0:00:02 > 0:00:04- Previously...- They don't want me anymore, Jack and Bobby.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06When I went to Washington the other day, that was what it was about.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10- Did I miss an appointment? - Oh, no, sir. I was upstairs with Mrs Kennedy.- Why?
0:00:10 > 0:00:12I've been treating her for some time now, sir.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15I'm trying to do my job, and sometimes there just -
0:00:15 > 0:00:18there aren't enough hours in the day, Jack.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Mr President, your father has suffered a massive stroke.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23- BOBBY: Will he fully recover? - There may be some marginal improvement.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25I would appreciate a direct answer.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27I don't think so.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00RUMBLING
0:02:05 > 0:02:08This government, as promised, has maintained
0:02:08 > 0:02:12the closest surveillance of the Soviet military build-up
0:02:12 > 0:02:14on the island of Cuba.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18Unmistakable evidence has established the fact
0:02:18 > 0:02:21that a series of offensive missile sites
0:02:21 > 0:02:24is now in preparation on that imprisoned island.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27The purpose of these bases can be none other
0:02:27 > 0:02:30than to provide a nuclear strike capability
0:02:30 > 0:02:32against the western hemisphere.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35It shall be the policy of this nation
0:02:35 > 0:02:38to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba
0:02:38 > 0:02:40against any nation in the western hemisphere
0:02:40 > 0:02:41as an attack
0:02:41 > 0:02:44by the Soviet Union on the United States,
0:02:44 > 0:02:48requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53Little better. Still uneasy.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55I changed the dose slightly, Mr President,
0:02:55 > 0:02:58- so if you experience discomfort, please contact me.- Jack.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00Ah, Mrs Kennedy. I haven't seen you in some time.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02I hope you're feeling well.
0:03:02 > 0:03:03Very well, thank you.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05No problems weaning yourself off the medication?
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Just a few restless nights, but that's about all.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10Yeah, she's doing great. Thank you.
0:03:10 > 0:03:11Enjoy your evening, Mr President.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15- Can you zip me up?- Sure.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20I'm feeling so much better now that I'm not doing those shots.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24- Well, I'm glad.- Maybe you should think about stopping.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27It's the only thing that keeps me going.
0:03:27 > 0:03:28What else are they doing to you?
0:03:28 > 0:03:30I don't care if it's horse piss. It works.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32TELEPHONE RINGS
0:03:32 > 0:03:34You know he's not a doctor? He's not even a member of the AMA.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36Maybe that's why he's so effective.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Yes? Yeah, we're on our way.
0:03:40 > 0:03:41Come on, we got to...
0:03:41 > 0:03:43You look beautiful. I love the dress.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46I'm serious.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50OK.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States
0:03:58 > 0:03:59and the First Lady.
0:03:59 > 0:04:00APPLAUSE
0:04:03 > 0:04:05Ready?
0:04:05 > 0:04:06I think you're gonna like it.
0:04:06 > 0:04:07Mm.
0:04:07 > 0:04:08It's art.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12Well, I am prepared to, er, suffer for it.
0:04:12 > 0:04:13Jack!
0:04:26 > 0:04:31PLAYING CLASSICAL MUSIC
0:04:54 > 0:04:57- That's the end of the first movement. - WHISPERS: Oh.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26WHISPERS: Mr President,
0:05:26 > 0:05:28there's an emergency phone call for you in the oval office.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39They need me downstairs.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30I said I'd go to the Girl Scouts' jamboree,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33and he agreed to go to two concerts and a ballet.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36But skipping out in the middle renders this one null and void.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40I'm hoping for an increase in government spending on the arts.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42Jackie, a president's work is never done.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Sure, Ben. Stick up for your friend.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48- That is what men do, isn't it? - Jackie, you know my sister, Mary Meyer.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51I sent you the catalogue from her showing at the Findlay gallery.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53I just came by to say goodnight.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56You know the Eisenhowers kept this place like a barracks?
0:06:56 > 0:06:58You have turned it into a palace.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01Thank you.
0:07:04 > 0:07:05A wonderful party.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10MAN: I want to know Where the wind comes from.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20WOMAN: The wind begins in a cave.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24Far to the north, a young god sleeps in that cave...
0:07:24 > 0:07:28- I didn't think you would be at this thing tonight.- Change of plans.
0:07:28 > 0:07:29How are you?
0:07:29 > 0:07:31I'm good.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Anybody see you leave the party?
0:07:34 > 0:07:36Since when do you worry about that?
0:07:38 > 0:07:40Do you never get tired of this movie?
0:07:40 > 0:07:42No. No. It's Kirk, for God sakes.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45I'm gonna have to run back upstairs.
