On This Day: October 25, 1962

On this day - October 25, 1962 - US Ambassador Adlai Stevenson presented pictures of Soviet-built missile bases in Cuba to the UN Security Council.  Stevenson challenged the Soviet ambassador to deny the evidence in front of what he called "the court of world opinion."  Stevenson added, "I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over, if that's your decision."

Earlier, on October 14, a U-2 mission over Cuba took photographs showing clear-cut evidence that two MRBM (Medium Range Ballistic Missile—range about 1,100 miles) sites were under construction.  Additional flights three days later found even more evidence, showing a total of nine MRBM sites and three IRBM (Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile—range about 2,200 miles) sites.  Later flights found evidence that these launch sites, which had the potential of mounting nuclear strikes on Washington, D.C., would possibly be operational by the end of October.