This Day in History: , Cuban Missile Crisis .
October 22, 1962 .
In a grave televised speech,
President John F. Kennedy
announced that U.S. spy planes had
discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba. .
These missile sites housed
medium-range missiles capable
of striking a number of major
U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C. .
Kennedy announced that he was ordering a naval “quarantine” of Cuba. .
Its purpose was to prevent
Soviet ships from transporting
any more offensive weapons to the island. .
Its purpose was to prevent
Soviet ships from transporting
any more offensive weapons to the island. .
Kennedy threatened the
use of military action to
end a “clandestine, reckless,
and provocative threat to world peace.” .
During the next six days,
the world was on the brink of nuclear war
between the two superpowers