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Kennedy Goes Public
 Day 8: Monday, October 22
On Monday, preparations had to be made for Kennedy's 7:00 p.m. (EST) address to the nation; a flurry of activity ensued. The State Department informed American allies around the world of Kennedy's decision. U.S. Senate leaders were called to Washington for a special briefing. They came out of the briefing surprised and doubting the effectiveness of a quarantine -- many wanted an air strike. Almost 300 Navy ships set sail, not yet having received the specific orders for a quarantine. In Guantanamo Bay, three Marine battalions were brought in to reinforce the base and military dependents were evacuated. Military alert was raised to DEFCON 3 and instructions were given to be ready to launch missiles within minutes of the President's speech. Twenty planes armed with nuclear bombs were also in the air ready to strike the U.S.S.R.
At 7:00 p.m., precisely as Kennedy was beginning his speech, jet fighters took off from bases in Florida and headed south towards Cuba. If Castro decided to respond militarily, they would be ready. For the next seventeen minutes, Americans and citizens around the world sat glued to their TV sets listening to the American President. An excerpt follows:
This government, as promised, has maintained the closest surveillance of the Soviet military buildup on the island of Cuba. Within the past week unmistakable evidence has established the fact that a series of offensive missile sites is now in preparation on that imprisoned island. The purpose of these bases can be none other than to provide a nuclear strike capability against the Western Hemisphere.
. . . I have directed that the following initial steps be taken:
- First, to halt this offensive build up, a strict quarantine of all military equipment under shipment to Cuba is being initiated.
- Second, I have directed the continued and increased close surveillance and its military build up.
- Third, it shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response on the Soviet Union.
Media- QuickTime Movie/Sound File
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You can get a brief video clip or sound clip of the speech:
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Earlier in the day, Kennedy had sent Khrushchev a copy of his speech. Upon reading it, Khrushchev became infuriated. He was angry with his military for not successfully hiding the missiles and he was angered by the American "quarantine" which, no matter what they called it, was an act of war. Khrushchev's first response was to instruct the ships on their way to Cuba not to stop. Later that night, Khrushchev sent a response to Kennedy:
I must say frankly that the measures indicated in your statement constitute a serious threat to peace and to the security of nations... We reaffirm that the armaments which are in Cuba, regardless of the classification to which they may belong, are intended solely for defensive purposes...
I hope the United States Government will display wisdom and renounce the actions pursued by you, which may lead to catastrophic consequences for world peace.
In response to Kennedy's speech Castro mobilized all of Cuba's military forces. The Cuban's, however, were not surprised by Kennedy, for the U.S. had constantly threatened them. Ever since the Bay of Pigs, eighteen months earlier, the Cubans had been living under a constant fear of invasion. The "Crisis of October" was little different from any other month.
The public phase had begun.
 Goto: Decision
 Goto: Eyeball to Eyeball
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