Maxwell Davenport Taylor Biography and Timeline

Cuba Study Group Chaired

Taylor chairs the presidential inquiry into the planning and execution of the invasion.

Role range: 1960-1962

Taylor Inquiry Begins

Taylor begins examining decisions, intelligence and military assumptions behind the failure.

Role range: 1960-1962

Operational Failure Investigation Expanded

Taylor's study group examines command, intelligence, air support and policy decisions that contributed to the Bay of Pigs defeat.

Role range: 1960-1962

Cuba Study Group Report Submitted

Taylor submits findings and recommendations from the presidential review.

Role range: 1960-1962

Cuban Missile Crisis

Taylor and the Joint Chiefs developed plans for attacks against missile sites and other military targets.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Taylor presented military assessments emphasizing that an air strike might have to be followed by a larger invasion of Cuba.

Role range: 1962-1964

Cuban Missile Crisis

Taylor supervised continued planning for air strikes and invasion after Kennedy selected the quarantine as the first step.

Role range: 1962-1964

Cuban Missile Crisis

Taylor maintained military readiness while the quarantine was implemented and reconnaissance missions increased over Cuba.

Role range: 1962-1964

Cuban Missile Crisis

Taylor advised on military responses after Anderson's U-2 was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile over Cuba.

Role range: 1962-1964

Cuban Missile Crisis

Taylor kept United States forces at high readiness while officials awaited evidence that Soviet dismantling had begun.

Role range: 1962-1964