0:07:47 > 0:07:48- Do you want me to leave? - KIRK: Every line...
0:07:51 > 0:07:52Every curve...
0:07:55 > 0:07:58I want to know every part of you.
0:07:59 > 0:08:04- If my husband were sleeping with Mary, she wouldn't be on my guest list.- Jackie puts up with it.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08She must figure if it's inevitable, she might as well make it convenient.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13TISH: Mrs Kennedy, Will the President be returning?
0:08:14 > 0:08:16No, he won't.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20These people have each donated 1,000 to the foundation.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22They expect a picture with him.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27Then they'll have to settle for me.
0:08:27 > 0:08:28Thank you, ma'am.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32- And I'll send his regrets in the morning.- I'll set it up.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12I'm taking the kids to Virginia in the morning.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15I'll stay a while and do my work from there.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22- What for?- You didn't come back. It was humiliating.
0:09:22 > 0:09:23Well, I had to go downstairs and -
0:09:23 > 0:09:25It was humiliating.
0:09:33 > 0:09:34How's Mary Meyer?
0:09:40 > 0:09:42She was specifically not on the guest list.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46I didn't know she was gonna be there tonight.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49Well, what a great surprise for you.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54Do you ever think about what that looks like?
0:09:56 > 0:09:58I thought we had an agreement.
0:10:09 > 0:10:10I'd, er...
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Rather you, er, didn't all leave.
0:10:17 > 0:10:18Good night.
0:10:52 > 0:10:53TELEPHONE RINGS
0:11:03 > 0:11:05- Yeah? - MAN: Mr Bundy's on his way up.
0:11:05 > 0:11:06KNOCK ON DOOR
0:11:06 > 0:11:08Mr President?
0:11:08 > 0:11:09Well, he's already here.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12I'm sorry to disturb you, sir. We've got some serious trouble.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16Our U2 flights over Cuba took these yesterday -
0:11:16 > 0:11:18Russian MRBM Missile sites,
0:11:18 > 0:11:21SS-four type, IRBMS.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23Are these operational?
0:11:23 > 0:11:27Not yet, but based on the size of those construction crews, they could be within a week.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30At that point, they could deliver nuclear payloads
0:11:30 > 0:11:32to every major city on the east coast.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40These are the latest surveillance photos from Cuba.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43We don't know how many missiles the Russians have there
0:11:43 > 0:11:45or whether they are operational at the present time.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48I think you can assume if they're not operational they will be soon, sir.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52Well, we can't coexist with, er, nuclear missiles 90 miles off our shores.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56We got to get rid of those. What are the options, Bob?
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Militarily, there are three -
0:11:58 > 0:12:01surgical strike on the missiles, an attack on the missiles
0:12:01 > 0:12:03and the control-and-command centres throughout the island,
0:12:03 > 0:12:05or an all-out invasion of the island.
0:12:05 > 0:12:06Sir, I think that jumping to a military option
0:12:06 > 0:12:11- without having exhausted all our diplomatic avenues -- No, no, no. No-one's jumping, Dean.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14- The president's considering all options here.- Khrushchev's a brawler, Mr Secretary.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16He only understands brute force. I'm with Bob.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19We can't have the president being pushed around
0:12:19 > 0:12:21by Khrushchev or Castro or anybody else.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25Air force surveillance just picked up 19 Soviet ships in the Atlantic, heading toward Cuba.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29Do we know what they're, er, carrying?
0:12:29 > 0:12:32I think we can presume it's more weapons.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41Sir, we need to put a military option on the table.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45No, I agree with that, Bob. I just, er... I-I don't want to make any, er,
0:12:45 > 0:12:50decision here without, er, understanding what in god's name, er, Khrushchev is thinking.
0:12:50 > 0:12:56Mr President, I think the man's actions are a pretty good indicator of what he's thinking.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59BUNDY: Castro made a compelling argument that we're gonna overthrow his regime.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01Khrushchev sent in the missiles to keep us from doing it.
0:13:01 > 0:13:02BENNETT: It's more than that, Mac.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04He wants to bully us into submission, sir.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Thinks I'm weak, cos of the Bay of Pigs.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09- That's right, sir.- But the fact remains, we still don't know what's on these ships.- Absolutely.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12I want to know what pressures he's under,
0:13:12 > 0:13:15what he's being advised by his, er, people in the Kremlin.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19Well, I think we can assume, sir, they're advising him to take the aggressive course.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22I think it's very dangerous to start making assumptions right now, General.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25I just, er, want to try and put myself in his shoes.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30Fine, sir. But if you do choose a military option, we're gonna have to move fast.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34We're, er, getting more specifics now, sir.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41Well, I would say we have to get a, er, direct line of communication to Moscow.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43We could get secretary Rusk to talk to ambassador Dobrynin.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45You do it.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47- No, no, no, no. Protocol dictates that...- Forget about protocol.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Dobrynin knows Bobby, knows Bobby speaks for me.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52I'll set it up.
