1. Cold War-Trouble with Cuba 90 miles away…

2. The Bay of Pigs Invasion The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an unsuccessful attempt by US-backed Cuban exiles to overthrow the government of the Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. Increasing friction between the US and Castro's communist regime led President Eisenhower to break off diplomatic relations with Cuba in January 1961. Even before that, however, the CIA had been training anti-revolutionary Cuban exiles for a possible invasion of the island. The invasion plan was approved by Eisenhower's successor, John F. Kennedy.

3. 1961 - Bay of Pigs President Kennedy hates that Cuba is communist. U.S.-organized invasion force of 1,400 Cuban exiles is defeated by Castro's government forces at the Bay of Pigs. Kennedy takes full responsibility for the disaster. Captured Cubans Cuban leader Fidel Castro watches events during the Bay of Pigs Invasion.

4. The Cuban Missile Crisis Fidel Castro’s successful communist revolution in Cuba draws American U2 reconnaissance planes into Cuban skies. X

5. The Cuban Missile Crisis 14 Oct 1962: U2 photos reveal that Soviet nuclear missiles are being installed in Cuba, within striking range of most of the US - The Cuban Missile Crisis. How did the US discover Soviet missiles in Cuba?

6. Negotiate -for the withdrawal of the missiles Ultimatum - dismantle the missiles, or else military action Airstrike - against the missile sites Blockade - naval quarantine of Cuba Do nothing - ignore the missiles

7. After significant discussion of multiple options, Kennedy chooses to enforce a blockade, or “naval quarantine,” of Cuba. Meanwhile, both East and West mobilize for nuclear war.

8. The Cuban Missile Crisis Video: “Stevenson at the UN” (2)

10. The Cuban Missile Crisis After thirteen tense days, recognizing the potential for nuclear disaster, a negotiated settlement is reached:

11. Khrushchev agrees to remove all Soviet missiles from Cuba. - In return, Kennedy promises not to attack Cuba (again), and to remove similar American missiles in Turkey.

12. Post Cuban Missile Crisis: The US government increases military support for anti-communist forces fighting a civil war in Vietnam. Direct US-USSR lines of communication are improved. Real limits on the production and accumulation of nuclear weapons will, for the first time, be discussed. MAD will replace massive retaliation as US doctrine. The relatively poor nations of the Third World, like Cuba…realized they were little more than pawns in the superpowers’ deadly game of nuclear brinksmanship.

13. 13 Cuban Missile Crisis… The crisis began on October 15, 1962 when reconnaissance revealed Soviet missiles under construction in Cuba. After seven days of intense debate within the White House, Kennedy imposed a blockade around Cuba to stop the arrival of more Soviet missiles. On October 22, Kennedy announced the discovery of the missiles and his decision to blockade Cuba and that any attack launched from Cuba would be regarded as an attack on the US by the USSR and demanded that the Soviets remove all of their offensive weapons from Cuba. October 27 was the worst day of the crisis. A U-2 spy plane was shot down over Cuba. Tensions finally began to ease on October 28 when Khrushchev announced that he would dismantle the installations and remove the missiles, expressing his trust that the US would not invade Cuba. Further negotiations were held to implement the October 28 agreement, including a US demand that Soviet bombers be removed from Cuba, and specifying the exact form and conditions of US assurances not to invade Cuba. From top: Castro, Kennedy, Khrushchev, and poster for a movie about the crisis called Thirteen Days