Thirteen Days

0:00:02 > 0:00:05This film contains some strong language.

0:03:00 > 0:03:02HE GROANS

0:03:05 > 0:03:09Hey! What the...? GIGGLING

0:03:09 > 0:03:13Who's that? Who grabbed me? Who grabbed me?

0:03:13 > 0:03:16Who grabbed me? < BABY CRIES

0:03:16 > 0:03:21- Honey, you're gonna be late. - What did you grab me for?

0:03:21 > 0:03:24- Hmm?- Mom, I can't find my shoes for school!

0:03:24 > 0:03:27- BABY CONTINUES CRYING - They're under the couch.

0:03:27 > 0:03:32- Dad, will you sign my permission slip for tomorrow? - Give it to your mother.

0:03:32 > 0:03:35Your mother's arms are full.

0:03:35 > 0:03:38- Have you got time for pancakes? - No.- Give us another one.

0:03:38 > 0:03:41Secretary of Defence.

0:03:41 > 0:03:44- Dean Rusk.- Wrong.

0:03:44 > 0:03:48- And you get to wax my car.- Rusk is State, moron. It's Robert McNamara.

0:03:48 > 0:03:52- Attorney General.- Too easy. - PHONE RINGS BOTH:- It's Bobby Kennedy.

0:03:54 > 0:03:59OK, wise guys, er, Assistant Secretary of State for Latin America.

0:03:59 > 0:04:02- That's too hard. - Wait a minute.

0:04:02 > 0:04:04This isn't a permission slip.

0:04:04 > 0:04:07This is your report card.

0:04:08 > 0:04:10Have you seen these grades?

0:04:10 > 0:04:13No.

0:04:13 > 0:04:16All right. Gotta go. Be good.

0:04:19 > 0:04:21You. I'm talkin' to you later.

0:06:24 > 0:06:26HE WHISTLES

0:06:58 > 0:07:01- Morning, Evelyn. - Hi, Ken.

0:07:02 > 0:07:05- Oh...those candies are for the kids.- Mmm-hmm.

0:07:14 > 0:07:16HE CONTINUES WHISTLING

0:07:23 > 0:07:26- Morning, Floyd. - Morning, Mr O'Donnell.

0:07:38 > 0:07:42- Morning, Jackie.- Hi, Kenny. - Want a schedule?- No.

0:07:42 > 0:07:45Why have you crossed all my people off the list?

0:07:45 > 0:07:49You don't have anybody on it who means anything. No votes, no money.

0:07:49 > 0:07:54It's a party. The one thing we are sure of is you don't know how to have a party.

0:07:54 > 0:07:56Well, party to you, politics to me.

0:07:56 > 0:08:00So, who do you want? For real?

0:08:00 > 0:08:06Everyone on my list. I don't want to spend my evening pretending your votes and money are interesting.

0:08:06 > 0:08:12- And I want my kids to stop eating the candy in the Oval Office. - That's not me.- Then, who is it?

0:08:12 > 0:08:18- I don't rat on my friends. - Well, I'm gonna take this whole list thing up with your friend.

0:08:18 > 0:08:22- Are you trying to go around me? - Round you, over you, through you,

0:08:22 > 0:08:26- whatever it takes. - You're starting to bug me.

0:08:26 > 0:08:28- Good. - I'll get back to you.

0:08:33 > 0:08:36Top of the morning, Mr President.

0:08:36 > 0:08:38Morning, Kenny.

0:08:38 > 0:08:42- I just ran into your wife. Wanna talk about this party?- No.

0:08:42 > 0:08:46You see, er, Homer Capehart's tirade today?

0:08:46 > 0:08:51I did. I don't see why he has to invent an issue. He's got his election sewn up.

0:08:51 > 0:08:56We should still go out for Bayh. It's good groundwork for us in '64.

0:08:56 > 0:09:00I'm looking for that, er... that Vietnam thing.

0:09:00 > 0:09:03- About the two planes that went down? - Yeah.

0:09:03 > 0:09:07It didn't make it before press time. I haven't seen the West Coast papers,

0:09:07 > 0:09:10but I doubt we'll see anything until tomorrow.

0:09:10 > 0:09:13I was eating that.

0:09:13 > 0:09:16- No, you weren't. - I was.

0:09:16 > 0:09:18- No, you weren't. - I was.

0:09:20 > 0:09:23I was. Bastard.

0:09:23 > 0:09:27- What have we got today? - Today...

0:09:36 > 0:09:42That's it. That's the one we're looking for.

0:09:42 > 0:09:45- I need to see the President, Kenny. - All right.

0:09:45 > 0:09:482.30 to 2.45, or 4.30 to 5.00.

0:09:48 > 0:09:50- Take your pick. - Now, Ken.

0:09:52 > 0:09:55Go on up. I'll let him know you're coming.

0:10:00 > 0:10:02- Coffee? - Yeah.

0:10:04 > 0:10:07That's not what you said.

0:10:07 > 0:10:12- 'What did I say? Tell me.' - That's... Listen to me, you worthless piece of shit!

0:10:12 > 0:10:15Now, you will put Daley's man on the circuit today!

0:10:15 > 0:10:18You owe your goddamn job to this administration.

0:10:18 > 0:10:23- 'I'm grateful for that.' - Yeah. I can hear how grateful you are(!)

0:10:23 > 0:10:28There's a word you need to learn. It's the only word in politics.

0:10:28 > 0:10:30Loyalty. Loyalty!

0:10:30 > 0:10:35- Now, any part of this you don't understand?- 'No.'- Good.

0:10:37 > 0:10:42What? This isn't the Blessed Order of Saint Mary the Meek.

0:10:42 > 0:10:44OK, you better come in here.

0:10:44 > 0:10:50- What did you say to me the other day about Cuba? That it wasn't important?- Not for the election.

0:10:50 > 0:10:53Can I see that for a second? Let me see that.

0:10:53 > 0:11:00You used to look down a bomb sight for a living. Ignore the labels, what does that look like to you?

0:11:06 > 0:11:09I don't know. What is it?

0:11:09 > 0:11:14Our U-2s took these pictures. The Soviets are putting medium-range ballistic missiles into Cuba.

0:11:14 > 0:11:20They appear to be the SS-4. Range of 1,000 miles. Three megaton nuclear warheads.

0:11:20 > 0:11:24Seen here in this year's May Day parade in Red Square.

0:11:28 > 0:11:30Jesus Christ in heaven.

0:11:32 > 0:11:37- Operator.- Operator. - White House operator. Mr O'Donnell for Secretary McNamara.

0:11:37 > 0:11:40Mr Sorensen, you have a call.

0:11:40 > 0:11:46Yeah. White House operator. I've got the President for the Attorney General. What the crap is goin' on?

0:11:46 > 0:11:51That's right. The principals are assembling in an hour. See you then.

0:11:51 > 0:11:55- Where's Bobby?- He should be here any minute.- Oh, good.

0:11:59 > 0:12:01Good.

0:12:01 > 0:12:04Where the hell are you?

0:12:04 > 0:12:06We're in here.

0:12:08 > 0:12:12Jesus Christ, guys. What the hell is Khrushchev thinking?

0:12:12 > 0:12:16Did you have any indication of this from your KGB pal, Bolchekov?

0:12:16 > 0:12:22Complete snowjob. We went out and told the country they weren't putting missiles into Cuba.

0:12:22 > 0:12:27Jesus. I... I feel like we caught the Jap carrier steaming for Pearl Harbour.

0:12:48 > 0:12:51- Morning, gentlemen. - ALL:- Good morning, Mr President.

0:12:51 > 0:12:55- Mr Secretary.- Mr President. - Bob, I thought you had a late night?

0:12:55 > 0:12:58- Sleep is for the weak. - Max.- Mr President.

0:12:58 > 0:13:04The CIA's been notified. McCone's on his way back from the West Coast. He's been burying his step-son.

0:13:04 > 0:13:07General Carter's here though.

0:13:09 > 0:13:11- Ted.- Kenny.

0:13:12 > 0:13:15OK.

0:13:16 > 0:13:19- Let's have it. - Arthur.

0:13:19 > 0:13:24Gentlemen, as most of you now know, a U-2 over Cuba, Sunday morning,

0:13:24 > 0:13:27took a series of disturbing photographs.

0:13:27 > 0:13:31'Our analysis at NPIC indicated the Soviet Union has followed up

0:13:31 > 0:13:34'its conventional weapons build up in Cuba

0:13:34 > 0:13:39'with the introduction of surface-to-surface, medium-range ballistic missiles

0:13:39 > 0:13:43'or MRBNs. Our official estimate at this time

0:13:43 > 0:13:47'is that this missile system is the SS-4 Sandal.'

0:13:47 > 0:13:51'We do not believe that the missiles are as yet operational.

0:13:51 > 0:13:57'Ironbark reports that the SS-4 can deliver a three megaton nuclear weapon 1,000 miles.

0:13:57 > 0:14:02'So far we've identified 32 missiles, serviced by about 3,400 men,

0:14:02 > 0:14:05'undoubtedly all Soviet personnel.'

0:14:05 > 0:14:09Our cities and military installations in the southeast

0:14:09 > 0:14:12as far north as Washington DC are in range of these weapons.

0:14:12 > 0:14:16If they launch, we would have only five minutes of warning.

0:14:16 > 0:14:21- Five minutes, gentlemen. - In those five minutes, they could kill 80 million Americans

0:14:21 > 0:14:25and destroy a significant percentage of our bomber bases,

0:14:25 > 0:14:28degrading our retaliatory options.

0:14:28 > 0:14:34The Joint Chiefs' consensus, sir, is that this signals a major doctrinal shift in Soviet thinking

0:14:34 > 0:14:38to a first-strike policy.

0:14:38 > 0:14:41It is a massively destabilising move.

0:14:42 > 0:14:46- How long until they're operational? - General Taylor can answer that.

0:14:46 > 0:14:51GMIC - Guided Missiles Intelligence Committee - estimates 10 to 14 days.

0:14:51 > 0:14:54'Crash programme could limit that time.

0:14:54 > 0:14:58'However, I must stress that there may be more missiles...'

0:14:58 > 0:15:00that we don't know about.

0:15:00 > 0:15:03We need more U-2 coverage.

0:15:03 > 0:15:08First reactions. Assuming for now Khrushchev has not gone off the deep end

0:15:08 > 0:15:11and intends to start World War III, what are we looking at?

0:15:11 > 0:15:14Mr President, I think my team is in agreement.

0:15:14 > 0:15:19If we permit nuclear missiles to be in a Soviet satellite nation in our hemisphere,

0:15:19 > 0:15:24the diplomatic consequences would be...too terrible to contemplate.

0:15:24 > 0:15:29The Russians are trying to show the world they can do whatever they want and we're powerless.

0:15:29 > 0:15:32- If they succeed... - It'll be Munich again.

0:15:32 > 0:15:35Yes. Appeasement only makes the aggressor more aggressive.

0:15:35 > 0:15:41And the Soviets will be emboldened to push us even harder. We must remove the missiles.

0:15:41 > 0:15:46It seems to me the options are some combination of international pressure and action on our part

0:15:46 > 0:15:52until they give in, or...we hit them.

0:15:52 > 0:15:54An air strike.

0:15:54 > 0:15:56Bob?

0:15:56 > 0:15:59We've worked up several military scenarios. Before General Taylor

0:15:59 > 0:16:02takes us through them, I'd like us to adopt a rule.

0:16:02 > 0:16:08If we agree to strike, we must agree now to do it before the missiles become operational

0:16:08 > 0:16:14because once they are, I don't think we can guarantee getting them all before at least...

