"THANK GOD IT'S ALL OVER!"

SOVIETS 'RETREAT', MISSILES TO BE DISMANTLED & RETURNED TO RUSSIA

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) At 9 a.m. Washington time on Sunday, October 28, 1962, Radio Moscow* announced that the U.S.S.R. would dismantle their nuclear weapons in Cuba and return them to the Soviet Union.

This announcement ended the Cuban Missile Crisis on its 13th day.

Announcer Yuri Levitan said...

"The Soviet government has given a new order to dismantle the weapons and to crate and return them to the Soviet Union."

Chairman Nikita Khrushchev told the Presidium...

"To save the world we must retreat!"

President John F. Kennedy told his friend and aide David Powers...

"Do you realize that we had an air strike all arranged for Tuesday?  Thank God its all over!"

*Radio Moscow (1929-1993) a.k.a. Radio Moscow World Service was the international broadcasting station of the Soviet Union.  It broadcast in 70+ languages world wide.

SOURCE

"Radio Moscow Says Missiles In Cuba Will Be Dismantled," JFK+50, October 28, 2011, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/

Stamp of 1979

Postal Service of U.S.S.R.

PD

"DO YOU REALIZE WE HAD AN AIR STRIKE ARRANGED"

CRISIS ENDS AS RADIO MOSCOW AIRS KHRUSHCHEV'S DECISION TO DISMANTLE MISSILES IN CUBA

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On Sunday, October 28, 1962, Radio Moscow* broadcast a message from Premier Nikita Khrushchev announcing the decision to dismantle Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba and return them to the USSR.

An announcer read these words...

"In order to eliminate...the conflict...the Soviet government...has given a new order to dismantle the weapons...and to crate and return them to the Soviet Union."

President John F. Kennedy, who learned of the decision as he was dressing for church, called it "statesmanlike."

JFK said to his aide, David Powers...

"Do you realize we had an air strike all arranged?  Thank God it's over!" 

*Radio Moscow (1929-1993) was the official international (shortwave) broadcasting station of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.  RM broadcast in 70 languages from transmitters in the USSR, Eastern Europe & Cuba.

SOURCE

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

 

 

Radio Moscow Logo

www.wikimedia.org/

 

 

"DO YOU REALIZE WE HAD AN AIR STRIKE ALL ARRANGED? THANK GOD IT'S ALL OVER"

SOVIETS GIVE ORDER TO DISMANTLE NUKES IN CUBA & RETURN THEM TO THE USSR

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 28, 1962,  Radio Moscow transmitted a message from Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev announcing the decision which would end the Cuban Missile Crisis.   The announcement was made by Yuri Levitan who said:

"In order to eliminate...the conflict which endangers the cause of peace...the Soviet government...has given a new order to dismantle the weapons (in Cuba)...and to crate and return them to the Soviet Union."

Premier Khrushchev said later in the message that he was assured by President John F. Kennedy's  letter of October 27, 1962, that the United States would not invade Cuba.  The message concluded...

"We are confident that reason will triumph, that war will not be unleashed and peace and the security of the peoples will be insured."

The President said to Dave Powers...

"I feel like a new man now.  Do you realize we had an air strike all arranged?  Thank God, it's all over."

 SOURCES

"'Let Us Begin Anew,'  An Oral History of the Kennedy Presidency," by Gerald S. and Deborah H. Strober, Harper and Collins Publishers, New York, 1993.

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

WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT REASON WILL TRIUMPH

NUCLEAR WAR IS AVERTED WITH SOVIET ANNOUNCEMENT 

Washington, D.C.  (JFK+50) On Sunday, October 28, 1962, Radio Moscow transmitted a message from Nikita Khrushchev announcing the decision to dismantle Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba and return them to the USSR.

The following statement was read  at 9 a.m. Washington time...

"This is Moscow speaking.  In order to eliminate...the conflict which endangers the cause of peace...the Soviet government...has given a new order to dismantle the weapons (in Cuba)...and to crate and return them to the Soviet Union."

Premier Khrushchev said, later in the message, that he was assured by President John F. Kennedy's letter of Oct. 27, that the United States would not invade Cuba.

The message concluded with Mr. Khrushchev saying...

"We are confident that reason will triumph, that war will not be unleashed and peace and the security of the peoples will be insured."

