The Bomb Kennedy and Khrushchev: 10. Fallout
Feb 2, 2026
A tense finale of the Cuban Missile Crisis where a downed plane and frantic telegrams push leaders toward possible nuclear war. Secret backroom offers and coded messages shape a high-stakes bargain. Rapid missile removals, Cuban fury, and the scramble to build a direct hotline highlight how close miscommunication brought the world to the brink.
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Khrushchev Chooses Restraint Over Revolution
- Khrushchev feared losing control and refused Castro's call for a preemptive strike as suicidal for Cuba and the USSR.
- He prioritized avoiding thermonuclear war over revolutionary zeal and kept cooler heads in command.
Use Discreet Channels To Seal Time-Sensitive Deals
- Keep critical diplomatic options discreet when time and alliance politics demand it.
- Robert Kennedy delivered a secret oral pledge to Dobrynin to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey later.
Crude Communications Raised Nuclear Risk
- Slow communications risk catastrophic misunderstandings during crises.
- The leaders had to rely on telegrams and Western Union, which imperiled timely responses.
