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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did Secretary McNamara do, despite his dissent to the strategy?
(a) Ordered the blockade.
(b) Prepared the military for air bombardments.
(c) Sent communication to Khrushchev for a summit.
(d) Prepared the documents to release Berlin to Russia.

2. What did JFK read aloud at a meeting with a Russian representative?
(a) Khrushchev's statement from September 19th.
(b) His own statement from September 4th.
(c) The Declaration of Independence.
(d) The Bible.

3. Who told Ambassador Dobrynin about the President's intended speech?
(a) Dean Acheson.
(b) Adlai Stevenson.
(c) Secretary Rusk.
(d) Robert Kennedy.

4. What disturbing news increased the danger of intercepting a Russian ship?
(a) The Russian refusal to stop.
(b) A Russian submarine approached as well.
(c) The air crafts following the ships.
(d) The nuclear devices being transported were unstable.

5. On October 18th, photographs showed what disturbing new information?
(a) Atomic missiles were being directed at certain American cities.
(b) The Cubans were testing missiles.
(c) There were no missiles, it was a mistake.
(d) The missiles were complete.

6. Who said, "It is exactly what I would have done . . . a great government such as yours does not act without evidence" (41)?
(a) General de Gaulle.
(b) Chancellor Konrad Adenauer.
(c) Dean Acheson.
(d) Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.

7. Which group was created "for the purpose of effective conduct of the operations of the executive branch in the current crisis" (45)?
(a) Executive Committee of the National Security Council.
(b) The Cabinet.
(c) Joint Chiefs of Staff.
(d) Organization of American States.

8. In the section entitled, "It was now up to one single man," when did JFK hope to broadcast his plan to the nation?
(a) Monday.
(b) Sunday.
(c) Tuesday.
(d) Never.

9. Who wrote the note saying, "I now know how Tojo felt when he was planning Pearl Harbor" (24)?
(a) John McCone.
(b) Lyndon B. Johnson.
(c) Robert F. Kennedy.
(d) John F. Kennedy.

10. What was JFK's feeling after meeting with a Russian representative after learning about missiles in Cuba?
(a) Displeased.
(b) Content.
(c) Depressed.
(d) Rage.

11. Who publicly confronted Soviet Union Ambassador V. A. Zorin?
(a) Ted Sorensen.
(b) Bertrand Russell.
(c) David Ormsby Gore.
(d) Adlai Stevenson.

12. What type of non-fiction is Thirteen Days?
(a) Textbook.
(b) Biography.
(c) Memoir.
(d) Essay.

13. Who said, "You are in a pretty bad fix, Mr. President" (29)?
(a) John F. Kennedy.
(b) Robert F. Kennedy.
(c) General Shoup.
(d) General LeMay.

14. What did Robert suggest JFK do on September 4th regarding the possibility of Russia placing missiles in Cuba?
(a) Issue a statement that it would not be tolerated.
(b) Bomb Cuba.
(c) Issue a statement of good will.
(d) Threaten Soviet Chairman Nikita Khrushchev.

15. How far was the original line of interception for the blockade?
(a) 500 miles.
(b) 8000 miles.
(c) 800 miles.
(d) 750 miles.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Robert sarcastically claim to be the advantage to being wrong in the case of military action?

2. According to Robert in the section, "It was now up to one single man," what did JFK stress in his speech to the nation?

3. How many ships either stopped or turned back before reaching the blockade?

4. Who said that Russia only wanted to "give bread to Cuba in order to prevent hunger in that country" (34)?

5. Before the announcement could be made that there was a Cuban Missile Crisis, what did the press report on instead of the crisis?

(see the answer keys)

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