JFK Assassination

In my 60s Official Site newsletter I asked my subscribers where they were on November 22, 1963, when they received the news of President John F. Kennedy's assassination . The response was enormous as I continue to receive emails telling me where and what they remembered.  Each week since the first week of November I have published many of their memories. I even received one from a young man who was only one year old at the time so he asked his mother where was she when she received the news.  Emails from the UK and Canada were received also as many people world wide remembered just exactly where they were. It is so amazing after 50 years how well we all remember the exact place when we received the tragic news.

I too recall it vividly where I was and how my classmates of Circleville High School received the news.  I  was in Mrs. Wachs English class during my sophomore year in high school.  We actually were marched to the gymnasium for a basketball pep rally where we sat with our class.  The pep rally was unexpectedly interrupted  by our principal. He walked solemnly to the mike and announced the tragic news.  We were immediately dismissed and school did not resume until after Thanksgiving.

During that weekend after JFK's death I recall the rock 'n roll station we listened ceased to play rock music.  Classic music was substituted during that time in honor of our fallen president.  I just as countless other remained glued to our black 'n white TV set and watched the tears fall down my mother's face as John Kennedy Jr. saluted the flag draped coffin as it passed. 

It has been 50 years now and I will never forget that day.

"Succession" An Outstanding Novel by Herbert Lobsenz

I just completed reading an outstanding novel by Harper Prize Winner author Herbert Lobsenz.  This book is an awesome page turner. I relaxed on Sunday morning picked up the book and spent 6 1/2 hours reading this splendid story that has the back drop of the 60s. The novel takes place at the end of the Kennedy Camelot period.   The main character is Jake Garrison who is tasked to take care of his dying father who wants nothing but to die with dignity and asks Jake for his assistance.  Jake is a paranoid individual that is a New York big business hatchet man who becomes a partner to a sleazy associate. His associate asks Jake to downsize Kennsington Typewriters, a once successful but now failing company.  Jake's wife, Diane, is carrying his  child but not sure if it is his.    Who can you trust?  What side are these characters on as they try to out manipulate one another?  Excellent reading and definitely a quality page turner with a few twists and turns.  I highly recommend this to all my followers of The 60s Official Site. 

 

Close to Nuclear War Just 45 Years Ago

By: Kurt Wiersma and Ben Larson


The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the world ever came to nuclear war. The United States armed forces were at their highest state of readiness ever and Soviet field commanders in Cuba were prepared to use battlefield nuclear weapons to defend the island if it was invaded. Luckily, thanks to the bravery of two men, President John F. Kennedy and Premier Nikita Khrushchev, war was averted.

In 1962, the Soviet Union was desperately behind the United States in the arms race. Soviet missiles were only powerful enough to be launched against Europe but U.S. missiles were capable of striking the entire Soviet Union. In May 1962, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev conceived the idea of placing intermediate-range missiles in Cuba. A deployment in Cuba would double the Soviet strategic arsenal and provide a real deterrent to a potential U.S. attack against the Soviet Union.

Meanwhile, Fidel Castro was looking for a way to defend his island nation from an attack by the U.S. Ever since the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, Castro felt a second attack was inevitable. Consequently, he approved of Khrushchev's plan to place missiles on the island. In the summer of 1962 the Soviet Union worked quickly and secretly to build its missile installations in Cuba.

For the United States, the crisis began on October 15, 1962 when reconnaissance photographs revealed Soviet missiles under contrsuction in Cuba. Early the next day, President John Kennedy was informed of the missile installations. Kennedy immediately organized the EX-COMM, a group of his twelve most important advisors to handle the crisis. After seven days of guarded and intense debate within the upper echelons of government, Kennedy concluded to impose a naval quarantine around Cuba. He wished to prevent the arrival of more Soviet offensive weapons on the island. On October 22, Kennedy announced the discovery of the missile installations to the public and his decision to quarantine the island. He also proclaimed that any nuclear missile launched from Cuba would be regarded as an attack on the United States by the Soviet Union and demanded that the Soviets remove all of their offensive weapons from Cuba.

During the public phase of the Crisis, tensions began to build on both sides. Kennedy eventually ordered low-level reconnaissance missions once every two hours. On the 25th Kennedy pulled the quarantine line back and raised military readiness to DEFCON 2. Then on the 26th EX-COMM heard from Khrushchev in an impassioned letter. He proposed removing Soviet missiles and personnel if the U.S. would guarantee not to invade Cuba. October 27 was the worst day of the crisis. A U-2 was shot down over Cuba and EX-COMM received a second letter from Khrushchev demanding the removal of U.S. missiles in Turkey in exchange for Soviet missiles in Cuba. Attorney General Robert Kennedy suggested ignoring the second letter and contacted Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin to tell him of the U.S. agreement with the first.

Tensions finally began to ease on October 28 when Khrushchev announced that he would dismantle the installations and return the missiles to the Soviet Union, expressing his trust that the United States would not invade Cuba. Further negotiations were held to implement the October 28 agreement, including a United States demand that Soviet light bombers be removed from Cuba, and specifing the exact form and conditions of United States assurances not to invade Cuba.

Revisit the Turbulent 60s
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