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40 years ago
Oct. 16th, 2002 08:11 amOctober 15, 1962. A U2 reconnaissance aircraft flown by Major Richard Heyser takes photographs that reveal the existence of Soviet SS-4 nuclear missiles in Cuba.
At breakfast on October 16, United States President John F. Kennedy is shown the photographs and given a briefing. He immediately calls for a meeting of 12 of his most important advisors, collectively known as the Ex-Comm, or executive committee. Two solutions are discussed - an invasion to take out the missiles, or a blockade of Cuba. Kennedy wants to avoid a military confrontation, contrary to the desires of his military advisors.
What will be known as the Cuban Missile Crisis begins. The next two weeks will be the most critical in the planet's history since the end of the Second World War, two weeks where the fate of the world will literally hang in the balance.
At breakfast on October 16, United States President John F. Kennedy is shown the photographs and given a briefing. He immediately calls for a meeting of 12 of his most important advisors, collectively known as the Ex-Comm, or executive committee. Two solutions are discussed - an invasion to take out the missiles, or a blockade of Cuba. Kennedy wants to avoid a military confrontation, contrary to the desires of his military advisors.
What will be known as the Cuban Missile Crisis begins. The next two weeks will be the most critical in the planet's history since the end of the Second World War, two weeks where the fate of the world will literally hang in the balance.
