Hotel Riviera in Havana. The staff at the hotel entrance. Hotel Capri. The deserted reception. Prime Minister Fidel Castro hosts his own television program called 'The Television World Asks'. Castro looks at a passport. He speaks over a microphone, points to a paper, makes long speeches. Evidence of sabotage on the table. The audience. Castro seated at the table. He responds to people's questions. He launches an attack on the Spanish ambassador. The ambassador reaches the studio and accuses Castro of slandering. Castro's men try to control him. Castro orders the ambassador out of Cuba. Castro's supporters follow the ambassador and shout slogans against him. People demonstrate with banners and boards. The Government takes control of all media and implements censorship. Workers inside a printing press. The Radio Continental building. The Ministry of Labor takes over the nation's tobacco and cigarette industry. The Cuban flag hung from a building. Cuba's Farm Minister arrives at an airport to meet Communist leaders. A large crowd gathered. Reporters take down notes. A man and a woman look at a fruit. A photographer clicks pictures. Women in a market. Women pack cartons. Sergei Kudryatsev chosen as the new Soviet Ambassador to Cuba. Czechoslovakian, Polish, Chinese and other Communist delegations in Cuba. They survey a housing complex under construction, and visit factories and industries.
A large crowd protesting in Cuba. Fidel Castro stands with supporters. People holding posters and banners, shout slogans. John F Kennedy, President of America speaks about Cuba in a meeting in United States. Cubans protesting with posters in Miami.
Vintage slate states that the scenes are from San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, it opens with pre-hurricane views not of San Juan, but of Havana, Cuba, as seen from its harbor. Buildings of Havana Cuba seen, including El Capitolio, the National Capitol Building in Havana. Seen shifts to a covered market area filled with people (possibly still Havana, or possibly now in Puerto Rico. Aerial view of homes and buildings in the city of San Juan in 1932. Scene changes to view of hurricane winds blowing palm trees at 120 mile speed during San Ciprian hurricane. Palm trees on shore blown by wind. Sea water floods city. View after storm of wreckage of houses. People combing through the ruins. Cloth spread on ruins. Women and children walk among ruins. View again of storm in progress with water flooding the area and hurricane force winds.
Twenty one American Nations gather in Punta Del Este, Uruguay to discuss about Communist Cuba. They discuss the actions to be taken about the hemispheric threat by Communist Cuba. People gather outside a building. Soldiers stand. Flags flying. Dignitaries and delegates discuss in the conference room. A man takes their photographs. Flags in the background.
News broadcaster Thomas H. Wolfe, in Washington, DC, reports about the U.S. quarantine against any military shipments into Cuba during the Cuban Crisis. He discusses support for the quarantine from the Organization of American States and mentions referral of the matter to the United Nations. On the wall behind him are map of Cuba and image of President John F. Kennedy.
President John F Kennedy reveals Soviet Russian aircraft pullout at a news conference in United States soon after the Cuban Missile Crisis. President lifts the United States Naval blockade of Cuba after Nikita Khrushchev gives his pledge that Soviet bombers will be out of Cuba in 30 days. President Kennedy speaks over the microphone. Reporters take notes while photographers take pictures.