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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 does "Ex Comm" stand for?
(a) Executive Committee of the National Security Council.
(b) Executive Communications with Cuba.
(c) Executing Communists.
(d) Executing Communication for the Cold War.

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

3. What did Adlai Stevenson suggest that offended many members of Ex Comm?
(a) The nuclear bombardment of Cuba.
(b) Both a blockade and an air strike.
(c) JFK should hold a summit before any action is taken.
(d) The U.S. remove weapons from other countries in exchange for Russian removal of missiles.

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

5. Who was U Thant?
(a) Soviet Chairman.
(b) Soviet Ambassador to the United Nations.
(c) Secretary of Defense.
(d) Acting Secretary General of the United Nations.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Robert claim was impossible for Ex Comm to come up with when making their recommendations to JFK?

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

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

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

5. When Robert meets with Dobrynin after the blockade is put into effect, what does Dobrynin say the ships will do?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does JFK bring up the book The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman?

3. 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?

4. How did Ex Comm formulate their recommendations to the President?

5. After the blockade takes effect, RFK meets with Dobrynin again. What do they discuss?

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

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

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

9. Why did the Intelligence Community not believe Cuba was a threat to the United States?

10. What was one argument for a blockade?

(see the answer keys)

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