0:13:52 > 0:13:53Thank you.
0:13:56 > 0:13:57SIGHS
0:13:57 > 0:13:58Your back hurting?
0:14:00 > 0:14:03Jackie took the kids, went up to Virginia.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05Well, that's probably best, considering.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08Wasn't about this.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10I think she's finished with me.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12Why. What happened?
0:14:16 > 0:14:18Well, I'm not a kid anymore, but...
0:14:18 > 0:14:19But I keep acting like one.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27The kids are fine, Jack.
0:14:27 > 0:14:28Good.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34How long, er, how long do you think you're gonna stay up there?
0:14:34 > 0:14:36I don't know.
0:14:39 > 0:14:40I just wanted to say that I, er...
0:14:42 > 0:14:44I miss you.
0:14:46 > 0:14:47I have to go.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08TELEPHONE BUZZES
0:15:10 > 0:15:11Yes?
0:15:11 > 0:15:13Send him in.
0:15:15 > 0:15:16What did Dobrynin say?
0:15:16 > 0:15:20Well, he claims there are no missiles in Cuba.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23I showed him the, er, surveillance photos. He said they're fabricated.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25He claims, er, Khrushchev only wants peace.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28That's what Hitler said right before the blitz.
0:15:30 > 0:15:31McNamara sent that over.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34It's the, er, contingency plans for military operations.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36That's been the consensus over there?
0:15:36 > 0:15:39Surgical strike, followed by invasion.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42What do you think?
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Well, given what we know at the moment, er,
0:15:44 > 0:15:46it certainly is our best chance at success,
0:15:46 > 0:15:49including getting rid of Castro.
0:15:52 > 0:15:53But, er...
0:15:53 > 0:15:57Frankly, at this stage, I don't think the, er, diplomatic process is gonna pay off.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01I just..just don't know what, er, Khrushchev stands to gain in all this.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05I mean, Christ, he knows what our, er, nuclear arsenal is.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07It's not a secret.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11Well, I get the impression that he, er, thinks we're afraid to use it.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15But you looked him in the eye. What do you think?
0:16:15 > 0:16:19MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN
0:16:24 > 0:16:26In southeast Asia and Latin America,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29people's revolutions are lighting the lamp of freedom and human dignity.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33We have a difference of opinion over what constitutes freedom and human dignity, Mr Chairman,
0:16:33 > 0:16:38but I...I reject the historic belief that our differences can only be resolved through armed conflict.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42SPEAKING RUSSIAN
0:16:42 > 0:16:45SPEAKING RUSSIAN
0:16:48 > 0:16:51Then you miscalculate the history, Mr President.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54You lost, er, 20 million people in the war, Mr Chairman.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57SPEAKING RUSSIAN
0:16:58 > 0:17:01With our arsenals and our delivery systems today,
0:17:01 > 0:17:03twice that many Russians would die in the first hour.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05SPEAKING RUSSIAN
0:17:09 > 0:17:11SPEAKS RUSSIAN
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Then it's a good thing we have so many.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42You should have enough clothes to get you through the week.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46Bobby, how bad's it gonna be?
0:17:46 > 0:17:52I was talking with Marg McNamara. She said Bob said it could be the end of everything.
0:17:52 > 0:17:53What did he mean?
0:17:53 > 0:17:56I think he's just, er, being melodramatic, really.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01Is he?
0:18:10 > 0:18:11I want you to have this.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17It was your mother's.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20I've used it every day since she died.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24Help Jack. Keep us safe.
0:18:27 > 0:18:28Heya, kid.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31What are you doing here?
0:18:31 > 0:18:33Oh, I was in the neighbourhood.
0:18:33 > 0:18:34Liar.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37Did Bobby send you here to fix my marriage?
0:18:39 > 0:18:41He doesn't know I'm here. That's the truth.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45Well, you knew where to find me, so I assume you know...
0:18:45 > 0:18:48Why I'm here.
0:18:49 > 0:18:50Yeah.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58I know we haven't always been sorority pals.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02I never fit in with the family the way you have.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06I always figured it was because you didn't want to.
0:19:06 > 0:19:12You're-you're your own person, Jackie. I-I admire that.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15Tell you the truth, I, er...
