Missile Dismantlement and Verification

Stevenson proposed exploring a negotiated settlement that could remove the Soviet missiles while avoiding a direct military confrontation.

Sorensen helped draft language explaining the quarantine and the administration's demand for removal of Soviet offensive weapons.

Castro mobilized Cuban forces after Kennedy announced the quarantine and demanded removal of the Soviet offensive missiles.

Malinovsky placed Soviet military commands on heightened alert after Kennedy announced the quarantine and demanded missile removal.

Pliyev placed Soviet forces in Cuba on increased readiness after Kennedy announced the quarantine and demanded missile withdrawal.

Kennedy orders Khrushchev to remove all the missile bases and their deadly contents. Kennedy orders a naval quarantine of Cuba in order to prevent Russian ships from bringing additional missiles and construction materials.

Kennedy demanded dismantlement of the missile sites and removal of the offensive weapons from Cuba.

McNamara reviewed rules governing interception, inspection, and possible seizure of vessels carrying prohibited military equipment.

Khruschev 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.

Khrushchev sent Kennedy a lengthy private message proposing missile withdrawal in return for a pledge that Cuba would not be invaded.

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.

Robert Kennedy supported giving diplomacy more time after Khrushchev sent a message offering missile removal for a non-invasion pledge.

Scali reported a Soviet back-channel proposal linking missile removal to a United States pledge not to invade Cuba.

Dobrynin heard Robert Kennedy privately indicate that the obsolete Jupiter missiles in Turkey would be removed after the Cuban crisis.

Khrushchev publicly added removal of American Jupiter missiles from Turkey to the terms he sought for resolving the crisis.

Kennedy answered Khrushchev's first proposal and offered a non-invasion assurance after verified missile removal.

Kennedy authorized Robert Kennedy to tell Dobrynin privately that American Jupiter missiles in Turkey would later be removed.

Robert Kennedy warned Dobrynin that events could soon escape political control if the Soviet missiles were not withdrawn.

Khrushchev agrees to remove the Soviet missiles from Cuba. Castro demands that the USA evacuate Cuba's Guantanamo naval base.

Castro issued five demands for a broader settlement and rejected foreign inspection on Cuban territory.

Castro learned that Khrushchev had agreed to remove the missiles without first securing Cuban approval of the settlement.

Raul Castro helped manage Cuban military readiness after Moscow announced that the strategic missiles would be withdrawn.

Biryuzov's missile forces received orders to dismantle the Cuban launch sites and prepare the strategic missiles for return shipment.

Dobrynin reported American reactions to Moscow as the Soviet government announced acceptance of the missile-withdrawal settlement.

Gromyko participated in implementing the diplomatic settlement after Khrushchev agreed to withdraw the offensive missiles.

Khrushchev agrees to remove the Soviet missiles from Cuba. Khruschev removes the missiles but on the understanding the USA does not invade Cuba.

Khrushchev ordered the offensive missiles dismantled and returned to the Soviet Union under the emerging settlement.

Malinovsky transmitted orders connected with dismantling and returning the offensive missile systems after the political settlement.

Bundy helped coordinate immediate follow-up after the Soviet decision to dismantle and remove the offensive missiles.

Kennedy directed officials to continue verification and quarantine measures until Soviet offensive weapons were actually removed.

McCone advised that surveillance must continue to verify dismantling and removal after Khrushchev accepted the settlement.

McNamara directed the military to maintain pressure and surveillance while Soviet forces began preparing the missiles for removal.

Rusk directed diplomatic work on verification and implementation after Moscow announced that the missiles would be removed.

Sorensen assisted with Kennedy's public response welcoming the Soviet decision to remove the missiles from Cuba.

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

Khrushchev defended the settlement to Soviet leaders while implementation shifted toward dismantling, shipment, and verification.

Kennedy instructed his advisers to handle the settlement cautiously while reconnaissance monitored dismantling at Cuban missile sites.

Robert Kennedy urged continued caution as the administration moved from immediate confrontation toward verification and settlement.

Stevenson continued United Nations negotiations concerning verification, withdrawal, and arrangements for ending the quarantine.

Khrushchev continued correspondence with Kennedy about verification and the remaining questions surrounding Soviet military equipment in Cuba.

McCone reviewed reconnaissance evidence showing dismantled missile equipment being moved toward Cuban ports for shipment.

Castro resisted intrusive international inspection proposals while discussing implementation of the Soviet withdrawal with Mikoyan.

Mikoyan defended Moscow's decision to remove the strategic missiles despite Castro's anger over being excluded from the final agreement.

Mikoyan continued difficult negotiations with Cuban leaders over inspections, tactical weapons, and Soviet military equipment remaining on the island.

Khrushchev resisted American demands over Soviet IL-28 bombers while negotiations continued after the ballistic missiles were dismantled.

Mikoyan pressed for acceptance of Soviet decisions concerning withdrawal of weapons while seeking to preserve the alliance with Cuba.

Khrushchev accepted removal of the IL-28 bombers, clearing the principal remaining obstacle to ending the American quarantine.

Mikoyan's negotiations helped manage the final stages of Soviet withdrawal as the United States prepared to end the quarantine.

Kennedy ordered the naval quarantine lifted after agreement on removal of the Soviet IL-28 bombers.

McNamara oversaw the military transition from quarantine operations after the remaining Soviet IL-28 bombers were scheduled for withdrawal.

Khrushchev agrees to remove the missiles in exchange for a US commitment not to invade Cuba and that the US will remove American MRBMs targeting Russia from Turkey and Italy.