oct 1, 1962 - President Kennedy learns of secret missle bases - In October of 1962, President John F. Kennedy discovered the existence of secret missle bases built by Cuba from U-2 spy planes. Many feared that if Cubans finished these bases, warheads with the capacity to hit targets as far inland as Washington D.C. were capable to exist. To put a stop to this possibility, Kennedy decided to form a blockade with the American naval fleet around Cuba, stopping any Soviet ships from entering. This strong stand led to a comp (Timeline)