0:19:15 > 0:19:18Always been a little bit intimidated by it.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23You're intimidated by me?
0:19:23 > 0:19:27Every woman in America wants to be like you.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31- They want to look like you, they want to dress like you...- Come on.
0:19:31 > 0:19:32Oh, now...
0:19:32 > 0:19:36You start getting all humble on me,
0:19:36 > 0:19:38that's really gonna piss me off.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40You know what intimidates me?
0:19:40 > 0:19:44Someone who can raise a family and have a marriage that works,
0:19:44 > 0:19:46and who makes it all look so easy.
0:19:47 > 0:19:52If I had your secret, I'd trade it all in for every magazine cover I've been on.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59Wow.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01So how do you do it?
0:20:05 > 0:20:07It's no secret, Jackie. I...
0:20:09 > 0:20:10I just...
0:20:10 > 0:20:13Love him.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20Look, I...
0:20:21 > 0:20:24I don't know what goes on between you and Jack.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Frankly, it's none of my business. I...
0:20:26 > 0:20:30I came here because I'm worried about what's going on at the White House.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32What do you mean?
0:20:35 > 0:20:38I don't know the specifics, but I do know that it's serious.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40It's always serious.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44It's different this time, Jackie. It's dangerous.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47Bobby, McNamara, Bundy -
0:20:47 > 0:20:48they've all been working around the clock.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55I can only imagine what Jack must be going through.
0:20:57 > 0:21:02'We just received photos from the CIA, revealing five additional missile sites on the island.'
0:21:02 > 0:21:07They report that the Soviets could have between 16 and 32 missiles ready to fire within several days.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09Mac, what is the timeline on those ships?
0:21:09 > 0:21:11About 3,800 miles away from Cuba.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13At the current rate of speed, they should be there in about a week.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16Mr President, a week is a - is a lifetime.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19The real threat is the missiles already on the island.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22I mean, millions of American citizens will die if they're launched,
0:21:22 > 0:21:24and Khrushchev is just crazy enough to do it.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27I don't know if you're right about that, General. I mean, he's a - he's a bully,
0:21:27 > 0:21:29but, er, I don't think he's hostile.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33- Don't think he's, er, insane enough to want to start a war. - What if you're wrong, sir?
0:21:33 > 0:21:37- I could be, and we should sustain the military option. - We're running out of time, sir.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40- They're arming these missiles as we speak. - I understand that, General,
0:21:40 > 0:21:42but if I am right, I want to give Khrushchev
0:21:42 > 0:21:45as much time as possible to convince the people around him
0:21:45 > 0:21:47that a Goddamn war is not the option.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50Sir, we need to strike and we need to strike now.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52But what you're suggesting is a first strike,
0:21:52 > 0:21:56and a strike without warning will be viewed internationally
0:21:56 > 0:21:59as an unprovoked assault. So if we do this,
0:21:59 > 0:22:01against a small country like Cuba,
0:22:01 > 0:22:04well, it's Pearl Harbour all over again,
0:22:04 > 0:22:06only this time, it's in reverse.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08And my brother will not go down in history
0:22:08 > 0:22:11as the American Tojo.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13So let's rethink this.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16The difficulty we face is, we can't guarantee
0:22:16 > 0:22:19getting rid of the missiles that are already there.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23Well, that's exactly, er, why, in my opinion, er,
0:22:23 > 0:22:25we should focus on stopping these ships.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27That's a more manageable situation.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31We could, er, revisit the blockade idea, sir.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33Establishing a-a demarcation line
0:22:33 > 0:22:36of, say, 500 miles from the Cuban mainland.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38A blockade is an interesting idea.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41But the issue still remains- a blockade is illegal
0:22:41 > 0:22:42under international law.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45Then we call it a quarantine. Nothing illegal about that.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49MAN: there has been A virtual news blackout
0:22:49 > 0:22:52throughout Washington regarding the Cuban situation.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56Whether or not this crisis can be resolved peaceably or not
0:22:56 > 0:22:58is the burning question, the question to which
0:22:58 > 0:23:00source in the White house, the pentagon,
0:23:00 > 0:23:02and the State Department have refused to comment,
0:23:02 > 0:23:03leaving the American people to wait
0:23:03 > 0:23:05and wonder what President Kennedy will say
0:23:05 > 0:23:07when he takes to the air tonight.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09TELEPHONE RINGS
0:23:10 > 0:23:12- Hello? - Mother, it's Bobby.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15Hello, dear. We're just getting ready to watch Jack.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18Well, that's actually why I'm- why I'm calling.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21I just wanted to let you know that, er,
0:23:21 > 0:23:23there may be some things in his speech
0:23:23 > 0:23:25that, er, sound a little frightening to you.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27Uh, I didn't want you and dad to worry.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29Well, with everything we're hearing, we are concerned.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33Move him, will you? I-I can't see the set.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36- Has Jack been to mass? - No, I-I don't think so.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39We've been, er, kind of busy with things here.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41Well, wish him luck.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44- Let him know we're very proud of him.- I will.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Love you. Bye.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50MAN: Their status might be Changed to that of active duty
0:23:50 > 0:23:53at a moment's notice. We switch you now to the Oval Office.
