WATCH: JFK’s Address 60 Years Ago Today On Cuban Missile Crisis Shocks the Nation

PRESIDENT KENNEDY: 'clandestine, reckless and provocative threat to world peace'

WATCH: This high-quality version of President John F. Kennedy’s October 22, 1962, Cuban Missile Crisis speech is somewhat rare because it is complete and unedited. Usually, only small bits and pieces of the speech are presented on television and in documentaries. But this is the entire 18-minute address from start to finish.

HISTORY.COM – In a televised speech of extraordinary gravity, President John F. Kennedy announces on October 22, 1962, that U.S. spy planes have discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba.

These missile sites—under construction but nearing completion—housed medium-range missiles capable of striking a number of major cities in the United States, including Washington, D.C.

Kennedy announced that he was ordering a naval “quarantine” of Cuba to prevent Soviet ships from transporting any more offensive weapons to the island and explained that the United States would not tolerate the existence of the missile sites currently in place.

The president made it clear that America would not stop short of military action to end what he called a “clandestine, reckless and provocative threat to world peace.”

CLICK HERE to see the full story on History.com>>>

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