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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. Why did JFK change the line of interception for the blockade?
(a) To show force.
(b) To tighten the line.
(c) To buy time.
(d) For safety.

3. 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) Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.
(c) Chancellor Konrad Adenauer.
(d) Dean Acheson.

4. What was the main reason that the President did not attend all of the Ex Comm meetings?
(a) Busy schedule.
(b) To avoid arousing suspicion.
(c) Important diplomatic duties.
(d) Evasion of responsibility.

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

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

7. What did Robert sarcastically claim to be the advantage to being wrong in the case of military action?
(a) It was favored by the American people.
(b) No one would be around to know.
(c) All of the enemies would be destroyed.
(d) America's nuclear power would keep other countries from voicing disapproval.

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

9. What does Robert claim was impossible for Ex Comm to come up with when making their recommendations to JFK?
(a) A unanimous vote.
(b) An intelligent response.
(c) The right answer.
(d) A dogmatism.

10. What does Robert believe often leads to war?
(a) Greed.
(b) Pride.
(c) Prudence.
(d) Hate.

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

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

13. When Robert meets with Dobrynin after the blockade is put into effect, what does Dobrynin say the ships will do?
(a) Take military action against boarders.
(b) Continue as planned.
(c) Turn back to Russia.
(d) Re-route to another country.

14. 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 LeMay.
(b) JFK.
(c) Secretary McNamara.
(d) General Shoup.

15. What was one recommendation from the military action plan?
(a) Permission granted by the UN.
(b) Nuclear bombardment of Russia.
(c) A warning sent to Khrushchev.
(d) Nuclear bombardment of Cuba.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who publicly confronted Soviet Union Ambassador V. A. Zorin?

2. How long before the President's address to the nation did they tell the ambassador of Russia?

3. Who does JFK meet with whom Robert claims he "trusted implicitly" (51)?

4. In the section "Tuesday morning, October 16, 1962 . . .," why were initial reports of missiles in Cuba not passed on to the President?

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

(see the answer keys)

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