October 14 1962 - A U-2 flying over western Cuba obtains photographs of missile sites.
October 14 - 17 1962 The Joint Chiefs of Staff strongly advise Kennedy to make an air strike ( the discussions are referred to as the EX-COMM's ).
October 18, 1962 Gromyko assures Kennedy that Soviet Cuban aid has been only for the "defensive capabilities of Cuba."
October 22, 1962 Congressional leaders are shown the photographic evidence of the Soviet missile Cuban installations and the President addresses the nation regarding the Cuban crisis.
October 22, 1962 U.S. military forces go to DEFCON 3
October 23, 1962 Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev in which Khrushchev states that there is a, "serious threat to peace and security of peoples."
October 23, 1962 Robert Kennedy speaks with Ambassador Dobrynin
October 24, 1962 Soviet ships, en route to Cuba, reverse their course except for one
October 24, 1962 Military forces go to DEFCON 2
October 25, 1962 Kennedy sends a letter to Khrushchev placing the responsibility for the crisis on the Soviet Union
October 26, 1962 Khrushchev sends a letter to Kennedy proposing to remove his missiles if Kennedy publicly announces never to invade Cuba
October 27, 1962 An American U-2 is shot down over Cuba killing the pilot, Major Rudolf Anderson
October 27, 1962 A U-2 strays into Soviet airspace, near Alaska, and is nearly intercepted by Soviet fighters
October 27, 1962 Kennedy sends Khrushchev a letter stating that he will make a statement that the U.S. will not invade Cuba if Khrushchev removes the missiles from Cuba
October 28, 1962 Khrushchev announces over Radio Moscow that he has agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba
So ends Cuban Missile Crisis and the most perilous period in World History and the terrifying possibility of a Nuclear War
1991 - the collapse of the Soviet Union
Cuba adjusts to new Cuban political reforms