The Kennedy Tapes: Inside the White House during the Cuban Missile Crisis

by Ernest R. May (Editor)

October 1962: the United States and the Soviet Union stood eyeball to eyeball, each brandishing enough nuclear weapons to obliterate civilization in the Northern Hemisphere. It was one of the most dangerous moments in world history. Day by day, for two weeks, the inner circle of President Kennedy's National Security Council debated what to do, twice coming to the brink of attacking Soviet military units in Cuba--units equipped for nuclear retaliation. And through it all, unbeknownst to any of the participants except the President himself, tape was rolling, capturing for posterity the deliberations that might have ended the world as we know it. These are the full and authenticated transcripts of those audio recordings. Arguably the most important document in the history of the Cuban missile crisis, these transcripts are also a unique window on a drama rarely if ever witnessed by those outside the halls of the moment-by-moment decisionmaking of those with the fate of the West in their hands in a constantly changing, world-threatening situation. At the center of it all is President Kennedy, wary of experts after the debacle of the Bay of Pigs, puzzled and distrustful after confrontations with Khrushchev in Vienna and Berlin, and ever mindful of the responsibility symbolized by the satchel his military aides hold nearby, containing the codes to unleash nuclear warfare. In one brief segment, midway through the crisis, the President, alone, speaks his thoughts into the machine. In others, he copes with hawks from Capitol Hill and the Pentagon. And in the last meeting, we hear him explaining and defending the formula that finally defused the crisis. With him throughout are his team from the State Department, including Secretary Dean Rusk, Under Secretary George Ball, and Llewellyn Thompson; his Defense team, especially Robert McNamara; his key assistants, Theodore Sorenson and McGeorge Bundy; Secretary of the Treasury Douglas Dillon; Vice President Lyndon Johnson; and, of course, his brother Robert, the Attorney General. All are identified and put into their proper context by the editors, whose introduction makes sense of this singular drama within the history of the Cold War and the Kennedy administration and whose conclusions will shape our understanding of the Cold War.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, American History, Biography, Presidents, American

800 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Ernest Richard May was an American historian of international relations whose 14 published books include analyses of American involvement in World War I and the causes of the fall of France during World War II. His 1997 book The Kennedy Tapes: Inside the White House During the Cuban Missile Crisis became the primary sources of the 2000 film Thirteen Days that viewed the crisis from the perspective of American political leaders. He served on the 9/11 Commission and highlighted the failures of the government intelligence agencies. May taught full time on the faculty of Harvard University for 55 years, until his death.

Reviews

[Alex Gohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good information and at times very interesting. However at other times it was slow and painful to read.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a magnificent tale of leadership and unity in the face of a crisis. I have a newfound respect for JFK.

[Peregrine 12 · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you thought America acted alone and independently of every other nation during the Cuban Missile Crisis, you might be surprised by what's in this book. I had no idea how complex, or intricate, or political, the decisions were that led up to, and through, this event. I'd always heard my parents commenting on how 'close' we came to was with Russia - a nuclear war - but until I read this, I never really understood that they weren't being dramatic. It really almost did happen. It frightens me to think what a lesser President might have done in a similar situation.

[Craig Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing source material interspersed with what amounts to a good analytical monograph on the history and dynamics of the discussions of Kennedy's "Executive Committee" during the Cuban missile crisis. It's interesting to read the transcripts in tandem with the various boildowns in the histories of 1962, seeing where historians are selective in their descriptions--Lyndon Johnson doesn't come off quite as bellicose as Robert Caro suggests, for instance.

Only those with a deep interest will read through, but May's sections are a very good introduction to arguably the most important two weeks in human history.

[Anonymous · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging from start to finish. May does an excellent, succinct job of setting the stage and anecdotally supplementing the hair-raising narrative and interactions of a Cabinet working to interpret and stay ahead of events unfolding toward a possible nuclear exchange. The tapes show the side of Kennedy we miss so much -- particularly in the current world context: a remarkable ability to listen, synthesize and redirect\refocus arguments and express to his team the need for maximum creativity and collaboration.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always good to learn something new about our history.

[Daphne Lin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of clunky. Might suit other peoples’ tastes more.

[Anujin Zor · Rating 3 out of 5]

reads like a play lol

[Peter Tutak · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reader becomes a fly on the wall for all the recorded discussions between President Kennedy, Secretaries of State and Defense Dean Rusk and John McNamara, Robert Kennedy, and the rest of the president's security staff regarding the discovery of the offensive missile buildup in Cuba, the subsequent crisis, and the eventual resolution. All conversations are verbatim, transcribed off the tape, and the president even drops the 'f-bomb' once. That aside, this is pretty riveting stuff, and is an inside peek at just how close the US and USSR came to blows over Cuba, as well as Berlin (which is an intrinsic part of the ongoing discussion). It also gives some great insight about leadership and the art of negotiation, as it was practiced at the time. Just fantastic.

[Colin McKell-Redwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely compelling, and terrifying how close we were to WW3. I loved reading the actual advice given... Military men all around itching to play with their toys, Kennedy in the middle. A bit like the Day of The Jackal, in that you know what the end result was but it is still a great great read - recommended

[Mel [profile closed] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those who are enamored with Kennedy will read the tapes and see his strength, and those who think he was weak and only idolized because of his death will find fodder here. The tapes are striking whichever camp you're in.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've ever wanted to be a fly on the wall of the White House during the Cuban missile crisis, this is your book. At times fascinating; at other times, dry and tedious; this is an unprecedented view of the crisis and the Kennedy administration.

[Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

On one hand, this is a very detailed transcription of President Kennedy's meetings with his advisors during the Cuban missile crisis, and reveals a thorough understanding of the problems faced. On the other hand, it is often too detailed and thorough, and is rather a slog to get through.

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Missile Crisis direct from those who led us through it...really interesting to see how Kennedy's and his staff's minds worked.

[Laura]

very good

[Robert Morrow]

One of my favorite topics and one of my favorite books. Reading the actual dialogue is so deeply helpful in understanding the dynamics of the event.

[Patrick Nichol · Rating 4 out of 5]

You are in the Oval Office as Kennedy and his advisers struggle to avoid nuclear combat "toe to toe with the Russkies."

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... Just wow. No question that JFK is one of our top three presidents after reading this.

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recall this was equally fascinating and the driest, most boring thing I have ever read in my life. That's quite an impressive achievement, and one I felt worth noting.

[Thomas Kelleher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is gripping reading and what eventually became the film "Thirteen Days."

[Rob Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating read-- a little bit overkill; it got a little unwieldy trying to keep everyone straight- all in all an intersting insight into how the government works.

[Marvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

So entertaining. I was on the edge of my seat. Almost felt like fiction. Great.