Transcript The Cold War Who

The Cold War
• Who: The U.S. and allies versus
the Soviet Union and allies
• What: An Intense rivalry which
developed at the end of WWII
between groups of Communist and
non-Communist nations
The Cold War
• When: End of WWII to the collapse of
the Soviet Union (1945 to 1991)
• Where: Europe and eventually the rest
of the World
• How: Through proxy wars, an arms
and space race, covert operations,
and political influence
THE C.I.A. U2 SPY-PLANE
CRISIS
U-2 PLANES SPY
•
ON SOVIETS
In the late 1950s, the
CIA began secret
high-altitude spy
missions over
Soviet territory
• The U-2’s infra-red
cameras took
detailed pictures
of Soviet troop
movements &
missile sites
The U-2 Shot Down
USSR was aware of American
U-2 spy missions but lacked
the technology to launch
countermeasures until 1960.
– May 1, 1960: CIA agent
Francis Gary Powers’ U-2,
was shot down by Soviet
missile.
U-2 on an espionage mission to gather intelligence
about military and industrial installations on Soviet
territory
U-2 SPY PLANE SHOT DOWN
OVER USSR
• The Pilot Francis Powers
parachuted into Soviet
territory, was captured and
sentenced to 10-years in
prison
• Because of this incident, the
1960s opened with tension
and suspicion between the
two superpowers as great as
ever.
U.S. Response to the U-2 Incident
When the US learned of Powers
disappearance over USSR, it
issued a cover statement
claiming that a "weather plane"
crashed after its pilot had
difficulties with his oxygen
equipment.
US officials did not realize:
U-2 Pilot Captured
– Plane crashed intact
– Soviets recovered its photography equipment
Soviets Confront the U.S. Over the U-2
Spy Plane Crisis
• Khrushchev forced the
U.S. to admit it when he
produced the living pilot and
the plane to corroborate
their claim of being spied
on from US spy planes.
Spy Plane Crisis – Severe Setback to
U.S. and Soviet Relations
• The incident worsened
East-West relations and
was a great embarrassment
for the United States
– A Paris Summit conference
that had previously been
scheduled for May 16, 1960
between U.S. President
Eisenhower and Khrushchev
was jeopardized.
U-2 Pilot Captured
– The Soviets captured Powers, whom they
interrogated extensively for months before he made
a "voluntary confession" and public apology
for his part in United States espionage.
The Paris Summit between Dwight Eisenhower and
Nikita Khrushchev collapsed, in large part because
Eisenhower refused to bring apologies over the
incident, demanded by Khrushchev. Khrushchev left the
talks on May 16, 1960.
U-2 Spy Plane Pilot Released
Francis Gary Powers, pilot
of the U-2 spy plane was
released by the Russians
in 1962, in exchange for the
release of Col. Rudolf Abel a
convicted Soviet spy.
Fidel Castro had been a concern to United
States policymakers since he seized power in
Cuba with a revolution in January 1959.
Castro's attacks on U.S. companies and interests in
Cuba, his inflammatory anti-American rhetoric, and
Cuba's movement toward a closer relationship with
the Soviet Union led U.S. officials to conclude that
the Cuban leader was a threat to U.S. interests in
the Western Hemisphere.
1961: The Bay of Pigs invasion begins when a CIA
financed and trained group of Cuban refugees lands in
Cuba and attempts to topple the communist government
of Fidel Castro. The attack was an utter failure.
On April 17, 1961 about 1300 exiles, armed with U.S.
weapons, landed at the Bahía de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs)
on the southern coast of Cuba. Hoping to find support
from the local population, they intended to cross the
island to Havana.
It was evident from the first hours of fighting,
however, that the exiles were likely to lose.
President Kennedy had the option of using the
U.S. Air Force against the Cubans but decided
against it.
Consequently, the invasion was stopped by
Castro's army. By the time the fighting ended
on April 19, 90 exiles had been killed and the
rest had been taken as prisoners.
Additionally, the invasion made Castro wary of the U.S.
He was convinced that the Americans would try to take
over the island again. From the Bay of Pigs on, Castro
had an increased fear of a U.S. incursion on Cuban soil.
The failure of the invasion seriously embarrassed the
young Kennedy administration. Some critics blamed
Kennedy for not giving it adequate support and others
for allowing it to take place at all.
The captured exiles were taken to Cuban prisons.
Bay of Pigs
The invasion made Castro distrustful of the United
States. He was convinced that the Americans
would try to take over the Cuba again and became
closer to the Soviet Union for support.
Monday, October 15th 1962 until
Sunday, October 28th 1962
Some Key Players in the Crisis:
Robert McNamara, Robert Kennedy
Dean Rusk, Nikita Khruschev
An American U-2 Spy Plane developed in
1956 specifically to spy on the Soviets was
used to observe military movement in Cuba.
