Naval Quarantine of Cuba

Kennedy ordered continued secrecy while advisers studied the risks of surprise attack, quarantine, and invasion.

McNamara discussed military options including surveillance, quarantine, air strikes, and invasion.

Gilpatric helped assess air-strike and quarantine options while the Defense Department prepared forces for possible action.

Kennedy continued reviewing air-strike, invasion, quarantine, and diplomatic alternatives with his advisers.

McNamara asked military planners to refine blockade, air-strike, and invasion options while the President considered how to respond.

Rusk examined diplomatic consequences of air strikes, invasion, and quarantine while the missile discovery remained secret.

McNamara worked on a quarantine plan designed to halt additional offensive weapons without immediately attacking existing missile sites.

Bundy helped organize the decision process that produced Kennedy's choice of a naval quarantine.

Kennedy selected a naval quarantine as the initial response while retaining stronger military options.

Robert Kennedy supported the quarantine option as a measured response that preserved room for further diplomatic pressure.

McNamara briefed Kennedy on naval interception procedures and the military preparations supporting the proposed quarantine.

Rusk supported the quarantine decision while the State Department prepared allied consultations and diplomatic notifications.

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

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

Kennedy reviewed the quarantine proclamation, military rules, and the planned address to the nation.

Sorensen refined Kennedy's television address so that the missile evidence, quarantine, and warning to Moscow were presented clearly.

The US announce its discovery of missile sites, and implements a quarantine around Cuba that woul intercept and search vessels heading for Cuba.

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

Raul Castro placed Cuban armed forces on wartime readiness as the United States announced its quarantine and increased regional military preparations.

Dobrynin received formal American communications after Kennedy publicly announced the missile evidence and naval quarantine.

Gromyko helped manage the Soviet diplomatic response after Kennedy revealed the missiles and announced the naval quarantine.

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.

Ball helped coordinate diplomatic communications with allies and international organizations as the quarantine was announced.

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 announced a naval quarantine intended to prevent further deliveries of offensive military equipment.

Castro rejected the legality of the quarantine and prepared Cuba for the possibility of American air strikes or invasion.

Zorin challenged the American quarantine at the Security Council and rejected United States accusations about offensive Soviet weapons.

The Organisation of American States unanimously supports the US decision to quarantine Cuba and , by the end of the day, all naval vessels are in place. Reconnaissance photos reveal that Soviet missiles are poised for launch.

Kennedy signed the proclamation establishing interdiction of offensive weapons shipments to Cuba.

Kennedy approved continued invasion preparations while excluding food and medicine from the initial quarantine.

Kennedy approved instructions for naval forces enforcing the quarantine while seeking to avoid an unnecessary clash with Soviet ships.

Stevenson defended the quarantine before the Security Council and challenged Soviet claims about the nature of the Cuban deployment.

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

Khrushchev rejected the legality of the American quarantine but ordered Soviet shipping movements handled cautiously as the confrontation intensified.

Gilpatric assisted in coordinating military readiness and civilian control as naval quarantine operations began.

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.

Kennedy monitored the first day of quarantine operations as several Soviet vessels slowed, stopped, or changed course.

Robert Kennedy followed quarantine developments while officials debated how much force naval commanders should use against Soviet vessels.

McCone reported intelligence on Soviet shipping movements and ongoing activity at missile sites after the quarantine began.

McNamara closely supervised naval operations as the quarantine line became active in the Atlantic approaches to Cuba.

Rusk assessed Soviet responses to the quarantine and encouraged continued diplomatic contact while military forces remained ready.

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

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

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.