0:23:53 > 0:23:54Ladies and gentlemen,
0:23:54 > 0:23:56the President of the United States.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00Good evening, my fellow citizens.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03This government, as promised,
0:24:03 > 0:24:06has maintained the closest surveillance
0:24:06 > 0:24:09of the Soviet military build-up on the island of Cuba.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13Within the past week, unmistakable evidence
0:24:13 > 0:24:14has established the fact
0:24:14 > 0:24:16that a series of offensive missile sites
0:24:16 > 0:24:19is now in preparation on that imprisoned island.
0:24:19 > 0:24:24The purpose of these bases can be none other
0:24:24 > 0:24:27than to provide a nuclear first-strike capability
0:24:27 > 0:24:29against the western hemisphere.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32I call upon chairman Khrushchev to halt and eliminate
0:24:32 > 0:24:35this clandestine, reckless, and provocative threat to world peace.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39The cost of freedom is always high,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41and Americans have always paid it.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44And one path we shall never choose -
0:24:44 > 0:24:48and that is the path of surrender or submission.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Our goal is not the victory of might,
0:24:50 > 0:24:51but the vindication of right,
0:24:51 > 0:24:55not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58God willing, that goal will be achieved.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00Thank you and good night.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Mac, how far are those Russian ships from the blockade?
0:25:06 > 0:25:07They've just moved to the 100-mile mark.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09OK. In terms of time, are they -
0:25:09 > 0:25:12Mr President, our sonar's just picked up two Russian subs with SLBN Capability
0:25:12 > 0:25:14escorting the ships.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17OK, so if we, er, if we stop their ships, they can retaliate.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Retaliate with their subs, yes, sir. Khrushchev has just upped the ante,
0:25:20 > 0:25:23risking a confrontation 7,000 miles from Moscow.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Gentlemen, could I, er, have your attention, please?
0:25:25 > 0:25:29- Jack, state department just received this from Khrushchev. - Go ahead.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31Uh, "You have not declared a quarantine, but rather have set forth an ultimatum
0:25:31 > 0:25:34"and threatened that if we do not give in to your demands, you will use force. "
0:25:34 > 0:25:37"Naturally, we will not be bystanders with regards to piratical acts
0:25:37 > 0:25:40"by American ships on the high seas.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42"We will be forced to take measures we consider necessary
0:25:42 > 0:25:44"and adequate in order to protect our rights,
0:25:44 > 0:25:47"and we have everything necessary to do so."
0:25:50 > 0:25:52Christ, he's calling us out.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54Yes, sir. And we cannot capitulate.
0:25:54 > 0:25:59If we don't stop those ships, our entire deterrent system loses all credibility.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01- What are the, er... What are the steps? - We signal our intent to board.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04They don't acknowledge, we fire a warning shot across their bow.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08- And, er, if they keep coming? - Then we take out Their rudders and leave them dead in the water.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10- Which runs the risk of killing Russian sailors.- And a retaliation from Khrushchev.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12It's the nature of conflict, sir.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14I know the nature of conflict, General. I've been in it.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16- Mac? - You have no choice but to stop those ships.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19Sir, I still believe a diplomatic solution is possible.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22That's just about the most meaningless thing I've ever heard, Dean.
0:26:22 > 0:26:23We're well beyond diplomacy at this point.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25Khrushchev is gonna run the damned blockade.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27Sir, I agree with the attorney general.
0:26:27 > 0:26:28We have to stop those ships,
0:26:28 > 0:26:33and I recommend that we deploy helos and sub seekers from Key West to stop the subs.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Do you wanna start World War III?
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Decisive action would surgically remove the missiles,
0:26:38 > 0:26:39confronting the world with a fait accompli.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Let's not forget about the political advantage...
0:26:41 > 0:26:43Militarily, there's no options here.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45- Punishment... - There's no other alternative...
0:26:48 > 0:26:51MAN: Strategic air command B-52 bombers,
0:26:51 > 0:26:53already on a massive worldwide airborne alert,
0:26:53 > 0:26:55are now flying 24-hour missions.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01Before one B-52 leaves its airborne station,
0:27:01 > 0:27:03another is airborne to take its place.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08Mr President?
