This Day in History: , Cuban Missile Crisis .<br />October 22, 1962 .<br />In a grave televised speech, <br />President John F. Kennedy<br />announced that U.S. spy planes had<br /> discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba. .<br />These missile sites housed <br />medium-range missiles capable <br />of striking a number of major <br />U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C. .<br />Kennedy announced that he was ordering a naval “quarantine” of Cuba. .<br />Its purpose was to prevent <br />Soviet ships from transporting <br />any more offensive weapons to the island. .<br />Its purpose was to prevent <br />Soviet ships from transporting <br />any more offensive weapons to the island. .<br />Kennedy threatened the <br />use of military action to <br />end a “clandestine, reckless, <br />and provocative threat to world peace.” .<br />During the next six days, <br />the world was on the brink of nuclear war <br />between the two superpowers
