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The Cuban Missile Crisis Trivia Quiz

The world was on edge in late 1962 when a U-2 spy plane photographed nuclear missiles being constructed on Cuban soil. How much do you know about what happened?

A multiple-choice quiz by BenG. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
BenG

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
76,340

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
6 / 15

Plays
5975

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: albettjr (4/15), Guest 24 (15/15), Guest 108 (10/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. When was President Kennedy informed of the missiles? Hint

October 19, 1962

October 10, 1962

October 16, 1962

October 14, 1962

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Question 2 of 15

2. Which former Secretary of State and expert on Soviet relations consulted for advice?

Answer: ( Two words, or just surname )

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Question 3 of 15

3. Who was the Soviet Premier during the crisis? Hint

Josef Stalin

Constantine Chernynko

Leonid Brezhnev

Nikita Khruschev

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Question 4 of 15

4. Upon the recommendation of Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of Defense, what action did Kennedy decide would be best to take? Hint

Sending the U.S. Ambassador to Cuba and begin negotiating

Air strikes on missile installations

Inspection of incoming cargo ships

Ground invasion of military equipment

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Question 5 of 15

5. It was decided to use another word to replace the word 'blockade'. What word was this?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 6 of 15

6. Which of the following was the name of the committee of Kennedy's advisors? Hint

Council of Nuclear Specialists

The Cabinet

Ex-Comm

National Security Council

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Question 7 of 15

7. Kennedy met with two Soviet foreign ministers during the crisis. Who were they? Hint

Siegfried and Roy

Dobrynin and Zorin

Dobrynin and Gromyko

Gromyko and Zorin

8. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations who told the Russian ambassador Zorin that he would 'wait till hell freezes over' for an answer when questioning whether there were nuclear missiles on Cuban soil.

Answer: ( Two words, or just surname )

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Question 9 of 15

9. Fill in the blank from Kennedy's remarks to the nation on October 22, 1962, 'missiles in Cuba add to an already _____
____
____
_____'

Answer: ( Four Words .. also a Tom Clancy novel )

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Question 10 of 15

10. President Kennedy demanded a unanimous vote from which organization before ordering the blockade effective? Hint

League of Nations

United Nations

Organization of American States

NATO

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Question 11 of 15

11. Two Soviet ships that were first intercepted by U.S. ships during the quarantine were the Komiles and the Gagarin.

True

False

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Question 12 of 15

12. From Kennedy's remarks to the nation, 'I call upon Chairman [omitted] to halt and eliminate this _______, reckless and ______ threat to world peace...' Hint

unprecedented, sudden

clandestine, provocative

sudden, dangerous

provocative, ongoing

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Question 13 of 15

13. The Soviet Premier announced the withdrawal of the missiles from Cuba on what date? Hint

October 26, 1962

October 30, 1962

November 1, 1962

October 28, 1962

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Question 14 of 15

14. Who was the Cuban leader during the crisis?

Answer: (Both names or just last name.)

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Question 15 of 15

15. Who was the Secretary of State during the crisis? Hint

Dean Acheson

Dean Rusk

Lyndon Johnson

Robert F. Kennedy

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 20 2024 : albettjr: 4/15
Dec 15 2024 : Guest 24: 15/15
Dec 15 2024 : Guest 108: 10/15
Dec 05 2024 : Guest 98: 8/15
Nov 13 2024 : calmdecember: 11/15
Nov 06 2024 : Guest 203: 5/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When was President Kennedy informed of the missiles?

Answer: October 16, 1962

2. Which former Secretary of State and expert on Soviet relations consulted for advice?

Answer: Dean Acheson

Dean Acheson was Secretary of State under Harry S Truman.

3. Who was the Soviet Premier during the crisis?

Answer: Nikita Khruschev

4. Upon the recommendation of Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of Defense, what action did Kennedy decide would be best to take?

Answer: Inspection of incoming cargo ships

After much debate with his advisors, President Kennedy decided that the quarantine and inspection of incoming ships would be the best solution to avoid an immediate nuclear exchange between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

5. It was decided to use another word to replace the word 'blockade'. What word was this?

Answer: quarantine

6. Which of the following was the name of the committee of Kennedy's advisors?

Answer: Ex-Comm

Ex-Comm was short for Executive Committee.

7. Kennedy met with two Soviet foreign ministers during the crisis. Who were they?

Answer: Dobrynin and Gromyko

Gromyko gave the President a false answer by telling him that the Soviet interest in Cuba's military was only for '...the purpose of contributing to the defense capabilities of Cuba.'

Answer: Adlai Stevenson

Adlai Stevenson was also a two time Democratic presidential candidate who ran against Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956.

9. Fill in the blank from Kennedy's remarks to the nation on October 22, 1962, 'missiles in Cuba add to an already _____ ____ ____ _____'

Answer: clear and present danger

10. President Kennedy demanded a unanimous vote from which organization before ordering the blockade effective?

Answer: Organization of American States

11. Two Soviet ships that were first intercepted by U.S. ships during the quarantine were the Komiles and the Gagarin.

Answer: False

Yuri Gagarin was the name of the cosmonaut (who had nothing to do with the Cuban Missile Crisis).

12. From Kennedy's remarks to the nation, 'I call upon Chairman [omitted] to halt and eliminate this _______, reckless and ______ threat to world peace...'

Answer: clandestine, provocative

13. The Soviet Premier announced the withdrawal of the missiles from Cuba on what date?

Answer: October 28, 1962

14. Who was the Cuban leader during the crisis?

Answer: Fidel Castro

Castro has been the leader of Cuba since his overthrow of Batista in 1959.

15. Who was the Secretary of State during the crisis?

Answer: Dean Rusk

Remember, Dean Acheson was Secretary of State during Truman's administration and was only called in as an advisor. Lyndon Johnson was Kennedy's Vice President, and Robert F. Kennedy was the President's brother and Attorney General.

Source: Author BenG

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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