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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What statement did the Russians make public on September 11th?
(a) They would put missiles in any country they want.
(b) They had no intention of putting missiles in Cuba.
(c) Russia made no statement.
(d) The missiles already in Cuba would remain there.

2. 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.

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

4. What did JFK order into the air at all times until the crisis was over?
(a) B-52 bombers with atomic weapons.
(b) Helicopters with anti-missile equipment.
(c) U-2's to take photographs.
(d) Nothing, all of the action was at sea for the blockade.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What position did John McCloy one hold?

2. On October 18th, photographs showed what disturbing new information?

3. What type of non-fiction is Thirteen Days?

4. While Ex Comm was making final decisions regarding their recommendations, JFK was where?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does RFK slip the President a note saying "I now know how Tojo felt when he was planning Pearl Harbor" (25)? How do the situations compare?

2. What information did the Intelligence Community have about the missiles in September, but did not inform the President about at that time? Why were they not passed on?

3. How did the US obtain their information about Russian activity in Cuba?

4. How and where did Adlai Stevenson present the photographic evidence of missiles in Cuba?

5. What personal insights does RFK provide about JFK when they are waiting for news about the first ships meant to reach the blockade?

6. Why is the "great danger and risk in all of this . . . a miscalculation -- a mistake in judgment" (49)?

7. What was ironic about JFK's meeting with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrea Gromyko?

8. What did Adlai Stevenson suggest was a third option for the President to consider? Why was it rejected?

9. What was one argument against a blockade?

10. What did the military and JFK do to respond to the submarine situation?

(see the answer keys)

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