President Kennedy called Khrushchev's decision to remove the missiles from Cuba "statesmanlike."   JFK had learned of Khrushchev's decision as he was dressing for church.  He said to Dave Powers...

 "I feel like a new man now.  Do you realize we had an air strike all arranged?  Thank God, it's all over."

SOURCES

"Cuban Missile Crisis Paperweight,"  John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, www.jfklibrary.org/

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

Cuban Missile Crisis Calendar

Gift from JFK to JBK

www.jfklibrary.org/

                  

THANK GOD IT'S ALL OVER!

RADIO MOSCOW ANNOUNCES MISSILES WILL BE DISMANTLED

Washington, D.C.  (JFK+50) Fifty-five years ago, October 28, 1962, Radio Moscow transmitted a message from Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev announcing his decision to diffuse the Cuban Missile Crisis on the 13th day by dismantling the nuclear missiles that had been installed on the island and returning them to the USSR.

The following statement was read by a Russian announcer beginning at 9 a.m. Washington time...

"This is Moscow speaking.  In order to eliminate...the conflict which endangers the cause of peace...the Soviet government...has given a new order to dismantle the weapons (in Cuba)...and to crate and return them to the Soviet Union."

Premier Khrushchev said, later in the message, that he was assured by President John F. Kennedy's letter of Oct. 27, that the United States would not invade Cuba.

The message concluded with Mr. Khrushchev saying...

"We are confident that reason will triumph, that war will not be unleashed and peace and the security of the peoples will be insured."

President Kennedy called Khrushchev's decision to remove the missiles from Cuba "statesmanlike."   JFK had learned of Khrushchev's decision as he was dressing for church.  He said to Dave Powers...

 "I feel like a new man now.  Do you realize we had an air strike all arranged?  Thank God, it's all over."

According to the JFK Library, President Kennedy commissioned Tiffany and Company of New York to produce silver calendar paperweights to be given to members of his Cabinet and those closest to him during the crisis.

The paperweights, made of silver, walnut and felt, each bore the month of October 1962 with the 13 days of the Cuban Missile Crisis boldly engraved along with the initials JFK and those of the recipient.  The paperweights measured 4x4.5x2 inches.

The calendars were presented to each recipient individually at a Cabinet Meeting held in the West Wing of the White House on November 29, 1962.

SOURCES

"Cuban Missile Crisis Paperweight,"  John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, www.jfklibrary.org/

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

Crop of Cuban Missile Crisis Calendar

Gift from JFK to his wife

www.jfklibrary.org/

                  

THIS IS RADIO MOSCOW SPEAKING

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 2112

SOVIETS ORDER MISSILES DISMANTLED & RETURNED TO USSR

Washington, D.C.  (JFK+50) 54 years ago today, Sunday, October 28, 1962, Radio Moscow transmitted a message from Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev announcing his decision to dismantle his nuclear missiles in Cuba and return them to the USSR.

The following statement was read by a Russian announcer beginning at 9 a.m. Washington time...

"This is Moscow speaking.  In order to eliminate...the conflict which endangers the cause of peace...the Soviet government...has given a new order to dismantle the weapons (in Cuba)...and to crate and return them to the Soviet Union."

Premier Khrushchev said, later in the message, that he was assured by President John F. Kennedy's letter of Oct. 27, that the United States would not invade Cuba.   The message concluded with Mr. Khrushchev saying...

"We are confident that reason will triumph, that war will not be unleashed and peace and the security of the peoples will be insured."

President Kennedy called Mr. Khrushchev's decision to remove the missiles from Cuba "statesmanlike."   JFK had learned of that decision as he was dressing for church.  He said to Dave Powers...

 "I feel like a new man now.  Do you realize we had an air strike all arranged?  Thank God, it's all over."

According to the JFK Library, President Kennedy commissioned Tiffany and Company of New York to produce silver calendar paperweights to be given to members of his Cabinet and those closest to him during the crisis.

The paperweights, made of silver, walnut and felt, each bore the month of October 1962 with the 13 days of the Cuban Missile Crisis boldly engraved along with the initials JFK and those of the recipient.  The paperweights measured 4x4.5x2 inches.

The calendars were presented to each recipient individually at a Cabinet Meeting held in the West Wing of the White House on November 29, 1962.

