The Secret Letter Correspondence That Resolved the Cuban Missile Crisis

The Cuban Missile Crisis was an infamous Cold War confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union when both countries seemed on the verge of Nuclear War. This came as a result of the Soviet Union stationing nuclear weapons in Cuba. But as ships and generals prepared for battle the leaders were exchanging letters behind the scenes and one of these documents, written by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to President John F. Kennedy was pivotal in resolving the conflict. 

Cuban Missile Crisis Hidden Letter of Khrushchev and Kennedy

In October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the United States discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from its shores. These missiles would have the capabilities of almost the entire continental United States. This posed a major security risk to the US which prompted them to demand the weapon’s removal. They blockaded Cuba and in response, the Soviet Union deployed their ships.

This created a tense 13-day standoff between the two superpowers. The United States wanted to prevent the deployment of any more weapons while the Soviets wished to send more ships to Cuba. Neither side was prepared to back down and there was a genuine fear that this would lead to war.

But while the ships remained President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev engaged in negotiations to avoid conflict. Amid escalating tensions, Khrushchev sent a crucial letter to Kennedy on October 27, 1962. In it, he proposed removing the Soviet missiles from Cuba in exchange for the U.S. pledging not to invade Cuba and secretly agreeing to remove American missiles from Turkey. This pivotal communication helped defuse the Cuban Missile crisis and steer the world away from the precipice of nuclear war.

Dear Mr. President,

I have studied with great satisfaction your reply to Mr. Thant concerning measures that should be taken to avoid contact between our vessels and thereby avoid irreparable and fatal consequences. This reasonable step on your part strengthens my belief that you are showing concern for the preservation of peace, which I note with satisfaction.

I have already said that our people, our Government, and I personally, as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, are concerned solely with having our country develop and occupy a worthy place among all peoples of the world in economic competition, in the development of culture and the arts, and in raising the living standard of the people. This is the most noble and necessary field for competition, and both the victor and the vanquished will derive only benefit from it, because it means peace and an increase in the means by which man lives and finds enjoyment. This commitment to progress and peace was crucial during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

– Nikita Khrushchev, Soviet Premier

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