The World On the Brink: John F. Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis: October 22, 1962

National Security Action Memorandum number 196, formally creating the ExComm

President Kennedy phones former Presidents Hoover, Truman and - Eisenhower to brief them on the situation. Meetings to coordinate all actions continue. Kennedy formally establishes the Executive Committee of the National Security Council and instructs it to meet daily during the crisis. Kennedy briefs the cabinet and congressional leaders on the situation. Kennedy also informs British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan of the situation by telephone.

Left: President Kennedy officially designates his advisors during the Cuban crisis as the Executive Committee of the National Security Council, or "ExComm."

“In addition to the officials named by the President in the NSAM, the following men were asked to be in regular attendance at EXCOM [sic] meetings:

Donald M. Wilson, Acting Director, U.S.I.A.

Kenneth P. O’Donnell, Special Assistant to the President

Pierre Salinger, W.H. Press Secretary

Bromley Smith, Executive Secretary, N.S.C.”

Read National Security Council meeting minutes
Read transcript of National Security Action Memorandum 196
Read memorandum of telephone conversation with Macmillan

President Kennedy writes to Nikita Khrushchev, Premier of the Soviet Union, prior to addressing the American public on live television: ... I have not assumed that you or any other sane man would In this nuclear age, deliberately plunge the world into war which it is crystal clear no country could win and which could only result in catastrophic consequences to the whole world, including the aggressor.

Below: President Kennedy's letter to Premiere Khrushchev, October 22, 1962

President Kennedy's letter of October 22, 1962 to Premiere Khrushchev, page 1

President Kennedy's letter of October 22, 1962 to Premiere Khrushchev, page 2

Read text of President Kennedy's letter

Page 16 or President Kennedy's reading copy of the "quarantine speech"

At 7:00 p.m. Kennedy speaks on television, revealing the evidence of Soviet missiles in Cuba and calling for their removal. He also announces the establishment of a naval quarantine around the island until the Soviet Union agrees to dismantle the missile sites and to make certain that no additional missiles are shipped to Cuba. Approximately one hour before the speech, Secretary of State Dean Rusk formally notifies Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin of the contents of the President's speech.

Left: Page 16 of President Kennedy's reading copy of his address to the nation.

Listen to and Read President Kennedy's speech