From the moment he took office in January of 1961, Kennedy had been eager to settle the Cuban problem without overt military action by the United States.

The Bay of Pigs was an operation the United States endorsed. That was a preventive operation. We were afraid that Castro was going to subvert the hemisphere.

The United States is a violent military state. It's been involved in military action all over the place.

In January 1961, the United States severed diplomatic relations in response to Cuban nationalisation of U.S.-owned sugar plantations, banks and businesses.

From the first moment of independence, the United States has been dedicated to innovation as a way of government and a way of life.

If I missed my moment, I missed my moment. I mean, I wasn't pining to be president of the United States.