Existing comment:
Thursday, October 18:
Most Ex Comm meetings began with an intelligence update delivered by John McCone, Director of Central Intelligence. On October 18, he reported that photo analysts found evidence of site construction for intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs). With a target range of nearly 2,200 miles, nearly twice as large an area as the range of the MRBMs. IRBMs in Cuba would pose a threat to all parts of the United States, except for the northwest Pacific coast.
Over the next two days, the President maintained his normal schedule to avoid arousing public interest. He would not publicly reveal that there was crisis until he had decided on a response. His advisers met almost continuously in smaller groups and debated various courses of action. The debates were heated. At first, the only point on which all could agree is that some action must be taken: the Soviet missile deployment could not be tolerated. |