oct 14, 1962 - Cuban Missile Crisis

Description:

The CIA had helped train and equip 1200 Cuban anti-Communist exiles in the hopes of them invading Cuba and starting a popular uprising to overthrow Communist leader, Fidel Castro. The exiles operation landed at the Bay of Pigs, Cuba in April 1961, because they were not given U.S. Naval and air support the operation was an absolute failure and an embarrassment to Kennedy. In October of the following year, U.S. spy plane photographs discovered the presence of Soviet nuclear missiles and launch pad construction in Cuba. After a 13 day confrontation between the 2 superpowers, the Soviets agreed to withdraw the missiles and the U.S. promised not to invade Cuba.

Added to timeline:

Date: