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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. 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) John F. Kennedy.
(c) Robert F. Kennedy.
(d) General Shoup.

2. Before the announcement could be made that there was a Cuban Missile Crisis, what did the press report on instead of the crisis?
(a) The secret meetings of Ex Comm.
(b) The OAS meeting.
(c) The President would make a speech.
(d) The normal news.

3. What was Robert's main argument against a surprise attack?
(a) Christian morality.
(b) Ineffectiveness of attack.
(c) Cowardice of surprise.
(d) America's traditions and history.

4. Who suggested that the US take military action against Cuba for America's safety, not knowing about the missiles?
(a) Senator J. William Fulbright.
(b) Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
(c) Senator Richard B. Russell.
(d) Senator Homer E. Caphart.

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

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

7. While Ex Comm was making final decisions regarding their recommendations, JFK was where?
(a) New York.
(b) Washington D.C.
(c) Russia.
(d) Chicago.

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

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

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

11. What was the "legal foundation" (40) for the blockade?
(a) The OAS Charter.
(b) The UN regulations.
(c) The OSHA regulations.
(d) The Cuban Peace Treaty.

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

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

14. Who did JFK have a meeting with that was scheduled before the information about Cuba had been found?
(a) Ambassador Dobrynin.
(b) President Fidel Castro.
(c) Soviet Chairman Nikita Khrushchev.
(d) Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko.

15. What happened around 10:30, October 27th, the first day of the blockade?
(a) The Cubans shot down a plane.
(b) The Russian ships stopped.
(c) The Cubans overran the U.S. embassy.
(d) The Russian ships fired upon a U-2.

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

3. Who presented the United States case to the United Nations?

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

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).

(see the answer keys)

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