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The Cuban Missile Crisis
The 20th Century

The Cuban Missile Crisis

1962 CE 3 min read · 5 min listen

Soviet nukes appear 90 miles off the Florida coast. For 13 days, JFK and Khrushchev play chicken with the end of the world. Khrushchev blinks first.

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The Setup

Okay, picture this: It's the early 1960s, and the Cold War is heating up between the United States and the Soviet Union. It's the kind of drama that even Netflix couldn't script. The US has got nuclear missiles parked in Turkey, right on the Soviets' doorstep, and they're not exactly thrilled about it.

Meanwhile, down in Cuba, Fidel Castro's recently taken over, and he's got a communist swagger going on. The island's only 90 miles from Florida, so when the Soviets see a chance to place their own missiles there, they jump on it. Enter: Nikita Khrushchev, the Soviet leader — he's ready to play hardball.

Now, in Washington, D.C., President John F. Kennedy isn't about to let this slide. Imagine finding out your neighbor's installed a cannon facing your living room. Tensions skyrocket, and we have ourselves a full-blown crisis on our hands.

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Hear the Full Story

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Key Takeaways

  • The Cuban Missile Crisis showed that even superpowers have limits in brinkmanship.
  • Communication — even secret — can avert catastrophe.
  • Nuclear weapons make global politics a high-stakes game.
  • Small nations like Cuba can play big roles in global affairs.
  • Sometimes, the best move is to blink and step back.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened during The Cuban Missile Crisis?

Soviet nukes appear 90 miles off the Florida coast. For 13 days, JFK and Khrushchev play chicken with the end of the world. Khrushchev blinks first. This event took place 1962 CE. History Tea retells it as an immersive audio experience with cinematic narration so you can listen anywhere.

When did The Cuban Missile Crisis happen?

The Cuban Missile Crisis took place 1962 CE. Soviet nukes appear 90 miles off the Florida coast. For 13 days, JFK and Khrushchev play chicken with the end of the world. Khrushchev blinks first. You can listen to the full retelling with immersive narration on the History Tea app.

Why does The Cuban Missile Crisis matter?

Key takeaways from The Cuban Missile Crisis: The Cuban Missile Crisis showed that even superpowers have limits in brinkmanship.. Communication — even secret — can avert catastrophe.. Nuclear weapons make global politics a high-stakes game.. Listen to the full breakdown on History Tea.

Can I listen to The Cuban Missile Crisis as audio?

Yes! History Tea offers The Cuban Missile Crisis as an immersive audio story with cinematic narration. Download the free app on iOS to listen to this and 260+ other history stories.

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