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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. After making his decision, when was the President's speech to the nation scheduled for?
(a) Monday evening.
(b) Sunday evening.
(c) Tuesday morning.
(d) Saturday afternoon.

2. What was the name of the first tanker to reach the barrier?
(a) Gagarin.
(b) Komiles.
(c) Bucharest.
(d) Essex.

3. What position did Robert hold in the Kennedy administration?
(a) Press Secretary.
(b) Senator.
(c) Secretary of Defense.
(d) Attorney General.

4. What is one effect of pressure, according to Robert?
(a) It causes everyone to cry.
(b) It leads to quitting.
(c) It makes everyone agree.
(d) It brings out unknown characteristics and strengths.

5. Who said, "if the Russians' response makes a military action or invasion inevitable, I want to be able to feel that we will not have to waste any days having to get ready" (47).
(a) General Shoup.
(b) General LeMay.
(c) JFK.
(d) Secretary McNamara.

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

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

8. 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.

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

10. What might have happened to the President if he had not acted?
(a) Public humiliation.
(b) Death.
(c) Impeachment.
(d) Nothing.

11. What did the intelligence community tell JFK on September 19th, regarding the possibility of Russians putting offensive weapons in Cuba?
(a) Russia would not put offensive weapons in Cuba.
(b) Russia would put offensive weapons in Cuba.
(c) Russia would use offensive weapons if in Cuba.
(d) Russia would put offensive weapons in Cuba, but they would not be a threat.

12. Who presented the argument for a blockade?
(a) John McCone.
(b) Robert Kennedy.
(c) Dean Rusk.
(d) Bob McNamara.

13. What position did John McCloy one hold?
(a) High Commissioner to Germany.
(b) Secretary of State.
(c) Ambassador to Russia.
(d) Cheif Justice for the Supreme Court.

14. Robert describes the conflict in Cuba as one between two atomic nations. What are the two atomic nations he refers to?
(a) US and Cuba.
(b) Berlin and Cuba.
(c) US and USSR.
(d) US and Germany.

15. What book had JFK recently read that had to do with miscalculations leading to war?
(a) Night.
(b) The Guns of August.
(c) The Dangerous Summer.
(d) The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did the members of Ex Comm avoid arousing suspicion when visiting the White House at 9:15 at night?

2. What does "Ex Comm" stand for?

3. What did Adlai Stevenson suggest that offended many members of Ex Comm?

4. What piece of information caused JFK to favor the blockade?

5. Who said, "It is exactly what I would have done . . . a great government such as yours does not act without evidence" (41)?

(see the answer keys)

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