Cold War 1962: Soviet Union
Andrew Mamo, Scott Dorf
JJMUNC
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Greetings delegates! Welcome to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Cuban Missile Crisis Committee! My name
is Andrew Mamo, and I will be your chair during the first annual JJMUNC. I am currently a
senior hoping to study both political science and economics after my days of high school. It is October 1962. The US has found out that we, the glorious USSR, led by Premier Nikita
Khrushchev, are planning on working with the communist Castro regime, with whom the US’s
relations have come essentially to a standstill. The task before us is important and daunting.
Having gotten word that the Americans have discovered our intent to arm Cuba, a beloved ally in
the struggle against the ruthless Americans, with nuclear weapons, President Khrushchev has
tasked us with confronting the situation at hand. Following the Bay of Pigs Invasion, tensions
between the US and USSR have never been higher. The pace of the committee shall be relentless. As leaders of the USSR, you all will be confronted
with difficult choices. It is your task to challenge the American hegemony and assert Soviet
leadership at a critical time in global affairs. Helping me run this simulation will be Scott Dorf, who will act as my co-chair. Additionally,
Grant Goldman will be our crisis director; helping facilitate the crises we have planned for you. Delegates, the history I have given you below starts with the founding of the USSR and brings
you to the Bay of Pigs operation by the Americans. I’m keenly interested in your understanding
of the power dynamics of the USSR and how these dynamics shape policy making within the
Kremlin. I would like all of you (though it is not mandatory it is highly encouraged) to submit a
one to two page position paper on of the actual events of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Please email
them to: [email protected]. The papers shall be due one day before you arrive at the John Jay
campus. If, after reading this background guide, you have any questions about the topics to be covered at
the conference, the layout of the committee, or the background guide itself; please feel free to
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email me. While I will not do your research for you, I will gladly help keep you pointed in the
right direction to ensure everyone arrives on the same page at the conference. Everything you do shall receive a response from the Americans. Actions have consequences. As
you seek to prepare for your global confrontation, I urge you to think wisely, for one poor
decision could lead to the destruction of the USSR as we know it and give way to American
fascism. Sincerely, Andrew Mamo Chair JJMUNC USSR Cuban Missile Crisis Committee 3
Hello delegates! On behalf of everyone here at John Jay I want to welcome you to the first ever JJMUNC! Our
committee is guaranteed to be both exciting and challenging, and I plan on making this
committee an enjoyable learning experience for all delegates.
My name is Scott Dorf and I am 16 years old and a rising junior at John Jay High School. I
started Model UN my sophomore year and immediately became very interested with the
program. My favorite part about Model UN is getting to attend conferences, in which future
leaders can solve issues in a structured and collaborative environment.
Outside of school I am a soccer player and golfer. My hobbies include listening to music,
running, and hanging out with friends. I am a New york Sports fan and am extremely interested
in business and finance, disciplines I plan on exploring further in college.
I cannot wait to spend a day debating issues pertaining to one of the most interesting topics in
modern history. This should be an intriguing and extremely fun topic– Andrew and I hope to
make this your best conference yet!
Scott Dorf Vice Chair Cold War 1962 Soviet Union Dear esteemed delegates, Welcome to the first annual John Jay Model United Nations Conference! I am very excited to see
all of the hard work you have done in preparation for this conference come to fruition over the
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course of the day, and am eager to observe the exciting debate and discussion there is to be had
as we tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Model UN has been an interest of mine since freshman year of high school, but my passion for
the club was realized during sophomore year, as engaging meetings and memorable conferences
exposed me to all of the oddities, quirks, and intricacies of MUN culture, and I have been hooked
ever since– it is truly the best intellectual and competitive outlet for students interested in the
world around them. As a current junior (I will be a senior this fall), Model UN has become a
huge part of my life, and weekly meetings and conferences have been some of the highlights of
my high school career. When I am not debating over the feasibility of international carbon taxes
or the promotion of women’s rights in developing nations, you can typically find me practicing
the saxophone, playing tennis, or nerding out over some AP chemistry. Being the Vice-President of John Jay’s Model UN club has been an unbelievably rewarding
experience for me. Regardless of the hard work, there is nothing more gratifying than watching
the students you have introduced to MUN evolve into delegates who will one day go on to
change the world. As director-general, I hope to see everyone bring this sort of passion to their
committees, embracing the challenges that come along with being a global leader and problem
solver. As crisis-director of the JCC, I encourage all delegates to make the most of their portfolio
powers. Each of you has responsibilities and capabilities that no one else does– use them to your
advantage! Make sure you are sending notes to me when you have questions, and don’t be afraid
to use your powers to shake things up– the world is not the predictable, cyclical place we all
want it to be, and crisis committees typically reflect this sort of disorder. Embrace the chaos and
respond to change! Most importantly, don’t think that getting an award is the be-all end-all experience of MUN. Of
course, chairs love to see delegates that are interested in succeeding in committee, but every
delegate has different strengths and weaknesses, and not every single person can be rewarded.
