The 1960s was a decade of political, social, and economic turbulence. The Cuban Missile Crisis epitomizes the unsteady nature of the United States’ international relations that echoed the domestic unrest and turmoil. This decade was dedicated to radical change on American soil among every day society, but also augmenting radicalism in the militia as well. The Cuban Missile Crisis was the consolidation of fury and nuclear supremacy during the Cold War, which was an ongoing series of economic and political clashes, between the United States and the Soviet Union. In short, the inciting incident was a turbulent 13-day political and military standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union in October of 1962 (History.com). More importantly however, it was the closest the world has ever come to nuclear war. With the remaining omnipresence and recent revival of nuclear weaponry, the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis are still applicable to this day. The same qualms and heart-stopping fears aroused by nuclear bombs remain relevant, if they are present and utilized among nations, as a representation of a capable nation that is a force to be reckoned with. This paper aims to explore the historical significance of the Cuban Missile Crisis, delve into a rhetorical case study of two primary sources from the unsettling event, and examine the lasting effects of the Cuban Missile Crisis on contemporary society.
Historical Significance
The Cuban Missile Crisis, as aforementioned, was a 13-day political and military impasse between the United States and the Soviet Union in October 1962, and it was arguably the most dangerous moment in the history of mankind (Betancourt 77). During this time, the United States and Soviet Union were actively engaged in the Cold War, which exacerbated the situation due to existing tensions. Furthermore, it is essential to comprehend the relationship between Cuba and the USSR as well as Cuba and the United States. After seizing control of Cuba in 1959, Fidel Castro quickly allied with the Soviet Union and, over time, became increasingly reliant on the USSR for military and economic aid (History.com). However, Ernesto F. Betancourt, a former ally of Fidel Castro and modern critic of Cuban affairs, claims that the Cuban-USSR relationship went the other way as well, for “the behavior of the Soviet leadership during these years had to do with the position of Castro towards Communism” (80). Their mutually dependent relationship sharply contrasted with the United States and Cuba’s hostile relationship after the Bay of Pigs in 1961. The Soviet Union was aware of the United States’ aggression towards Cuba and ultimately capitalized on the tumultuous relationship when stationing their nuclear missiles on Cuban soil.
The Cuban Missile Crisis essentially began when an American spy plane flew over Cuba on October 14, 1962 and saw the installation of nuclear missiles. This ignited immediate concern and outrage in the United States military and government. President John F. Kennedy and his team of executive advisors, ExComm, gathered on October 16, 1962 to wrestle with this suddenly urgent diplomatic crisis. Kennedy and ExComm were concerned primarily with the nuclear missiles’ proximity to the United States and the presumed upper hand this gave the USSR in the long-term nuclear race between the two nations (History.com). A mere 90 miles from Florida, the missiles in Cuba demonstrated that the nuclear rivalry was now dominated by the USSR, rather than the United States, for the first time since the Cold War began (History.com).
In an attempt to resolve this crisis and simultaneously avoid nuclear war, Kennedy and ExComm deliberated a myriad of ways to remove the Soviet missiles from Cuba. While many extreme approaches were heavily considered, Kennedy ultimately decided to take a more civil route to resolution. Kennedy ordered a naval blockade near Cuba to prevent the delivery of more Soviet missiles and military equipment, and he also proposed an ultimatum that demanded the removal of the existing missiles in Cuba (History.com). Following his decision, Kennedy proceeded to address the American public in a famous speech on October 22, 1962, regarding the threat of the Soviet missiles in Cuba and his plan to eradicate this said threat. However, as expected, the people did not take the situation lightly, some even hoarded food and gas following the televised announcement. They feared for the possibility of nuclear war and the potential extinction of humanity and were especially infuriated that they were kept in the dark for so long.
Tensions continued to rise when the Soviets responded with a naval confrontation at the U.S. blockade but avoided attack. Additionally, a single U.S. reconnaissance plane was shot down over Cuba. The accumulation of these little actions led to preparation for attack (History.com). Robert McNamara, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, claimed in light of these events, “I thought it was the last Saturday I’d ever see.” Luckily, Soviet and American leaders successfully navigated the stalemate through desperate communication. A simple deal deterred a globally destructive war. On October 26, 1962, Khrushchev sent a letter to Kennedy offering to remove the missiles in exchange for Cuba’s safety from any future American invasions. Kennedy and ExComm officially accepted this contingent proposition, and the crisis concluded on October 28, 1962.
The Cuban Missile Crisis, despite its brevity, had a significantly influential impact on the American public and lifestyle in the 1960s. The media, especially, provided ample commentary regarding the 13-day event both during and after. Content found in newspapers, television, and magazines played a substantial role in influencing the popular opinion. Kennedy’s speech during the Cuban Missile Crisis was also key to setting the somber, fearful mood to establish the severity of the situation. I intend to analyze two primary sources, a political cartoon published after the crisis and Kennedy’s nationally televised speech, in the following sections to gauge their effect on the people in the decade.
