Radio and television report to the American people on the Soviet arms build-up in Cuba, 22 October 1962

About Folder

Title
Radio and television report to the American people on the Soviet arms build-up in Cuba, 22 October 1962
Collection
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
Finding Aid | Digitized Content
Digital Identifier
JFKPOF-041-018
Date(s) of Materials
October 1962: 20-22
Folder Description
This folder contains materials collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning President Kennedy's radio and television address to the nation regarding the Soviet Union's military presence in Cuba. In his speech the President reports the establishment of missile sites presumably intended to launch a nuclear offensive against Western nations. He characterizes the transformation of Cuba into an important strategic base as an explicit threat to American security, and explains seven components to his proposed course of action: quarantine all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba, increase degree of surveillance, regard possible attack launched from Cuba as Soviet attack, reinforce Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, call for a meeting of the Organ of Consultation, call for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, and demand that Premier Nikita Khrushchev cease his current course of action. In his speech the President famously states, "Our goal is not the victory of might, but the vindication of right- not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom, here in this Hemisphere, and, we hope, around the world." Materials in this folder include a memorandum, drafts by Special Counsel and speechwriter Theodore Sorensen, press copies, and a reading copy of the speech. Of note are several items with handwritten notations by the President.
Extent / Physical Description
58 digital pages
Series
Series 03. Speech Files.
Preferred Citation
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files. Speech Files. Radio and television report to the American people on the Soviet arms build-up in Cuba, 22 October 1962
Place(s)
Contributor(s)
Sorensen, Theodore C. (Theodore Chaikin), 1928-2010
Media Type
Use Restriction Note
Some of the archival materials in this collection may be subject to copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Users of these materials are advised to determine the copyright status of any document from which they wish to publish.
Copyright Notice
Documents in this collection that were prepared by officials of the United States as part of their official duties are in the public domain. Some of the archival materials in this collection may be subject to copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Users of these materials are advised to determine the copyright status of any document from which they wish to publish.

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Page Last Updated:
October 28, 2023 10:16:24 AM EDT