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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. Who was Tommy Thompson?
(a) Secretary of State.
(b) Former Ambassador to the Soviet Union.
(c) Former Ambassador to Cuba.
(d) Chief of Staff.

2. Robert tells that JFK felt that if what had happened could be considered a triumph, it was only one for who?
(a) The next generation.
(b) The Soviet Union.
(c) Cuba.
(d) America.

3. What does Robert suggest the President use to get an opposite opinion if no one else will offer it?
(a) A sponsor.
(b) Lobbyists.
(c) Random uninterested parties.
(d) A devil's advocate.

4. What word would best complete the following quote? "No action is taken against a powerful adversary in a _____________" (96).
(a) Benign manner.
(b) Nuclear world.
(c) Vacuum.
(d) War.

5. What countries were supporting the U.S. and recommending that the U.S. not give in to Soviet demands?
(a) NATO.
(b) HOA.
(c) AXIS.
(d) U.N.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who said "I am not going to follow a course which will allow anyone to write a comparable book about this time, The Missiles of October" (98)?

2. How many Russian submarines were in the Caribbean after the blockade took effect?

3. Why does Khrushchev claim the Soviet Union has placed missiles in Cuba?

4. Who did JFK believe should take public credit for the end of the missile crisis?

5. How did Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. die?

Short Essay Questions

1. Analyze the simile "the leaders who lived through the crisis felt what it was like to peer over the precipice" (104)?

2. What did RFK believe was wrong with the letter drafted by the State Department that was written in response to the letter received October 27th, and what did he suggest they write instead?

3. How does an official from the Soviet Embassy deliver a message in an unorthodox manner? Why is it thought to be credible? What was the message?

4. What does Robert tell is the final lesson learned in the Cuban Missile Crisis?

5. In the letter drafted by Robert and Sorenson in response to Khrushchev's letter received October 26th, what is the "first ingredient" (79) to a peaceful arrangement? Why?

6. When the crisis was over, why did Kennedy not make a statement assigning credit for the success? And why did he instruct all involved not to provide one either?

7. What is one example Robert provides of a devil's advocate working?

8. What does Robert mean when he says "that with respect to nuclear war there is an awesome crack between unlikelihood and impossibility" (105)?

9. Khrushchev uses several metaphors in his letter to JFK. What is one metaphor and what does it mean?

10. While still in communications with Khrushchev, RFK writes that "both 'hawks' and 'doves' sensed that our combination of limited force and diplomatic efforts had been unsuccessful" (64). What do the symbolic terms "hawks" and "doves" stand for?

(see the answer keys)

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