0:27:08 > 0:27:12If we fire on their ships, and they-they do retaliate,
0:27:12 > 0:27:14that initiates a full-scale engagement.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16We already know from the CIA
0:27:16 > 0:27:18that the Soviets have brought their military forces
0:27:18 > 0:27:20- into a complete state of readiness. - Are we ready?
0:27:20 > 0:27:24Yes, sir. We're at defcon 2, sir. We're ready.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41Their ships will, er,
0:27:41 > 0:27:43not be permitted to cross that line.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47Use whatever means necessary to stop them.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50Bobby, talk to Dobrynin. He needs to get word to Khrushchev.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Those ships will be stopped.
0:27:53 > 0:27:54Russian embassy, please.
0:28:00 > 0:28:04It seems to, er, the observer, er, of the scene
0:28:04 > 0:28:08that, er, that Cuba has to be the point of the crisis.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10This is the point at which, er,
0:28:10 > 0:28:14we are concerned that, er, there might be shooting,
0:28:14 > 0:28:16er, among the ships at sea.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19That, er, in the story that we heard a great deal of today,
0:28:19 > 0:28:22the possibility that invasion might have to be undertaken
0:28:22 > 0:28:25to assure that those bases are eliminated.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27Uh, if invasion is undertaken,
0:28:27 > 0:28:30er, the Russians have said that they would retaliate with, er, rocket fire.
0:28:30 > 0:28:34SPEAKING RUSSIAN
0:28:40 > 0:28:42Well, we've given this man every chance to avoid war.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45If it happens now, it's because he wanted it in the first place.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47Civil defence becomes a major problem now.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49There's no contingency to evacuate 100 million people
0:28:49 > 0:28:51- from the east coast. - Sir...
0:28:51 > 0:28:54We just received word from admiral ward on the Essex.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57Did we fire, er, fire on those ships?
0:28:57 > 0:28:58No, sir.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02The Soviet ships have stopped their advance toward the line.
0:29:02 > 0:29:03They're turning around.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08- BOBBY: and what- What about the subs? - They've stopped also.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10But, sir, we still have those operational missile sites
0:29:10 > 0:29:13- on the island. - I find Khrushchev's actions very encouraging, sir.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15I think he just showed us he wants this over as much as we do.
0:29:15 > 0:29:16May I suggest we stay at defcon 2, sir?
0:29:16 > 0:29:21OK, fine. But no provocative action. Khrushchev just stood up to the hawks in the Kremlin.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24- I don't wanna give him a reason to regret it. - Very good, sir.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34Yes. Well, thank you, Mr Prime minister.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37- Thank you. - The, er, State Department
0:29:37 > 0:29:39just translated this letter from Khrushchev.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42It was written before the ships had turned around.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44"Mr President, only lunatics and suicides,
0:29:44 > 0:29:46"who themselves want to perish,
0:29:46 > 0:29:47"would think of waging nuclear war.
0:29:47 > 0:29:52"We in the Soviet Union want to live and do not at all want to destroy your country.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55"I propose we will declare that our ships, bound for Cuba,
0:29:55 > 0:29:57"will not carry any kind of armaments.
0:29:57 > 0:30:02"You will declare that the United States will not invade Cuba."
0:30:03 > 0:30:06- No mention about missiles in Turkey? - Nothing.
0:30:06 > 0:30:08- Does Mac know about this? - I wanted to speak to you.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10Mrs Lincoln, could you get me Mr Bundy?
0:30:10 > 0:30:12- (Mrs Lincoln) Yes, sir. - So how would you like to proceed?
0:30:12 > 0:30:17Well, I wanna prepare a, er, private response
0:30:17 > 0:30:20- to Mr Khrushchev's letter. - Sure.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22No public statement. I don't wanna rub his nose in it.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24He's gonna have a hard enough time keeping his job after all this.
0:30:24 > 0:30:25I'll put something together.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28- Bobby?- Yeah?
0:30:28 > 0:30:30You tell McNamara and that general-
0:30:30 > 0:30:32alert the entire chain of command, nobody moves
0:30:32 > 0:30:34against the Russians without my expressed order.
0:30:34 > 0:30:38I don't want this whole thing to unravel because some second lieutenant didn't get the word.
0:30:38 > 0:30:39Absolutely.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42'Mr Bundy is on his way up, Mr President.'
0:30:46 > 0:30:49- Could you try, er, Mrs Kennedy in Virginia?- 'Yes, sir.'