Focus on being the best leader, speaker, and problem solver you can be, and the recognition will
come. In the meantime, let’s do some MUN! 5
Grant Goldman Director-General Crisis Director, Cold War 1962 JCC Timeline: Soviet Union 1917 Vladimir Lenin Main player in 1917 Bolshevik revolution 1918: Survives assassination attempt 1924: Dies from a stroke; his tomb in Red Square becomes a shrine 1917
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-  Bolsheviks overthrow provisional government led by Alexander Kerensky, with workers and
sailors capturing government buildings and the Winter Palace in St Petersburg, and eventually
taking over Moscow. Civil War 1918
- Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, according to which Russia ceded large tracts of land to Germany;
Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan proclaim their
independence from Russia. 1918  – 20
- Civil war between Bolsheviks, or Reds, and anti-Bolsheviks, or Whites, ravages Russia. In
northern Russia, British, French and US troops capture Murmansk and Archangel until 1919,
while in the Russian Far East they occupy Vladivostok, which was held by the Japanese
until 1922. 1918  – 21
- Policy of “war communism” enunciated, with the state taking control of the whole economy;
millions of peasants in the Don region starve to death as the army confiscates grain for its own
needs and the needs of urban dwellers. Joseph Stalin Dictator instigated purges, sent millions to labor camps - Born in Georgia, 1879 - After Lenin’s death Stalin promotes himself as political heir and outmaneuvers rivals - Forced agricultural collectivization, purges cost millions of lives 1928 - Adoption of first Five-Year Plan, with the state setting goals and priorities for the whole
economy, signifies the end of the New Economic Policy. - Collectivization of agriculture begins; numerous relatively prosperous peasants, or Kulaks,
killed; millions of peasant households eliminated and their property confiscated. 1933 - United States recognizes the Soviet Union. 7
1934 - Soviet Union admitted to League of Nations. 1936  – 38 - Announcement of the discovery of a plot against Stalin’s regime headed by Leon Trotsky
ushers in a large-scale purge in which thousands of alleged dissidents in the armed forces, the
Communist Party and the government were sentenced to death or long imprisonment. 1939 - Soviet Union and Nazi Germany conclude a non-aggression pact; Germany invades Poland,
triggering World War II. -   Soviet troops enter Poland, which is then divided between Germany and the USSR. 1939  – 40 - Russian-Finnish war, which ends with Finland ceding territory to the USSR  —  the present
Russian constituent republic of Karelia. World War II and its Aftermath 1940 - Soviet troops occupy and Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, which are then incorporated into the
USSR; Romania cedes Bessarabia and North Bukovina to the USSR, which declares the
Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic  —  the present independent republic of Moldova. 1941  -   Soviet Union and Japan sign a non-aggression pact. Nikita Khrushchev Premier of the USSR 1958  – 64 1941  -  Germany invades the USSR and by the end of the year occupies Belarus and most of Ukraine,
surrounds Leningrad (now called St Petersburg). Although a Soviet counter-offensive saves
Moscow, by June 1942 the Germans were on the gates of Stalingrad (now called Volgograd) and
close to the Caucasus oil fields. 1943 8
- Germans fail to take Stalingrad; Soviet troops launch a general counter-offensive, which
eventually culminates in the capture of Berlin in May 1945. 1945 - Soviet Union and the Allies reach understanding on postwar spheres of influence in Europe
during the Yalta and Potsdam summit conferences.  -  Soviet Union declares war on Japan, eventually annexing the southern half of Sakhalin and the
Kuril islands. 1948  – 49 - Berlin blockade: Soviet Union fails to prevent supplies from reaching the sectors of Berlin
