Video: October 24, 1962 (at 0:00)
(Wednesday, October 24, 1962, 10:00 a.m. EDT, day nine of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — A naval quarantine of Cuba ordered by U.S. President John F. Kennedy went into effect today, aimed at interdicting the delivery of offensive weapons to the island. Continue reading U.S. blockade against Soviet ships around Cuba begins 50 years ago this hour (1962)
Video: October 23, 1962 (at 7:36)
(Tuesday, October 23, 1962, 7:06 p.m. EDT, day eight of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy signed Proclamation 3504 tonight formally declaring the blockade of Cuban sea ports. Orders are issued to begin enforcing the blockade at 10:00 am the next morning. Continue reading Kennedy signs formal declaration of Cuban blockade 50 years ago this hour (1962)
Video: October 22, 1972 (6:51)
(Sunday, October 22, 1972, during the Vietnam War) — In Saigon, U.S. National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger and South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu met today to discuss a proposed cease-fire in the Vietnam War, already discussed between Americans and North Vietnamese in Paris. Continue reading South Vietnamese President Thieu turns down peace proposal 40 years ago today (1972)
Video: October 21, 1962 (at 0:22)
(Sunday, October 21, 1962, day six of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy telephoned newspaper editors-in-chief at The New York Times and The Washington Post to ask the editors to refrain from printing any stories of the impending military actions related to the discovery of deployed Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba until after his national address the following day, by which time the American fleet was in position to enforce a blockade. Continue reading Kennedy asks newspaper editors to sit on story confirming Soviet missiles in Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)
Video: October 20, 1962 (at 0:00)
(Saturday, October 20, 1962, day five of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy, in Chicago campaigning for congressional candidates, decides to return to the White House as the crisis reaches a new urgency. After five hours of discussion with top advisors, a quarantine is decided upon. Continue reading Kennedy, advisers decide to quarantine Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)
Video: October 19, 1962 (at 8:08)
(Friday, October 19, 1962, day four of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy met today with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss the military options for responding to the missiles in Cuba. Continue reading Kennedy advisers debate whether to bomb, invade and/or blockade Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)
Video: October 18, 1962 (at 7:40)
(Thursday, October 18, 1962, 5:00 p.m. EDT, day three of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko met with U.S. President John F. Kennedy today at the White House and assured him that Soviet military actions in Cuba were purely defensive. Continue reading Gromyko lies to JFK about Soviet military actions in Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)
Video: October 17, 1962 (at 6:55)
(Wednesday, October 17, 1962, day two of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — American U-2 flights identified the first of three Soviet SS-5 missile sites in Cuba today. Continue reading American U-2 flights identify three Soviet SS-5 missile sites in Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)
Video: Oct. 16, 1972 (1:40)
(Monday, October 16, 1972, during the Vietnam War, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President Richard Nixon, in a surprise appearance before a Washington gathering of wives and families of prisoners of war and men missing in action, declared today that he got “precious little support” for his Vietnam strategy from those who, he said, are supposed to be the opinion leaders of the country. Continue reading Nixon turns against critics as peace in Vietnam nears 40 years ago today (1972)
Video: October 15, 1962 (at 0:10)
(Monday, October 15, 1962, during the Cold War) — The CIA’s National Photographic Interpretation Center (NPIC) today reviewed 928 images, taken the day before by the U-2 overflight, and identified offensive missiles and lanuchers had been placed in Cuba.
