/11/fallout-shelter-handbook-1962.html

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TopsecretdocumentdemonstratingtherangeofmissilesfromCuba

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TheCubanMissileCrisisAnOverview

TheworldhasnevercomeclosertothebrinkofnuclearwarthanitdidduringtheCubanMissileCrisisofOctober1962,oneofthemostdramaticepisodesinU.S.diplomatichistory.

DiscoveryoftheMissilesThecrisisbeganonOctober14,1962whenphotographstakenduringareconnaissanceflightoverCubabyaUSU-2spyplanerevealedthattheSovietUnion--America'sColdWaradversary--hadsecretlystartedbuildingbasesformedium-rangeballisticmissiles(MRBMs)ontheisland,locatedlessthan90milesfromtheU.S.coast.ScholarsstilldebatewhytheSovietUniontookthisconfrontationalstep.SomearguethattheSovietswantedtoprotecttheirallyCubafromtheUnitedStates,whichhadtriedvarioustimestotoppleFidelCastrofollowinghisassumptionofpower.Take-AwayQuestions:1. HowdidtheUSknowthereweremissilesinCuba?WhywasthissuchabigconcernfortheUS?2. WhatisonepossiblereasontheSovietUniontookthedrasticstep?

The"ExComm"DeliberatesPresidentJohnF.Kennedylearnedthenewstwodayslaterandmetwithhistopadvisers--laterdubbedtheExecutiveCommittee(ExComm)oftheNationalSecurityCouncil--todecidehowtorespond.Sincethemissiles,ifoperationalandequippedwithnuclearwarheads,couldquicklydestroytargetswithintheUnitedStates,Kennedyandhisadvisersagreedthattheweaponspresentedagravethreatandneededtoberemoved.TheExCommdebatedhowbesttodoso.Atfirst,KennedyandtheExCommfavoredamilitaryresponse,withoptionsrangingfromairstrikesonthemissilebasestoanall-outinvasionofCuba.Themilitaryalternativelostfavor,however,asExCommmembersbecamemoreandmoreconcernedthatitcouldprovokeaSovietresponsethatmightleadtoafull-scalewar.SuchworriesgainedgreatercredencewhentheCentralIntelligenceAgency(CIA)reportedthatsomeSovietMRBMsinCubawerealreadyoperational,probablyarmedwithnuclearwarheads,andcapableofreachingtargetsintheUnitedStates.Take-AwayQuestions:3. WhatdidPresidentKennedyandhisadvisorsthinkofthesteptakenbytheSovietUnion?Howwouldyouhavefelt

ifyouwerethePresident?4. Whydidn’ttheUSrespondwithairstrikesoraninvasionofCuba?IfyouhadbeenamemberofExComm,what

advicewouldyouhavegiventothePresident?Why?

MAD:TheDoctrineofMutualAssuredDestructionMutualassureddestruction(MAD)isthedoctrineofmilitarystrategyinwhichafull-scaleuseofnuclearweaponsbytwoopposingsideswouldeffectivelyresultinthedestructionofboththeattackerandthedefender.Itisbasedonthetheoryof“deterrence”whichbasicallysaysthatsimplyhavingweapons(orevenmakingtheenemythinkyoudo)canthreatentheenemyandpreventthemfromusingtheverysameweapons.Thestrategymustbeemployedbybothsidestoavoidtheworstpossibleoutcome—nuclearannihilation.KennedyandhisadvisorstookMADveryseriouslyduringtheCrisis.Take-AwayQuestions:5. ExplainthedoctrineofMutualAssuredDestructioninyourownwords.TheQuarantineUltimately,KennedyelectednottostrikethemissilebasesinCuba.ThePresident,duringanExCommmeetingheldonOctober20,insteadchosetosurroundCubawithanavalblockade,calleda“quarantine,“whichtechnicallywasaviolationofinternationallaw.Theblockade,designedtopreventtheSovietUnionfromintroducingmoreweaponsorwarheadsintoCuba,offeredseveraladvantagesoveramilitarystrike.WhilesignalingtheUnitedStates’determination,itwasflexible,offeringKennedyandhisadviserstheoptionofincreasingpressureontheSovietUniontoremoveits

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missilesifneedbe.ThePresident'sbrother,AttorneyGeneralRobertF.Kennedy,arguedatanOctober19ExCommmeetingthatablockade,unlikeamilitaryattack,allowedSovietPremierNikitaS.Khrushchev"someroomformaneuver"aswell.

ThecrisisandtheWhiteHouseresponseremainedsecretuntilOctober22,whenPresidentKennedy,inanationallytelevisedaddress,informedtheAmericanpeopleaboutthemissilesandannouncedthequarantineofCuba.Thepublicwaitedastheworldseemedpoisedonthebrinkofnuclearwar.HowwouldtheSovietUnionreact?WouldtheKhrushchevlaunchanuclearstrikeoncitiesintheUnitedStates?WouldtheSovietsobeyorchallengetheblockade?

