1. Identify the following and explain the role each played in the Cuban Missile Crisis a) Nikita Khrushchev b) Fidel Castro, c) John F. Kennedy, d)John Diefenbaker.

a) **Nikita Khrushchev:** Khrushchev was the Premier of the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He orchestrated the deployment of nuclear missiles to Cuba. His motivations were multifaceted:<br /><br />* **Deterrence:** Khrushchev aimed to deter a potential US invasion of Cuba, which had become a socialist state allied with the USSR after the 1959 revolution. He saw the US presence of Jupiter missiles in Turkey, aimed at the Soviet Union, as a direct threat and believed placing missiles in Cuba would create a similar threat to the US.<br />* **Boosting Soviet prestige:** The Soviet Union lagged behind the US in terms of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Placing missiles in Cuba offered a quick and relatively inexpensive way to bolster Soviet strategic power and project influence in the Western Hemisphere.<br />* **Supporting Cuba:** Khrushchev wanted to demonstrate concrete support for Fidel Castro's regime and solidify the Soviet-Cuban alliance.<br /><br />b) **Fidel Castro:** Castro was the Prime Minister of Cuba. While he welcomed the Soviet missiles as a deterrent against US aggression, his role was primarily reactive. He allowed the Soviet Union to deploy the missiles on Cuban soil, seeing it as a necessary measure to protect his revolution from the perceived US threat. He urged Khrushchev to launch a preemptive nuclear strike against the US if Cuba was invaded, demonstrating his own hardline stance.<br /><br />c) **John F. Kennedy:** Kennedy was the President of the United States during the crisis. He faced immense pressure to respond decisively to the Soviet missile deployment. His actions were crucial in de-escalating the situation:<br /><br />* **Naval blockade (quarantine):** Kennedy imposed a naval "quarantine" around Cuba to prevent further Soviet shipments of offensive military equipment. This action avoided a direct military confrontation while putting pressure on the Soviets.<br />* **Diplomacy:** Kennedy engaged in back-channel negotiations with Khrushchev to find a peaceful resolution. He offered a public pledge not to invade Cuba and a secret agreement to remove US Jupiter missiles from Turkey in exchange for the removal of Soviet missiles from Cuba.<br />* **Threat of force:** Kennedy made it clear that the US was prepared to use military force if necessary to remove the missiles, increasing the pressure on Khrushchev to negotiate.<br /><br />d) **John Diefenbaker:** Diefenbaker was the Prime Minister of Canada during the crisis. While Canada was a close ally of the US, Diefenbaker was hesitant to fully support Kennedy's actions. He resisted placing Canadian forces on high alert and questioned the evidence presented by the US regarding the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. This caused friction between the US and Canada, though ultimately Canadian forces were placed on alert after a delay. Diefenbaker's cautious approach reflected a desire to avoid escalating the crisis and maintain a degree of independence in Canadian foreign policy.<br />