Alarming Photos – October 14, 1962
• US spy planes find evidence that Cuba might be
assembling nuclear weapons
• Soviets are suspected of installing missile silos
• Missiles do not appear to be operational yet
Image from US-Spy
Plane
Soviet Ship photographed taking what
could be missiles toward Cuba
Special Council set up by the Kennedy
Administration called “Ex Comm” (Executive
Committee) meets to discuss how to deal with the
Missile Crisis in October, 1962.
The Cuban Missile Crisis Oct. 14-28, 1962
• World is brought to brink of Nuclear War.
• Caused by the question of principle regarding the
soviet intermediate ranged nuclear missiles being
assembled with Russian help on Cuban soil.
The Cuban Missile Crisis
• US sees this situation as “unacceptable“
Irony: US had similar “Jupiter”
missiles in Turkey!
Robert McNamara, General Maxwell
Taylor, and JFK in the “oval office”
The Soviet foreign minister Andre Gromyko
denies the existence of soviet Missiles on
October 18th
What should the US do now?
US Ambassador to the UN Adalai Stephenson
embarrasses Gromyko after he publically
denies the presence of soviet missiles at the
UN when he produces spy photos of them.
US President Kennedy goes on Live Television
October 22.
Announces to World:
• The presence of the Missiles.
• Quarantine or blockade of
Cuba.
• An attack from Cuba will be
regarded as an attack from
the USSR and will be met by
retaliation.
• Puts US military forces on
high alert.
JFK announces decision to blockade
Cuba to the public on T.V.
The world anxiously waits to see what
will happen when the blockade starts..
American citizens protest against
aggressive measures
German Cartoon (1962). In the cartoon, Kennedy
is saying: “How rude it is to put rockets in front of
my front door.”
Political Cartoon illustrating the standoff
Soviet reaction on October 24th - two
Soviet ships heading to Cuba stop for U.S.
ships on blockade line and turn around
Two Letters Sent by the Soviets
1st Letter from Khrushchev
• suggested that the soviets could remove the
missiles from Cuba in exchange for a
promise not to invade Cuba in the future.
2nd Letter from Politburo
• demanded the removal of US Missiles in Turkey
for the removal of the Missiles in Cuba.
Dilemma
• Does the US ignore both?
• Ignore One?
• Which one?
• Does the Politburo know about the letter
Khruschev sent?
• What are the risks of accepting the wrong one?
Robert and John Kennedy during the Missile Crisis
The Crisis Ends
• Resolved on October 28 when USSR agreed
not to supply Cuba with missiles.
• USSR agreed to dismantle weapons in Cuba
The Crisis Ends
Spy photos confirm the removal of
Soviet Missiles
Results of the Crisis
• US exchanges 53 Million in baby food and
medicine in exchange for 1,113 exiles of Bay
of Pigs invasion
• Some remain prisoners until 1986
• Feb 8, 1963 – all financial and commercial
transactions with Cuba are made illegal for
US citizens
Results of the Crisis
More effective communication between the two
superpowers:
• A telephone “Hotline” was established between
Washington and Moscow to replace telegraphs
Results of the Crisis
Detente
• Threat of Nuclear war - Went from era of
MAD to era of “Détente” or relaxation of
tensions.
Results of the Crisis
• Exemplified by the “Test Ban Treaty” of 1963
in which superpowers agreed to stop testing
nuclear weapons.
Photograph of a Soviet Mobile Missile
Launcher similar to the ones in Cuba during
the crisis
Assessment of the Missile Crisis
Kennedy and America
• Gained respect from world despite his youth
• Successful in keeping soviet weapons out of
hemisphere
Castro and Cuba
• Political protection and recognition from Soviets
• No missiles meant Castro could not have profound
impact on US
Assessment of the Missile Crisis
Khrushchev and the Soviets
• Khrushchev criticized for not adequately protecting
soviet interests
• Loss of respect for Khrushchev at home, but not
abroad.
• Khrushchev voted out of power in 1964.
• USSR seen as more reasonable than before
Historical Source, the movie:
“13 Days”
A film based upon Robert Kennedy’s Book
American Film(2000)
Key People in “13 Days”
LEADERS:
• Fidel Castro – President of Cuba – Came to
power in 1959
• Nikita Khrushchev – Prime Minister of USSR
– came to power in 1956
• John F. Kennedy – Newly elected President
of US – youngest in the history of States
Key People in “13 Days”
ADVISORS TO KENNEDY:
• Robert Kennedy – Attorney General of US – JFK’s
trusted brother
• Kenneth O’Donnell – Special Advisor to the
President
• Dean Acheson – Former Secretary of State under
Truman - during start of the Cold War
• Robert McNamara – Secretary of Defense – originally
took a cautious position
• John McCone – Director of the CIA
• Ted Sorenson – Special advisor to President
Kennedy and his main Speech Writer
• Dean Rusk – Secretary of State
• General Maxwell Taylor – Chairman of Chiefs of Staff
• Curtis LeMay – Chief of Staff of US Air Force
Key People in “13 Days”
DIPLOMATS:
• Adlai Stevenson – US Ambassador to UN
• Anatoly Dobrynin – Soviet Ambassador to UN
• Andre Gromyko – Soviet Ambassador to the United
States