0:16:14 > 0:16:16at least some of them are launched.

0:16:16 > 0:16:21It's clear we cannot permit Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba.

0:16:27 > 0:16:30We have to get those missiles out.

0:16:30 > 0:16:34I don't think it'll matter what Khrushchev's intentions are,

0:16:34 > 0:16:38I can tell you right now, I don't see any way around hitting them.

0:16:38 > 0:16:45If we hit 'em and kill a lot of Russians, they'll move against Berlin. And that's NATO.

0:16:45 > 0:16:50- And, then, we're at war. - If we don't, we're in a war for sure somewhere else in six months.

0:16:50 > 0:16:55If there are alternatives that make sense, I'm not saying there are, we need 'em fast.

0:16:55 > 0:17:01What about Congress? We may need to let key people know. They're scattered across the country.

0:17:01 > 0:17:06- We can get Congress back. - We need the UN started and warmed up. What about the allies?

0:17:06 > 0:17:11We can't start worrying about everything. Worry about what we're gonna do first.

0:17:11 > 0:17:17We've got smart guys. Lock 'em in a room and kick 'em in the ass until they come up with solutions.

0:17:19 > 0:17:21I'll do it.

0:17:22 > 0:17:28It's too politicised with you in there anyway. They need to be able to stick their necks out.

0:17:28 > 0:17:32It'll be the principals, a couple of keys guys from each department.

0:17:32 > 0:17:38The, er, "Executive Committee of the National Security Council". Call it ExComm.

0:17:38 > 0:17:39OK.

0:17:39 > 0:17:43I'm only thinking of showing for the meetings that you show me into.

0:17:43 > 0:17:46Impress us. Do it fast.

0:17:46 > 0:17:49Kenny, you'll be in charge of keeping this thing quiet.

0:17:49 > 0:17:53If word gets out before we know what we're gonna do, there'll be panic.

0:17:53 > 0:17:59- It'll ruin any chance of surprise if we decide to hit them.- We need to do a few things right away.

0:17:59 > 0:18:02No Pierre. He knows, the press knows.

0:18:02 > 0:18:08And you're gonna have to keep up your schedule. Your movements are followed too closely.

0:18:08 > 0:18:12- George Ball's got a conference room at State.- Meet there later,

0:18:12 > 0:18:15we'll figure out some way to sneak you back in tonight.

0:18:15 > 0:18:18I think we should bring in Dean Acheson.

0:18:18 > 0:18:22Ken, he was fighting Soviets while we were still at school.

0:18:24 > 0:18:26Find him, Kenny.

0:18:26 > 0:18:30We're gonna need all the help we can get.

0:18:30 > 0:18:32Oh, hell.

0:18:33 > 0:18:35MAN LAUGHS

0:18:35 > 0:18:38MAN GROANS

0:18:38 > 0:18:42Screw secrecy. Try having that fat ass on your lap all the way from Foggy Bottom.

0:18:42 > 0:18:44Excited. I say no more.

0:18:44 > 0:18:50Everybody agrees the diplomatic route won't work. They'll have the missiles finished while we talk.

0:18:50 > 0:18:55I hear old Warren Harding used to get his girls in through here.

0:18:55 > 0:19:00We have 850 planes assembling at Homestead, Eglin, Opa Locka,

0:19:00 > 0:19:03MacDill, Patrick, Pensacola and Key West.

0:19:03 > 0:19:07Due to the tropical foliage, the OPLAN calls for high explosive

0:19:07 > 0:19:11and napalm loadouts for our ground attack sorties.

0:19:11 > 0:19:16I still think there are diplomatic approaches we haven't considered yet.

0:19:16 > 0:19:19Jesus. "Peace at any price"? We have a gun to our head.

0:19:19 > 0:19:23We have high confidence in the expanded air strike option.

0:19:23 > 0:19:29The problem is, sir, it's a short-term solution. Khrushchev can send in more missiles next month.

0:19:29 > 0:19:36The Chiefs and I believe we should follow up the air strikes with a full version of OPLAN 316.

0:19:36 > 0:19:41- An invasion.- Yes, sir. We can be sure we get all the missiles and we remove Castro,

0:19:41 > 0:19:47- and make sure it never happens again.- Is this the Joint Chiefs' recommendation?- Yes, sir.

0:19:47 > 0:19:52Our best option would be to commence the strikes before the missiles become operational.

0:19:52 > 0:19:55The invasion happens eight days later.

0:19:57 > 0:19:59Dean, er...

0:19:59 > 0:20:01what do you think?

0:20:01 > 0:20:06Gentlemen, for the last 15 years I have fought here at this table

0:20:06 > 0:20:10alongside your predecessors in the struggle against the Soviet.

0:20:10 > 0:20:14I do not wish to seem melodramatic but I do wish to impress upon you

0:20:14 > 0:20:17a lesson I learned with bitter tears and great sacrifice.

0:20:17 > 0:20:23The Soviet understands only one language. Action. Respects only one word.

0:20:23 > 0:20:26Force. I concur with General Taylor.

0:20:26 > 0:20:29I recommend, sir, air strikes followed by invasion,

0:20:29 > 0:20:33perhaps preceded by an ultimatum to dismantle the missiles,

0:20:33 > 0:20:37- if that is militarily viable. - So we have three options.

0:20:37 > 0:20:41Number one, a surgical air strike against their missiles themselves.

0:20:41 > 0:20:45Two, a much larger air strike against their defences,

0:20:45 > 0:20:49along with the missiles. And three, invasion.

0:20:49 > 0:20:54So, er, we're certainly gonna do number one. We're gonna take these missiles out.

0:20:54 > 0:21:00It seems to me we can't wait very long. We should at least be making those preparations.

0:21:00 > 0:21:05We are preparing all three options. I must stress again there are risks to the strikes

0:21:05 > 0:21:11- without the follow-on invasion. - You want to be clear that we've decided against a political track.

0:21:13 > 0:21:16Dean, er, how does this all,

0:21:16 > 0:21:19how does this all play out?

0:21:19 > 0:21:25Your first step, sir, will be to demand that the Soviets withdraw the missiles within 12 to 24 hours.

0:21:25 > 0:21:30They will refuse. When they do, you will order the strikes followed by the invasion.

0:21:30 > 0:21:33They will resist and be overrun.

0:21:33 > 0:21:38They will retaliate against another target somewhere else in the world, most likely Berlin.

0:21:38 > 0:21:44We will honour our treaty commitments and resist them there, defeating them per our plans.

0:21:44 > 0:21:48Those plans call for the use of nuclear weapons.

0:21:53 > 0:21:57So, what is the, er...? What is the next step?

0:21:57 > 0:22:01Hopefully cooler heads will prevail before we reach the next step.

0:22:04 > 0:22:07Thank you, gentlemen.

0:22:20 > 0:22:22- HE SIGHS - What happened in there?

0:22:22 > 0:22:28- I thought he was gonna give us his decision.- They just need to make sure there's no other way.

0:22:28 > 0:22:34Remember, Kennedy's father was one of the architects of Munich. There's only one responsible choice.

0:22:34 > 0:22:37Let's hope appeasement doesn't run in families. I fear weakness does.

0:22:48 > 0:22:50HE GROANS

0:22:53 > 0:22:55HE SIGHS

0:22:57 > 0:22:59Jesus Christ.

0:22:59 > 0:23:02HE LAUGHS

0:23:02 > 0:23:07Call me Irish but I don't believe in cooler heads prevailing.

0:23:07 > 0:23:12- They think I froze.- You didn't. - You did the right thing. You stayed out of the corner.

0:23:12 > 0:23:17- You didn't decide.- Acheson's scenario is just... It's unacceptable.

0:23:17 > 0:23:22- He's got more experience than anyone.- There is no expert. There's no wise old man.

0:23:22 > 0:23:25Shit. There's just us.

0:23:25 > 0:23:27Well, the thing is, Acheson's right.

0:23:27 > 0:23:30Talk alone is not gonna accomplish anything.

0:23:30 > 0:23:34Then let's bomb the shit out of 'em.

0:23:34 > 0:23:37Everyone wants to. I mean, even you.

0:23:37 > 0:23:39Even me.

0:23:39 > 0:23:41Right? It sure would feel good.

0:23:41 > 0:23:47Now, Jack, I'm as conniving as they come but... a sneak attack is just wrong.

0:23:47 > 0:23:51Things are happening too fast. It's like the Bay Of Pigs all over again.

0:23:51 > 0:23:55Listening to Taylor and Acheson, I kept seeing Lenitza and Dulles,

0:23:55 > 0:24:01telling me all I had to do was sign on the dotted line and the invasion would succeed,

0:24:01 > 0:24:04that Castro would be gone.

0:24:04 > 0:24:07Just...easy just like that.

0:24:08 > 0:24:10HE SIGHS

0:24:12 > 0:24:16You know, there's something...

0:24:16 > 0:24:19immoral about abandoning your own judgement.

0:24:22 > 0:24:25We just can't let this get out of hand.

0:24:25 > 0:24:30We're gonna do whatever we have to do to make this come out right.

0:24:32 > 0:24:37- I'm gonna stay here tomorrow. - No, you can't. We talked about this. Your schedule.

0:24:37 > 0:24:40The best thing you can do tomorrow is go to Connecticut.

0:24:40 > 0:24:42- HE SIGHS - He's right.

0:24:45 > 0:24:48Yeah. Jesus.

0:24:51 > 0:24:54BAND PLAYS "NATIONAL EMBLEM MARCH"

0:25:02 > 0:25:06Doesn't anyone in Connecticut have to work today?

0:25:06 > 0:25:09CHEERING

0:25:16 > 0:25:21The full spectrum of air strikes is the minimum response the Joint Chiefs will accept.

0:25:21 > 0:25:23No. No. No!

0:25:23 > 0:25:29There is more than one option here. If one isn't occurring to us, we haven't thought hard enough.

0:25:29 > 0:25:33Sometimes there is only one right choice and you thank God for it.

0:25:33 > 0:25:36You're talking about a sneak attack. How would that make us look?

0:25:36 > 0:25:40A big country blasting a little one into the Stone Age.

0:25:40 > 0:25:45- We'll be everyone's favourites(!) - That's naive. This is the real world.

0:25:45 > 0:25:49- You know that better than anybody. - You weren't so ethically particular

0:25:49 > 0:25:53when we talked about options for removing Castro at CIA.

0:26:03 > 0:26:07Bob, if we go ahead with these air strikes,

0:26:07 > 0:26:11you know what it'll come to in the end.

0:26:11 > 0:26:13There has got to be something else.

0:26:13 > 0:26:18Give it to me. I don't care how crazy, inadequate or stupid it sounds.

0:26:18 > 0:26:20Give it to me.

0:26:22 > 0:26:28Six months ago, we gamed out a scenario. It's slow, it doesn't take out the missiles, lots of drawbacks.

0:26:33 > 0:26:36The scenario calls for a blockade of Cuba.

0:27:02 > 0:27:08- CAMERA CLICKS - 'It's worse than we thought.'

0:27:08 > 0:27:12We now count 40 missiles. 40 missiles.

0:27:13 > 0:27:16Longer range. IRBMs.

0:27:16 > 0:27:19They could hit every place in the country except Seattle.

0:27:19 > 0:27:23Mr President, you give me the order right now,

0:27:23 > 0:27:27my planes will be ready to carry out the air strikes in three days.

0:27:27 > 0:27:31All you gotta do is say, "Go," my boys will get those Red bastards.

0:27:33 > 0:27:36General, how long until the army's ready?

