Who was the U.S. president during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

The U.S. president during the Cuban Missile Crisis was John F. Kennedy. This critical event occurred in October 1962, when the United States discovered that the Soviet Union was placing nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from U.S. shores. President Kennedy led the country through this tense period which brought the U.S. and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear confrontation.

Kennedy's response involved a naval blockade (referred to as a "quarantine") to prevent further shipments of military equipment to Cuba and a demand for the removal of the missiles already there. His leadership during this crisis is often noted for cautious diplomacy and the importance of communication, ultimately leading to a peaceful resolution. The significance of the Cuban Missile Crisis lies in the way it showcased the risks associated with nuclear weapons during the Cold War and the need for direct communication between superpowers to prevent such crises in the future.