M1962: CUBA, OXFORD, Mississippi, VIETNAM

October 27, 1962 Soviet Surface to Air Missiles shoot down an American U-2 Spy Plane flying over Cuba killing Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr  "The Man  Who Prevented World War III (watch video 5:38)

Bobby Kennedy would write, "There  was the feeling that the noose was tightening on all of us, on Americans, on mankind and that the bridges to escape were crumbling."

 "THE MOST DANGEROUS EPISODE IN WORLD HISTORY" (watch video 3:37)

President Kennedy said "THE UNITED STATES AND THE SOVIET UNION ARE ON THE BRINK OF AN ABYSS."

October 16 Missiles discovered in Cuba.

October 21 President Kennedy speech 

re "The Red Threat" watch video 3:39

October 22 Naval quarantine begins..

October 23 U S Navy drops death charges on Soviet submarine.

October 25, 1962, President Kennedy authorizes nuclear bombs to be loaded on planes.

October 27, 1962 Major Anderson shot down by Soviet SAMs.

October28 Soviet Union announces withdrawal of missiles.

James Meredith was accepted to the University of Mississippi in 1962, but his admission was revoked when the registrar learned of his race.  A federal court ordered "Ole Miss" to admit him.  When he attempted to register on September 20, 1962, Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett personally blocked the office entrance.  On September 28, the Governor was found guilty of civil contempt and was ordered to admit him or be arrested.  On September 30, Meredith returned escorted by U S Marshals.

The Campus erupted.  President Kennedy sent 5,000 U S Troops.  The Greatest Crisis the South has Faced Since the Civil War (video JFK speech 2:06).  Phil Ochs wrote and san     "The Battle of Oxford" (video 2:55)

President Kennedy reveals U S involvement in Vietnam (video 1:29)