Kennedy showed true leadership
This year is the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, which lasted for 13 days in mid-October in 1962.
All-out nuclear war between the U.S.S.R. and the United States was at risk. A U.S. reconnaissance U-2 plane, piloted by Maj. Rudolf Anderson, took photos that clearly showed the presence of Soviet-made missiles being erected on the island of Cuba.
Indeed, they showed to be offensive missiles. Later, Anderson’s plane was shot down by a Soviet-operated surface-to-air missile. Anderson was killed.
I vividly recall that we learned that President John F. Kennedy would address, on TV, the nation about the situation in Cuba. At 7 p.m. on an October evening, my family watched on our black-andwhite TV.
It was a Monday evening. Kennedy explained that there was photo proof that showed the very presence of Sovietmade offensive missiles being erected in Cuba, just 90 miles from the shores of Florida. The president was firm that this would not be tolerated.
Kennedy stated that there would be a quarantine of all Soviet ships that were carrying any military equipment and heading toward Cuba.
Appearing very sombre and resolute, Kennedy told the nation that the situation in Cuba made for a direct threat to America. He closed his live TV message with a hope for a resolution but also the reality that the hour was late and the immediate removal of those offensive missiles was imperative.
Kennedy ended with: “God willing, that goal will be achieved.”
The United Nations Security Council met to discuss this worsening situation. Soviet Ambassador Valerian Zorin denied any offensive missile buildup in Cuba. Here, U.S. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson stated, “I am prepared to wait for my answer until Hell freezes over.” Zorin was silent.
JFK brought together an executive committee to deal with this very frightening course the Soviets had embarked on. The committee included Cabinet members, military Chiefs of Staff, personal advisers and his brother, Robert F. Kennedy, the Attorney General.
Days dragged on and the tension was increasing. The president, having learned from the Bay of Pigs fiasco in April 1961, was hesitant toward the opinion of action the military chiefs suggested.
Curtis E. LeMay, air force chief, was eager to make an airstrike. Here, Kennedy stepped back and with the support and advice of his brother Bobby, looked for alternative action.
This hesitancy to take military options was rewarded for the American president as he received letters from Soviet chairman Nikita Khrushchev. One letter persuaded Kennedy to agree with the following: the Soviets would dismantle all offensive missiles in Cuba and return that and military staff.
In turn, Kennedy agreed to remove the Jupiter missiles located in Turkey within six months.
President Kennedy, acting with studied judgment, had saved the day from a nuclear holocaust and also gave Khrushchev an exit strategy. A huge sigh of relief filled the air across the globe.
President Kennedy’s handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis to its resolve would show up then in 1962 and now, 50 years later, as a stroke of brilliant leadership with coolness under pressure.