"UNTIL HELL FREEZES OVER"

STEVENSON GRILLS ZORIN ON SOVIET MISSILES IN CUBA

New York City (JFK+50) On October 25, 1962, Ambassador Adlai Stevenson questioned Ambassador Valerian Zorin about his denials that the Soviets had placed nuclear missile sites in Cuba.  The questioning came during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council here in New York.

Mr. Stevenson asked...

"Do you deny that the USSR has placed...medium and intermediate range missiles and sites in Cuba?  Yes or no -- don't wait for the translation--yes or no?

Mr. Zorin answered...

"Continue with your statement.  You will receive your answer in due course."

Mr. Stevenson responded...

"I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over..."

SOURCE

"One Minute to Midnight:  Kennedy, Khrushchev and Castro on the Brink of Nuclear War," by Michael Dobbs, Alfred Knopf, New York, 2008.

 

 

UN Security Council

New York City

October 25, 1962

US Government Photo

 
 

"THE ATTACK UPON KOREA MAKES IT PLAIN COMMUNISM WILL USE ARMED INVASION & WAR"

PRESIDENT TRUMAN SENDS U.S. MILITARY FORCES TO KOREA

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On June 27, 1950, President Harry S Truman signed an order directing American naval and air forces to  be sent to South Korea.  The President's order came two days after North Korean troops invaded South Korea.   President Truman said this action was necessary to enforce the resolution of the United Nations Security Council calling for an end to the hostilities in Korea.

President Truman said...

"The attack upon Korea makes it plain...that Communism will use armed invasion & war."

According to the New York Times, the President also increased the number of American forces in the Philippines and increased military assistance to French and Vietnam forces fighting against the communists in Southeast Asia.

Ambassador Alan G. Kirk was also dispatched to Moscow to ask the Soviets to help bring an end to the hostilities in Korea.  The Times reported that the Pentagon was instructed by President Truman "to fight only below the 38th Parallel.".

The action by President Truman met with universal support from the Congress and the American people.

SOURCE

"Truman Orders U.S. Air, Navy Units to Fight In Aid of Korea; U.N. Council Supports Him; Our Fliers in Action, Fleet Guards Formosa," by Anthony Leviero, The New York Times, June 28, 1950, On This Day, The New York Times Company, www.nytimes.com/

Korean War Memorial

Washington, D.C.

July 19, 2003

Photo by John White

WE SEEK BOTH PEACE & FREEDOM HERE & AROUND THE WORLD

A STRICT QUARANTINE ON ALL OFFENSIVE MISSILE EQUIPMENT

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) October 22, 1962, fifty-five years ago tonight, President John F. Kennedy announced his decision to set up a quarantine or naval blockade to prevent further shipments of nuclear missiles by the Soviet Union to Cuba.

The address, which began at 7 p.m. Washington time and was watched by 100 million television viewers, came on the seventh day of what would be known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. 

JFK said:

"A strict quarantine on all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba is being initiated--all ships...bound for Cuba...will, if found to contain cargoes of offensive weapons be turned back.

It shall be (our) policy to regard any missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union."

The President also called for involvement by the United Nations Security Council or the Organization of American States.

JFK concluded his address by saying the goal of the United States was not...

"the victory of might, but vindication of right--not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace & freedom, here in this hemisphere, and, we hope, around the world.  God willing, that goal will be achieved."

During the address, the Strategic Air Command went to DEFCON-3 or Defense Condition 3...just two steps from nuclear war.  Later, the status would go to DEFCON 2 for the first time in history.