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

2. What was one requirement of the blockade plan?
(a) All ship that enter the blockade be inspected.
(b) A meeting with the Organization of American States.
(c) That no ships could pass the blockade.
(d) A promise to withdraw weapons from Berlin.

3. Which group was created "for the purpose of effective conduct of the operations of the executive branch in the current crisis" (45)?
(a) Organization of American States.
(b) Executive Committee of the National Security Council.
(c) Joint Chiefs of Staff.
(d) The Cabinet.

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 unanimously pushed for immediate military action on Thursday October 18th?
(a) Ex Comm.
(b) The Joint Chiefs of Staff.
(c) Congress.
(d) Americans.

Short Answer Questions

1. What position did John McCloy one hold?

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

3. What position did Robert hold in the Kennedy administration?

4. In which branch of government does Robert believe rank often plays a role?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Ambassador Dobrynin provide as evidence that USSR would not be a threat to the United States?

2. How does Berlin factor into the decision making about the Cuban Missile Crisis?

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

4. 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?

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

6. How did JFK feel about the reaction from Congress when he informed them about the crisis and his plans?

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

8. When was Congress told, and how did Congress react to the news of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

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

10. What distinguishes Thirteen Days as a memoir (besides the subtitle) and not just an autobiography?

(see the answer keys)

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