0:30:59 > 0:31:00'Line one is ringing, sir.'
0:31:09 > 0:31:12TELEPHONE RINGS OUT
0:31:57 > 0:31:59How's it all going?
0:31:59 > 0:32:01Good.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04Good. It looks, er...
0:32:04 > 0:32:06like Khrushchev's gonna back down.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08Good.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14When did you...
0:32:27 > 0:32:30I'm glad you're here.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41TELEPHONE RINGS
0:32:43 > 0:32:45How are the kids?
0:32:45 > 0:32:48Good.
0:32:49 > 0:32:53- Jack. You, er, you better come down here. - What's the matter?
0:32:53 > 0:32:56The Russians shot down one of our U-2s over Cuba,
0:32:56 > 0:32:57killed the pilot.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59It appears to be an act of war.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07All right, thank you.
0:33:09 > 0:33:13Well, Dobrynin swears that, er, Khrushchev insisted
0:33:13 > 0:33:15none of our planes be shot at,
0:33:15 > 0:33:17that one of the anti-aircraft batteries never got the word.
0:33:17 > 0:33:21- You don't believe that crap, do you, sir? - I know this man.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24I've never known him to be emotional before,
0:33:24 > 0:33:25and he was damned near in tears just now, general.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27We based our whole approach on this campaign
0:33:27 > 0:33:29on not pushing Khrushchev into a corner.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31By shooting down that plane, that's exactly what he's done to me.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34Well, Mr President, we can speculate all day,
0:33:34 > 0:33:36but the fact of the matter is that we have a plane down
0:33:36 > 0:33:40and a US Airman dead. What are we gonna do about it?
0:33:40 > 0:33:42Excuse me. This was just received from Khrushchev.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44"You, President Kennedy,
0:33:44 > 0:33:46"have surrounded the Soviet Union
0:33:46 > 0:33:48"with military bases,
0:33:48 > 0:33:51"surrounded our allies with military bases,
0:33:51 > 0:33:54"literally dispersed military bases around the country
0:33:54 > 0:33:57"and stationed your rocket armaments there.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59"You are worried about Cuba because it is a distance
0:33:59 > 0:34:01"of 90 miles from the American coast.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04"However, Turkey is next to us -
0:34:04 > 0:34:06"literally at our elbow.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08"We agree to remove from Cuba
0:34:08 > 0:34:11"those means which you regard as offensive means.
0:34:11 > 0:34:14"You will remove your analogous means from Turkey."
0:34:14 > 0:34:16You can't allow Khrushchev to dictate
0:34:16 > 0:34:18- how we defend our allies. - Aren't we doing that to him?
0:34:18 > 0:34:20That's not the same thing. We've had missiles in Turkey for years.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24Those Jupiter missiles are obsolete. It wouldn't be the worst thing if we took them out.
0:34:24 > 0:34:26No, the general's right. I can't agree to a quid pro quo
0:34:26 > 0:34:29when Khrushchev's got his foot on my neck. It's a perception issue.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32This seems odd to me, Jack.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35I find it hard to believe that these two letters
0:34:35 > 0:34:38- came from the same source. - Well, I don't think they did.
0:34:38 > 0:34:40I mean, this-this first letter is all emotion.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42You can hear Khrushchev's voice in this.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46That letter, Mac, is cold. It's dry and bureaucratic.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48I think, er, Khrushchev's getting, er, push back
0:34:48 > 0:34:52from his foreign ministry because he didn't run the blockade.
0:34:52 > 0:34:53It doesn't matter.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56- We have to respond to this communication.- Why?
0:34:56 > 0:34:59I'm sorry, Bobby. I don't understand the question.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02Well, who cares if we got two letters?
0:35:02 > 0:35:04I say we respond to the first one.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06And ignore the second altogether?
0:35:06 > 0:35:08Sure.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10I like that very much.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12Sir, I've never heard of simply ignoring a letter
0:35:12 > 0:35:14from the Russian foreign ministry.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17Well, Dean, we are the, er, party of progress.
0:35:17 > 0:35:19No, Mac, I think you, er,
0:35:19 > 0:35:21draft a response to the first letter.
0:35:21 > 0:35:26- Tell Khrushchev we're very, er, encouraged by his attitude. Be vague. - Yes, sir.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28Mr President,
0:35:28 > 0:35:30even if we ignore this second letter,
0:35:30 > 0:35:33that doesn't mean that the issue about Turkey
0:35:33 > 0:35:38is gonna go away. Khrushchev is gonna want something in return for taking his missiles out of Cuba.
0:35:40 > 0:35:45- Bobby, are you sure Dobrynin has a direct line with Khrushchev? - Absolutely.