Primary Source #1: Political Cartoon
“Arm Wrestling for World Dominance"
“Arm Wrestling for World Dominance” Illustrated by Leslie Gilbert Illingworth. Originally published in the UK Daily Post.
The first source I aim to examine in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis is a political cartoon produced by Leslie Gilbert Illingworth, a member of the United Kingdom’s Daily Post. Originally published in the newspaper, this cartoon depicts the active tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, just days after the Cuban Missile Crisis settled officially. More specifically, the cartoon depicts the leader of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev and the president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, in a silent arm wrestling match to convey the fragility of the Cuban Missile Crisis, a high risk nuclear situation.
Illingworth’s cartoon, intended for the general public, successfully argues the obvious tensions between the two world leaders through clear illustrations of nuclear weapons and a focused message. The cartoon is essentially providing an objective, or outsider, perspective on the Cuban Missile Crisis and seemingly observing the fragile situation from the rest of the world’s standpoint. Both Kennedy and Khrushchev have nuclear missiles, clearly illustrated in the cartoon, which indicates that both have the power to cause global destruction with the push of a button. Furthermore, the cartoon also demonstrates the stalemate through a symbolic arm wrestling match between Kennedy and Khrushchev, highlighting that neither leader has the upper hand. Illingworth expertly portrays the obvious tensions between the two nations in a single cartoon, and every element of the illustration has a significant meaning contributing to the nature of the situation and his overall message. He successfully captures the entirety of the 13-day standoff, and his message is quite clear: to everyone outside of Kennedy and Khrushchev’s executive teams, it seemed that the world’s fate rested on the whim of these two leaders. This source, “Arm Wrestling for World Dominance,” was especially powerful because of its timing as well as its objective perspective. Illingworth published this cartoon days after the Cuban Missile Crisis officially ended, while the world was collectively still reeling in the aftermath of the severely tense situation. Cartoons are unique due to their confrontational nature, in that they do not sugar coat reality, and that they aim to appeal to the popular opinion. Hence, this cartoon is so valuable because Illingworth illustrated the feelings, emotions, and thoughts of the public. This gives significant insight into the mass mood during and after the Cuban Missile Crisis. The people were scared for the human race, and Illingworth captured exactly why – he illustrated their present truth with brutal honesty. In this sense, Illingworth utilized the emotional rhetorical appeal to ensure the acceptance of his published work. Conclusively, it can be assumed that Illingworth’s cartoon forced the people to confront the political crisis in its entirety and recognize the reality of the Cold War and its severe ramifications.
President John F. Kennedy addressing the Cuban Missile Crisis on live television.
The second source that I intend to analyze is President John F. Kennedy’s televised address regarding the Cuban Missile Crisis. This speech is essential to gaining comprehensive knowledge about the famous event. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, informs the public about the Soviet nuclear weaponry stationed in Cuba and the installation of retaliatory missiles near the Soviet Union. Additionally, Kennedy discusses the precautionary naval quarantine around Cuba; however, Kennedy stated that any nuclear missile launched from Cuba would be interpreted as an attack and sign of war. The dire content of Kennedy’s address, intended for an American audience, marked the severity of the situation, as this was the closest the world ever came to nuclear war. Kennedy adequately argued his case before the eyes of his people through upfront and personable commentary that highlighted the danger of the situation. As aforementioned, this speech is valuable to understanding the effect of the Cuban Missile Crisis from the American’s perspective and recognizing how the American public gained, or did not gain, political information when it came to national security.
Throughout Kennedy’s speech, he formulates many arguments to justify the current state of the union while also attempting to avoid panic and hysteria among the citizens of his country. In order to maintain this goal, Kennedy employs both logical and emotional appeals of classical rhetoric. Kennedy utilizes logos when conveying the nuclear situation and justifying the United States’ retaliatory measures to the installation of missiles in Cuba. For example, Kennedy states, “Within the past week, unmistakable evidence has established the fact that a series of offensive missile sites is now in preparation on that imprisoned island. The purpose of these bases can be none other than to provide a nuclear strike capability against the Western Hemisphere.” This quote uses logical diction such as “unmistakable evidence” and “purpose” to demonstrate detailed analysis and successive conclusions regarding the situation in Cuba. Kennedy’s logos tactic at the beginning of the speech could have been strategically placed to establish his protective, dominant, and leadership-oriented persona to increase the people’s trust in their president in such perilous times. The utilization of logos was followed by the implementation of pathos, the rhetorical appeal of emotion. Kennedy clearly delineates his six-step plan for eradicating the nuclear threat in such a way that will garner the people’s support. Throughout the duration of the speech, he addresses Khrushchev individually, the Cuban people, and the American people to foster a personable atmosphere. In my opinion, Kennedy’s strategy is glaringly obvious – he hopes to resolve the situation through civilized persuasion and emotional appeal. This specific instance responded particularly well to emotional appeal because, frankly, the threat of nuclear war and wiping out humanity can be considered an extremely emotional topic. Kennedy also expertly established his credibility and worthiness as a leader in these dire times through the integrated use of ethos in his speech alongside the other two rhetorical appeals. Overall, Kennedy’s address had a balanced argument which contributed tremendously to how it was perceived by the people.
