Cuban Missile Crisis: Three Men Go to War

Gr 9 Up—In October 1962, two world superpowers, both of whom viewed the other as the evil empire, stood on the precipice of global annihilation. With the discovery that the Soviet Union was building a missile installation in Castro's Cuba, President John F. Kennedy was faced with a diplomatic decision of monumental proportions, made no easier by the downing of Major Rudolf Anderson's U2 spy plane. Ultimately both leaders stepped back from the brink and averted a catastrophic outcome. In this exceptional film, the events of those anxious 13 days are brought to life in edifying detail. A solid cast of commentators include longtime Kennedy advisor and speechwriter Ted Sorensen and the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev's son, Dr. Sergei Khrushchev. Included in the film are a series of recorded conversations between Kennedy, his advisors, and generals over a possible diplomatic or military response to the crisis. One thing the film makes absolutely clear is exactly how close the two leaders, seemingly backed into the proverbial corner, came to unleashing thermonuclear war on a hapless world population. Packed with insight, historical context, and personal experiences, this film is an excellent addition to any media center supporting U.S .history and civics curriculums and public libraries of all sizes.—Brian Odom Pelham Public Library, AL