Resolving the Crisis
On October 16, U.S. President John F. Kennedy was briefed about the crisis he called for a meeting of key advisers and officials on how to resolve the crisis. The President formally named the committee Executive Committee of the National Security Council (EXCOMM).
The Executive Committee of the National Security Council meets in the cabinet room during the Cuban Missile Crisis. (Photo by © CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
The group deliberated on several options including air strike to destroy the missile bases, full force invasion of Cuba, and naval quarantine to prevent more missiles from gaining entry into Cuba. The President ordered the naval quarantine on October 22. This action was considered a limited military action which was not likely to incite a Soviet attack.