NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
As shown in May and Zelikow? s The Kennedy Tapes, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was only able to deal effectively with the Cuban Missile Crisis because of the comprehensive advice and support provided by his chief councilmen. Three of these men stand out in particular; while JFK? s? Executive Committee? was filled with bright and analytical minds, the most confident, able, and important men were Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense Robert S.
McNamara, and the President? s brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. This trio of advisors was the group to whom JFK gave special respect; McNamara, especially, was viewed with near-awe by the rest of the Council. Dean Rusk, while emanating a slight hint of? soft?
character, was instrumental in Kennedy? s meetings simply because of his office. On the other hand, Robert Kennedy, though holding an office largely unrelated to the resolution of the Crisis, held his brother? s ear because of their blood-ties and because of RFK? s availability as a listening board and confidante. Only with the help and support provided by these three able men was JFK able to prevent nuclear devastation in 1962.
Dean Rusk was a man who, while reticent and somewhat shaky, held one of the nation? s most important offices, that of Secretary of State. The introduction to The Kennedy Tapes states that? other White House staffers made fun of Rusk for his formality and his reluctance or inability to act as a McNamara-like manager. ? However, Rusk soon casts doubt on this character sketch, for he is the first to offer a summary of both the current situation and its possible resolutions. Rusk generalizes the government?
s possible courses of action: a? quick strike, ? or else a? combination of things, ? including sending OAS weapon-inspection teams to Cuba. He then goes on to list more decisions that must be made, and he states the irrefutable seriousness of?
a situation that could well lead to general war. ? Rusk? s next speech of moderate length summarizes the possibility of Premier Krushchev? s willingness to bargain Cuba for Berlin. The Secretary of State is again simplifying and summarizing information, so that JFK? s overburdened mind can draw a clear picture of the complex situation developing just ninety miles from US soil.
This is Dean Rusk? s major contribution to President Kennedy? s decision-making; Rusk provides a simple translation of all of Robert McNamara? s numbers and strategies. This is not to say, however, that Rusk doesn?
t participate in the risky but inevitable prophesying which is practiced by the other members of the Executive Committee. For example, on October 24, just when the quarantine proclamation? entered into full effect, ? the Secretary of State guessed at a?
probable? Soviet strategy for the cessation of the blockade; Rusk believes that Krushchev is pushing for a naval? incident. ? However, Rusk? s instrumental (and most obvious) effect on JFK? s decisions was his ability to sketch a general overview of the Cuban Missile Crisis as it played out.
A strong contrast to Dean Rusk, Robert McNamara was a strong-willed, analytical man, well-suited for his office: Secretary of Defense. McNamara was basically in charge of whatever military action which would be required by JFK during the Crisis. He is described in the book? s introduction as? conscious of having the complete trust of the President? and?
always more forceful than may be evident to someone reading the transcripts. ? Robert McNamara was clearly a leader, often acting as the President? s right-hand man, always cataloging his points and quoting statistics. In the transcripts, he is never afraid to charge on with his opinions, as shown during his reply to Secretary Rusk? s summation of American options for a reprimand against Cuba; he declares that any air strike would have to include far more targets than?
just the missile sites. ? McNamara states the timeline that such a strike would have to follow; he has already decided on several factors. Very often, the Secretary of Defense sounds like he is the leader, rather than JFK; one can practically hear him speaking strongly and distinctly. For example, McNamara states that? the third action we need to take is a determination of when the [quarantine] proclamation will be effective. ? However, McNamara really allows for no discussion on the matter; instead he makes the?
determination? himself. Another striking example of McNamara? s incredibly strong leadership qualities occurs around 4: 00 p.
m. on October 27; the Secretary blatantly tells JFK that he wants? a board meeting called. ? McNamara proceeds to be rather curt to the President, even interrupting Kennedy (a minor offense which he commits very often). In spite of this, however, McNamara proved to be one of President Kennedy? s most revered and important advisors during the Crisis, for both his analytical mind and strong leadership qualities.
Finally, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, the President? s brother, was very instrumental in JFK? s actions during the Cuba Missile Crisis. Robert, or Bobby, sometimes seems to be? the common man? among all the Executive Council?
s military minds, as shown in his very basic reviews of the situation. However, the Kennedy siblings were very close, and thus Bobby was allowed to attend the Executive Council? s meetings. JFK trusted his brother completely, probably more than any other man recorded on the tapes; therefore, the President felt he could be open with his brother, and, in return, JFK would receive opinions and ideas which very often reflected the views of the American people.
The brothers? closeness is even seen in one of pictures in The Kennedy Tapes; RFK and JFK stand, at ease, discussing (most likely) whatever information is inside the folder Bobby is holding. Bobby seems to lighten up the company? s mood whenever he? s present; for instance, he soothes some very tense nerves when he makes a wisecrack comparing James Meredith? s entry into the University of Mississippi to the current Cuban Crisis.
Robert Kennedy is indispensable to JFK, for many reasons; Bobby is a sort of? jack-of-all-trades. ? He goes from furiously announcing the Communist statement of the shooting down of a U- 2 plane, to making a joke, to asking Robert McNamara how he? s doing.
When McNamara asks Bobby if he has? any doubts? about the Committee? s decisions, the President? s brother expresses his hope and high spirits by replying, ? Well, no.
I think that we? re doing the only thing we can do, and well, you know. ? RFK may here remind the reader of the stereotypical? spunky little kid. ? This perception is not far off; Bobby was JFK?
s version of a morale enhancer, a one-man booster club. Had RFK been assassinated before the Crisis, it is very possible that his brother would have collapsed under the strain of the Crisis. These three men, Rusk, McNamara, and RFK, were clearly President Kennedy? s backbone during the Cuban Missile Crisis; without the help of his Executive Committee, led by this trio, he would not have been able to deal with the possible scenario of nuclear war. While each man helped in his own way, each was integral to the resolution of (arguably) this century? s most dangerous crisis. 4
Free research essays on topics related to: secretary of defense, kennedy , secretary of state, cuban missile crisis, brother
Research essay sample on Cuban Missile Crisis Secretary Of State
