Cuban Missile Crisis Ends: CBS News Coverage from October 28, 1962

Resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis

• 🎯 Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev ordered the dismantling of Soviet missile bases in Cuba and the return of rockets to the Soviet Union, ending the 13-day crisis.
• 🤝 Khrushchev's decision was communicated in a letter to President Kennedy, expressing gratitude for his understanding and responsibility for preserving world peace.
• 🇺🇳 The dismantling of bases was to occur under United Nations supervision, with a reciprocal agreement from the US to remove the quarantine.

Reactions and Official Statements

• 📰 President Kennedy, learning of the decision via a radio broadcast, expressed satisfaction and called for urgent attention to ending the arms race and reducing world tension.
• ⚠️ Despite the positive news, officials maintained caution, with air surveillance of Cuba continuing and a general alert posture for American forces.
• 🗣️ The Pentagon confirmed no relaxation of activities, including the call-up of Air Force Reserve squadrons, emphasizing preparations for any eventuality.

Diplomatic and Political Perspectives

• 🌍 The United Nations expressed delight and surprise, viewing the Soviet action as a significant diplomatic defeat.
• 🇺🇸 US Ambassador Adlai Stevenson met with the UN Secretary General, indicating that the next moves would likely involve UN supervision to guarantee the end of the Cuban threat.
• 🏛️ Republican Senators expressed pleased gratification with the outcome, attributing it to the president's firmness and emphasizing the need for continued surveillance and inspection.
• 🤝 Congressman Hale Boggs highlighted the victory for the United States, reinforcing its role as a leader of the free world and crediting President Kennedy's courage and determination.

Behind the Scenes: The Decision-Making Process

• 🧠 The crisis began on October 15th with intelligence reports of Soviet missile bases in Cuba, prompting an urgent analysis by defense and State Department experts.
• 🇺🇸 President Kennedy convened his National Security Council's executive committee, who met secretly throughout the week to consider all possible moves, from UN protest to invasion.
• 🚢 The idea of a blockade, termed a "quarantine," emerged as the best strategy, aiming at Soviet power rather than Cuba itself.

Broader Implications and Historical Context

• 🌏 The crisis highlighted the extreme danger of nuclear holocaust and the need for broad negotiations to reduce global tensions.
• 🇨🇳 The report also touched upon the ongoing conflict between India and China, presenting it as another crisis demanding sober attention.
• 🗽 The broadcast concluded by referencing historical anniversaries, including President Woodrow Wilson's speech on human rights and the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty, underscoring themes of non-aggression and liberty.