Prior to Kennedy’s speech, the majority of the American public was radically uniformed on the happenings of the Cuban Missile Crisis, due to no fault of their own. The U.S. government did not publicize the event until there was something concrete to tell, which came in the form of Kennedy’s address. That being said, when Kennedy announced the details of the Cuban Missile Crisis on national television, despite his proven worthiness, there was an immediate negative impact on the American people. Many people believed before this incident that the threat of nuclear war was incoherent and irrational. Even after the crisis resolved, the terror among the people remained. They feared because nuclear weapons capable of unthinkable horrors remained, even if the immediate threat had vanished, and they feared of what else the government could be hiding from them. Hence, began a time of fear and distrust among the American people, and for seemingly good reason.
Lasting Effects – Society and Culture
Society: Then and Now
The Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 and the resounding impacts on American society and culture are still as prevalent now as they were in the 1960s. While “the Cuban Missile Crisis is generally thought to have brought the world closer to nuclear destruction than any event before,” the threat of nuclear war remains viable in 2017 (Marfleet 545). If anything, in the 1960s, the Cuban Missile Crisis exposed the United States and the world to the possibility of a nuclear war, and it also greatly “affected the belief system of John F. Kennedy” (Marfleet 545). Though, it should be noted that President Kennedy “deserves considerable credit for resisting military pressures” during this critical time (Cyr 5). The series of events were a serious gamechanger for society and a catalyst for the advancement of nuclear weapons. Prior to this standoff, nuclear weapons intended for mass destruction was not a feasible idea for many. Hence, the Cuban Missile Crisis readied society for the prospect of nuclear war in the future due to the significant advancement in weaponry and militant technologies. The American people and the global society are now fully aware of the presence of nuclear weapons, but this does not grant ease of mind. In fact, quite the contrary. Nuclear weapons, following the Cuban Missile Crisis, will always be a contender in major wars and a threat to the well-being and continuation of humanity. For example, in the past few years, the countries of the world have been faced with North Korea’s persistent threat to launch their nuclear missiles. On innumerable occasions, the small nation has threatened to display their global power and dominance through their nuclear weapons. Despite their failure to launch their nuclear missiles, this is the first time since the Cuban Missile Crisis that the threat of nuclear war is feasible. In light of North Korea’s actions, the happenings of the Cuban Missile Crisis have been recently revived to provide insight to current global affairs. The crisis “occupies a unique place in the history of American foreign policy and superpower relations” (Marfleet 545).
Culture: Then and Now
Furthermore, the Cuban Missile Crisis greatly affected the American culture, both then and now. After the Cuban Missile Crisis resolved in 1962, precautionary measures were taken across the United States. In schools, kids participated in “duck-and-cover” drills in the case of a nuclear attack. At home, people began to accumulate mass amounts of non-perishable food and cases of water in preparation for the aftermath of a nuclear attack (LivingHistoryFarm.org). In extreme cases, people invested in underground bunkers, as escape routes and survival methods should the United States suddenly be compromised. Threat of nuclear war had a resounding effect on the lives of the people residing in the turbulent 1960s as evidenced by Arthur Cyr, the director of the A.W. Clausen Center for World Business at Carthage College. Alongside “the Vietnam War and Water Gate scandals,” Cyr claims that the 1960s, “were years in which the United States and other public outlooks generally shifted from traditional to more reformative perspectives” (17).
While the public is not currently as paranoid about the promise of nuclear war as the citizens of the 1960s, a lingering fear remains. Due to the situation in North Korea, the threat of nuclear attacks has become seemingly normalized, which eradicates initial shock. Even though the American people may be accustomed to discussion of nuclear weapons or launches in the media now, it does not diminish the danger of such deadly weapons. The difference between now and the 1960s is that nuclear weapons are now a widely accepted aspect of American culture, especially in terms of government or military discussion. Therefore, it is not that nuclear weapons are disregarded by any means, rather the possibility of nuclear war is no longer surprising to the people. It is disheartening to acknowledge nuclear weapons as an accepted part of the American culture, but having nuclear weapons of our own, as a precautionary retaliation measure, solidifies the United States’ role as a global power.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 largely influenced the behaviors and attitudes of the people residing in the turbulent 1960s, and the resounding effects from the ominous threat of nuclear war are still prevalent to this day. The rhetorical analysis of the political cartoon conveys the popular opinion from an objective perspective and demonstrates the widespread fear that Khrushchev and Kennedy were the only people capable of permitting or preventing nuclear war. Furthermore, the political cartoon depicts that the leaders were the sole members in control of the situation, making the people of their respective nations left to helplessly observe and pray from the sidelines. The rhetorical analysis of President Kennedy’s address reveals his strategy for informing his people of the state of the union while also attempting to ease their minds – no small task given humanity was at stake. Through ethos, pathos, and logos, one could appreciate the social and political tensions of that 13-day period. Finally, an extensive investigation of the lasting effects of the Cuban Missile Crisis on American society and culture divulged the remaining application and relevance to current international affairs.