0:27:36 > 0:27:42We've just begun the mobilisation under cover of an exercise. A week and a half.

0:27:42 > 0:27:45But you can order the strikes now.

0:27:45 > 0:27:48The plans call for an eight-day air campaign.

0:27:48 > 0:27:52It'll light a fire under the army's ass to get in place.

0:27:52 > 0:27:58- General LeMay, do you truly believe that's our best course of action? - I believe it is the only course.

0:27:58 > 0:28:04America is in danger. Those missiles are a threat to our bomber bases and the safety of our nuclear deterrent.

0:28:04 > 0:28:09Without it, there's nothing to keep the enemy from choosing general nuclear war.

0:28:09 > 0:28:15It's our duty, sir, our responsibility to the American people to take out those missiles

0:28:15 > 0:28:18and return stability to the strategic situation.

0:28:18 > 0:28:23- The big Red dog is digging in our back yard and we are justified in shooting him.- Sir,

0:28:23 > 0:28:27we have a rapidly closing window of opportunity

0:28:27 > 0:28:31where we can prevent those missiles from ever becoming operational.

0:28:31 > 0:28:36The other options do not guarantee the end result that we can guarantee.

0:28:36 > 0:28:41However, as more time goes by, the less reliable the choice we can offer you becomes.

0:28:41 > 0:28:46Mr President, the motto I chose for SAC is "Peace is our profession."

0:28:46 > 0:28:50God forbid, we find ourselves in a nuclear exchange, but if launched,

0:28:50 > 0:28:53those missiles from Cuba would kill a lot of Americans.

0:28:53 > 0:28:58The very presence of those missiles gives the Soviets first-strike capability.

0:28:58 > 0:29:01Those missiles make a nuclear exchange more likely.

0:29:01 > 0:29:06And that is why I'm being such a pain in the ass about destroying them immediately.

0:29:06 > 0:29:10Hell, even Mac agrees.

0:29:10 > 0:29:16And, sir, given your own statements about Cuba

0:29:16 > 0:29:20I think a blockade or a bunch of political talk

0:29:20 > 0:29:24would be considered by a lot of our friends and neutrals

0:29:24 > 0:29:26as a pretty weak response.

0:29:26 > 0:29:30I suspect that many of our own citizens might feel the same way.

0:29:30 > 0:29:34You're in a pretty bad fix, Mr President.

0:29:37 > 0:29:40What did you say?

0:29:40 > 0:29:43You're in a pretty bad fix.

0:29:44 > 0:29:47Maybe you haven't noticed, you're in it with me.

0:29:50 > 0:29:54Now, General, what are the Soviets gonna do when we attack?

0:29:55 > 0:29:57Nothing.

0:29:57 > 0:30:00- Nothing? - Nothing.

0:30:00 > 0:30:03Because the only alternative open to them...

0:30:03 > 0:30:06is one they can't choose.

0:30:06 > 0:30:11You know, they're not just missiles we're gonna be destroying, General.

0:30:11 > 0:30:15If we kill Soviet soldiers, they're gonna respond.

0:30:15 > 0:30:18How would we respond if they killed ours?

0:30:18 > 0:30:23No, they're gonna do something, I can promise you that.

0:30:25 > 0:30:31Those goddamn Kennedys are gonna destroy this country if we don't do something about this.

0:30:32 > 0:30:37- We're headed out to the back yard to take a look for that big Red dog(!) - Thanks, Bob.

0:30:37 > 0:30:43I was hoping LeMay pushed you cos I was ready to knock that son of a bitch across the room.

0:30:43 > 0:30:47We knew it was coming. Those brass-heads have an advantage. If we do what they want,

0:30:47 > 0:30:50none of us will be alive to tell them they were wrong.

0:30:50 > 0:30:54Mr President, we need to go over what you'll say.

0:30:54 > 0:30:59- Gromyko will be on his way.- There's no sign they know we know about the missiles.- Keep it that way.

0:31:13 > 0:31:15< CHATTERING

0:31:15 > 0:31:18- Kenny. - I'll be right there.

0:31:18 > 0:31:21I'm getting funny questions from the guys.

0:31:21 > 0:31:23Yeah? What sort?

0:31:23 > 0:31:28About military exercises. To do my job, I need to know what's going on.

0:31:28 > 0:31:31- Military exercises? - Yeah. Military exercises.

0:31:31 > 0:31:35I haven't heard anything about it. Ask Bundy.

0:31:35 > 0:31:38I did. He said to ask you.

0:31:38 > 0:31:42Mr Gromyko, this way, please! What are your hopes?

0:31:42 > 0:31:45- Give us a statement. - Pleasure to be here.

0:31:47 > 0:31:51- Robert. Hue, how are you? - Good.

0:31:53 > 0:31:59- Excuse me, Joan. Tell me about this military exercise that's going on in Puerto Rico.- What?!

0:31:59 > 0:32:03It's called, er... Ortsac, I believe. Castro spelt backwards.

0:32:03 > 0:32:07- Ortsac, I... I don't know what you're talking about.- Me either.

0:32:07 > 0:32:14- Why?- Because maybe the President and Gromyko are gonna talk about it. - Don't try and drum something up.

0:32:14 > 0:32:17This meeting's been on the books for months.

0:32:17 > 0:32:20It's just a friendly talk on US-Soviet relations.

0:32:22 > 0:32:24- Mr President! - Mr President!

0:32:24 > 0:32:29All right, hold it, fellas. Hold it. You'll get your picture.

0:32:29 > 0:32:31Does it?

0:32:32 > 0:32:33Mmm-hmm.

0:32:33 > 0:32:36I'll be damned.

0:32:36 > 0:32:39Kinda simple for the Pentagon.

0:32:42 > 0:32:44Mr Ambassador!

0:32:44 > 0:32:46A comment, sir.

0:32:48 > 0:32:53- Mr Gromyko, thank you for coming. - Hold on, guys. One minute.

0:32:58 > 0:33:00Gentlemen, would you mind shaking hands?

0:33:00 > 0:33:05So that there should be no misunderstanding of the position of the United States,

0:33:05 > 0:33:10which has been made clear by the Attorney General to Ambassador Dobrynin,

0:33:10 > 0:33:14I shall read from my statement to the press dated September 13th.

0:33:14 > 0:33:17"Should missiles or offensive weapons be placed in Cuba,

0:33:17 > 0:33:21"it would present the gravest threat to US national security."

0:33:21 > 0:33:26As Premier Khrushchev's own statement of September 13th assured you,

0:33:26 > 0:33:30our assistance to Cuba is of a defensive nature only.

0:33:34 > 0:33:37So I do not misunderstand you,

0:33:37 > 0:33:43- there are no offensive weapons in Cuba?- Premier Kruschev's statement of September 13th

0:33:43 > 0:33:48remains the position of the Soviet Government. To that, I have nothing to add.

0:33:48 > 0:33:50Well, that's good enough for me.

0:33:50 > 0:33:52- Thanks so much.- Thank you.

0:33:56 > 0:34:01- Gentlemen, if you'll come with me, please.- It was a pleasure.

0:34:04 > 0:34:06CHATTERING OUTSIDE DOOR

0:34:06 > 0:34:08What happened?

0:34:08 > 0:34:11Lying bastard. Lied right to my face.

0:34:11 > 0:34:16We're split down the middle. If I held a vote, air strike would beat blockade by a vote or two.

0:34:16 > 0:34:20I want a consensus. Something everyone's gonna stand by

0:34:20 > 0:34:22even if they don't like it.

0:34:22 > 0:34:26And I need it by Saturday. So make it happen.

0:34:26 > 0:34:28What if I can't?

0:34:28 > 0:34:31If we go into this split, the Russians will know it.

0:34:31 > 0:34:36- They'll know it and they'll use it against us. - Have you cancelled Chicago yet?

0:34:36 > 0:34:41- If you don't show for Chicago, everyone will know.- Cancel it. - Forget it.

0:34:41 > 0:34:46I'm not calling and cancelling on Daley.

0:34:46 > 0:34:49You call and cancel on Daley.

0:34:49 > 0:34:53- You're scared to cancel on Daley. - You're damn right.

0:34:56 > 0:34:58- Well, I'm not.- Oh.

0:35:00 > 0:35:03Watch this.

0:35:04 > 0:35:09- Welcome to Chicago, Mr President. - I wouldn't miss this for the world.

0:35:12 > 0:35:15Let's go.

0:35:15 > 0:35:18Tonight you'll experience some true Mid-West...

0:35:18 > 0:35:24- What goin' on? They're hounding me about troop movements in Florida. - What are you telling 'em?- The truth.

0:35:24 > 0:35:27- Am I out of the loop on something? - No.

0:35:27 > 0:35:31Tell them you've looked into it and all it is is an exercise.

0:35:31 > 0:35:36- Oh, and, Pierre, tomorrow the President may have a cold. - A what?- A cold.

0:35:36 > 0:35:38Mr O'Donnell.

0:35:38 > 0:35:41Kenny, do I get any input around here?

0:35:41 > 0:35:44Yeah. Erm...

0:35:44 > 0:35:47How bad it is, is up to you.

0:35:53 > 0:35:58There are major rail disruptions in the south? Two airborne divisions are on alert.

0:35:58 > 0:36:02Sounds like that exercise is an invasion.

0:36:02 > 0:36:06- You know how Bobby has it in for Mississippi.- We're invading Cuba.

0:36:06 > 0:36:08Damn it, we are not invading Cuba.

0:36:08 > 0:36:13Are you crazy? Nobody gives a rat's ass about Cuba. Not now, not ever.

0:36:13 > 0:36:17If you print something like that, it'll inflame the situation.

0:36:17 > 0:36:21Nobody talks to assholes who inflame situations.

0:36:21 > 0:36:24Assholes like that can find themselves cut out of the loop.

0:36:24 > 0:36:29That's the first time you've ever threatened me.

0:36:30 > 0:36:35I won't print anything until I get another source. But I'll get one.

0:36:40 > 0:36:44- Bobby.- 'We've got a consensus for a blockade.

0:36:44 > 0:36:47'But it won't last past tomorrow. Bring him back.

0:36:47 > 0:36:51- 'By the way, China invaded India today.'- You're kidding.

0:36:51 > 0:36:55- 'Aren't you?'- I wish I were. Galbraith's handling it.

0:36:55 > 0:37:01- 'It makes you wonder what's coming next.'- What is it about the free world that pisses the rest off?

0:37:01 > 0:37:05- I don't know. We have Tupperware parties(?)- Maybe.

0:37:05 > 0:37:08- I'll see you tomorrow. - 'OK.'

0:37:08 > 0:37:14The President has a cold. He's cancelling the remainder of this trip on the advice of his doctor.

0:37:15 > 0:37:18- President Kennedy! - CHATTERING AND SHOUTING

0:37:33 > 0:37:37Mr President, our deliberations have led us to the conclusion

0:37:37 > 0:37:41that a blockade of offensive weapons to Cuba is our best option.

0:37:41 > 0:37:46A show of support from the Organisation of American States would give us legitimacy.

0:37:46 > 0:37:52A blockade is an act of war, therefore we recommend calling the action "a quarantine".

0:37:52 > 0:37:58Let's hope that translates into Russian the way we want it to. SNIGGERING

0:37:58 > 0:38:01There are between 20 and 30 Soviet ships on their way to Cuba.

0:38:01 > 0:38:07'800 miles out, the Navy will board them and any vessels containing weapons will be turned back.

0:38:07 > 0:38:11'A quarantine prevents any more missiles from reaching Cuba.'

