What should JFK do?

What should JFK do?

Poll

August 10, 1962

CIA Director John McCone sends a memo to Kennedy expressing his belief that Soviet medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) will be deployed in Cuba.

• Immediately bomb Cuba

• Threaten Cuba

• Gather evidence to support the claim

What did JFK do?

• Gather as much evidence as he could!

• What is the benefits of gathering evidence in this case?

Poll

August 31, 1962

Senator Kenneth Keating tells the Senate that there is evidence of Soviet missile installations in Cuba. Keating urges Kennedy to take action.

• Immediately bomb Cuba

• Threaten Cuba

• Gather as much evidence to support this claim

What did JKF do?

Again gather as much evidence as he could!

Poll

October 14, 1962

A U-2 flying over western Cuba discovers missile sites. Photographs obtained by this flight provide hard evidence that Soviets have missiles in Cuba. Further U2 flights confirm evidence of short-range missiles and Russian fighter planes.

• Immediately bomb Cuba

• Stop all planes entering or leaving Cuba

• Threaten Cuba

What did JFK do?

Stop all planes from entering and leaving Cuba

Poll

October 24, 1962

Soviet ships en route to Cuba with questionable cargo either slow down or reverse their course except for one.

Your options:

• Blow up the ship

• Stop the ship and search it

• Get all of the military prepared to discuss matters with the USSR

What did JFK do?

Get all of the military prepared to discuss matters with the USSR

Poll

October 26, 1962

Khrushchev sent JFK a letter, offering to remove missiles if the blockade in Cuba was lifted and the USA promised not to invade Cuba

• Ignore the letter

• Respond agreeing to Khrushchev's terms

• Just invade Cuba regardless

What did JFK do?

Ignore the letter- what are the consequences of this?

Poll

October 27, 1962

The USA ignored the first letter, so Khrushchev sent a second, tougher letter to the USA – he promised to remove missiles in Cuba if the USA removed theirs in Turkey.

• Ignore the second letter

• Respond to the letter agreeing the terms

• Try to get Britain and France to put pressure on the USSR

What did JFK do?

Respond to the letter agreeing to the new terms.

Open Ended

Do you think JFK made the correct decisions? Why?