I’ve taken this test before and I would assume that this is
the speech you’re talking about.
Good evening, my fellow citizens. This Government,
as promised, has maintained the closest surveillance
of the Soviet military build-up on the island of
Cuba. Within the past week unmistakable
evidence has established the fact that a series
of offensive missile sites is now in preparation
on that imprisoned island. The purposes of
these bases can be none other than to provide a
nuclear strike capability against the Western
Hemisphere….
— President John F. Kennedy, Report to
the American People, October 22, 1962
President John F. Kennedy reacted strongly to the
situation described in this speech primarily because the location of Cuba
would allow the United
States little time to respond to an attack.
