The president of the United States during the Cuban Missile Crisis was John F. Kennedy. The crisis occurred in October 1962 when it was discovered that the Soviet Union had placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles off the coast of Florida. President Kennedy, along with his advisors, navigated through a tense standoff with the Soviet Union, ultimately reaching a resolution that prevented a full-scale nuclear conflict. The crisis is considered one of the most critical moments of the Cold War, and Kennedy's leadership during that time is widely recognized.