What happened
A searched freighter was permitted to continue to Cuba. Diplomatic contacts multiplied, including John Scali's encounter with Soviet embassy officer Aleksandr Fomin. Khrushchev's letter raised the possibility of withdrawal in return for an American assurance against invasion. Kennedy also spoke with Macmillan.
Sources for this passage: [1] [2]An illustrated guide
Three days, two levels of negotiation
26 October · Proposal
A route towards withdrawal
Khrushchev proposes missile removal linked to an American assurance against invading Cuba.
27 October · Public exchange
Turkey enters the argument
A further Soviet message raises the American missiles in Turkey. Kennedy’s public reply addresses the earlier proposal.
27 October · Private channel
Robert Kennedy meets Dobrynin
The confidential understanding includes removal of Jupiter missiles from Turkey within months.
28 October · Announcement
Moscow accepts the settlement
Khrushchev announces withdrawal from Cuba. Dismantling and verification still lie ahead.
A simplified sequence. The public exchange and confidential Turkish assurance were related but distinct; removal and verification followed the announcement.
Sources for this passage: [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]The letter and the unofficial approach
Khrushchev’s letter offered a route out through removal of the threat to Cuba and an end to the need for Soviet weapons there. A separate conversation between ABC journalist John Scali and Soviet official Aleksandr Fomin suggested similar possibilities. The unofficial contact should be distinguished from an authoritative agreement between governments.
Photographs still showed work continuing at the sites, and the Il-28 bombers remained part of the intelligence picture. Kennedy also spoke to Macmillan. The day therefore combined encouraging diplomatic messages with evidence that the military problem was not standing still.
Sources for this passage: [2] [1]