occupied by Western forces. 1949 - Soviet Union explodes its first atomic device; recognizes the Communist government in China. 1950 - Soviet Union and China sign 30-year alliance treaty. 1950  – 53 - Outbreak of Korean War sees relations between the Soviet Union and the West deteriorates
markedly. 1953 -  Stalin dies and is succeeded by Georgi Malenkov as prime minister and by Nikita Khrushchev
as first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. - Soviet Union explodes its first hydrogen bomb. 1955 - Nicolay Bulganin replaces Malenkov as prime minister. - Warsaw Treaty Organization, or Warsaw Pact, set up. 1956 - Soviet troops help crush uprising in Hungary. -  Khrushchev makes a secret speech to the 20th Communist Party congress denouncing Stalin’s
dictatorial rule and cult of personality. 1957 - First-ever artificial earth satellite, Sputnik, orbits the earth. 1958 9
- Khrushchev becomes prime minister  —  in addition to Communist Party chief  —  after
dismissing Bulganin. Late 1950s - China falls out with the Soviet Union over Moscow’s policy of peaceful coexistence with
the West. 1960 - Soviet Union shoots down US spy plane U-2 over Soviet territory. 1961 - Yuri Gagarin makes the first manned orbital flight. 1962 - Cuban missile crisis erupts over presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. Cuban Missile Crisis Timeline 1959 - Fidel Castro assumes power after Cuban Revolution 1960 - Cuba openly aligns itself with the Soviet Union and Communism 1961 - United States terminates diplomatic relationship with Cuba - “Bay of Pigs” invasion fails when Cuban exiles are captured attempting to start an anti-Castro
revolution - Khrushchev and Kennedy hold summit talks in Vienna 1962 - Senator Kenneth Keating tells the senate that there is evidence of Soviet missile instillations in
Cuba - A U-2 flying over western Cuba gives United States evidence of Soviet missiles The Aftermath of World War II 10
During World War II, the US and USSR had worked together as the Allies, primarily with
nations Great Britain and France, against the Central Axis powers led by Germany. At the time,
Franklin D. Roosevelt was president of the US and Joseph Stalin held authoritarian power in the
USSR. Following the fall of Nazi Germany in February of 1945, the Yalta Conference, held by
the USSR, the US, and Great Britain, known as the ‘Big Three’, divided Germany into four
distinct zones, controlled by the US, the USSR, Great Britain, and France. The Yalta Conference
made clear the tension existing between the USSR and the other Allied powers. This tension was
fueled by a fundamental power struggle as well as the ‘ideologies’ at war here: capitalism vs.
communism. The players at the Yalta Conference also founded the United Nations and
determined that the US, Great Britain, USSR, and China would be the four permanent members
on the Security Council who had veto power. The control of Poland was also highly contested;
the USSR essentially forced its rule on the region. Although Stalin promised to allow the people
of Poland to determine their own fate via elections soon after the conference, this did not happen. World War II also saw the defeat of Japan at the hands of the US. Years of research finally led to
the development of the atomic bomb in a secretly and US-funded endeavor known as the
“Manhattan Project”. The US used the atomic bomb to force the Japanese to surrender and agree
to terms of war victory. The atomic bomb unleashed an era of nuclear arms development and the
nuclear arms/technology advancement race between the US and the USSR. This will also be
discussed in detail further on. The Start of the Cold War 11
Great Britain and France were, before the war, considered power in Europe. However, the
destruction of the war and collapse of the European economy left these two former powers in
shambles. A power void was created and only two nations emerged: US, which had joined the
war only in 1941 following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and the USSR. The US and the
USSR, following World War II, were the only two world superpowers on the face of the Earth.
