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October 1962: Missiles & International Diplomacy
Sara Nash ‘08
Union College
The Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 is a prime example of how science can
directly impact politics and society.
Years of political distrust between the capitalistic United States and the
communistic Soviet Union reached its apex when Premier Khrushchev deceived the
United States by placing long-range nuclear missiles in Cuba. The discovery of nuclear
missile bases only ninety miles off the coast of Florida both alarmed and angered the
Kennedy Administration. Desperate to avoid the horrific ramifications of nuclear war,
President Kennedy with the help of Ex Comm immediately began to strategize how he
could peacefully resolve the crisis without compromising the integrity and power of the
United States.
During those thirteen harrowing days of October 1962, beginning on 16 October
and concluding on 28 October, President Kennedy and Ex Comm debated between
implementing a blockade or an aerial strike. After much deliberation, President Kennedy
decided to enforce a blockade and on 22 October relied upon television to indirectly
inform Khrushchev of his intentions. Not having expected such an aggressive reaction
from the United States, Khrushchev feared that the crisis would result in a nuclear war.
As a result, Khrushchev willingly engaged in peace negotiations with President Kennedy
via letters and on 28 October agreed to end the crisis by dismantling the missiles.
While Kennedy and Khrushchev struggled to resolve the crisis peacefully, the
American public suffered greatly. Lacking information on how best to prepare for a
nuclear attack, citizens haphazardly stocked up on non-perishable food items, children
practiced “duck and cover” drills in school, and the small percentage of Americans who
had bomb shelters anxiously defended them against their neighbors who did not.
Ultimately, the Cuban Missile Crisis is unique, considering the interaction of
science, politics, and society came dangerously close to culminating in a nuclear war
between the United States and the Soviet Union.