RFK How My Uncle Confronted the Cuban Missile Crisis

full video at caljamnetwork.com
During the Cuban Missile Crisis, my uncle faced intense pressure from experts in intelligence, the Pentagon, and the State Department. They all urged him to take immediate action—either by dropping a nuclear bomb on Cuba or bombing the 63 Russian missile sites.

But instead of reacting impulsively, he paused to ask a critical question: “Who’s manning those gun emplacements? Are they Russians or Cubans?”

When the CIA confirmed they were Russians, he pushed further: “What happens if I kill a Russian gun crew? What does Khrushchev have to do then?”

My uncle’s decision to question the status quo, to consider the human impact, and to think through the global consequences saved the world from a potential nuclear war. His calm, calculated approach remains a powerful example of leadership under pressure.