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President Kennedy activated a naval quarantine and placed global forces on DEFCO
Featured Event 1962 Event

October 22

Kennedy Announces Crisis: Cuban Missile Standoff

President Kennedy activated a naval quarantine and placed global forces on DEFCON 3 to halt Soviet missile shipments to Cuba after revealing the weapons' presence in a televised address. This decisive move forced Khrushchev into negotiations that ultimately dismantled the offensive threat while establishing a direct hotline between Washington and Moscow to prevent future nuclear brinkmanship.

October 22, 1962

64 years ago

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