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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who sent messages praising Russia and castigating the U.S.?
(a) Fidel Castro.
(b) David Ormsby Gore.
(c) Bertrand Russell.
(d) Ted Sorensen.

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

3. Against what strategy was the following argument used: It would be like "closing the door after the horse has left the barn" (28)?
(a) Air stike.
(b) Summit.
(c) Blockade.
(d) Nuclear War.

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

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

6. How did the members of Ex Comm avoid arousing suspicion when visiting the White House at 9:15 at night?
(a) They arrived at different times.
(b) Not all went to the meeting.
(c) They all rode with Robert.
(d) They took the secret entrance.

7. 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 nuclear devices being transported were unstable.
(d) The air crafts following the ships.

8. What did JFK ask in a letter to Khrushchev after ordering the blockade?
(a) For Khrushchev to observe the quarantine.
(b) All missiles to be handed over.
(c) All shipes to turn back.
(d) For Khrushchev to leave Berlin out of their deliberations.

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

10. How long before the President's address to the nation did they tell the ambassador of Russia?
(a) Twelve hours.
(b) Five minutes.
(c) An hour.
(d) One day.

11. Who said, "they, no more than we, can let these things go by without doing something. They can't after all their statements, permit us to take out their missiles, kill a lot of Russians, and then do nothing. If they don't take action in Cuba, they certainly will in Berlin" (28)?
(a) General LeMay.
(b) Robert F. Kennedy.
(c) General Shoup.
(d) John F. Kennedy.

12. When looking at the first photographs of the missile bases in Cuba, what did JFK say it looked like?
(a) Swimming pool.
(b) Football field.
(c) Farm.
(d) Soccer field.

13. After the announcement to the nation, how often would Ex Comm meet?
(a) As needed.
(b) Once a week.
(c) Every four hours.
(d) Every day at 10:00 a.m.

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Which group was created "for the purpose of effective conduct of the operations of the executive branch in the current crisis" (45)?

2. After making his decision, when was the President's speech to the nation scheduled for?

3. Who said, "You are in a pretty bad fix, Mr. President" (29)?

4. Why did JFK change the line of interception for the blockade?

5. What happened around 10:30, October 27th, the first day of the blockade?

(see the answer keys)

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