0:38:11 > 0:38:17It doesn't remove the missiles already there. It gives the Soviets a chance to pull back without a war.

0:38:17 > 0:38:21If they refuse, we retain the option to strike and invade.

0:38:21 > 0:38:27A sneak attack would be counter to what the United States stand for. It leaves us no room for manoeuvre.

0:38:27 > 0:38:31And the inevitable Soviet response would lead us into a war.

0:38:31 > 0:38:36Mr President, there are still those of us who want the strikes.

0:38:36 > 0:38:39With a blockade, we lose strategic surprise and run the risks

0:38:39 > 0:38:45of the Soviets launching a first strike if they decide to use the missiles or lose them.

0:38:46 > 0:38:50So quarantine or air strike.

0:38:50 > 0:38:53- There, er, there is a third option.- >

0:38:53 > 0:38:57With either course, we undertake the risk of nuclear war.

0:38:57 > 0:39:03So it seems to me maybe one of us in this room should be a coward.

0:39:03 > 0:39:06So I guess I'll be.

0:39:06 > 0:39:09A third course is to strike a deal.

0:39:09 > 0:39:14We trade Guantanamo and our missiles in Turkey, get them to pull their missiles out.

0:39:14 > 0:39:19We employ a back channel, we attribute the idea to U Thant.

0:39:19 > 0:39:22U Thant then raises it at the UN.

0:39:22 > 0:39:27I don't think that's possible, Adlai.

0:39:29 > 0:39:35I've not yet made my decision. I'll ask the networks for airtime on Monday night.

0:39:35 > 0:39:37We'll announce our course of action then.

0:39:37 > 0:39:43Ted, I want you to get working on speeches for both quarantine and air strike.

0:39:45 > 0:39:47Thank you for all your advice, gentlemen.

0:39:47 > 0:39:53Did you hear Adlai? Jesus, you'd think nobody learned anything from World War II.

0:39:53 > 0:39:59- He had to say it. Respect Adlai to have the guts to look like an appeaser.- We have to pull him.

0:39:59 > 0:40:03He is not gonna handle the Soviets in front of the UN.

0:40:03 > 0:40:05We've got bigger problems.

0:40:05 > 0:40:08- Ladies?- No, thank you.

0:40:08 > 0:40:10BALLROOM MUSIC PLAYS

0:40:12 > 0:40:15Honey, I'll be right back.

0:40:22 > 0:40:24- Adlai.- Ah...

0:40:24 > 0:40:28I just can't seem to get away from you guys.

0:40:28 > 0:40:32- Escaping for a night on the town, eh?- As DC's most popular playboy,

0:40:32 > 0:40:36the President thought my presence would be sorely missed. So...

0:40:36 > 0:40:39in the interests of national security...

0:40:39 > 0:40:42- here I am. - Yes. Gotta keep up appearances.

0:40:42 > 0:40:45Of course, I don't any more.

0:40:45 > 0:40:48I'm a political dead man.

0:40:48 > 0:40:52Did you ever see anyone cut his own throat like I did today?

0:40:52 > 0:40:54No...

0:40:54 > 0:40:56It's all right.

0:40:56 > 0:41:00And, by the way, I spoke to a friend.

0:41:00 > 0:41:05Reston and Frankel have the story. The Times is going to run it tomorrow.

0:41:08 > 0:41:11- We're not gonna make it to Monday. - Shit.

0:41:11 > 0:41:17Sorensen can lean on Reston but you'll have to call Orville Dryfoos. The publisher makes this decision.

0:41:17 > 0:41:20All right. Thanks, Kenny.

0:41:21 > 0:41:27Yes, sir. I understand. But we held on the Bay Of Pigs. It was the biggest mistake of my life.

0:41:27 > 0:41:33Orville, I'm asking you to hold the story until I present our course of action on Monday night.

0:41:33 > 0:41:39All right. But I need a reason for my boys. They'll be screaming for my head on a plate.

0:41:39 > 0:41:45You tell 'em this. That they'll be saving lives, including their own.

0:41:45 > 0:41:49- HE SIGHS - Yes, Mr President.

0:41:49 > 0:41:52CHOIR SINGS "VIRGA JESSE FLORUIT"

0:42:16 > 0:42:19- How many congressmen have not responded yet?- 14.

0:42:19 > 0:42:24- Boggs is in the Gulf fishing?- 'Yes, sir.'- I thought he was campaigning?

0:42:24 > 0:42:28- 'He's not gone for long.'- Get a plane out there and get him back.

0:42:28 > 0:42:33He wants to talk to LeMay again. He's still considering air strikes.

0:42:43 > 0:42:47- None of this works tomorrow. Figure out how to cancel it.- Yes, sir.

0:42:47 > 0:42:50We're on the phones.

0:42:58 > 0:43:02Cam, can you guarantee me you'll get all the missiles?

0:43:06 > 0:43:12- Sir, I guarantee we can get all the missiles we know about. - We can get better than 90% of them.

0:43:16 > 0:43:20I'll brief the Congressional Leadership tomorrow at 5.00.

0:43:20 > 0:43:27At seven o'clock, all United States armed forces worldwide will stand up to DEFCON 3.

0:43:27 > 0:43:29I have a brief statement to make.

0:43:29 > 0:43:34President Kennedy will address the nation tonight on radio and television

0:43:34 > 0:43:40on the subject of the highest national urgency. He has requested airtime on all networks for 7pm.

0:44:11 > 0:44:15I am not willing to support anything but the toughest...!

0:44:15 > 0:44:18Congress will not give you that support.

0:44:18 > 0:44:21If they want this goddamn job, they can have it.

0:44:21 > 0:44:25Mr President, here's the speech. I made those changes.

0:44:25 > 0:44:27- I need a minute. - Kenny, no.- A minute.

0:44:33 > 0:44:38I don't want a goddamn pep talk. You're not Harvard quarterback now.

0:44:38 > 0:44:44- We're on the brink here. They won't second-guess me into World War III. - What did you think they would do?

0:44:44 > 0:44:48Offer you unconditional support? Kiss your Catholic ass?

0:44:48 > 0:44:52They don't even think we deserve to be here.

0:44:52 > 0:44:58- What in the hell do you think? - We haven't been impressive today. They've got reason to question us.

0:44:58 > 0:45:02- What do you want?- I want you to sit down.- I'm not gonna.

0:45:02 > 0:45:06I want you to sit down, loosen your tie, take a minute...

0:45:06 > 0:45:10- I haven't got a minute.- You're the President of the United States.

0:45:10 > 0:45:13They can wait for you.

0:45:13 > 0:45:16HE SIGHS

0:45:17 > 0:45:19Well, why not?

0:45:19 > 0:45:21HE LAUGHS

0:45:22 > 0:45:29- Well, things can't get much worse. - I don't know. We could have to go to Linden's ranch again as cowboys.

0:45:29 > 0:45:31HE LAUGHS

0:45:31 > 0:45:35Shoot deer out the back of his convertible.

0:45:37 > 0:45:39That was a bad day.

0:45:40 > 0:45:43You know, I thought there'd be...

0:45:43 > 0:45:46more good days.

0:45:47 > 0:45:51You know, back when we were in the wards,

0:45:51 > 0:45:55that day Bobby made me come down to meet you,

0:45:55 > 0:45:58I didn't get you at first.

0:45:58 > 0:46:00I thought you were lucky.

0:46:00 > 0:46:04Your father had a lot of money, you were skinny,

0:46:04 > 0:46:07girls loved you.

0:46:07 > 0:46:10I thought I could beat you and Bobby up together.

0:46:10 > 0:46:12But he, er...

0:46:12 > 0:46:16he just kept going on...and on about you.

0:46:16 > 0:46:20I thought it was because he was your brother.

0:46:23 > 0:46:25But I was wrong.

0:46:27 > 0:46:29I was wrong.

0:46:47 > 0:46:49Are you sleepin'?

0:46:49 > 0:46:52No, not much.

0:46:52 > 0:46:55I slept last night though, you know.

0:46:55 > 0:46:57And, jeez, I...

0:46:57 > 0:46:59When I woke up I just, er...

0:46:59 > 0:47:03Somehow I'd forgotten all this had happened.

0:47:03 > 0:47:07You know, then, of course, I remembered.

0:47:07 > 0:47:13I just wished for a second somebody else was President.

0:47:13 > 0:47:18- You mean that? - I said, "For a second."

0:47:24 > 0:47:27Boy, there is a lot of noise out there, Kenny.

0:47:31 > 0:47:35You know what you're doing, Mr President.

0:47:35 > 0:47:41You're gonna make the best call you can and you know they're gonna second-guess you. So what?

0:47:41 > 0:47:46We're just gonna have to take our beatings as we go.

0:47:51 > 0:47:54So, what are we gonna do now?

0:47:54 > 0:47:56I'm goin' on TV.

0:48:05 > 0:48:08You know, maybe the American people will go with me.

0:48:08 > 0:48:11Even if their, er...

0:48:11 > 0:48:14elected representatives won't.

0:48:19 > 0:48:21You wear somethin' nice for the TV.

0:48:21 > 0:48:24Make sure Jackie picks it.

0:48:30 > 0:48:32Excuse me.

0:48:32 > 0:48:38- Oh, right. Thanks. Thanks. - OK, everybody. I think we're ready.

0:48:41 > 0:48:44..No, I'm fine.

0:48:44 > 0:48:49Mr President, in five, four, three, two...

0:48:49 > 0:48:53Good evening, my fellow citizens. This government, as promised,

0:48:53 > 0:48:56has maintained the closest surveillance...

0:48:56 > 0:49:00of the Soviet military build-up on the island of Cuba.

0:49:00 > 0:49:04Within the past week, unmistakable evidence has established the fact

0:49:04 > 0:49:10that a series of offensive missile sites is now in preparation on that imprisoned island.

0:49:10 > 0:49:14The purpose of these bases can be none other than to provide

0:49:14 > 0:49:17a nuclear strike capability against the western hemisphere.

0:49:17 > 0:49:23Acting in the defence of our own security and under the authority entrusted to me by the Constitution,

0:49:23 > 0:49:26I have directed that the following initial steps be taken immediately.

0:49:26 > 0:49:30First, to halt this offensive build-up,

0:49:30 > 0:49:33a strict quarantine on offensive military equipment

0:49:33 > 0:49:39on shipment to Cuba is being initiated. All ships bound for Cuba, from whatever nation or port

0:49:39 > 0:49:43will, if found to contain offensive weapons, be turned back.

0:49:43 > 0:49:49Second, I have directed the continued and increased close surveillance of this build-up.

0:49:49 > 0:49:54Should these military preparations continue, further action will be justified.

0:49:54 > 0:49:57I have directed the armed forces to prepare for any eventualities.

0:49:57 > 0:50:03And third, it shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile

0:50:03 > 0:50:08launched against any nation in the western hemisphere as an attack by the Soviet Union

0:50:08 > 0:50:13on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union.

0:50:22 > 0:50:26- Good speech, Teddy.- Yeah, well, I guess I get to keep my job.

0:50:26 > 0:50:29No.

0:50:29 > 0:50:31It was a really good speech.

0:50:31 > 0:50:35I can't imagine what you did with the air strike version.

0:50:38 > 0:50:41I wasn't able to write it, Kenny.

0:50:41 > 0:50:46It's kinda hard to write... the unthinkable.

0:50:46 > 0:50:48I tried.

0:50:48 > 0:50:50I just...

0:50:50 > 0:50:53I couldn't.

0:50:56 > 0:51:02We're getting the Soviet response. It's coming in on the Teletype.

