The time period for this episode is short, but powerful. These were good times. The space program influenced us in several ways. In architecture as evidenced by the Space Needle in Seattle and Dulles Airport in Washinghton. On TV we had the Jetsons space cartoon, and we could occasionally see comedian Jose Jimenez portray a space man on the Ed Sullivan show. The Three Stooges even got into the act with a space movie. Happy times were evident on television with the family shows "Ozzie and Harriet," "The Donna Reed Show," "Leave It To Beaver," and "The Beverly Hillbillies," and the popular "Music Man" was playing in the theaters. The only war was the "Cold War," with the thought of nuclear attack. Many people built fallout shelters and stocked up on canned goods and water...just in cast. The yellow signs denoting the public fallout shelter areas were ubiquitous. And according to the Gallup Organization, President Kennedy's poll number was 62%.
However, the mood changed in mid-October when photos from a U-2 flight over Cuba revealed Soviet missile installations there. News of this finding was kept secret for several days in the interest of national security. The president and others went on about their regular schedules so as not to cause any suspicion. President Kennedy's first appointment was with astronaut Wally Schirra and his family, and he and his brother Robert made other appearances.
The executive committee of the National Security Council was called together to discuss the matter and come up with a solution. Robert Kennedy, Robert McNamara (Defense Secretary), and Roswell Gilpatric (Asst. Sec. of Defense) all recommended a low key approach while the others on the council took a more forceful approach. Former Secretary of State Dean Acheson was called in as an outside adviser, and he advocated an air strike. While these meetings were going on, Kennedy met with Soviet Andre Gromiko. Gromiko denied that the Soviets had any missiles in Cuba. Kennedy said nothing of our knowledge about the Soviet buildup to Gromiko.
When Kennedy learned that the New York Times was onto a story about this, although they didn't yet know the whole story, Kennedy called the Times and told them what was happening and asked them to "sit on" the story until after his television briefing on that Monday night. The Times agreed. Kruschev arched his back and wanted to make a deal...Soviet missiles out of Cuba if U.S. missiles out of Turkey. No deal. The Soviets backed off and removed the missiles from Cuba.
As is customary in this series, there were many remarks by the people involved in this situation.
What else? --- Diet-Rite Cola was the first sugar free soft drink sold nationally. --- Iron City Beer was the first to use a pop-top can. --- The NY Yankees beat the Giants in the 7th game of the World Series. ---Dwight Eisenhower was in California campaigning for Richard Nixon, who was running for Governor. --- The Ranger 5 moon probe was launched, it missed its target by 300 miles. ---A Brit and an American were the scientists who discovered DNA. ---Bob Dylan emerged as the new folk singer. --- ABC began a one-hour newscast the same night as Kennedy's talk to the nation about the Cuban crisis. --- The Soviets won the Chess Olympics while the U.S.'s Bobby Fischer came in fourth. --- The U.S. Surgeon General formed a committee to see if smoking was harmful to the health. --- The Air Force Surgeon General said "no" to free cigarettes in Air Force Hospitals. --- Wimbledon officials ruled that women players must wear all white...including panties. Campbell Chicken Noodle Soup was eighteen cents a can. Lenny Bruce was arrested for using obscene language in public.
However, the mood changed in mid-October when photos from a U-2 flight over Cuba revealed Soviet missile installations there. News of this finding was kept secret for several days in the interest of national security. The president and others went on about their regular schedules so as not to cause any suspicion. President Kennedy's first appointment was with astronaut Wally Schirra and his family, and he and his brother Robert made other appearances.
The executive committee of the National Security Council was called together to discuss the matter and come up with a solution. Robert Kennedy, Robert McNamara (Defense Secretary), and Roswell Gilpatric (Asst. Sec. of Defense) all recommended a low key approach while the others on the council took a more forceful approach. Former Secretary of State Dean Acheson was called in as an outside adviser, and he advocated an air strike. While these meetings were going on, Kennedy met with Soviet Andre Gromiko. Gromiko denied that the Soviets had any missiles in Cuba. Kennedy said nothing of our knowledge about the Soviet buildup to Gromiko.
When Kennedy learned that the New York Times was onto a story about this, although they didn't yet know the whole story, Kennedy called the Times and told them what was happening and asked them to "sit on" the story until after his television briefing on that Monday night. The Times agreed. Kruschev arched his back and wanted to make a deal...Soviet missiles out of Cuba if U.S. missiles out of Turkey. No deal. The Soviets backed off and removed the missiles from Cuba.
As is customary in this series, there were many remarks by the people involved in this situation.
What else? --- Diet-Rite Cola was the first sugar free soft drink sold nationally. --- Iron City Beer was the first to use a pop-top can. --- The NY Yankees beat the Giants in the 7th game of the World Series. ---Dwight Eisenhower was in California campaigning for Richard Nixon, who was running for Governor. --- The Ranger 5 moon probe was launched, it missed its target by 300 miles. ---A Brit and an American were the scientists who discovered DNA. ---Bob Dylan emerged as the new folk singer. --- ABC began a one-hour newscast the same night as Kennedy's talk to the nation about the Cuban crisis. --- The Soviets won the Chess Olympics while the U.S.'s Bobby Fischer came in fourth. --- The U.S. Surgeon General formed a committee to see if smoking was harmful to the health. --- The Air Force Surgeon General said "no" to free cigarettes in Air Force Hospitals. --- Wimbledon officials ruled that women players must wear all white...including panties. Campbell Chicken Noodle Soup was eighteen cents a can. Lenny Bruce was arrested for using obscene language in public.