Many did not agree with this action because Senators Fulbright and Russell believed it would lead to an air strike on West Berlin or a blockade of that city. They knew it would lead to war. Kennedy had few choices but instead did not back down and lead the country through the crisis. He never "lost sight of the fact that once military action started, there was no telling at what level of escalation it could be stopped" (Stern 2003, p. 108).
Timing caused many of the problems Kennedy faced during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Many critics surmise the failure of the blockade but really its lack of strength came down to the fact Kennedy hesitated because he waited for OAS approval. This allowed for Soviet ships to arrive safely to Cuba before the escalation and this represents weakness on Kennedy's part. Why couldn't have acted aggressively? He was not being too careful considering what was at stake. As it stands, Khrushchev reacted by stating "the Soviet government cannot give instructions to the captains of Soviet vessels bound for Cuba to observe the instructions of the American navel forces. If Americans insisted on taking piratical actions, we will be forced for our part to take measures which we deem necessary" (Fursenko 1997, p. 256). As with Kennedy, Khrushchev was taken with plans from his advisors. He reasoned his decision to not back down by stressing "the continuing American hostility to the Soviet system and advocated military policy" (Brugioni 1990, p. 79). Neither leader would back down and found stubbornness an ally. Both leaders may have had many different advisors aiding their decisions, but what it really came down to was their leadership styles. This made more impact upon the crisis.
JFK and Khrushchev, a Relationship
Through the withdrawal of the missiles, Kennedy achieved the hero status that allied to his youthful college boy looks and turned him into a legendary figure. His charismatic image survives in American culture despite rumors of his womanizing, his commitment to Vietnam and other political shortcomings. He displayed extraordinary skill playing a military game without striking. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, "the American leadership faced the specter of political upheaval with the Kremlin and the possibility that the Soviets might have initiated or provoked war" (Blight 1989, p. 213). Kennedy struggled with sparse communication from the Soviet leader Khrushchev. "During the first two years of Kennedy's presidency there had been virtually no meaningful dialogue between the superpowers on issues that divided them (Blight 1989, p. 213). Rather it is differences in culture or communication, the two men both remained true to their beliefs during the crisis.
Surprisingly, they both had much in common regarding leadership traits and backgrounds. Both men were war heroes for their countries and both "appear to have shown qualities of statesmanship to meet what has been perhaps as grave as any threat to world peace" (The Birmingham Press 2001). This type of leadership takes a display of curiosity and the guts to be daring. A leader must be a dominant force within the team. Bennis reflects, there are two kinds of people "those who are paralyzed by fear, and those who are afraid but go ahead away. Life is not about limitation but options" (Bennis 1989, p.185). A healthy leadership inspires options and the innovations that grow out of creativity. A good leader provides vision and clarity for the people. Such a leader will be able to communicate and create a repoire with their country. Both men strived to reach this goal in the aftermath of the crisis. Still as much as they performed poorly at crisis avoidance due to communication issues, it must be said that they fared much better at crisis management. Their failure to understand each other during the crisis and this inability did not set the tone for their post crisis relationship. They had every reason not to trust each other after all the behind your back type maneuvers. Still the two men were able to put these transgressions aside and move forward toward peace.
Ross Reyburn writes, " ten months...
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