Books with title The Cuban Missile Crisis: The Cold War Goes Hot

The United States and the Soviet Union were the two main nations that defeated Nazi Germany in World War II. Yet their systems of government were completely different. These differences soon developed into the Cold War. Both sides became bitter enemies. But there was no actual fighting. That situation nearly changed in 1961. The Soviets secretly installed missiles with nuclear warheads in Cuba. These missiles could reach many cities in the United States. When President John F. Kennedy learned about these weapons, he confronted Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev. The world teetered on the brink of a nuclear war. This is the story of that chilling event.

Through a lens of primary sources, this intriguing title looks at the pivotal crisis from the Cold War during which the Soviet Union set up nuclear missiles in Cuba. Well-crafted text and engaging sources introduce readers to the key players, including Castro, Khrushev, and Kennedy and examine the intricacies of the crisis including proxy wars, communication systems, and the outcome. A final chapter examines relations today and explores the idea that a new Cold War with Russia may be looming.

In 1962, people around the world, but especially in the United States, Cuba, and the Soviet Union, seemed to be holding their breath as they wondered if a nuclear war was about to erupt. US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara later recalled that he thought October 27, 1962, "was the last Saturday I would ever see." This notable book, packed with interesting sidebars and fascinating facts, transports readers back to a time of political intrigue. Key figures such as John F. Kennedy, Fidel Castro, and Nikita Khrushchev are examined as well as related events such as the Bay of Pigs.

Each volume opens with background information -- including primary source material -- covering the periods leading up to, during and after the event. Then, each volume offers an in-depth, multinational perspective on the controversies surrounding the event and the current implications or long-lasting effects. Each volume concludes with first-person narratives from people who lived through or were directly impacted by the event.

During thirteen tense days in October 1962, and only ninety miles from the coast of Florida, the Soviet Union constructed nuclear missile silos and shipped nuclear warheads to Communist Cuba bringing both superpowers to the brink of a nuclear war. This volume examines the missile crisis from the perspective of U.S. citizens, includes articles that highlight the public response, and provides primary documents such as speeches and communiques to which the public had access through news media during the crisis period.