Research note: the Cuban Missile Crisis and a war of words in Argentina

ABSTRACT

This Research Note discusses a new methodological approach to the history of the Cuban Missile Crisis that approaches the event through the lens of a collection of communist and anticommunist pamphlets from an archive in La Plata, Argentina. It argues that the words and images contained in these documents reveal popular, non-government responses to the crisis. The pamphlets offer the opportunity to tell a new history that shifts the focus from superpower rivalry to local activism and global engagement.

KEYWORDS:

• Cold War
• Cuban Missile Crisis
• Argentina
• communism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

¹ The DIPPBA was in operation from 1956 to 1998.

² At this archive, researchers are not allowed access to the original sources. You must provide the archivists with a description of the subject of your research in advance of your visit; then, when you arrive, they give you copies or scans of relevant sources in their collections. For more information about the archive, see: https://www.comisionporlamemoria.org/archivo, 21 July 2022.

³ Robert McClintock, ‘Joint Weeka No. 45’, November 10, 1962, RG 59, CDF 1960–1963, Box 1596, Decimal 735.00 (W)/11-1062, US National Archives College Park, MD.

⁴ All of the pamphlets and reports discussed here can be found in: Fondo DIPPBA División Central de Documentación, Registro, y Archivo, Asunto Cuba’, Mesa C, Carpeta Varios, Legajo 207, Comisión Provincial por la Memoria [hereafter CPM]. Partido Comunista Floresta Norte, ‘Provocación Guerrerista Yanqui’, October 22, 1962, CPM.

⁵ Partido Comunista Comite Villa Ballester, ‘El Pueblo Argentino Contra la Pirateria Guerrerista Yanky’, October 25, 1962, CPM.

⁶ Partido Comunista de Junín, ‘Pueblo de Junín’, October 1962, CPM; Sector Universitario de la Federación Juvenil Comunista, ‘Cuba Piensa Invadir a los EE.UU.?’ no date, CPM.

⁷ Partido Comunista Comité Local Morón, ‘El Imperialismo Pirateril Yanqui Amenaza la Paz del Mundo al Pretender Atacar a Cuba’, October 24, 1962, CPM.

⁸ Unión de Mujeres de la Argentina Filial Mar del Plata, ‘Alerta Madres Argentinas! La Paz del Mundo Está Amenazada’, No date, CPM.

⁹ Partido Comunista Floresta Norte, ‘Argentinos!’ October 25, 1962, CPM.

¹⁰ Comité Local del Partido Comunista de Mar del Plata, ‘El Pueblo Argentino Está Con Cuba!’ October 26, 1962, CPM.

¹¹ The US ambassador to Argentina, Robert McClintock, estimated in June 1962 that the Communist Party of Argentina had about 50,000 members, but warned that ‘its limited numerical strength is counteracted by its cohesive and disciplined organization’. Robert McClintock, ‘Assessment of Communism in Argentina’, June 7, 1962, RG 59, CDF 1960–1963, Box 1596, Decimal 735.001/2-860, US National Archives College Park.

¹² Partido Comunista Comité de la Capital Federal, ‘Salgamos a la Calle para Defender a CUBA y la PAZ MUNDIAL!’

¹³ Partido Comunista Centro Liniers, ‘El Pueblo Argentino No será verdugo de los hermanos Cubanos’, October 25, 1962, CPM.

¹⁴ Comisión de Solidaridad con Cuba de San Nicolás, ‘Peligra la paz mundial’.

¹⁵ Osvaldo J. J. de Baldrich, Departmento ‘C’ Delegación del SIPBA de San Martín, ‘Comunicar campana de Acción Psicológica’, October 25, 1962, CPM.

¹⁶ Centro Juvenil Anticomunista de San Martín, ‘Colaboremos a sacar al comunismo de América!’ October 25, 1962, CPM.

¹⁷ Centro Juvenil Anticomunista de San Martín, ‘Los comunistas son hombres sin patria y sin Dios’, October 25, 1962, CPM.

¹⁸ Centro Juvenil Anticomunista de San Martín, ‘Argentino: Defiende tu familia!’ October 25, 1962, CPM; Centro Juvenil Anticomunista de San Martín, ‘Mañana puede ser Argentina!’ October 25, 1962, CPM.

¹⁹ Centro Juvenil Anticomunista de San Martín, ‘Para que el infierno rojo no llegue a nosotros’, October 25, 1962, CPM.