Cuban Missile Crisis Term Paper

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Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis

Specifically it will discuss what Kennedy says are the most important lessons that he learned from the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Cuban Missile Crisis took place in October 1962, and almost resulted in a nuclear war over Russian warheads in Cuba. Kennedy says he learned many things from the crisis, most importantly, that many differing views are the key to good deliberation. Today, that idea is often dismissed, calling for a general consensus on a topic, and that his implications for the U.S. Foreign policy in many areas.

Late in the book, Kennedy writes, "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" (Kennedy 111). This is a central idea to democracy and our two-party system of government, which allows for differing ideas, thoughts, and recommendations as part of our rights to free speech that are guaranteed in the Constitution. A leader should be open to differing opinions as part of any debate, because divergent opinions are where ideas come from, and what helps generate change and opinion. It is important to know all the sides of any issue, and different points-of-view will bring out all the facets of any issue. Kennedy's argument is just as compelling today, when we consider just how different the current political situation is, and how much animosity there is between political parties, politicians, and the public. Today, President Obama is attempting to do just what Kennedy advised, and deal with situations with a variety of tools, decision-makers, and other options, and he is often criticized for that. For example, his ideas about diplomacy directly relate to the U.S. Foreign Policy and how we are perceived abroad and that led to his choice for the Nobel Peace Prize. And yet, that decision wa widely criticized, because he did not "earn" it. Yet our country is being perceived much more favorably in many foreign countries as a result of the changes in foreign policy, while we were viewed unfavorably during the prior administration.

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The point is that our foreign policy depends on negotiation, understanding, and sometimes a show of force, which was necessary during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Knowing what to use when is a result of the decision making process Kennedy discusses, and it seems the current administration is attempting to follow Kennedy's advice.

Kennedy's lessons also relate to how the various cabinet members and directors relate to the president and the president's policies. Kennedy writes, "Frequently I saw advisors adapt their opinions to what they believed President Kenney and, later, President Johnson wished to hear" (Kennedy 112). Kennedy warns against that behavior, and it is easy to see why. If the president does not have all the information on a matter, then he may not make the best decision, and if advisors keep that information to themselves because they are afraid of upsetting the president, then the president could make an uniformed and wrong decision, affecting first our country and then the world in many cases.

For example, in the book, Kennedy writes that when their advisors first showed them pictures of the suspected missile locations in Cuba, they did not see anything they recognized as a missile silo or location. They made their decision based on the information and testimony of others who were more experienced, and that helped them come to the right decision. The same is true of our foreign policy today. We must rely on information that is current and correct, not information that placates the president. That is dangerous and foolhardy in dealing with either our allies or our enemies. Developing a foreign policy that recognizes the differences in other cultures, and using many divergent expert advisors also helps us in negotiating with our perceived enemies. If they understand that we are truly interested in building a relationship with them based on mutual respect and understanding, we may be able….....

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"Cuban Missile Crisis" (2009, October 21) Retrieved May 16, 2024, from
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