SOURCES

"Cuban Missile Crisis Paperweight,"  John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, www.jfklibrary.org/

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

Crop of Cuban Missile Crisis Calendar

Gift from JFK to his wife

www.jfklibrary.org/

                  

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS: DAY 13

DAY 13 OF 13 DAY CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS 51 YEARS AGO TODAY!

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 51 years ago today, October 28, 1962, was the 13th and final day of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the closest the world has come to nuclear war.

Radio Moscow transmitted a message from Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev announcing the decision which would end the crisis.

The announcement, which began at 9 a.m. Eastern time, was made by Yuri Levitan who said:

"In order to eliminate...the conflict which endangers the cause of peace...the Soviet government...has given a new order to dismantle the weapons (in Cuba)...and to crate and return them to the Soviet Union."

Premier Khrushchev said, later in the message, that he was assured by President John F. Kennedy's  letter of October 27, 1962, that the United States would not invade Cuba.

The message concluded...

"We are confident that reason will triumph, that war will not be unleashed and peace and the security of the peoples will be insured."*

JFK called the Soviet decision "statesmanlike."

The President said to Dave Powers...

"I feel like a new man now.  Do you realize we had an air strike all arranged?  Thank God, it's all over."

While most EXCOM members were pleased with the resolution of the crisis, the Joint Chiefs were not.  General Curtis LeMay called it...

"The worst defeat in our history."**

Press Secretary Pierre Salinger later recalled...

"It was not a case of 'We won; they lost.'  That was Kennedy's strong point from the minute the crisis came to an end.  

He called me in and said...

'This is not our victory; this is a joint victory of the two nations; we did it together.  Don't let anybody go out and say this was America's victory."

Newsman Tom Wicker, on the other hand, said...

"As far as public perceptions in this country were concerned, it was generally viewed that bold, brave John F. Kennedy had faced (the Soviets) down. 

Certainly by the time of his death, (JFK) was still regarded as victor of the missile crisis."

*The decision had been presented earlier to the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet.  Khrushchev told them that there was a..."danger of war and nuclear catastrophe, with the possibility of destruction of the human race.  To save the world, we must retreat."

**General Maxwell Taylor told JFK the afternoon before Radio Moscow's broadcast that the Joint Chiefs were calling for massive air strikes by the morning of October 29th "unless there is evidence...that the weapons are being dismantled."


SOURCES

"'Let Us Begin Anew,'  An Oral History of the Kennedy Presidency," by Gerald S. and Deborah H. Strober, Harper and Collins Publishers, New York, 1993.

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

                  

RADIO MOSCOW SAYS MISSILES IN CUBA ARE BEING DISMANTLED

Sunday, October 28, 1962

RADIO MOSCOW SAYS MISSILES IN CUBA ARE BEING DISMANTLED

Washington, D.C.  (JFK+50) Radio Moscow transmitted a message from Soviet Premier Khrushchev this morning announcing his decision to diffuse the 13 day crisis by dismantling the nuclear missiles in Cuba & returning them to the USSR.

The statement, read by an announcer beginning at 9 a.m. Washington time, began:

"This is Moscow speaking..." followed by these words:

"In order to eliminate...the conflict which endangers the cause of peace...the Soviet government...has given a new order to dismantle the weapons (in Cuba)...& to crate & return them to the Soviet Union."

Premier Khrushchev said, later in the message, that he was assured by JFK's letter of Oct. 27, that the United States would not invade Cuba.

The message concluded with Mr. Khrushchev saying:

"We are confident that reason will triumph, that war will not be unleashed & peace & the security of the peoples will be insured."

President Kennedy called Khrushchev's decision to remove the missiles from Cuba "statesmanlike."*

*The announcement by Radio Moscow on the 13th day of the Cuban Missile Crisis followed the most dangerous day of the crisis known as "Black Saturday."

During an EXCOMM meeting late Saturday afternoon, General Maxwell Taylor told JFK that the Joint Chiefs were calling for massive air strikes by Monday morning "unless there is evidence...that the weapons are being dismantled."

JFK learned of Khrushchev's decision as he was dressing for church.  He said to Dave Powers: "I feel like a new man now.  Do you realize we had an air strike all arranged?  Thank God, it's all over."

While most EXCOMM members were pleased with the resolution of the crisis, the Joint Chiefs were not.  Air Force General Curtis LeMay called it "The worst defeat in our history."

Source

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

                   S-75 Dzwina RB2
                  Photo by Radomil
                      June 6, 2005
                           Poznan