Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy signed the proclamation establishing interdiction of offensive weapons shipments to Cuba.
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
John Fitzgerald Kennedy Biography and Timeline — Page 5
Follow John Fitzgerald Kennedy through 249 dated historical records for United States of America.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
249Distinct records
5 of 7Page
1962–1963Years on this page
1962
Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy approved continued invasion preparations while excluding food and medicine from the initial quarantine.
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Organisation of American States
The Organisation of American States unanimously supports the US decision to quarantine Cuba &, by the end of the day, all naval vessels are in place
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy reported that several Soviet ships had altered course as the quarantine took effect. Strategic Air Command was ordered to DEFCON 2, the highest readiness level it had yet reached.
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy monitored the first day of quarantine operations as several Soviet vessels slowed, stopped, or changed course.
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy replied to U Thant and affirmed his desire for a peaceful and verifiable settlement.
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy wrote Khrushchev that Soviet assurances had been contradicted by clear evidence of offensive missile bases in Cuba.
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy delayed military action to allow additional time for diplomacy after receiving Khrushchev's proposal.
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Cuban Missile Crisis
Khrushchev sends a letter to Kennedy suggesting that the sites would be dismantled if the United States gave its reassurance that it would not invade Cuba.
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy answered Khrushchev's first proposal and offered a non-invasion assurance after verified missile removal.
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy authorized Robert Kennedy to tell Dobrynin privately that American Jupiter missiles in Turkey would later be removed.
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy chose to answer Khrushchev's earlier, more conciliatory proposal while leaving the public demand concerning Turkey unanswered.
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy postponed retaliation for the U-2 loss while advisers pursued a diplomatic solution.
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy directed officials to continue verification and quarantine measures until Soviet offensive weapons were actually removed.
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy welcomed Khrushchev's decision as an important contribution to peace.
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Government
Welcomes Krushchevs offer to remove missiles from Cuba. Khruschev removes the missiles but on the understanding the USA does not invade Cuba
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy instructed his advisers to handle the settlement cautiously while reconnaissance monitored dismantling at Cuban missile sites.
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy ordered the naval quarantine lifted after agreement on removal of the Soviet IL-28 bombers.
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Nassau Conference
Kennedy meets Macmillan at Nassau to resolve the Skybolt crisis and discuss a substitute nuclear system
Role range: 1961-1963 – 1961-1963
Agreement on Exchange the 1
Castro and James Donovan, a U.S. lawyer sign an agreement to exchange the 1,113 prisoners for $53 million US dollars in food and medicine, the money is raised privately
Role range: 1960-1965 – 1960-1963
Invasion of Cuba
Castro and James Donovan, a U.S. lawyer sign an agreement to exchange the 1,113 prisoners for $53 million US dollars in food and medicine, the money is raised privately
Role range: 1960-1965 – 1960-1963
Nassau Agreement
Kennedy agrees that the United States will make Polaris missiles available to Britain after Skybolt cancellation
Role range: 1961-1963 – 1961-1963
Miskovsky Assists Negotiations
Kennedy administration legal officer Milan Miskovsky assists Donovan during the exchange negotiations.
Role range: 1960-1962 – 1961-1963
Prisoner Exchange Agreement Reported
Kennedy is informed that Castro and Donovan have signed the prisoner exchange agreement.
Role range: 1960-1962 – 1961-1963
Polaris Sales Agreement
The Nassau settlement forms the basis for the later Polaris Sales Agreement between the United States and Britain
Role range: 1961-1963 – 1961-1963
Freed Brigade Welcomed in Miami
Kennedy addresses returned Brigade 2506 members at the Orange Bowl after their release from Cuban prisons.
Role range: 1960-1962 – 1961-1963
Siege of Berlin
The US & Russia withdraw their tanks from the Berlin Wall
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Withdrawal Negotiations at Berlin
The US & Russia withdraw their tanks from the Berlin Wall
Role range: 1961-1965 – 1961-1963
Operation Ranchand
The goal is to clear vegetation alongside highways to prevent Vietcong concealment. Forests are sprayed with "Agent Orange," an herbicide containing deadly dioxin
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1960-1963
1963
Polaris Sales Agreement
The United States signs the Polaris Sales Agreement with Britain to supply Polaris missile systems
Role range: 1961-1963 – 1961-1963
Equal Pay Act
The Act prohibits specified sex-based wage differentials for substantially equal work.
Role range: 1961-1963
Civil Rights Address
Responds to Birmingham events by urging federal civil rights legislation.
Role range: 1961-1963 – 1961-1963
Speech
Kennedy visits West Berlin "Ich bin ein Berliner" (I am a Berliner)
Role range: 1960-1963
Visit to Berlin
Kennedy visits West Berlin "Ich bin ein Berliner" (I am a Berliner)
Role range: 1960-1963
Limited Test Ban Treaty Signed
The United States, Soviet Union and Great Britain sign the Limited Test Ban Treaty.
Role range: 1961-1963
Limited Test Ban Treaty Ratified
Signs the United States instrument of ratification for the Limited Test Ban Treaty.
Role range: 1961-1963
Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem
Kennedy approves a coup by South Vietnamese Army officers & Diem is assassinated
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1960-1963
Coup
Kennedy approves a coup by Vietnamese Army officers during which Diem is assassinated. Kennedy approves a coup by South Vietnamese Army officers & Diem is assassinated
Role range: 1960-1975 – 1960-1963
Motorcade Route
The motorcade route is published is published in both Dallas newspapers. The motorcade route is described in both Dallas newspapers
Role range: 1961-1963
Assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy
At 1:00 p.m., CST (19:00 UTC), after all heart activity had ceased and after a priest administered the last rites, the President is pronounced dead
Role range: 1961-1963
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.