Summary: The Cuban Missile Crisis

The primary source document is a letter that was sent on October 26, 1962 to John F Kennedy by Nikita Khrushchev. John F Kennedy was the President of the United States between 1961 and 1963. Nikita Khrushchev was the leader of the Soviet Union between 1953 and 1964. The letter was a response to one that Kennedy had previously sent Khrushchev. The exchange between the two leaders is centred around the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Cuban Missile Crisis originated as a result of the unsuccessful Bay of Pigs invasion; in July 1962, Soviet leader Khrushchev and Cuban leader Fidel Castro struck a deal in which Soviet missiles would be placed on Cuban soil to prevent any future attempts at invasion. Despite warnings by Kennedy that this was unacceptable,
Many historians argue that Kennedy’s handling of the crisis was one of his finest hours. The History Journal, one of the most widely recognized journals in the United States, summarizes Kennedy’s handling of the situation this way: “According to the participants, it was Kennedy's finest hour; he was neither hasty nor hesitant; he was neither reckless nor afraid” (Medland, 435) . According to participants, President Kennedy’s steady hand improved America’s image on the world stage, eased tension during this period in the Cold War, and led to the hotline between Washington and Moscow that allows for easier communication between the U.S. and Russia. However, not all historians praise Kennedy in this regard. In his book, Max Frenkel argues that Kennedy’s failed Bay of Pigs operation is what led to the placement of Soviet missiles on Cuban soil in the first place . Frankel goes on to state: “Kennedy was committing a disastrous miscalculation in his decision that the Soviets would never deploy nuclear weapons to Cuba” (Frankel, 19) . These differing characterizations of Kennedy’s conduct make for intriguing comparing and contrasting. On one hand, Kennedy is often lauded for his handling of the crisis, while on the other he is criticized for actions that, many believe, actually caused the crisis. Furthermore, the consequences of the crisis are debated by historians. Even William Medley, the aforementioned historian who praised Kennedy’s handling of the crisis, asserts that the aftermath was rather negative insofar as the Cuban Missile Crisis, while resulting in détente between the two powers, also served as an impetus for a new nuclear arms race . Essentially, there was a newfound race to acquire massive nuclear weapons, especially since the United States now realized the Soviets were willing to use such weapons as leverage. There is certainly merit to this notion, as the