Arm wrestling
The Cuban Missile Crisis - October 1962
The cartoon was drawn by Leslie Gilbert Lllingworth and published on October 29, 1962 in the British Newspaper The Daily Mail
October 1962 was the most intense month of President John F. Kennedy's tenure in office. The Soviet Union, under the direction of Nikita Khrushchev, had placed medium range missiles in Cuba only 90 miles off the coast of the United States. Between October 16, when a U.S. U-2 spy plane discovered the missiles and October 28 when Khrushchev agreed to remove them, the world waited as it appeared that both leaders were willing to risk nuclear war. In reality, both men worked diligently behind the scenes through personal communications to stave off war and preserve peace. Kennedy and Khrushchev knew that "pushing the button" would not end well for either country or the world.
October 1962 was the most intense month of President John F. Kennedy's tenure in office. The Soviet Union, under the direction of Nikita Khrushchev, had placed medium range missiles in Cuba only 90 miles off the coast of the United States. Between October 16, when a U.S. U-2 spy plane discovered the missiles and October 28 when Khrushchev agreed to remove them, the world waited as it appeared that both leaders were willing to risk nuclear war. In reality, both men worked diligently behind the scenes through personal communications to stave off war and preserve peace. Kennedy and Khrushchev knew that "pushing the button" would not end well for either country or the world.
Questions to Consider:
- What does the cartoon tell us about the relationship between President John F. Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev?
- What would the result have been if either of the leaders chose to "push the button"?
- Which leader do you think had the strongest position during the Cuban Missile Crisis? Why?