"WE CAN TAKE NO ACTION TO STIFLE THE SPIRIT OF LIBERTY"

BAY OF PIGS:  THE SECOND DAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 18, 1961, Premier Nikita Khrushchev of the Soviet Union sent a message to President John F. Kennedy of the United States stating that his "little war" against Cuba might result in an "incomparable conflagration*" between the superpowers.

The President responded by stating that the U.S. was not "directly" involved in the invasion of Cuba and added...

"I trust...this does not mean (your) government, using the situation in Cuba as a pretext, is planning to inflame other areas of the world."

Despite JFK's denial of direct U.S. involvement, he stressed...

"The people of the United States do not conceal their admiration for Cuban patriots.  (We) can take no action to stifle the spirit of liberty." 

*conflagration:  an extensive fire which destroys a great deal of land or property 

   

 

JFK Accepts Brigade 2506 Flag

Miami, Florida

December 1962

Photo by Cecil Stoughton

JFK Library Image

JFK's LITTLE WAR AGAINST CUBA

JFK+50:  Volume 5, No. 1923

KHRUSHCHEV WARNS JFK OF A "INCOMPARABLE CONFLAGRATION"

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) As the invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs continued into its second day,  55 years ago today, April 18, 1961, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev sent a message to President John F. Kennedy warning that his "little war" against Cuba might result in an...
 "incomparable conflagration between the US and Soviet Union."

President Kennedy, who continued to deny any direct involvement by American forces in the invasion, responded by writing... 

"I trust that this does not mean the Soviet government, using the situation in Cuba as a pretext, is planning to inflame other areas of the world."

JFK went on in his reply to say that while the US was not involved directly in the invasion...

"the people of the United States do not conceal their admiration for Cuban patriots who wish to see a democratic system in an independent Cuba.
The United States government can take no action to stifle the spirit of liberty."

In the first 24 hours of the invasion, Fidel Castro ordered 20,000 Cuban troops to the beach at the Bay of Pigs while the Cuban Air Force took control of the sky.  When the fighting ended, more than a hundred exiles were dead and the rest captured.

JFK publicly accepted responsibility for the disaster a few days later and said to friends privately..."How could I have been so stupid?"

JFK Accepts Brigade's Flag in Miami 

Photo by Cecil Stoughton

    December 1962

    JFK Library

BAY OF PIGS DAY 2

JFK-KHRUSHCHEV EXCHANGED MESSAGES ON BAY OF PIGS INVASION 53 YEARS AGO 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) As the invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs continued into its second day,  53 years ago today, April 18, 1961, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev sent a message to President John F. Kennedy warning that his "little war" against Cuba might result in an...

 "incomparable conflagration between the US and Soviet Union."

JFK, who continued to deny any direct involvement by American forces in the invasion, responded by writing... 

"I trust that this does not mean the Soviet government, using the situation in Cuba as a pretext, is planning to inflame other areas of the world."

President Kennedy went on in his reply to say that while the US was not involved directly in the invasion:

"the people of the United States do not conceal their admiration for Cuban patriots who wish to see a democratic system in an independent Cuba.

The United States government can take no action to stifle the spirit of liberty."

In the first 24 hours of the invasion, Fidel Castro ordered 20,000 Cuban troops to the beach at the Bay of Pigs while the Cuban Air Force took control of the sky.

When the fighting ended, more than a hundred exiles were dead and the rest captured.

The Bay of Pigs fiasco has been listed as one of the "Top 10 Presidential Mistakes".  

JFK publicly accepted responsibility a few days later and said to friends privately...

 "How could I have been so stupid?"

    JFK Accepts Brigade's Flag in Miami 

    Photo by Cecil Stoughton

    December 1962

    JFK Library