The October Quagmire: What If the US Invaded Cuba During the 1962 Missile Crisis?

One pivot. Infinite possibilities.

What if President John F. Kennedy had caved to the unanimous recommendation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in October 1962? In this episode of Branching Point, hosted by Mateo Sterling, we audit the most dangerous 13 days of the Cold War and explore a terrifying counter-factual timeline: a full-scale U.S. air strike and amphibious invasion of Cuba.

We examine how an invasion would have triggered an immediate nuclear strike on U.S. invasion fleets, shattered NATO, plunged Washington into wartime martial law, and permanently altered the geopolitical map of the late 20th century.

Hosted by: Mateo Sterling