A spontaneous national uprising that began 12 days before in
Hungary was viciously crushed by Soviet tanks and troops on
November 4, 1956. Thousands were killed and wounded and
nearly a quarter-million Hungarians fled the country.

The problems in Hungary began in October 1956, when thousands
of protesters took to the streets demanding a more democratic
political system and freedom from Soviet oppression.

The Soviets did so, but Nagy then tried to push the Hungarian
revolt forward by abolishing one-party rule. He also announced
that Hungary was withdrawing from the Warsaw Pact (the Soviet
bloc’s equivalent of NATO).

Imre Nagy ( 7 June 1896 – 16 June 1958)

    
    
   
Theodore Roosevelt, a titan of political progressivism, war
hero, champion of American exceptionalism, Nobel Peace
Prize recipient and 26th president of the United States from
1901 to 1909, was born in New York City on this day in
history, Oct. 27, 1858.

1904

In a televised speech of extraordinary gravity, President John F.
Kennedy announced on October 22, 1962 that U.S. spy planes
had discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba. These missile
sites—under construction but nearing completion—housed
medium-range missiles capable of striking a number of major
cities in the United States, including Washington, D.C.

Kennedy announced that he was ordering a naval “quarantine”
of Cuba to prevent Soviet ships from transporting any more
offensive weapons to the island and explained that the United
States would not tolerate the existence of the missile sites
currently in place. The president made it clear that America
would not stop short of military action to end what he called a “clandestine, reckless and provocative threat to world peace.”

What is known as the Cuban Missile Crisis actually began on
October 14, 1962—the day that U.S. intelligence personnel
analyzing U-2 spy plane data discovered that the Soviets were
building medium-range missile sites in Cuba.

Hopelessly trapped at Yorktown, Virginia, British General
Lord Cornwallis surrendered 8,000 British soldiers and
seamen to a larger Franco-American force, effectively
bringing an end to the American Revolution.