These two mega-nations were at war over their respective influences on other nations, one
fighting for democracy, the other for communism. The Cold War was essentially a hostile
stalemate that represented the power struggle between these two powers, and threatened the
safety of the entire world for more than four decades, as each tried to gain favor with nations
around the world. The Truman Doctrine (1947) pledged support for "free peoples who are
resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures"; the pledge was
targeted at communism and basically gave America a blank check to intervene in other nations’ affairs if it was determined to be ‘threatened’ by communism. The doctrine also devoted
financial aid to Greece in the attempt to prevent the spread of communism there. Additionally,
the Marshall Plan provided almost $13 billion (from 1948 to 1951) to aid European countries,
including Germany, Great Britain, and France, recover from the war. This was another attempt
by the US to prevent the spread of communism to these nations by becoming their ‘caretaker’ and making them dependent on the US, thus making it necessary for these nations to parlay with
the US’s ideology to continue receiving funds. Finally, and most notably, NSC-68 (1950)
focused the US’s foreign policy towards the containment of the USSR’s influence and the spread
of communism. The policy of containment was championed by George F. Kennan, a war
correspondent who was at a point stationed in the USSR, and who recommended that the US be
wary of the USSR’s pursuit of power through the spread of communism. The Berlin Blockade 12
In 1948 the US, Great Britain, and France began reforming their occupied zones of Germany,
which came to be known as West Germany (vs. East Germany, held by the USSR), to prepare to
assume self-governance. Through this process they introduced a new currency that would allow
West Germany to participate and compete economically on an international scale. However, the
USSR did not like the prospect of a currency in Germany that it would not be able to control, and
the superpower was concerned about a powerful Germany, considering its experience during
WWII. West Germany received supplies through routes controlled by the USSR that went
through East Germany. The Soviets decided to levy their power over these supply routes to
implement a blockade against West Germany that would force the western powers to rethink
their West Germany plan. However, the US and other western nations responded to the Berlin
Blockade by airlifting supplies to the people in Western Germany for almost one year. This
became known as the Berlin Airlift. Furthermore, the blockade encouraged the western powers
to equip Germany with the economic capabilities needed to ensure that the new nation wouldn’t
turn to communism. The western powers also formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) in 1949, which served as a public statement against the USSR. This meant that an
external threat against one nation in NATO was considered a threat against all the nations in
NATO. Naturally, the USSR was not in NATO and eventually responded by forming an
organization of its own by and for communist nations called the Warsaw Pact (1955). The Nuclear Arms Race The atomic bomb used by the US to end the Japanese threat in World War II initiated the nuclear
arms race between the US and the USSR. The Soviets feared the capability of a weapon such as
the nuclear bomb just as the United States did, and both nations escalated military research
spending. And so the USSR began a nuclear weapons development program of its own to match
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the US and to defend itself from what it saw as the threatening spread of the US’s power. The
USSR successfully tested its first atomic bomb in 1949; mere years after the US had first used
the atomic bomb. Americans were shocked that the Soviets were able to decode the nuclear
technology so quickly; but a significant amount of information regarding nuclear development
was provided via spying. This espionage and the fear of communism prevalent in the US and
bolstered by Congressman Joseph McCarthy contributed to the Red Scare during the 1950’s.
This time saw Americans suspected of spying for the Soviets or having communist sympathies
reported, arrested and/or punished, more often than not on false accusations. One such example
was J. Robert Oppenheimer, a leading figure in the Manhattan Project, who spoke publicly about
his concerns of continuing nuclear arms development and the plausibility of a nuclear arms race,
in addition to his fears of unleashing a power that could threaten the very safety of the entire
world should it be employed. His 10 concerns were misconstrued as Soviet sympathies and he
became a victim of the McCarthyism that had taken over the public scene in the US. The nuclear
arms race was but one aspect of the general technology advancement race between the two
superpowers, as each nation struggled to surpass the other to claim dominance. The launch of
Sputnik by the USSR in 1957 was one such instance that accelerated funding for the US’s own
space program. The Cold War Abroad China was one of the first countries to embrace communism under the rule of Mao Zedong in
1949. Following World War II, the Allies had determined that the region of Korea above the 38th
parallel would be controlled by the USSR and that the region below the 38th parallel would be
controlled by the US. In 1950, hostilities within Korea escalated as Stalin supported the North’s
attempted take-over of the South; the clash resulted ultimately in the division of the two Koreas,
the north being headed by Kim-Il Sung under a communist regime. The Vietnam War is perhaps one of the most powerful symbols of the Cold War. Vietnam fought
for independence from France during the First Indochina War under the leadership of Ho Chi
Minh, who was a communist. Minh appealed to the US for aid against France’s imperialism but
the US did not want to support Minh because of his communist philosophy. It is important to
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note that historical accounts often contend that Minh was more nationalist than he was
communist, but that he was communist was enough for the US to oppose rather than help him.
Following the war, the Geneva Accords (1954) divided Vietnam into northern and southern
counterparts, with Minh heading the communist north and Ngo Dinh Diem heading the south.
