Let the record show that our restraint is not inexhaustible. Should it ever appear that

the inter-American doctrine of noninterference merely conceals or excuses a policy of

nonaction - if the nations of this hemisphere should fail to meet their commitments

against outside Communist penetration - then I want it clearly understood that this

Government will not hesitate in meeting its primary obligations, which are to the

security of our Nation. Should the time ever come, we do not intend to be lectured

on " intervention " by those whose character was stamped for all time on the bloody

streets of Budapest. ( Address by President Kennedy, 20 April 1961, " The Lesson

of Cuba, " Department of State Publication No. 7185. )

During the post World War II years, the United States was involved in a continuing conflict with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The differences in democratic and communistic views led to most of this struggle. Although there was no direct military conflict, a climax of military tension was reached during the Cuban Mis

In a sense, it can be said that the stage was set for a deciding conflict. Both the United States and the Soviet Union had been preparing for war by increasing their military power, which included nuclear capabilities. No one could be certain when or who was planning to attack first. The answer was soon to come.

During a September 13 press conference, President Kennedy announced the situation to America. He stated that intelligence reports of Russian shipments did not pose a serious threat to America or any of its allies at this time. He was quick to add, though, " that if Cuba were ever to become an offensive military base of significant capacity for the Soviet Union, then this country will do whatever must be done to protect its own security and that of its allies " ( Cook p24-25 ).

questions that arose over Asia. This point in history can be labeled as the " beginning " of our feud with Russia ( Cold War Encarta ).

In order to fully understand the Cuban Missile Crisis, the events previous to it must be established as they were extremely relevant to the situation. Prior to the twentieth century, Americans had a favorable relationship with the Russians. However, in the late nineteenth century, c. 1890, America and Russia began to disagree and quarrel over certain situations and

There was only one last hope for resolution between the Soviet Union and the United States. In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev came to power and brought the views of a new and young generation with him. He and Reagan cut back on both of the superpower's presence in Europe and they also moderated their ideological differences. In the early 1990's, due to the work of Gorbachev and the previous work of Reagan, the cold war finally ended in Europe. Non-communist governments were being elected, countries that were once divided were uniting, the arms race was almost totally halted, and perhaps the biggest threat to democracy, communism, was being discredited. These new ideas spread also into the Soviet Union. Not long after the cold war ended in Europe, there was a dramatic break up of communism in the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics. The U.S.S.R was broken up into many smaller, democratic nations. The threat of communism was over ( Encarta ).

Some of the most trying times in our nation's history took place during those thirteen beautiful October days. The Cuban Missile Crisis is probably this world's closest encounter to a full scale nuclear war. If it had not been for our strong president and the fearlessness of America as a whole, the world might be a drastically different place today. Thankfully, though, it is not and due to the almost non-existent threat of communism in today's world it will probably not radically change in the years to come.

Some topics in this essay:
Soviet Union, Missile Crisis, Crisis Events, Security Council, Cuba American, President Kennedy, Fidel Castro, Mikhail Gorbachev, SIRS Russia, Thatcher Falklands, soviet union, cold war, missile crisis, cuban missile crisis, cuban missile, world war, world war ii, war ii, on-site inspection, premier nikita krushchev, intelligence reports, naval blockade, crisis events, post world war, soviet premier nikita,