"PEOPLE OF U.S. ADMIRE CUBAN PATRIOTS, JFK SAYS"

KHRUSHCHEV WARNS JFK BAY OF PIGS INVASION MIGHT RESULT IN AN "INCOMPARABLE CONFLAGRATION"

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On 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 United States and Soviet Union."

President Kennedy responded with this message...

"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 continued...

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

Mr. Kennedy affirmed, however, that the government of the United States was not involved directly in the Cuban invasion. 

*The invasion of Castro's Cuba by American CIA trained Cuban freedom fighters was launched on April 17, 1961.  It ended in disaster for the United States and earned JFK a spot in "The Failures of the Presidents." 

**conflagration is defined as a conflict or war 

 

 

JFK Accepts Brigade 2506 Flag

Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

Photo by Cecil Stoughton 

Dec 1962

JFK Library  

"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

"DESTINY KNOCKS AT THE PRESIDENT'S DOOR. IT IS HIS DOOR; BUT IT IS OUR HOUSE"

KHRUSHCHEV SENDS JFK MESSAGE OF WARNING

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On 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."

The message followed the U.S. backed invasion of Cuba which began on April 17th.  President Kennedy denied any direct involvement by U.S. forces and responded... "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.

The Dallas Morning News published this editorial comment...

"The President is our leader, our spokesman.  Destiny knocks at his door.  It is his door; but it is our house."

*conflagration (Noun) a large and destructive fire that threatens human & animal life, health and/or property.

SOURCE

"The Brilliant Disaster:  JFK, Castro, and America's Doomed Invasion of Cuba's Bay of Pigs," by Jim Rasenberger, Scribner, New York, 2011. 

JFK Accepts Brigade's Flag in Miami 

Photo by Cecil Stoughton

    December 1962

    JFK Library

"HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SO STUPID?"

SOVIET WARNING TO JFK: "INCOMPARABLE CONFLAGRATION"

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 18, 1961, as the invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs continued into its second day, 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, who publicly accepted responsibility for the disaster a few days later, said to friends privately..."How could I have been so stupid?"

*conflagration (Noun) a large and destructive fire that threatens human & animal life, health and/or property.

JFK Accepts Brigade's Flag in Miami 

Photo by Cecil Stoughton

    December 1962

    JFK Library