Hotline, 1963

What was the hotline?

The hotline was a teleprinter set up between Washington in the USA and Moscow in the USSR as a way of providing direct communication between the White House and the Kremlin.

When was the hotline set up?

The hotline was set up in June 1963.

Why was the hotline set up?

The hotline was set up as a result of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Leaders of the USA and the USSR had been unable to communicate directly during the crisis, relying on letters and messages.

Why was the hotline important?

The hotline was important for 2 main reasons:

• ❖ It meant the USA and USSR could directly communicate with each other so in a crisis they would hopefully solve the issue more quickly.
• ❖ It was a sign the two superpowers were attempting to improve their relationship.