One of the major features is a detailed display regarding the Cuban missile crisis in which Kennedy seemed to be at his best and most Presidential. It “was a 13-day confrontation in October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union over Soviet ballistic missiles deployed in Cuba. It played out on television worldwide and was the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full scale nuclear war. In response to the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961, and the presence of American Jupiter ballistic missiles in Italy and Turkey against the USSR with Moscow within range, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev decided to agree to Cuba's request to place nuclear missiles in Cuba to deter future harassment of Cuba. An agreement was reached during a secret meeting between Khrushchev and Fidel Castro in July and construction on a number of missiles sites started later that summer... These missile preparations were confirmed when an Air Force U-2 spy plane produced clear photographic evidence of medium-range and intermediate-range ballistic missile facilities. [Under Kennedy’s leadership] the United States established a military blockade to prevent further missiles from entering Cuba. It announced that they would not permit offensive weapons to be delivered to Cuba and demanded that the weapons already in Cuba be dismantled and returned to the USSR.
“After a period of tense negotiations an agreement was reached between Kennedy and Khrushchev. Publicly, the Soviets would dismantle their offensive weapons in Cuba and return them to the Soviet Union, subject to United Nations verification, in exchange for a US public declaration and agreement never to invade Cuba without direct provocation. Secretly, the US also agreed that it would dismantle all US-built Jupiter MRBMs, which were deployed in Turkey and Italy against the Soviet Union but were not known to the public.
“When all missiles and Ilyushin Il-28 light bombers had been withdrawn from Cuba, the blockade was formally ended on November 20, 1962. The negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union pointed out the necessity of a quick, clear, and direct communication line between Washington and Moscow. As a result, the Moscow–Washington hotline was established. A series of agreements sharply reduced U.S.-Soviet tensions for the following years.” (from Wikipedia article)
From everything we could learn, it appeared that Kennedy guided the US response with a firm but measured hand, showing both strength and patience and not overreacting in a way that would risk further escalation. Our thoughts turned to make a comparison with the seeming weakness, lack of resolve, and indecisiveness of the current administration dealing with international crises.
On Monday evening, we finished our time with David, Rebecca and family, by helping them fulfill an assignment to clean their church building. My job turned out to be using the “pig” vacuum to clean the chapel. It was guilt-alleviating to do this since October was supposed to be our month to help clean our building in Spansih Fork and we were not there for half of the month.
We had a wonderful visit in Massachusetts. We especially enjoyed getting much be acquainted with the boys and their attention to us. Rebecca was such a wonderful host and David went out of his way to make our visit memorable.
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