The Cuban Missile Crisis

The United States ended diplomatic relations.

Castro declares his revolution is socialist.

Bay of Pigs

Fidel Castro assumes power.

Cuba openly aligns itself with Soviet Union politics.

Khrushchev and Kennedy talk about the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Kenneth Keating tells the Senate that there's evidence of missiles in Cuba.

Andrei Gromyko says an American attack on Cuba would result in war with the Soviet Union.

A U-2 flying over western Cuba obtains photographs of missile sites.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff advise the President to make an air strike.

Gromyko assures Kennedy that Soviet Cuban aid has been only for the "defensive capabilities of Cuba."

Congressional leaders are shown the photographic evidence of the Soviet missile Cuban installations. The President addresses the nation regarding the Cuban crisis.

U.S. military forces go to DEFCON 3.

Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev in which he states that there is a, "serious threat to peace and security of peoples." Robert Kennedy speaks with Ambassador Dobrynin.

Soviet ships, in route to Cuba, reverse their course except for one. US Military forces go to DEFCON 2.

JFK sends a letter to Khrushchev placing the responsibility for the crisis on the Soviet Union.

Khrushchev sends a letter to President Kennedy proposing to remove his missiles if Kennedy publicly announces never to invade Cuba.

An American U-2 is shot down over Cuba killing the pilot, Major Rudolf Anderson.

A U-2 strays into Soviet airspace, near Alaska.

Kennedy sends Khrushchev a letter stating that he will make a statement that the U.S. will not invade Cuba.

Khrushchev announces over Radio Moscow that he has agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba.

Just over a month after the crisis began, President Kennedy terminates the quarantine when Khrushchev agrees after several weeks of tense negotiations at the UN to withdraw Soviet IL-28 nuclear bombers from Cuba.

President Kennedy orders US ships to remain on the quarantine line and authorizes continuation of low-level reconnaissance flights.

High Altitude Russian Nuclear Test conducted at Kapustin Yar. Hydrogen Bomb on Rocket. Yield approx. 300 Kilotons.

Cuba declares Fidel Castro to be the new premier and president.