Take-AwayQuestions:6. Whatadvantagesdida“quarantine”haveoveranairstrikeorinvasion?Whatdoyouthinkmayhavebeen

somedisadvantages?Why?7. HowmightyouhavefeltifyouwerelivingintheUnitedStatesduringtheCubanMissileCrisis?Howdoyou

thinktheSovietleaderfeltabouttheblockade,whichastechnicallyillegal.TheCrisisAvertedAnswerscametwodayslater,October24,whenseveralSovietshipsturnedbackfromthequarantineline.Whenhelearnedthenews,SecretaryofStateDeanRusksaid,"We'reeyeballtoeyeball,andIthinktheotherfellowjustblinked."Then,theSoviets,throughnumerouschannels,includingaletterfromKhrushchevtoPresidentKennedyonOctober26,proposedasolution.TheSovietUnionwouldremoveitsmissilesiftheUnitedStatesliftedtheblockadeandpledgednottoinvadeCuba.AsecondletterfromKhrushchevarrivedthenextdayaddinganewcondition:hewouldremoveSovietmissilesinCubaiftheUSremovedmissilesstationedinTurkey,locatedontheSovietUnion'sborder.Meanwhile,aU-2spyplanewasshotdownoverCubaanditspilotkilled,oneofseveraleventsthatthreatenedtoescalatethecrisis.Take-AwayQuestion:8. HowwouldyouhaverespondedtothelettersifyouwereinKennedy’sshoes?Howdoyouthinkheresponded?

InanOctober27lettertotheSovietPremier,PresidentKennedydeliberatelyignoredKhrushchev'ssecondletterandacceptedthetermsoutlinedinhisfirst--removingthemissilesinexchangeforliftingtheblockadeandissuinganon-invasionpledge.Privately,however,theAttorneyGeneralassuredSovietAmbassadorAnatolyF.DobryninthattheUnitedStateswouldremoveitsmissilesfromTurkey.OnOctober28,KhrushchevrepliedpositivelytoKennedy'sletter,therebypeacefullyendingapotentiallycatastrophiccrisis.

TheCubanMissileCrisishaslongbeenrememberedasalessonineffectivediplomacyandcrisismanagement.KennedyandhisadvisersrespondedcautiouslybutfirmlytotheSovietemplacementofnuclearmissilesinCuba,optingforaflexibleblockaderatherthanapotentiallyescalatorymilitaryalternative.Whilethatcharacterizationisaccurateinmanyrespects,evidenceaboutnearmisses,accidents,andunauthorizedactionsrecentlyhascometolightsuggestingthatthecrisiscamedangerouslyclosetospinningoutofcontrol.GiventhetensionsofOctober1962,thedowningofaU-2overCubaorthestrayingofaU.S.aircraftoverSovietairspace--bothofwhichactuallyhappened--couldhavebeeninterpretedbyeithersideasadeliberateprovocationrequiringamilitaryresponse.

Inanyevent,thesuperpowerspulledbackfromthenuclearbrinkinthewakeofthecrisis.Withinayear,KennedyandKhrushchevsignedtheLimitedNuclearTestBanTreaty,thefirstinternationalagreementonnuclearweapons.Andthesuperpowersinstalleda"hotline"toimprovecommunicationbetweentheWhiteHouseandtheSovietUnion.

Take-AwayQuestions:9. WhatdoyouthinktherelationshipbetweentheUSandSovietUnionwaslikeafterthecrisiswasaverted?Why?

Source:BureauofPublicAffairs,U.S.DepartmentofState

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PresidentKennedy’sSpeechtotheAmericanPeopleDuringtheCubanMissileCrisis:

GuidedListeningQuestions

Directions:Listencarefullytothefirst11minutesofPresidentKennedy’sspeechandanswerthefollowingquestionsasyouhearthemaddressed.Bepreparedforafollow-updiscussion.1. HowmanydistincttypesofinstallationsdidUSsurveillancediscoverinCuba?2. HowfardidKennedysaymedium-rangeballisticmissileswerecapableoftraveling?Whatabout

intermediate-rangeballisticmissiles?3. OnSept.11,1962,whatdidtheSovietgovernmentsaypubliclythemissileswere“exclusively

designedfor?”4. WhatdidKennedysayabouttheSovietquote?5. WhatdoesKennedysayAmericancitizenshave“becomeadjustedto?”6. WhatdoesKennedysayaggressiveconduct,suchasthebuildingupofmissilesinCuba,willleadto?7. Inordertoact“indefenseofourownsecurity,andoftheentirewesternhemisphere,”whatarethe

first3“initialsteps”Kennedysayswillbetakenimmediately?

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PresidentKennedy’sSpeechtotheAmericanPeopleDuringtheCubanMissileCrisis:

Answers:1)Two2)1000miles,Twiceasfar3)Defensivepurposes4)Itwasfalse;5)Livinginabullseye6)War7)Quarantine,Continuedsurveillance,Anymissilelaunchedwillleadtoafull-scalemilitaryresponse