26K views · 594 reactions | On October 14, 1962 President Kennedy was informed that photos taken by a U.S. spy plane showed evidence of nuclear missile sites in Cuba. Over the next 13 days, tensions escalated between the United States and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war. | American Experience | PBS | Facebook

The Cuban Missile Crisis—among the most frightening events of the Cold War—kicked into high gear on October 22, 1962. In a dramatic 18-minute televised speech, President Kennedy shocked the nation by revealing “unmistakable evidence” of a nuclear missile threat. For the key moments, major players and a timeline of the 13-day standoff, visit https://www.history.com/articles/cuban-missile-crisis-timeline-jfk-khrushchev #HISTORY | HISTORY