0:51:02 > 0:51:07"The Community of Nations recognises the fundamental right

0:51:07 > 0:51:11- of freedom of the seas..." - This is horse shit.- I agree.

0:51:17 > 0:51:20They don't know how to respond yet.

0:51:20 > 0:51:22So, now you're Kruschev.

0:51:22 > 0:51:24What do you do?

0:51:28 > 0:51:31You run the blockade.

0:51:31 > 0:51:33They'll run it.

0:51:33 > 0:51:36..Which is exactly what they appear to be preparing to do.

0:51:36 > 0:51:39We're tracking 26 ships inbound for Cuba.

0:51:39 > 0:51:42They show no sign of changing course.

0:51:42 > 0:51:47The closest ships, the Gagarin and the Kimovsk, will make the quarantine line by tomorrow.

0:51:47 > 0:51:52If the ships do not stop, what are our rules of engagement?

0:51:52 > 0:51:56Russian-speaking personnel have been transferred to all our ships.

0:51:56 > 0:52:01When the quarantine takes place, our ships will attempt to make radio contact with them.

0:52:01 > 0:52:06'They will be ordered to stand by for inspection. We search the vessel.

0:52:06 > 0:52:10'If weapons are found, the ship will be ordered out of quarantine.'

0:52:10 > 0:52:14Or if they refuse, they'll be towed into the nearest port.

0:52:14 > 0:52:17What happens if the ship doesn't stop or want to be towed?

0:52:17 > 0:52:22- We fire a warning shot across its bow.- And if it ignores that?

0:52:22 > 0:52:28- We fire at its rudder, disable it and carry on our inspection.- No shooting without my explicit orders.

0:52:28 > 0:52:30Is that understood?

0:52:30 > 0:52:35- Yes, sir.- Well, Admiral, it looks like it's up to the Navy.

0:52:35 > 0:52:39- The Navy won't let you down, sir. - There's one other thing.

0:52:39 > 0:52:44- We're commencing low-level photography runs over Cuba. - It'll be more detailed than before.

0:52:44 > 0:52:49We will be able firm up our estimates of the missiles' readiness

0:52:49 > 0:52:54- and develop target packages for strikes, if you order them. - To protect our pilots,

0:52:54 > 0:52:58we're prepared to retaliate against any SAM site or anti-aircraft battery

0:52:58 > 0:53:02- that may open fire. - We have a flight of thunder that can respond within minutes.

0:53:08 > 0:53:12I got a bad feeling about what's going on in there.

0:53:12 > 0:53:15- I'm taking charge of the blockade from the situation room.- Good.

0:53:15 > 0:53:18- McNamara will set up shop at the Pentagon to watch them.- Good.

0:53:18 > 0:53:24- Armed boarders climbing on Soviet ships with shots being fired across bows...- I know.- Low-level flights?

0:53:24 > 0:53:31- We need them. They start in an hour. - An hour. Do you realise what you're letting yourself in for?

0:53:31 > 0:53:34The minute that first missile becomes operational, we gotta go in.

0:53:34 > 0:53:38Castro's on alert and we're flying attack planes over their sites.

0:53:38 > 0:53:42- They won't know they're not carrying bombs.- Goddammit!

0:53:42 > 0:53:45They'll be shot at.

0:53:47 > 0:53:52I'm your political advisor. I'm giving you a political analysis here.

0:53:52 > 0:53:56This...this is a set-up. The Chiefs wanna go in.

0:53:56 > 0:54:02They need to redeem themselves for the Bay Of Pigs. They gotta go in this time to do it right.

0:54:02 > 0:54:04I'm gonna protect those pilots.

0:54:05 > 0:54:11They're boxing us in with these rules of engagement. If you agree to them and one of our planes is knocked down

0:54:11 > 0:54:15or one of the ships won't stop, the Chiefs will have us by the balls

0:54:15 > 0:54:18and will force us to start shooting.

0:54:22 > 0:54:25They want a war, Jack, and are arranging to get one.

0:54:27 > 0:54:32How does a man get to a place where he can say, "Throw those lives away" so easily?

0:54:32 > 0:54:39Maybe it's harder for them to say but at the very least, they believe it's in our best interest.

0:54:39 > 0:54:41And you know what?

0:54:41 > 0:54:45At the end of the day, they may well end up being right.

0:54:51 > 0:54:57We'll have to triple check everything the Chiefs say with the guys who have to do it.

0:54:57 > 0:55:02Nobody is to know about this but Bobby. I need control over what happens out there.

0:55:02 > 0:55:06If things aren't as advertised, you'll make sure they come out how I want.

0:55:06 > 0:55:09- It'll...- Starting with this low-level flight thing.

0:55:09 > 0:55:13It'll be tough. You know how they are about chains of command.

0:55:13 > 0:55:17Tell them those chains of command end at one place. Me.

0:55:20 > 0:55:22- Go ahead, sir.- Yes?

0:55:22 > 0:55:26Speak up, lady. I can't hear you. I got a train to catch.

0:55:26 > 0:55:29- That's the one.- Mr O'Donnell.

0:55:29 > 0:55:31- What's her name?- Margaret.

0:55:31 > 0:55:33Margaret.

0:55:33 > 0:55:38Give me a break. I'm doing the best I can. I speak the language too. What?

0:55:38 > 0:55:43- Margaret, would you mind helping me with something? - What do you need, honey?

0:55:43 > 0:55:46That tone of voice specifically.

0:55:46 > 0:55:51What tone of voice? What the hell is he talkin' about? I told you, sir. You're outta here.

0:55:51 > 0:55:54PHONE RINGS

0:55:57 > 0:55:59- <- Ready room.

0:55:59 > 0:56:02- Skipper, what are you doin'? - Lookin' out the door.

0:56:02 > 0:56:04- At what?- Cuba.

0:56:04 > 0:56:07Skipper, telephone.

0:56:13 > 0:56:15- Commander Ecker.- 'Commander Ecker.'

0:56:15 > 0:56:20- This is the White House operator. Please hold.- Shit.

0:56:20 > 0:56:23Honey, you don't know what shit is.

0:56:23 > 0:56:27Commander, my name's Ken O'Donnell, Special Assistant to the President.

0:56:27 > 0:56:30- Yes, sir. - 'The President's instructed me'

0:56:30 > 0:56:33to pass along an order. You are not to get shot down.

0:56:33 > 0:56:37Er...we'll do our best, sir.

0:56:37 > 0:56:42I don't think you understand. You are not to get shot down under any circumstances.

0:56:42 > 0:56:47'Whatever happens up there, you were not shot at. Mechanical failures are fine,'

0:56:47 > 0:56:53crashing into mountains, fine, but you and your men are not to be shot at, fired at or launched upon.

0:56:53 > 0:56:58Excuse me, sir, what the hell is going on here?

0:56:58 > 0:57:01If you are fired on, the President will be forced to attack.

0:57:01 > 0:57:04'He doesn't want to have to do that.'

0:57:04 > 0:57:08It's important he doesn't or things could go...badly out of control.

0:57:08 > 0:57:14What about my men? We don't have anybody to protect us. I'll be writing letters home to parents.

0:57:14 > 0:57:18If the President protects you, he may have to do it with the bomb.

0:57:18 > 0:57:24Now, I've known the man for 15 years, the problem is he will protect you.

0:57:24 > 0:57:29So I'm asking, don't make him protect you. Don't get shot at.

0:57:30 > 0:57:33OK, Mr O'Donnell, we'll do what we can.

0:57:33 > 0:57:36I know you will.

0:57:36 > 0:57:38Good luck, guys.

0:57:42 > 0:57:45Stay close.

0:57:45 > 0:57:47Hey, Joey.

0:58:00 > 0:58:02- See ya, Joey. - Thanks, Joey.

0:58:02 > 0:58:04Ready to go, Jeremy?

0:58:04 > 0:58:10- Hey, Bruce.- Yeah, Skipper? - Never mind. Just do what I do. Hand signs only?- Gotcha.

0:58:24 > 0:58:26- Ready to go!- Good luck, Skipper.

0:59:51 > 0:59:53THEY SPEAK RUSSIAN

1:00:38 > 1:00:41Ho-ho, man! Shit, did you see it?

1:00:41 > 1:00:44Wuh-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!

1:00:44 > 1:00:46- You were lucky, Skipper. - Damn sparrows.

1:00:46 > 1:00:49- Must have been migrating. - Sparrows?

1:00:49 > 1:00:56- Probably hit a couple of hundred of 'em. How many did you hit, Bruce? - Sparrows?

1:00:56 > 1:01:02- A few, I guess.- These, er, 20mm or 40mm sparrows, sir(?)

1:01:02 > 1:01:06Those are bird strikes. Sparrows to be precise.

1:01:06 > 1:01:10That's the way it is, guys. Get that film packed up.

1:01:15 > 1:01:17- Commander Ecker.- Hello?

1:01:17 > 1:01:19- 'Sir.'- Commander.

1:01:19 > 1:01:23I'm to deliver the film for the Pentagon personally. What's going on?

1:01:23 > 1:01:25The Chiefs must wanna talk to you.

1:01:25 > 1:01:31- They're gonna wanna know if you were fired on. Were you? - You could say that, sir.

1:01:34 > 1:01:37Commander, listen to me.

1:01:37 > 1:01:41'I know this must fly in the face of everything you've come to serve,

1:01:41 > 1:01:45'I'm asking you to look through at the other side.'

1:01:48 > 1:01:52- Commander William B Ecker reporting as ordered. - Commander.- Sir.

1:01:52 > 1:01:55Put your gear down over here.

1:01:55 > 1:01:59- Would you like a glass of water or anything?- No, thank you, sir.

1:01:59 > 1:02:02- Sir. Sir.- Have a seat.

1:02:05 > 1:02:10- Now, Commander, I assume you know why you're here. - Son, I wanna know just one thing.

1:02:10 > 1:02:14Did those bastards shoot so much as a BB gun at you?

1:02:17 > 1:02:20It was a cakewalk, sir.

1:02:20 > 1:02:26- Mr President, the OAS meeting starts in less than an hour. - Good. We need this one.

1:02:26 > 1:02:30- Don't expect miracles. - The quarantine is legal if we get a mandate,

1:02:30 > 1:02:33otherwise, it's an act of war in the eyes of the world.

1:02:33 > 1:02:37- So get me the vote and make it unanimous.- Mr President,

1:02:37 > 1:02:41- the Organisation of American States hasn't had...- Unanimous, Dean.

1:02:46 > 1:02:52Ahora le pregunto el consejo si aprueba la resolucion de Borgo a la quarantina de Cuba.

1:02:52 > 1:02:55Quienes aprueben, por favor?

1:02:57 > 1:02:59En contra?

1:02:59 > 1:03:03La resolucion esta aprobada por 19 votos confirmados.

1:03:07 > 1:03:12In accordance with this afternoon's vote of the Organisation of American States,

1:03:12 > 1:03:17the quarantine will hereby be effective as of ten o'clock tomorrow morning.

1:03:31 > 1:03:35'At 8am this morning, the United States detonated a hydrogen bomb

1:03:35 > 1:03:38'above Johnson Island in the South Pacific.

1:03:38 > 1:03:43'It was condemned by the Soviet Union who called for denouncement

1:03:43 > 1:03:47'of the United States for bringing the world to the brink of destruction...'

1:03:47 > 1:03:52- Who the hell authorised this? What will this say to the Russians? - They look warlike?

1:03:52 > 1:03:54We're lighting off nuclear weapons like it's our own Fourth of July.

1:03:54 > 1:04:00We should have brought in the Atomic Energy Commission and talked.

