How did Central Intelligence Agency intelligence help President John F. Kennedy during the Cuban missile crisis?

During the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) provided critical intelligence that enabled President John F. Kennedy to determine U.S. strategy.3

The agency’s contributions were primarily twofold:

• Aerial Reconnaissance: The CIA utilized U-2 spy planes to conduct high-altitude surveillance over Cuba. These missions captured photographic evidence that confirmed the presence of Soviet ballistic missiles and associated military construction on the island.123
• Human Intelligence: President Kennedy also relied on information gathered by the CIA through a Soviet double agent, Colonel Oleg Penkovsky, which proved vital for navigating the crisis.3

This intelligence allowed the administration to identify the threat posed by the Soviet nuclear-armed missiles and informed Kennedy’s decision to implement a naval "quarantine" of Cuba rather than pursuing immediate military strikes or an invasion.13