0:35:45 > 0:35:46Then you talk to him.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49Tell him they've got to get those missiles out of Cuba now.
0:35:49 > 0:35:51If they don't, we will.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56Six months from now...
0:35:56 > 0:35:57When, er...
0:35:57 > 0:35:59When all this is forgotten,
0:35:59 > 0:36:03we'll, er, we'll agree to go into, er,
0:36:03 > 0:36:06Turkey in the middle of the night, and we'll take the damn things out ourselves.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09Both sides agree not to go public with this,
0:36:09 > 0:36:13but their, er, their deadline for this...
0:36:16 > 0:36:17Is now.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20So what if he doesn't agree?
0:36:21 > 0:36:26Well, they're shooting down our planes.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28We're gonna start shooting back.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32("Danny boy" playing on piano)
0:36:51 > 0:36:54JACK CONTINUES PLAYING
0:36:59 > 0:37:01STOPS PLAYING
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Well...if this continues to go badly,
0:37:19 > 0:37:21I, er, I want you and the kids
0:37:21 > 0:37:24to move to the shelter in Maryland.
0:37:24 > 0:37:26What about you?
0:37:26 > 0:37:29There's a secure area downstairs.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36I'm not leaving you, Jack.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40I want to be here no matter what happens.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03Now here me on this -
0:38:03 > 0:38:05I want the attack wing prepared for wheels up
0:38:05 > 0:38:07the second the President gives his directive.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09Kick the tires and light the fires.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12We've informed members of the OES That we're prepared
0:38:12 > 0:38:14to commence military intervention
0:38:14 > 0:38:17if we don't hear from Khrushchev by 2:00 PM Washington time.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21- We're down to 90 minutes. - Give Khrushchev a couple more hours.
0:38:21 > 0:38:25- We can't let this thing drag on forever, it only helps him. - We should go in early, sir.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28- Get a jump on him. - You can't jump the deadline, Tom!
0:38:28 > 0:38:30- What the hell Are you talking about? - It's pre-emptive.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33- We're not going until we say... - Could you all be quiet, please?
0:38:34 > 0:38:37Jack, Khrushchev, er, is on the radio in Moscow.
0:38:37 > 0:38:40Can you, er, repeat that, please?
0:38:40 > 0:38:43No, no, you-you stay on the line with me.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46I want to know precisely what he said, word for word.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48Uh-huh.
0:38:48 > 0:38:49He-he said what?
0:38:52 > 0:38:54Did he, er, did he give a timeline?
0:38:58 > 0:39:00All right.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02Thank you.
0:39:04 > 0:39:08Jack, he just went on the air to make sure that we heard,
0:39:08 > 0:39:10without any delay,
0:39:10 > 0:39:12that he's, er, accepting our terms.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14He's gonna remove the missiles from Cuba.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16BENNETT: Son of a bitch!
0:39:16 > 0:39:18LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE
0:39:20 > 0:39:24MEN: Speech. Speech. Speech!
0:39:24 > 0:39:26Speech. Speech! Speech!
0:39:26 > 0:39:29Well, I, er...
0:39:29 > 0:39:30Oh.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34I suppose you've, er, all earned your pay this week.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36Finally(!)
0:39:36 > 0:39:38It was a tremendous effort. Thank you all.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40- Yes.- Yes!
0:39:50 > 0:39:52Congratulations.
0:39:52 > 0:39:53Yeah.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55How does it feel?
0:39:55 > 0:39:58Puts you right up there with Lincoln.
0:39:58 > 0:40:00Well, maybe tonight I'll go to the theatre.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02Well, you go, I go with you.
0:40:02 > 0:40:03Castro's finest.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06Thank you, general.
0:40:13 > 0:40:19Goodness gracious. I haven't been home in a week. Ethel may have had another baby.
0:40:19 > 0:40:20LAUGHS
0:40:23 > 0:40:25'While the quarantine Remains in effect,'
0:40:25 > 0:40:28we are hopeful that adequate procedures
0:40:28 > 0:40:30can be developed
0:40:30 > 0:40:32for international inspection of Cuba-bound cargos.
0:40:32 > 0:40:36Progress is now being made for the restoration of peace in the Caribbean.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39And it is our firm hope and purpose
0:40:39 > 0:40:41that this progress shall go forward,
0:40:41 > 0:40:43not only for this time
0:40:43 > 0:40:45but for all time.
0:40:45 > 0:40:47What's he talking about?
0:40:49 > 0:40:51Your daddy just saved the world.
0:41:15 > 0:41:19E-mail us at subtitling@bbc.co.uk