1:04:00 > 1:04:05You know, looked at these tests a little harder before giving the go-ahead.

1:04:07 > 1:04:12- You know, last summer I read a book. The Guns Of August.- Mmm...

1:04:12 > 1:04:17I wish every man on that blockade line had read that book. World War I - 13 million killed.

1:04:17 > 1:04:22Both sides' militaries believed they were so highly attuned to one another's movements

1:04:22 > 1:04:27they could predict one another's intentions, but their theories were based on the last war.

1:04:27 > 1:04:32The world of technology had changed and the lessons were not valid.

1:04:32 > 1:04:35But it was all they knew so the order went out.

1:04:35 > 1:04:37They couldn't be rescinded.

1:04:40 > 1:04:46Your man in the field, their wives at home, couldn't even tell you why their lives are destroyed.

1:04:47 > 1:04:53But why couldn't they stop it? What could they have done?

1:04:53 > 1:04:56Here we are 50 years later.

1:04:56 > 1:04:58Say, one of their ships resists the inspection

1:04:58 > 1:05:02and we shoot out its rudder and board,

1:05:02 > 1:05:05they shoot down one of our planes in response.

1:05:05 > 1:05:09So we bomb their anti-aircraft sites.

1:05:09 > 1:05:12In response to that, they attack Berlin.

1:05:14 > 1:05:16So we invade Cuba.

1:05:19 > 1:05:21Then they fire their missiles.

1:05:24 > 1:05:27And we fire ours.

1:05:33 > 1:05:36Helen, I want you to keep the kids close tomorrow.

1:05:36 > 1:05:39I want you to leave the TV on.

1:05:39 > 1:05:45I want you to sleep with it on in the bedroom until I call you and tell you to turn it off.

1:05:45 > 1:05:47'What's happened?'

1:05:47 > 1:05:54Nothing. Nothing you don't already know about. Just have the car ready to go in case I call...

1:05:54 > 1:05:57and the civil defence warning comes on.

1:05:57 > 1:06:00'What happens to you?'

1:06:00 > 1:06:03I'm not leaving without you.

1:06:03 > 1:06:06I'll be evacuated with the President.

1:06:07 > 1:06:09SHE SIGHS

1:06:09 > 1:06:11Great(!)

1:06:11 > 1:06:13Right.

1:06:13 > 1:06:19While you're under a rock somewhere what am I supposed to do...

1:06:19 > 1:06:21- Honey.- ..with our five children?

1:06:21 > 1:06:24Honey, we're not gonna let it come to that.

1:06:24 > 1:06:26Mmm. Mmm.

1:06:26 > 1:06:31Jack and Bobby, they're... they're smart guys.

1:06:34 > 1:06:37You're smart too.

1:06:39 > 1:06:41Not like them.

1:06:46 > 1:06:48Hi, Ken.

1:06:53 > 1:06:58Helen just asked me what sort of arrangements we have for the families.

1:06:58 > 1:07:02Yeah. I just checked that myself. They're being issued identity cards.

1:07:02 > 1:07:08When the call comes, evacuation officers meet them at prearranged departure areas.

1:07:08 > 1:07:12They go by helicopter to Mount Weather, we meet them there.

1:07:15 > 1:07:17Of course, that's for morale.

1:07:17 > 1:07:21Missiles only take five minutes to get here.

1:07:24 > 1:07:31The President has asked Jackie and the children to come back from the country and be with him.

1:07:31 > 1:07:33You know those pictures upstairs?

1:07:33 > 1:07:37The pictures of Lincoln.

1:07:37 > 1:07:40He looked so old near the end.

1:07:41 > 1:07:45When we got here I said, "It's not gonna happen to us."

1:07:45 > 1:07:47HE LAUGHS We were too young.

1:07:49 > 1:07:52- Why don't you go home tonight?- Hmm?

1:07:52 > 1:07:55Go on home.

1:07:55 > 1:07:58Nah, it's...too much trouble to get the car.

1:07:58 > 1:08:01We can get your car in 15 minutes.

1:08:01 > 1:08:03- No.- Go ahead.

1:08:03 > 1:08:05No. I...

1:08:05 > 1:08:07I'll let her sleep.

1:08:09 > 1:08:12I'll let 'em sleep.

1:08:12 > 1:08:15It almost seemed today as if time stood still.

1:08:15 > 1:08:20The shooting hadn't started yet but there weren't any really encouraging signs that it could be avoided.

1:08:20 > 1:08:26But worried, alarmed, afraid, perhaps, even, the American public nonetheless

1:08:26 > 1:08:28appeared determined and resolved.

1:08:28 > 1:08:31This is Walter Cronkite. Good night.

1:09:11 > 1:09:13Paper?

1:09:13 > 1:09:15Yeah, thanks.

1:09:15 > 1:09:17Here you are, sir.

1:10:15 > 1:10:18- Gentlemen, can you hear me? - Yeah.- Yes, we hear you fine.

1:10:18 > 1:10:21I've got one minute till ten here.

1:10:21 > 1:10:24'The quarantine commences in one minute.'

1:10:27 > 1:10:31No sign of them stopping.

1:10:47 > 1:10:49Sir.

1:10:54 > 1:10:58Quarantine is now in effect.

1:10:58 > 1:11:03And it looks like our first customers are the Gagarin and the Kimovsk.

1:11:21 > 1:11:24Chief, I've got something at 030.

1:11:24 > 1:11:27XO, take a look at this.

1:11:30 > 1:11:33New contact, Skipper.

1:11:38 > 1:11:40What have we got?

1:11:40 > 1:11:44A Russian sub.

1:11:44 > 1:11:47General Quarters! All hands, man your battle stations!

1:11:57 > 1:12:01Tracked at 231, correlates our submarine at 9,000 yards.

1:12:01 > 1:12:04SONAR PINGS

1:12:07 > 1:12:09It's protecting the freighters.

1:12:16 > 1:12:21Bob, is there any way we can avoid stopping the submarine first?

1:12:21 > 1:12:25I'm afraid not, Mr President. The sub is positioned between the Pierce and the Soviet ships.

1:12:25 > 1:12:30'Admiral Anderson insists it's a risk to stop the freighters.

1:12:30 > 1:12:33'The Pierce would be a sitting duck.'

1:12:33 > 1:12:35Put me through to the Pierce.

1:12:35 > 1:12:41Admiral Anderson, the President wishes to speak directly to the captain of the Pierce. Problem?

1:12:41 > 1:12:43No, it isn't, sir.

1:12:43 > 1:12:46He's putting you through.

1:12:46 > 1:12:49Sir, I'm patching you through to the bridge.

1:12:49 > 1:12:53- This is the captain of the Pierce. - This is the President speaking.

1:12:53 > 1:12:59- Mr President.- Is there any way to force that sub to the surface without damaging it or yourself?

1:12:59 > 1:13:04I can bring it up, Mr President, but whether it's damaged or not is up to the sub.

1:13:04 > 1:13:09Even if they do force it up, that sub will be inspected over the crew's dead bodies.

1:13:09 > 1:13:12They'd be executed for allowing it when they got home.

1:13:23 > 1:13:27- Captain, force the sub to the surface.- 'Yes, Mr President.'

1:13:28 > 1:13:31- Prepare to fire torpedoes. - Aye, sir.

1:13:31 > 1:13:34- Prepare to launch as rocket. - Aye, sir.

1:14:02 > 1:14:04What are they up to?

1:14:04 > 1:14:06They're slowin' down.

1:14:16 > 1:14:17Mr Secretary.

1:14:17 > 1:14:22- Receiving reports the Russian ships appear to be stopping.- Mr President.

1:14:22 > 1:14:28- 'Reports are coming into the Pentagon that the ships appear to be stopping.'- Belay that order.

1:14:28 > 1:14:30- Hold your fire!- Bob?

1:14:30 > 1:14:34- One second, Mr President. - Somebody find out what's going on.

1:14:36 > 1:14:39Those ships are definitely stopping.

1:14:39 > 1:14:42Some are turning around.

1:14:45 > 1:14:49- Are they stopping?- I don't know what they're doing.- 'Admiral?'

1:14:49 > 1:14:52- What's happening?! - Yes, sir. They are stopping.

1:14:52 > 1:14:54- CHEERING - Mr President,

1:14:54 > 1:14:59reports are coming in from all around - the ships are stopping!

1:15:00 > 1:15:05- Some are turning round! - Some are turning around!

1:15:11 > 1:15:15We went eyeball to eyeball and I think the other fella just blinked.

1:15:32 > 1:15:34Yes, sir. We have that information.

1:15:34 > 1:15:37Mr President. Mr President, sir.

1:15:37 > 1:15:39We have the tally from NSA.

1:15:39 > 1:15:45We have 20 ships stopping and-or turning around. Six, however appear to be continuing for the line.

1:15:49 > 1:15:51Well, it's a, er... It's a mistake.

1:15:51 > 1:15:56- They must not have gotten their orders yet. Let 'em go. - Unlikely, Bobby.

1:15:56 > 1:16:02We've been monitoring transmissions from the Gagarin and Kimovsk. Their radios are working just fine.

1:16:02 > 1:16:05One ship, an accident, maybe.

1:16:05 > 1:16:09Six, Mr President, this is intentional.

1:16:09 > 1:16:11- 'Mr President, let 'em go.' - We're still here, Bob.

1:16:11 > 1:16:14'Four of the six continuing ships are still a day away from the line.'

1:16:14 > 1:16:20They've stopped the ones we suspect have weapons aboard. It would look bad shooting up baby food.

1:16:20 > 1:16:22It sure as shit would.

1:16:22 > 1:16:28Captain, maintain contact with those ships and do nothing until I order otherwise. Is that clear?

1:16:28 > 1:16:32Yes, Mr President. Contact only.

1:16:38 > 1:16:43At its beginning, this day looked as though it might be one of armed conflict

1:16:43 > 1:16:48between Soviet vessels and American warships on the sea lanes leading to Cuba.

1:16:48 > 1:16:53Find out how close our exercises are coming to their anti-ship missiles!

1:17:15 > 1:17:20'Goddammit! How the hell did this happen?!'

1:17:20 > 1:17:24I'm gonna have Power's head on a platter next to LeMay's!

1:17:24 > 1:17:29Kenny, did you hear me give the order to go to DEFCON two? Cos I remember DEFCON three

1:17:29 > 1:17:31but, er, I must be suffering from amnesia.

1:17:31 > 1:17:37- I've just been informed our nuclear forces are at DEFCON 2. - The orders were limited

1:17:37 > 1:17:42to our strategic forces on the continent of the United States.

1:17:42 > 1:17:47- General LeMay is right. Technically, SAC has the statutory authority... - I have the authority!

1:17:47 > 1:17:53I am the Commander-in-Chief of the United States and I say when we go to war!

1:17:53 > 1:17:57We're not at war, sir. Not until DEFCON one.

1:18:01 > 1:18:07General, the Joint Chiefs have just signalled our intent to escalate to the Soviets.

1:18:07 > 1:18:12You signalled an escalation which I had no wish to signal and which I did not approve.

1:18:13 > 1:18:17- Just...get outta here, Max. - Yes, sir.

1:18:26 > 1:18:30- Rescind the order. Put Nitze, Gilpatric and the under secretaries in charge.- No.

1:18:30 > 1:18:35- We can!- We can't fire them! Our invasion would look like a bluff.

1:18:35 > 1:18:38Or even worse, that there's been an attempted coup.

1:18:41 > 1:18:43(Jesus.)

1:18:48 > 1:18:50HE SIGHS

1:18:50 > 1:18:53Give me a couple of minutes alone with Bobby.

