On This Day – October 16th (Cuban Missile Crisis)

Michael Thomas, Editor

On this day, October the 16th, in the year of 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the most contentious moment in the United States of America (U.S.A.)-Union of Soviet Socialst Republics (U.S.S.R.) Cold War began.

The crisis began when then U.S.A. President John F. Kennedy was shown intelligence of nuclear weapons in the island nation of Cuba, a non-ally of America but ally of the U.S.S.R., then a rival of the U.S.A. who supplied the weapons.

Over a span of thirteen days, both sides threatened retaliation, with the U.S.A. wanting the nukes taken out of Cuba.

The crisis was resolved when the U.S.S.R. pulled out the weapons of Cuba, gaining America good media attention. Though, a lesser known fact is that the U.S.A. pulled out some of their weapons from nations near the U.S.S.R  for that to happen (On This Day).