Existing comment:
Monday, October 22:
Director of Central Intelligence John McCone briefed the congressional leaders summoned to the White House:
-- Four medium-range ballistic missile sites, with a range of approximately 1,000 miles, were in full operational readiness.
-- 24 medium-range ballistic missile launchers and 12 intermediate-range ballistic launch pads were under construction.
-- 18 Soviet ships were in Cuban ports; 25 more were on their way.
-- The Soviets had installed 24 surface-to-air missile bases, several cruise missile defense sites, 40 MiG fighter planes and 20 IL-28 bombers.
Summary: almost the entire United States was vulnerable to the IRBMs; and the surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) were likely to shoot down an American U-2 reconnaissance plane "within a short time."
On Saturday afternoon, October 20, the President made his decision. He chose a blockade over military strikes or invasion, with the idea that a blockade was a limited action and that further military steps could be taken later, if necessary. He would address the nation the following Monday evening at 7pm, speaking publicly about the national crisis for the first time. Before the announcement, he would meet with congressional leaders to alert them to the situation in Cuba and his response.
Scattered across the country, some 20 key members of Congress were summoned back to Washington for an emergency meeting with the President. Two hours before the President's broadcast, they entered the Cabinet room at the White House. Alerted to the crisis for the first time, Senator Richard Russell, Majority Leader from Georgia, voiced his concerns about the blockade strategy and urged stronger military action. |