Even though Diem was a ruthless dictator who had no sympathies for his own people, the US
still supported him, demonstrating the extent to which Americans were “ABC” democrats; they
supported anything but Communism. Nevertheless, the US was scared because the ‘domino
theory’ suggested that if Vietnam fully fell to communism, then surrounding nations would also
become communist, ultimately increasing the USSR’s position as the only world superpower.
Throughout the period the US continued to send increasing numbers of troops to Vietnam to help
defend the south against the North’s aggression. Cuba and the Bay of Pigs Cuba became a communist nation under the rule of Fidel Castro (1959) and diplomatic relations
deteriorated with the US. US President Eisenhower approved a secret plan, “A Program of
Covert Action Against the Castro Regime”, codified as JMARC, to overthrow the Castro regime.
Essentially, the CIA trained Cuban exiles that invaded Cuba in 1961 but were stopped by
Castro’s army. By the time John F. Kennedy had assumed the presidency in the US, the plan was
set to go. The plan failed miserably on all fronts but succeeded in increasing tensions between
Cuba and the US, and ultimately between the USSR and the US. The Cuban Missile Crisis (CMC) 15
It is October 1962. The US has found out that the USSR, led by Premier Nikita Khrushchev, is
planning on working with the communist Castro regime, with whom the US’s relations have
come essentially to a standstill, especially following the Bay of Pigs invasion, to place nuclear
missiles on the Cuban island that will bring the targeted US within range of USSR missiles. The
US also recently placed missiles in Turkey. The USSR’s presence in Cuba poses a significant
threat to the integrity and safety of the US. JFK is seeking the advice of his executive committee
(Ex-Comm) to deal with the crisis at hand. If the USSR does not agree to stop importing its
missiles to the island, JFK will consider imposing quarantine on the island. Operation of the Committee The task before you will require you to devise creative solutions that take into account the
various factions within the Soviet government, as well as strategic partners around the world.
Representatives from all member territories of the USSR, as well as key players on the global
stage will be on hand at the conference. Should you require their testimony, all you must do is
ask. While President Khrushchev would prefer to not be bothered with this matter, he is available
should you need his advice. Given the nature of a joint crisis committee, rarely will you put
together and pass complete resolutions. A vast majority of your time will be spent passing
directives, which order your government to take specific action. The opposing government will
receive notification of directives you pass, just as you will receive notification relevant directives
they pass. You may also issue communiqués to specific governments or bodies, and press
releases to the USSR or the entire world. Please come prepared. Critical Questions (do not limit yourselves to just these): 1. Considering what really did happen during the Cuban Missile Crisis, what else could have
happened had either side taken different actions? 2. Who were the main decision-makers? 16
3. What was the underlying cause of the crisis? What could have prevented this? 4. The United Nations’ role was not explored in great detail in the guide. Look closely at how the
UN was involved throughout the Cold War. What could the UN mean to the crisis at hand? 5. What is the Berlin Wall? What is its significance? 6. What are the implications of the CMC? Committee Members Andrei Gromyko: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Soviet Union Raul Roa Garcia: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cuba Marshal Rodion Malinonsky: Minister of Defense, Soviet Union Vladamir Yefimovich Semichastny: Chairman, KGB Aleksandr Sakharovsky: Director, First Chief Directorate Anatoly Dobrynin: Soviet Ambassador to the United States Vasily Garbuzov: Minister of Finance, Soviet Union Valerian Zorin: Permanent Representative of the Soviet Union to the United Nations Nikolai Dem'yanovich Psurtsev: Minister of Communications, Soviet Union Alexander F. Zasyadko: Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union Leonid Brezhnev: Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR 17
Roman Rudenko: Pocurator General of the Soviet Union Chen Yi: Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Recommended Sources “NSC 68: United States Objectives and Programs for National Security.” National Security Council. (1950.) <http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/nsc-hst/nsc-68.htm> “The Cuban Missile Crisis, October 18-29, 1962.” (1997.) <http://www.hpol.org/jfk/cuban/> “Cuban Missile Crisis.” JFK Library. <http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/CubanMissile-Crisis.aspx > “Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962.” Navy History and Heritage Command.
<http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq90-1.htm> "Cuban Missile Crisis Timeline." Cuban Missile Crisis Timeline. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 June 2014. 18