1962 August
Cuban Missile Crisis
McCone repeatedly warned that the Soviet Union might place offensive missiles in Cuba.
Cold War · October 1962 · permanent subject timeline
John McCone and CIA Intelligence
CIA assessment of Soviet intentions, missile evidence and site readiness. This page combines historical context with 11 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database Cuban Missile Crisis archive.
Historical context
John McCone and CIA Intelligence: overview and significance
What happened?
CIA Director John McCone warned about the possibility of Soviet offensive missile deployment and repeatedly briefed U.S. officials as photographic intelligence accumulated.
Why was it important?
McCone's records show the central role of intelligence assessment in detecting the deployment and informing White House decisions.
World History Database records
John McCone and CIA Intelligence timeline
The records below are selected from the 195-record Cuban Missile Crisis archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.
1962
1962 10th September
Cuban Missile Crisis
McCone warned from Europe that the Soviet military buildup could include offensive missiles intended to alter the strategic balance.
1962 4th October
Cuban Missile Crisis
McCone discussed the Cuban military buildup and continued to emphasize the possibility of offensive missiles.
1962 17th October
Cuban Missile Crisis
McCone briefed officials on expanding intelligence evidence and the estimated readiness of the missile sites.
1962 18th October
Cuban Missile Crisis
McCone reported continuing intelligence analysis as reconnaissance identified additional missile and bomber-related installations.
1962 21st October
Cuban Missile Crisis
McCone assessed the operational status of Soviet missiles and the pace at which additional launch capability could become available.
1962 23rd October
Cuban Missile Crisis
McCone reported that Soviet personnel appeared to control the offensive missile installations.
1962 24th October
Cuban Missile Crisis
McCone reported intelligence on Soviet shipping movements and ongoing activity at missile sites after the quarantine began.
1962 26th October
Cuban Missile Crisis
McCone provided updated estimates showing continued work at several missile installations despite the diplomatic exchanges.
1962 28th October
Cuban Missile Crisis
McCone advised that surveillance must continue to verify dismantling and removal after Khrushchev accepted the settlement.
1962 2nd November
Cuban Missile Crisis
McCone reviewed reconnaissance evidence showing dismantled missile equipment being moved toward Cuban ports for shipment.
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
Compiled and edited by World History Database.
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database Cuban Missile Crisis records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
FRUS: Cuban Missile Crisis and Aftermath · JFK Library · U.S. National Archives
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