Dec. 12, 1962 - President Kennedy declared today that all Soviet bombers and missiles have been removed from Cuba and added that the U.S. “is taking every step that is necessary” to prevent their return. Discussing the aftermath of the Cuban crisis at his press conference, the President asserted: “It is our best judgment that the missiles and planes have been removed from Cuba.” Mr. Kennedy added that the nation is checking the situation daily to assure that no offensive weapons are slipping through to the Communist-run island. He did not specify what detection measures are being employed, but they are known to include daily reconnaissance flights near or over the island by Navy P2V patrol planes as well as constant air and sea surveillance of the shipping lanes to the Caribbean.
