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The Cuban Missile Crisis (October 16–28, 1962) was a 13-day confrontation between the US and Soviet Union over Soviet nuclear missiles installed in Cuba, 90 miles from Florida. President Kennedy's naval blockade of Cuba and demand for missile removal brought the superpowers to the brink of nuclear war — closer than at any other point in the Cold War.
The crisis was resolved when Soviet Premier Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for a US pledge not to invade Cuba and a secret agreement to remove US missiles from Turkey. It was later revealed that a Soviet submarine commander, Vasili Arkhipov, refused to authorize a nuclear torpedo launch — possibly preventing nuclear war.
# Top 10 Cuban Missile Crisis facts
- 1A Soviet submarine commander (Vasili Arkhipov) single-handedly prevented nuclear war by refusing to launch a torpedo
- 2Kennedy was secretly recorded throughout the 13 days — the transcripts are a masterclass in crisis management
- 3The hotline between Washington and Moscow was created directly after the crisis to prevent miscommunication
Fascinating Facts
- ◆A Soviet submarine commander (Vasili Arkhipov) single-handedly prevented nuclear war by refusing to launch a torpedo
- ◆Kennedy was secretly recorded throughout the 13 days — the transcripts are a masterclass in crisis management
- ◆The hotline between Washington and Moscow was created directly after the crisis to prevent miscommunication
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