war Timeline of the Cuban Missile Crisis
January 1, 1959 Cuban Revolution triumphs Fidel Castro's revolutionary movement takes power in Cuba, transforming Caribbean geopolitics and relations with the United States. April 17, 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion begins A U.S.-backed invasion by Cuban exiles fails, pushing Cuba closer to the Soviet Union and sharpening mutual hostility. November 1961 Operation Mongoose is launched The United States begins covert efforts to destabilize Castro's government after the failed invasion. August 1962 Soviet missile deployment to Cuba advances The Soviet Union moves offensive nuclear missiles and supporting forces into Cuba under a secret deployment plan. October 14, 1962 U-2 photographs missile sites An American U-2 flight captures evidence of Soviet medium-range ballistic missile installations in Cuba. October 16, 1962 Kennedy is briefed on the missiles President Kennedy is informed of the U-2 findings and convenes the Executive Committee of the National Security Council. October 18, 1962 Kennedy meets Gromyko Kennedy meets Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko while the administration still keeps its discovery of the missiles secret. October 22, 1962 Kennedy announces a naval quarantine Kennedy addresses the American public and reveals the missile installations, announcing a naval quarantine of Cuba. October 23, 1962 OAS backs quarantine measures The Organization of American States endorses collective action, giving regional support to the U.S. quarantine. October 24, 1962 Quarantine line goes into effect Soviet ships approach the quarantine line and then slow or reverse course, reducing the immediate risk of confrontation at sea. October 25, 1962 Stevenson confronts the Soviet Union at the United Nations U.S. ambassador Adlai Stevenson presents photographic evidence of the missile sites before the UN Security Council. October 26, 1962 Khrushchev sends first private message The Soviet leader offers to remove the missiles in exchange for a U.S. pledge not to invade Cuba. October 27, 1962 U-2 is shot down over Cuba A U.S. U-2 aircraft is shot down, killing pilot Rudolf Anderson and bringing the superpowers to the brink of war. October 27, 1962 Khrushchev issues tougher public demand A second Soviet message links missile withdrawal to the removal of U.S. Jupiter missiles from Turkey. October 27, 1962 Robert Kennedy meets Dobrynin Attorney General Robert Kennedy privately signals that the United States will remove Jupiter missiles from Turkey later… October 28, 1962 Khrushchev agrees to withdraw the missiles Moscow publicly accepts a settlement under which Soviet missiles will be removed from Cuba in exchange for U.S. assuran… November 20, 1962 United States lifts the quarantine After verification of missile removal, the United States ends the naval quarantine of Cuba. June 1963 Washington-Moscow hotline is established The superpowers create a direct communications link to reduce the risk of miscalculation in future crises. August 5, 1963 Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty is signed The crisis helps create momentum for the treaty banning nuclear tests in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater. 1967 Treaty of Tlatelolco is opened for signature Latin American states create a nuclear-weapon-free zone in a regional development shaped by Cold War tensions and the m… 1992 Post-Soviet disclosures deepen public understanding of the crisis New evidence from Soviet and Cuban participants reveals how close the confrontation came to nuclear war and clarifies t… 1959 Cuban Revolution succeeds Fidel Castro's rise altered the Cold War balance in the Caribbean. April 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion fails The failed invasion deepened U.S.-Cuban hostility. 1961 Berlin crisis heightens superpower tension Wider Cold War confrontation formed the backdrop to later events in Cuba. 1962 Soviet decision to deploy missiles to Cuba takes shape Moscow chose to alter the strategic balance through secret deployment. October 14, 1962 U-2 photographs missile sites in Cuba American intelligence obtained decisive evidence of Soviet missile deployment. October 16, 1962 ExComm begins deliberations President Kennedy and advisers secretly began crisis management. October 22, 1962 Kennedy announces missile crisis to public The president revealed the missiles and declared a naval quarantine. October 25, 1962 UN Security Council confrontation unfolds The crisis played out dramatically before the world at the United Nations. October 26, 1962 First Khrushchev letter received A possible negotiated settlement began to emerge. October 27, 1962 U-2 shot down over Cuba The most dangerous day of the crisis brought the superpowers close to war. October 27, 1962 Second Khrushchev message hardens Soviet terms Soviet bargaining escalated with new conditions. October 27, 1962 Secret U.S. pledge on Jupiter missiles shaped deal Washington privately agreed to remove missiles from Turkey later. October 28, 1962 Khrushchev agrees to remove missiles The Soviet leader publicly accepted a settlement. November 1962 Missile withdrawal and inspection process proceeds Implementation of the settlement reduced immediate danger. November 1962 U.S. quarantine lifted The naval quarantine ended after the crisis eased. 1963 Hotline established between Washington and Moscow The crisis led to new crisis-management mechanisms. 1963 Limited Test Ban Treaty signed Arms-control efforts gained momentum in the crisis aftermath. 1964 Khrushchev's political standing remained damaged The crisis affected Soviet domestic politics as well as superpower relations. 