Kennedy

Any response would be the expression of an opinion, although several things can be pointed out which might support one's opinion.

For my part, i would say that he did handle the crisis well. I have several reasons for saying so. Intelligence was provided to him that military aircraft in Cuba were lined up wing-tip to wing-tip, and that it would be a simple matter to take them out if it came to an invasion (i believe that Curtis LeMay who was peddling that story, although i can not say for sure without doing more research than i intend to do). Kennedy quietly had Central Intelligence do a little checking, and he found that American military aircraft in Florida and Texas were lined up wing-tip to wing-tip, as well. That shows that he was not flim-flammed by military experts, or those who claimed to be.

LeMay (always a loud bully-type of man) tried repeatedly to get Kennedy to invade Cuba (and continued to promote the idea of invasion after the Russians backed-down), saying it could be done with 50,000 men. I've always wondered what made an Air Force officer think he personally had the expertise to advise on invasions carried out by ground forces with massive naval support. To his credit, Kennedy ignored LeMay's continuing hysteria.

LeMay also opposed the naval blockade--but that was the heart of Kennedy's "tactical doctrine" in the confrontation, and the United States Navy handled it very well. The Navy successfully enforced a blockade of the island without escalating to hostilities, and that was crucial. Kennedy needed to show the Soviets that he meant business and that he could effectively deal with them, without the situation escalating out of control.

More than any other bit of evidence, the quick and effective imposition of the naval blockade of Cuba demonstrates, in my never humble opinion, that Kennedy dealt with that crisis effectively.

thank you
thanks for the help, and it really did help! i cant get on with my work now.