"AMERICAN FORCES TO PREPARE FOR ANY EVENTUALITIES"

SOVIET SHIPS BOUND FOR CUBA; U.S. SETS UP NAVAL BLOCKADE 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) More than twenty Soviet ships are "streaming toward Cuba" today, October 23, 1962, reports The Evening Star.

The Russian vessels may be heading toward "a possible clash with American warships deployed to block delivery of  'offensive military equipment' to the island."

President John F. Kennedy announced on national radio and television last evening that the United States was responding to the discovery of Soviet nuclear missile sites in Cuba with a naval quarantine, or blockade.

The intention of the quarantine is "to stop the buildup of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba."

President Kennedy has also ordered all American armed forces to "prepare for any eventualities."

The Star reports that the President "hinted" at the possibility of a U.S. military invasion of Cuba "if necessary."

The Kennedy administration calls upon the Soviet Union to withdraw their medium-range rockets from the island and "refrain from further action to widen or deepen the present crisis."

SOURCE

"20 Red Ships Head for Cuba; Kremlin Sees Threat of War," by Earl H. Voss, The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., October 23, 1962, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

13 Days Calendar

Cuban Missile Crisis

October 1962

Image by Kuraplan

CC BY NC 4.0

"A STRICT QUARANTINE ON MILITARY SHIPMENTS TO CUBA"

JFK ADDRESSES THE NATION: WE STAND EYEBALL TO EYEBALL

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On Monday, October 22, 1962, President John F. Kennedy addressed the nation on radio and television on the continuing Cuban Missile Crisis.

The President reported that the Soviet Union has placed nuclear missiles in Cuba just 90 miles from the continental United States.  Mr. Kennedy described this as an "offensive buildup."

A "strict quarantine on all offensive military equipment shipped to Cuba is being initiated."

The President issued a dire warning to the Soviets...

"It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear 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 superpowers stood eyeball to eyeball.

JFK+50 NOTE

President Kennedy's address was carried by all radio & television networks beginning at 7 p.m. (EDT).  One hour before the speech, the Secretary of State notified the Soviet ambassador to the U.S. of its contents.

October 22, 1962, the 7th day of the Cuban Missile Crisis, also saw JFK formally establish the Executive Committee of the National Security Council with instructions for it to meet daily during the crisis.

SOURCE

"Day 7, Oct 22," 13 Days In October, JFK Library, www.jfklibrary.org/

JFK Signs Quarantine Proclamation

October 23, 1962

Photo by Cecil Stoughton (PD)