1:19:03 > 1:19:09Just...try this on for size. We get a hold of Walter Lippman.

1:19:09 > 1:19:13'We leak the idea of pulling our Jupiter missiles out of Turkey

1:19:13 > 1:19:18'if the Soviets pull their missiles out of Cuba.'

1:19:18 > 1:19:20- Act through the UN!- KK must talk!

1:19:20 > 1:19:25It's the arms race, not the human race...!

1:19:25 > 1:19:28CROWD CHANTS

1:19:32 > 1:19:36- Kenny.- Mac.- What did you think of the Lippman column this morning?

1:19:36 > 1:19:43- I think it's a bad idea.- Thank God. We trade away our missiles in Turkey, we're dead politically.

1:19:43 > 1:19:47We know it was Jack and Bobby's idea. They leaked it. The military guys are going ape.

1:19:47 > 1:19:51- They should speak up. - Christ. It's not that easy.- It is.

1:19:51 > 1:19:55They don't trust these people. These people are right.

1:19:55 > 1:19:59The Kennedys are wrong. They'll listen to you. Jack and Bobby...

1:19:59 > 1:20:04- The President of the United States and the Attorney General!- They're good but it takes moral toughness.

1:20:04 > 1:20:07Listen to me.

1:20:07 > 1:20:13You're in the White House right now because of the Kennedys. Now, they may be wrong, they make mistakes

1:20:13 > 1:20:19- but they are not weak. The weak are these people who can't speak their own minds.- I don't mean that.

1:20:19 > 1:20:24No, they just lack a "moral toughness". Jesus Christ, Mac!

1:20:24 > 1:20:27You think I'll play your Judas for you.

1:20:27 > 1:20:33You've never understood us, your kind. We've fought each other our whole lives.

1:20:33 > 1:20:38Nobody plays us off against each other and nobody ever, EVER gets between us!

1:20:38 > 1:20:42- It's a goddamn trial balloon, Kenny. - Somebody better publicly deny it.

1:20:42 > 1:20:46There's only one way the world's gonna read this.

1:20:46 > 1:20:50- We sell out one of our own friends for our own safety.- Agh!

1:20:50 > 1:20:52Exactly.

1:20:52 > 1:20:56Jesus Christ. They're just...killing us.

1:20:56 > 1:20:57HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN

1:20:57 > 1:20:59- TRANSLATOR: - ..And enter into negotiations

1:20:59 > 1:21:04'in order to normalise this confrontation and avert the threat of a world war...'

1:21:04 > 1:21:07What is it that Sun Tzu says?

1:21:07 > 1:21:12"War is a moral contest and they're won at the temples before they're ever fought."

1:21:12 > 1:21:17'..Enormous danger for all mankind, 'which exists at this moment...'

1:21:17 > 1:21:22It's right here. This is where we turn it around. You call Adlai.

1:21:22 > 1:21:27Tell him to stick it to this son of a bitch!

1:21:27 > 1:21:30HE SPEAKS SPANISH

1:21:30 > 1:21:32- TRANSLATION:- 'The US believes that with the economic boycott,

1:21:32 > 1:21:36'by pressuring other countries to cease trade with Cuba,

1:21:36 > 1:21:38'we would surrender due to hunger.

1:21:38 > 1:21:41'How does it feel, Mr President,

1:21:41 > 1:21:48- 'to be this heroic and to force a country to surrender due to hunger?' - Am I still on hold here?

1:21:48 > 1:21:51They're trying to find him right now.

1:21:51 > 1:21:54Adlai's too weak. We have to convince Jack to pull him.

1:21:54 > 1:21:59- You can't take him out this late in the game.- Zorin will eat him alive.

1:21:59 > 1:22:04Talk to your brother, goddammit. The two of you don't need my advice to get into trouble.

1:22:04 > 1:22:06What's gotten into you?

1:22:06 > 1:22:13- Are you still sore about this Lippman thing? - Your father would have done that.

1:22:17 > 1:22:20My father?

1:22:20 > 1:22:25I'm just trying to make a point. This idea is that fucking bad.

1:22:25 > 1:22:31Adlai can handle Zorin. He knows the inning, he knows the score.

1:22:31 > 1:22:37He better. Cos nobody believes he's up to this. Nobody.

1:22:38 > 1:22:41- 'Yes?'- Adlai.

1:22:41 > 1:22:42- 'Yes.'- It's Ken. How are you doin'?

1:22:42 > 1:22:45'Busy, Ken. What do you need?'

1:22:45 > 1:22:49The President told me to pass a word to you. "Stick it to them."

1:22:49 > 1:22:51I hear you.

1:22:51 > 1:22:56I'm glad it's you calling. I... I thought it would be Bobby.

1:22:56 > 1:22:58Adlai, the world has to know we're right.

1:22:58 > 1:23:04To have a chance at a political solution, we need international pressure.

1:23:04 > 1:23:08You've gotta be tough, Adlai. You need to find it, buddy.

1:23:09 > 1:23:14If they're still sticking to their stonewalling strategy, I'll get them.

1:23:14 > 1:23:16I'm an old political cat, Kenny,

1:23:16 > 1:23:20- 'but I've got one life left.' - I know you do.

1:23:20 > 1:23:23See you, Ken.

1:23:25 > 1:23:27Bobby.

1:23:37 > 1:23:40MAN SPEAKS ROMANIAN

1:23:40 > 1:23:46- TRANSLATION: - We call upon the world to condemn this American provocation.

1:23:46 > 1:23:49We, the people of Romania, stand in solidarity

1:23:49 > 1:23:53with the people of the Republic of Cuba

1:23:53 > 1:23:59and the revolution in the face of this American threat to world peace.

1:23:59 > 1:24:02Thank you, Mr Chairman.

1:24:04 > 1:24:07HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN

1:24:07 > 1:24:11- TRANSLATION:- We're very glad that You could join us, Mr Stevenson.

1:24:11 > 1:24:14HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN

1:24:14 > 1:24:20For the last two hours, the entire world here is asking only questions.

1:24:22 > 1:24:28The United States is pushing the entire world to the brink of catastrophe.

1:24:28 > 1:24:31HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN

1:24:31 > 1:24:35The people of the whole world want to know why.

1:24:35 > 1:24:38HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN

1:24:38 > 1:24:40We are told again and again

1:24:40 > 1:24:46about incontrovertible evidence of offensive weapons in Cuba.

1:24:46 > 1:24:51- HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN - But...no evidence, er...

1:24:51 > 1:24:53can be shown to us.

1:24:53 > 1:24:57HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN

1:24:57 > 1:25:00Perhaps your spy planes are so secret

1:25:00 > 1:25:05that you're simply incapable to, er, present such evidence. Some planes(!)

1:25:05 > 1:25:09I make the call. Adlai is out. McCloy goes in.

1:25:09 > 1:25:15- Let's just hope it doesn't come to that.- We don't have such evidence.

1:25:15 > 1:25:20HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN

1:25:20 > 1:25:24Perhaps the United States of America is simply mistaken.

1:25:24 > 1:25:25Huh?

1:25:25 > 1:25:28HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN

1:25:28 > 1:25:34Yes, the United States does not have any facts in hands, only falsifications.

1:25:34 > 1:25:37- False evidence. - Get ready to send your staffer in.

1:25:37 > 1:25:39He'll be coming out.

1:25:39 > 1:25:45The Chair recognises the representative from the United States of America.

1:25:46 > 1:25:50Well, let me say something to you, Mr Ambassador.

1:25:50 > 1:25:53We do have the evidence.

1:25:53 > 1:25:57We do have it. And it is clear and incontrovertible.

1:25:57 > 1:25:59And let me say something else.

1:25:59 > 1:26:02Those weapons must be taken out of Cuba.

1:26:02 > 1:26:06- The Soviet Union has created this new danger.- Come on, Adlai.

1:26:06 > 1:26:08Not the United States.

1:26:08 > 1:26:11Mr Zorin, I remind you, the other day

1:26:11 > 1:26:17you did not deny the existence of these weapons, but today, again, if I have heard you correctly,

1:26:17 > 1:26:20you now say they do not exist.

1:26:26 > 1:26:31- All right, let me ask you one simple question. - Adlai, don't let him off.

1:26:31 > 1:26:35Do you, Ambassador Zorin, deny that the USSR has placed

1:26:35 > 1:26:40and is placing medium and intermediate-range missiles inside Cuba?

1:26:40 > 1:26:44Yes or no? Don't wait for the translation. Yes or no?

1:26:44 > 1:26:46Yeah.

1:26:46 > 1:26:49LAUGHTER

1:26:49 > 1:26:51HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN

1:26:51 > 1:26:53I am not in the American courtroom

1:26:53 > 1:27:00and I do not wish to respond to questions...

1:27:00 > 1:27:04to the questions, that a prosecutor would, er,

1:27:04 > 1:27:06put to the defendant.

1:27:06 > 1:27:12You will get all the answers to your questions as this session progresses.

1:27:12 > 1:27:17You are in a courtroom of world opinion and you can answer yes or no.

1:27:17 > 1:27:23If you have denied they exist, I want to know if I have understood you correctly.

1:27:23 > 1:27:26HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN

1:27:26 > 1:27:30Continue, continue your statement. You will get your answers in due course.

1:27:30 > 1:27:32Don't worry. Don't worry.

1:27:32 > 1:27:35LAUGHTER

1:27:35 > 1:27:41I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over if that's your decision.

1:27:41 > 1:27:43LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE

1:27:43 > 1:27:49- John, I'll get back to you. - I'm also prepared to present the evidence in this room,

1:27:49 > 1:27:52proving to you that the Soviet Union has lied to the world.

1:27:54 > 1:27:56HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN

1:27:56 > 1:28:01If you have decided not to continue your statement,

1:28:01 > 1:28:05the chair recognises the representative from Chile.

1:28:05 > 1:28:11I yield my time on the floor to the representative from the United States.

1:28:11 > 1:28:13Well, then, ladies and gentlemen,

1:28:13 > 1:28:16since it appears we'll be here for a while,

1:28:16 > 1:28:20shall we have a look at what the Soviets are doing in Cuba?

1:28:20 > 1:28:23May we have the presentation, please?

1:28:23 > 1:28:28- Now, ladies and gentlemen, if you'll observe, photograph A... - Yeah. Yeah.

1:28:28 > 1:28:30Ha-ha-ha!

1:28:30 > 1:28:33- ..Taken approximately... - Well, Adlai had it in him after all.

1:28:33 > 1:28:39Zorin must not have gotten instructions. Somebody in their foreign ministry's blown it big time.

1:28:39 > 1:28:45October 14th, in the photograph taken then, there are at least three missile sites being constructed.

1:28:45 > 1:28:47The ship is called the Grozny.

1:28:47 > 1:28:50'We lost track of it yesterday after nightfall.

1:28:50 > 1:28:55We thought we gave room when we moved the quarantine line back.

1:28:55 > 1:28:57But we just reacquired it.

1:28:57 > 1:29:04- It crossed the line hours ago. - 'How the hell do you lose a goddamn tanker? What the hell's going on?'

1:29:14 > 1:29:16Hail them again.

1:29:16 > 1:29:20I want you to try them again.

1:29:25 > 1:29:27HE SIGHS

1:29:27 > 1:29:30We are kidding ourselves.

1:29:30 > 1:29:32New co-ordinates for the Pierce.

1:29:32 > 1:29:38Pierce co-ordinates. 25 degrees, 30 minutes north. 78 degrees, ten minutes west.

