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John f kennedys role in the response to soviet aggression in the cuban missle crisis
The role Kennedy played in the Cuban missile crisis
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Analysis of Thirteen Days Directed by Robert Donaldson
“Good evening my fellow citizens…This Government, as promised, has maintained the closest surveillance of the Soviet Military buildup on the island of Cuba. Within the past week, unmistakable evidence has established the fact that a series of offensive missile sites is now in preparation on that imprisoned island. The purpose of these bases can be none other than to provide a nuclear strike capability against the Western Hemisphere.” These are the exact words spoken by John F. Kennedy in his address to the nation on October 22, 1962. The president had finally told the American people what was happening with the crisis in Cuba and what that government was determined to do about it. Bruce Greenwood, the actor who started as JFK in “Thirteen Days”, could not have been better in delivering this speech. It was as if you were witnessing that day in 1962. The entire film was brilliant written by David Self, working tirelessly with primary sources from Ernest May and Phillip Zelikow’s book The Kennedy Tapes – Inside the White House During the Cuban Missile Crisis. While it seems at times that Self forces Kevin Costner’s character, Ken O’Donnell, onto the audience, the entire film flows very well, a near-perfect recreation of the dramatic thirteen days.
The entire crisis began following the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, following which some called for President Kennedy’s resignation. When Castro appealed to the USSR for kelp, Khrushchev delivered missiles with the capability of launching a nuclear strike against the US. Thinking that Kennedy would take no action, Khrushchev began helping Cuba with the missile supply. These buildups were caught on film by the U2 spy planes flying reconnaissance missions over the area. When the photos were shown to the President the crisis began. While the background of the crisis is not black and white, it is referred to during the film using simple remarks, but used by Self to help the audience understand what exactly was taking place.
The film takes the audience through the entire thirteen days of the crisis, moving in and out of different meetings and conferences. The plot is very true to reality as so are many of the character. Both Greenwood and Stephen Culp, the actor who played Robert Kennedy, studied their characters’ voices and defining characteristics ve...
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...ife. One very interesting thing is that they have historians discussing the film in the extras, and they were blown away by its portrayal of the events. The film doesn’t drag on by switching from meeting to meeting just re-reading historical documents, but has everything a great historical drama should. Every film made should take a look at how carefully the director and writer went over the actual facts and documents to interpret the events as historically accurate as possible.
Bibliography
“Cuban Missile Crisis” [Online] http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761579929/Cuban_Missile_Crisis.html#endads (10/28/04)
Cuban Missile Crisis Memorandum of Meeting, October 17, 1962 (Avalon Project of Yale Law School)
Brinkley, David. The Kennedy Circle; Luce. 1961
Minutes of the 506th Meeting of the National Security Council. October 21, 1962 (Avalon Project of Yale Law School)
"Cuban Missile Crisis," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2004
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2004 Microsoft Corporation.
“Radio and Television Report to the American People on the Soviet Arms Buildup in Cuba” . President John F. Kennedy. The White House. October 22, 1962 (jfklibrary.org)