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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 sent messages praising Russia and castigating the U.S.?
(a) Bertrand Russell.
(b) Fidel Castro.
(c) Ted Sorensen.
(d) David Ormsby Gore.

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

3. After making his decision, when was the President's speech to the nation scheduled for?
(a) Tuesday morning.
(b) Sunday evening.
(c) Monday evening.
(d) Saturday afternoon.

4. Who was concerned about how the U.S. would convince the rest of the world that the blockade was necessary and legal?
(a) The French President.
(b) The Chancellor of West Germany.
(c) The Prime Minister of Canada.
(d) The leaders in OAS.

5. How far was the original line of interception for the blockade?
(a) 800 miles.
(b) 750 miles.
(c) 500 miles.
(d) 8000 miles.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did JFK ask in a letter to Khrushchev after ordering the blockade?

2. What is one effect of pressure, according to Robert?

3. How did the members of Ex Comm avoid arousing suspicion when visiting the White House at 9:15 at night?

4. What was the "legal foundation" (40) for the blockade?

5. What happened around 10:30, October 27th, the first day of the blockade?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does RFK defend Adlai Stevenson's suggestion?

2. What was ironic about JFK's meeting with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrea Gromyko?

3. How does Berlin factor into the decision making about the Cuban Missile Crisis?

4. How and where did Adlai Stevenson present the photographic evidence of missiles in Cuba?

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

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

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

8. What information did the Intelligence Community have about the missiles in September, but did not inform the President about at that time? Why were they not passed on?

9. When was Congress told, and how did Congress react to the news of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

10. 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?

(see the answer keys)

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