diplomatic
Soviet Ships Approach Quarantine Line
Soviet ships carrying military cargo approached the US naval quarantine line around Cuba. Secretary of State Dean Rusk reportedly said 'We're eyeball to eyeball, and I think the other fellow just blinked.' Most Soviet ships turned back; one tanker passed through after being searched. The US military went to DEFCON 2 for the only time in history.
Sources
- T1 State Department FRUS Official
- T3 National Security Archive Institutional
- T2 AP Major