Listening In (34 page)

LETTER FROM SOVIET PREMIER NIKITA KHRUSHCHEV TO PRESIDENT KENNEDY, OCTOBER 26, 1962

THE OFFICIAL TRANSLATION OF SOVIET PREMIER KHRUSHCHEV’S LETTER OF OCTOBER 26, 1962

EISENHOWER:
Yeah.

JFK:
Well, we just have to set up satisfactory procedures to determine whether these actions will be carried out. So I would think that, if we can do that, we’ll be, find our interests advanced, even though it may be only one more chapter in a rather long story, as far as Cuba is concerned.

EISENHOWER:
Of course, but Mr. President, did he put any conditions in whatsoever, in there?

JFK:
No, except that we’re not going to invade Cuba.

EISENHOWER:
Yes.

JFK:
That’s the only one we’ve got now. But we don’t plan to invade Cuba under these conditions anyway.

EISENHOWER:
No.

JFK:
So if we can get ’em out, we’re better off by far.

EISENHOWER:
That’s correct. I quite agree. I just wondered whether he was trying to, knowing we would keep our word, whether he would try to engage us in any kind of statement or commitment that would finally, one day, could be very embarrassing. Listen, suppose they got in, suppose they start to bombard Guantánamo?
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JFK:
Right.

EISENHOWER:
That’s what I’m getting at. I quite agree, this is a very, I think, conciliatory move he’s made.

JFK:
Right.

EISENHOWER:
Provided that he doesn’t say that …

JFK:
Oh, well, I agree. Oh yes, that’s right. I think what we’ve got to do is keep … That’s why I don’t think the Cuban story can be over yet. I think we will retain sufficient freedom to protect our interests if he …

EISENHOWER:
That’s all I was saying.

JFK:
… if he, if they engage in subversion. If they attempt to do any aggressive acts, and so on, then all bets are off. In addition, my guess is that, by the end of next month, we’re going to be toe-to-toe on Berlin, anyway. So that I think this is important for the time being, because it requires quite a step down, really, for Khrushchev. On the other hand, I think that, as we all know, they just probe, and their word’s unreliable, so we just have to stay busy on it.

EISENHOWER:
As I’ve averred before, Mr. President, there’s one thing about … They, these people, do not equate, and I think it’s been a mistake to equate Berlin with Cuba or anything else.

JFK:
Right.

EISENHOWER:
They take any spot in the world. They don’t care where it is.

JFK:
That’s right.

EISENHOWER:
And it’s just the question is, are you in such a place you either can’t or won’t resist?

JFK:
That’s right. Yeah.

EISENHOWER:
Now, when we got into Tibet. What is it with Tibet? Goddamned mountainous country over there, we couldn’t even reach it.

JFK:
Right.

EISENHOWER:
And so, well, what could we do then was to reverse itself, that’s all.

JFK:
Right, right.

EISENHOWER:
Now, so they get you, and they probe about when you can’t do anything. Then if they get another place where they think that you just won’t for some reason or other …

JFK:
Yeah.

EISENHOWER:
Why, then they go ahead.

JFK:
That’s right.

EISENHOWER:
So I think you’re doing exactly right on this one. Go ahead. But just let them know that you won’t be the aggressor. But on the other hand, then you’ve always got the right to …

JFK:
That’s right.

EISENHOWER:
… determine whether the other guy is the aggressor.

JFK:
Well, we’ll stay right at it, and I’ll keep in touch with you, General.

EISENHOWER:
Thank you very much, Mr. President.

JFK:
OK. Thank you.

CALL TO PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN, OCTOBER 28, 1962

OPERATOR:
Yes, sir.

JFK:
President Truman, please.

OPERATOR:
Thank you. Hello?

TRUMAN:
Yes, hello.

OPERATOR:
He’ll be with you in just one minute, Mr. President.

TRUMAN:
All right. All right.

JFK:
Hello.

TRUMAN:
Hello, this is Harry Truman.

JFK:
Hello. How are you, Mr. President?

TRUMAN:
Well, I’m all right, and I’m just pleased to death the way these things came out.

PRESIDENT TRUMAN WAS PRESIDENT KENNEDY’S FIRST OFFICIAL VISITOR TO THE OVAL OFFICE ON HIS FIRST FULL DAY AS PRESIDENT, JANUARY 21, 1961

JFK:
Well, we’ll just stay at it, and I just wanted to bring you up-to-date on it. We got a letter from him on Friday night which was rather conciliatory on these withdrawals. Then on Saturday morning, twelve hours after the other letter was received, we got this entirely different letter about the missile bases in Turkey.

TRUMAN:
That’s the way they do things.

JFK:
Then, well, we rejected that. Then they came back with and accepted the earlier proposal. So I think we’re going to have a lot of difficulties. But at least we’re making some progress about getting these missiles out of there. In addition, I think that Khrushchev’s had some difficulties in maintaining his position. My judgment is that it’s going to make things tougher in Berlin because the fact he’s had something of a setback in Cuba is going to make him …

TRUMAN:
That’s right.

JFK:
… rougher in Berlin. But at least it’s a little better than it was a couple of days ago.

TRUMAN:
Well, you’re on the right track. Now you just keep after them. That’s the language that they understand, just what you gave them.

JFK:
Right. Good.

TRUMAN:
They’ve been asking me for comments, and I’ve said the President of the United States is the only man who can comment on it.

JFK:
[laughs] All right. OK. Good. Take care, I’ll be in touch with you.

TRUMAN:
All right.

JFK:
Thank you, Mr. President.

TRUMAN:
I certainly appreciate your call.

JFK:
Well, thank you, Mr. President. Bye-bye.