Robert Kennedy example essay topic

Here is a unique, second-by-second account of that crisis-told from inside, at the center of power and decision-making, by Robert Kennedy, one of its key participants". (Kennedy, on back cover) 'The inner story of the masterly handling of the Cuba missile crisis by one brother and is told to us by another". (pg. 17) 'Both these men played leading parts in this drama, one as principal, the other as adjutant". (pg. 17) 'What President John Kennedy thought and did during these fateful hours, Senator Robert Kennedy had here faithfully recorded". (pg. 17) 'From that moment in President Kennedy's office until Sunday morning, October 28, that was my life... ". (pg. 23) Robert Kennedy was very qualified to write this book since he was there as everything went on and he actually knew what had really happened. Robert Kennedy wrote this book to let the world know that the first nuclear crisis put them all in danger and that the government was doing everything it could to protect the people and themselves. 'Here is real human drama-the anguish of John Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev, realizing they must decide the fate of every man, woman, and child on earth... ". (on back cover) '...

And for Americans and Russians, for the whole world it was their life as well". (p. 23) Also, by Robert Kennedy writing this book, he lets the world know the government did not mess around and that they got right down to business. '... The Russians were constructing a large naval shipyard and a base for submarines. This was all being watched carefully-through agents within Cuba, who were reporting the military build-up in a limiting, but frequently important way, through the questioning of refugees.

Who were screened and processed as they arrived in Florida, and through U-2 flights". (p. 25) 'We had to be aware of this responsibility at all times, he said, aware that we were deciding, the President was deciding, for the U.S., the Soviet Union, Turkey, NATO, and really for all mankind... ". (p. 99) 'But the great tragedy was that, if we erred, we erred not only for ourselves, our futures, our hopes, and our country, but for the lives, futures, hopes, and countries, of those who had never been given an opportunity to play a role, to vote aye or nay, to make themselves felt". (p. 106) Robert F. Kennedy has used power to interpret this event. 'That was the beginning if the Cuban missile crisis - a confrontation between two giant atomic nations, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. ". (p. 23) 'We had been deceived by Khrushchev, but we had also fooled ourselves". (p. 27) 'At first there was almost unanimous agreement that we had to attack early the next morning with bombers and fighters and destroy the SAM sites". (p. 98) 'Because of the deception of the Soviet Union, our photographic reconnaissance planes would have to continue to fly over Cuba, and if the Cubans or Soviets shot at these planes, then we would have to shoot back". (p. 107) 'I replied that if we had not violated Cuban air space, we would still be believing what Khrushchev had said - that there would be no missiles placed in Cuba". (p. 107-8) 'He ordered twenty-four troop-carrier squadrons of the Air Force Reserve to active duty". (p. 109) '... we were not as widely involved as we are today - but we were nevertheless a very powerful nation as are today. We could and did, in places we felt our national interests were involved (such as Latin America), impose our will by force if we believe it necessary". (p. 113) This was a very historical event and worthy of my reading time, because it kept me interested in what could have become the first nuclear war, and it showed how the government took drastic measures to protect the people of the world. '... Bringing to bear strengths of mind and character that proved decisive in resolving the world's first greatest nuclear crisis". (on back cover) 'It showed how important it was to be respected around the world, how vital it was to have allies and friends". (p. 120) 'Now, five years later, I discern a feeling of isolationism in Congress and through the country, a feeling that we are too involved with other nations, a resentment of the fact that we do not have greater support in Vietnam, an impression that our AID program is useless and our alliances dangerous". (p. 120) Robert Kennedy could have used idea to interpret the event. 'I think these few minutes were the time of gravest concern for the President.

Was the world on the brink of a holocaust? Was it our error? A mistake? ". (p. 69) 'I believe our deliberations proved conclusively how important it is that the President have the recommendations and opinions of more than one individual, of more than one department, and of more than one point of view". (p. 111) 'We had virtually unanimity at the time of the Bay of Pigs. At least, if any officials in the highest ranks of government were opposed, they did not speak out.

Thereafter, I suggest there be a devil's advocate to give an opposite opinion if none was pressed". (p. 112) 'His conduct of the missiles crisis showed how important this kind of skeptical probing and questioning could be". (p. 120) 'Had our relationship of trust and mutual respect not been present, had our NATO allies been skeptical about what we were doing and its implications for them, and had Khrushchev thus been able to split off the NATO countries or even one of our chief allies, our position would have been seriously undermined". (p. 122) 'No one had expected or anticipated that the Russians would deploy surface-to-surface ballistic missiles in Cuba". (p. 24) '... if we are going to preserve our own national security, we will need friends, we will need supporters, we will need countries that believe and respect us and will follow our leadership. '.