Familiar fears on anniversary of Cuban missile crisis
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(NewsNation) — On Oct. 16, 1962, the Cuban missile crisis began as President John F. Kennedy was informed that reconnaissance photographs had revealed the presence of missile bases in Cuba.
60 years later, U.S. President Joe Biden says the risk of nuclear “Armageddon” is at the highest level since that missile crisis.
Biden’s remarks came as Russian officials speak of the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons after suffering massive setbacks in the eight-month invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking at a fundraiser Thursday for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin was “not joking when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons.”
WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 1962: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (FILE PHOTO) A spy photo of a medium range ballistic missile base in San Cristobal, Cuba, with labels detailing various parts of the base, is shown October 1962. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of. (Photo by Getty Images) 
WASHINGTON – FEBRUARY 6, 1963: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (FILE PHOTO) John Hughes, Special Assistant to the Director of Defense Intelligence, conducts a military briefing for the news media showing the absence of Soviet missiles in Cuba with an aerial map during the Cuban missile crisis February 6, 1963 in Washington, DC. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of. (Photo by Getty Images) 
US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy leaves the Saint Stephen Martyr catholic church after attending mass, on October 28, 1962 in Washington DC, few hours before Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev offers to retire the soviet missiles from Cuba. The Cuban missile crisis and its aftermath was the most serious U.S.-Soviet confrontation of the Cold War. – The Cuban missile crisis and its aftermath was the most serious U.S.-Soviet confrontation of the Cold War. On October 15, 1962, the US army discovered several Soviet nuclear missile ramps on the island of Cuba. President Kennedy then orders the maritime blockade of the island. After several days of negotiations between Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev, first secretary of the CPSU, during which the world lives under the threat of nuclear war, the USSR retreats. After coming close to nuclear disaster, the two great powers decide to set up the hotline. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images) 
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 24, 1962: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (FILE PHOTO) Cuba’s President of the Republic, Osvaldo Dorticos Torrado, addresses the United Nations General Assembly to denounce U.S. aggression against his country during the Cuban missile crisis October 8, 1962 in New York City. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of. (Photo by Getty Images) 
AT SEA – DECEMBER 10, 1962: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (FILE PHOTO) The Soviet ship Kasimov is shown just off Cuba with fifteen (Soviet) I1-28 aircraft on board December 10, 1962. Fuselage crates on the ship were opened by the Soviet crew for U.S. air inspection, with the airplanes, formerly based on Cuba, removed at the request of U.S. authorities during the Cuban missile crisis. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of. (Photo by Getty Images) 
LONDON – OCTOBER 28, 1962: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (FILE PHOTO) Members of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) march during a protest against the U.S.’s action over the Cuban missile crisis October 28, 1962 in London, United Kingdom. Former Russian and U.S. officials attending a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the missile crisis October 2002 in Cuba said that the world was closer to a nuclear conflict during the 1962 standoff between Cuba and the U.S., than governments were aware of. (Photo by Getty Images)
Biden added that “we have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis.”
On Oct. 22, 1962, Kennedy addressed the nation in a televised speech and announced that the U.S. would begin blocking ships carrying that were weapons to Cuba. Kennedy also demanded the Soviets withdraw their missiles.
The speech sparked widespread fear and Americans began to stock food and perform bomb drills.
The crisis came to an end on Oct. 28, 1962, when the Soviet Union agreed to dismantle its missiles in Cuba if the U.S. agreed not to invade the island. The U.S. also agreed to dismantle its weapons installations in Turkey.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