1:29:48 > 1:29:51HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN

1:29:55 > 1:29:58- RUSSIAN REPEATED - Not responding, Chief.

1:29:58 > 1:30:02- Tell the skipper. - They're not responding, sir.

1:30:02 > 1:30:06'General quarters. All hands, man your battle stations.'

1:30:06 > 1:30:08SIREN WAILS

1:30:18 > 1:30:21- Very well. Load your guns. - Guns are loaded, sir.

1:30:21 > 1:30:24What was that, Admiral?

1:30:24 > 1:30:30- We've been hailing the Grozny for the last hour. It refuses to stop.- What are you doing?

1:30:30 > 1:30:37- Carrying out our mission. Now if you don't mind, we're busy. We need to do our job.- Admiral.

1:30:37 > 1:30:39I asked you a question.

1:30:39 > 1:30:42We're going to follow the rules of engagement.

1:30:42 > 1:30:45The rules of engagement which the President has approved

1:30:45 > 1:30:49and signed in his order of 23 October.

1:30:49 > 1:30:53Yes. Yes...you may proceed, Captain.

1:30:53 > 1:30:55- Clear your guns.- What?

1:30:58 > 1:31:03- Damn it. Stop that firing. - What?- Stop that firing!

1:31:03 > 1:31:06- Cease fire. Cease fire. - God help us.

1:31:08 > 1:31:13- The ship was firing star shells. - What?- Flares, Mr Secretary!

1:31:13 > 1:31:15Goddammit! I've got a job to do here!

1:31:15 > 1:31:21You've camped here since Monday night. You're tired, exhausted and are making mistakes.

1:31:21 > 1:31:26You interfere with me and you will get some of my men killed. I will not allow that!

1:31:26 > 1:31:29- Star shells.- Get out of my way.

1:31:29 > 1:31:34The Navy's run blockades since the days of John Paul Jones!

1:31:34 > 1:31:38The President made it clear that there would be no firing on ships

1:31:38 > 1:31:41- without his express permission. - With all due respect,

1:31:41 > 1:31:47- we are not firing on that ship. - What the hell was that?! - Firing on it means attacking it.

1:31:47 > 1:31:50We were firing over that ship!

1:31:50 > 1:31:53This was not the President's intention!

1:31:53 > 1:31:59What if the Soviets don't make the same distinction? What if they make the same mistake I just made?

1:31:59 > 1:32:06There will be no firing anything at any Soviet ship without my express permission. Understood?

1:32:06 > 1:32:08Is it?!

1:32:10 > 1:32:16- Yes, sir.- And I will only order such instructions when ordered to by the President.

1:32:16 > 1:32:20John Paul Jones!

1:32:20 > 1:32:23You don't understand a thing, do you, Admiral?

1:32:23 > 1:32:28This isn't a blockade! This is language. A new vocabulary.

1:32:28 > 1:32:31The likes of which the world has never seen!

1:32:31 > 1:32:36This is President Kennedy communicating with Secretary Khrushchev!

1:32:47 > 1:32:53- Who the hell authorised this missile test?- Who do you think? What will it communicate to the Soviet?

1:32:53 > 1:32:57Communicate with the Soviets? We can't communicate with the Pentagon.

1:32:57 > 1:33:00It's just across the goddamn river.

1:33:00 > 1:33:06- They think you're afraid of them. - I'm not taking that bait. The right move is to move on.

1:33:09 > 1:33:12'This is the United States destroyer, Joseph P Kennedy.'

1:33:12 > 1:33:16MAN SPEAKS RUSSIAN

1:33:17 > 1:33:25'This is the point at which we are concerned that there might be shooting among the ships at sea,'

1:33:25 > 1:33:30the possibility that invasion might have to be undertaken to assure that those bases are eliminated.

1:33:30 > 1:33:36If invasion is undertaken, the Russians have said they would retaliate with rocket fire.

1:33:36 > 1:33:42'We have said if there is rocket fire from Cuba, we will retaliate and there goes the whole ball game.'

1:33:42 > 1:33:44- Kenny.- What's this?

1:33:44 > 1:33:47Can anyone just walk in here now?

1:33:47 > 1:33:53- Don't worry. I'm not here to do an interview.- You've got the wrong door.- We need to see the President.

1:33:53 > 1:33:56Something's happened.

1:33:58 > 1:34:03I have lunch with him maybe once a month. He acts like he knows Khrushchev personally

1:34:03 > 1:34:05but he's never elaborated.

1:34:05 > 1:34:11- I've used him for a few sources.- The FBI has identified this Alexander Fulman as the Soviet Resident.

1:34:11 > 1:34:15The KGB equivalent of one of our station chiefs.

1:34:15 > 1:34:18He's their highest-ranking spy in this country.

1:34:18 > 1:34:23- And he knows John's a friend of mine.- All the trademarks of a back-channel overture.- Yeah(!)

1:34:23 > 1:34:28Some back channel(!) ABC News got it. My goddamn next door neighbour.

1:34:31 > 1:34:35So they'll remove the missiles and we'll pledge not to invade Cuba

1:34:35 > 1:34:39or destabilise Castro or assist anyone planning to do so.

1:34:41 > 1:34:45I think this may be our first real message from Khrushchev.

1:34:45 > 1:34:51- The alternative is that this could be a trap.- And how is that exactly?

1:34:51 > 1:34:55Dangle a settlement. Tie us down to negotiation.

1:34:55 > 1:34:58Why else would they approach us this way?

1:34:58 > 1:35:04It's deniable. The Soviets have done nothing but lie to us. This could be more of the same.

1:35:04 > 1:35:06That may be why Kruschev's introducing this guy.

1:35:06 > 1:35:12We've been burned by his usual players in the formal channels so he brings in an honest broker.

1:35:12 > 1:35:18- That may be what they want us to think.- The truth is we don't know who Fulman speaks for.

1:35:18 > 1:35:21It could be Kruschev, it could be some faction

1:35:21 > 1:35:24or the KGB itself. We just don't know.

1:35:24 > 1:35:30By the way, Scali, your activities now fall under the secrecy codicils of the National Security Act.

1:35:30 > 1:35:33Sorry, John. No Pulitzer.

1:35:34 > 1:35:39Mr President, we haven't much time. I'm meeting him in three-and-a-half hours.

1:35:39 > 1:35:44So it seems the question of the day is, is the offer legitimate?

1:35:44 > 1:35:46And if it is...

1:35:46 > 1:35:48we can't afford to ignore it.

1:35:50 > 1:35:52So, John...

1:35:52 > 1:35:56we'll have instructions for you in a couple of hours.

1:35:56 > 1:35:58Thank you.

1:35:59 > 1:36:01Thank you, John.

1:36:01 > 1:36:06Sir, we don't have much time to play out back-channel communiques.

1:36:09 > 1:36:11HE SIGHS

1:36:11 > 1:36:13Kenny.

1:36:13 > 1:36:19I need you to get over to your old stomping grounds and go through everything the FBI has on Fulman.

1:36:19 > 1:36:23I need your best call. Is he legit and speaking for Khrushchev?

1:36:23 > 1:36:28All right. So what we got here is this guy Alexander Feklisov, aka Alexander Fulman.

1:36:28 > 1:36:34Declared consul to the Soviet embassy but in reality the KGB poppa spy.

1:36:34 > 1:36:38Illustrious tour of duty during the Great Patriotic War gets him on the Party fast track.

1:36:38 > 1:36:42Various tours of duty in KGB.

1:36:42 > 1:36:47American postings. He's an expert on us and that is all that we got on Poppa Spy.

1:36:51 > 1:36:54How do you become the KGB top spy in the United States?

1:36:54 > 1:36:58- You gotta know someone. - You gotta know someone.

1:36:59 > 1:37:02So politics is politics.

1:37:13 > 1:37:16Walter, get me Khrushchev's files.

1:37:16 > 1:37:21- Pass me that.- I wanna see their career chronologies side by side.

1:37:21 > 1:37:23We know they're not related, right?

1:37:23 > 1:37:29- Right.- They're not from the same home town. They, er, went to different schools.- Right.

1:37:30 > 1:37:34So if they were gonna meet, they should have met here.

1:37:34 > 1:37:36- I think they could have met.- No.

1:37:36 > 1:37:41He was an engineer stationed outside of Moscow at the end of '41.

1:37:41 > 1:37:43That's it.

1:37:43 > 1:37:45They know each other.

1:37:45 > 1:37:49- They're war buddies. - That's pretty thin, Kenny.

1:37:49 > 1:37:52Well, real life usually is, Walter.

1:37:53 > 1:37:57They know each other. Khrushchev and Fulman were war buddies.

1:37:57 > 1:38:02- You're sure?- We've got good circumstantial evidence.

1:38:02 > 1:38:05What's your instinct? I gotta move on this.

1:38:05 > 1:38:11My gut's telling me that Khrushchev's turning to a trusted old friend to carry his message.

1:38:12 > 1:38:15OK. We're going.

1:38:17 > 1:38:21I've been instructed to tell you that the American government

1:38:21 > 1:38:26would respond favourably to the offer you have discussed. If such a solution were raised at the UN,

1:38:26 > 1:38:30it would find a favourable reply from Ambassador Stevenson.

1:38:30 > 1:38:36So I understand you correctly, if the missiles in Cuba were dismantled,

1:38:36 > 1:38:42returned to the Soviet Union and a guarantee was made not to reintroduce them,

1:38:42 > 1:38:47the United States would be prepared to guarantee that it would never invade Cuba.

1:38:47 > 1:38:51- That is correct.- And this is from the highest authority?

1:38:51 > 1:38:53Yes. THE highest authority.

1:38:53 > 1:38:55There are two conditions.

1:38:55 > 1:38:59The UN must be allowed to inspect the removal of the missiles.

1:38:59 > 1:39:05The UN must also be allowed to observe the redeployment of forces from the American Southeast.

1:39:05 > 1:39:07I can't speak to that.

1:39:07 > 1:39:10What's the second condition?

1:39:10 > 1:39:12Time is of the essence.

1:39:12 > 1:39:14- How much time?- 48 hours.

1:39:14 > 1:39:17In 48 hours, there can be no deals.

1:39:17 > 1:39:19Hoo-hoo...

1:39:19 > 1:39:22I'll see what I can do.

1:39:39 > 1:39:42It's difficult to make a decision from this document.

1:39:42 > 1:39:48- It looks to me like Fulman's overture is genuine.- It's a big "if".- He's saying it right here.

1:39:48 > 1:39:52He'll remove the missiles in return for a "no-invasion" pledge.

1:39:52 > 1:39:58Mr President, our early analysis is that this probably was written by Khrushchev himself.

1:39:58 > 1:40:02It shows no signs of being polished by the foreign ministry.

1:40:02 > 1:40:06In fact, it probably wasn't approved by the Politburo.

1:40:06 > 1:40:10The analysts say it was written by someone under considerable stress.

1:40:10 > 1:40:13- Glad to know we're not alone. - LAUGHTER

1:40:15 > 1:40:19Well, it never was my intention to invade Cuba anyway.

1:40:19 > 1:40:21But they put the missiles in there.

1:40:22 > 1:40:27Er, gentlemen, I think we should seriously consider this deal.

1:41:00 > 1:41:02- Hi.- Hi.

1:41:02 > 1:41:04You look old, O'Donnell.

1:41:04 > 1:41:07You don't.

1:41:07 > 1:41:09It's 2.30 in the morning.

1:41:09 > 1:41:12Are you flirting with me?

1:41:12 > 1:41:18We got a back-channel communication from Khrushchev this evening feeling us out about a deal.

1:41:18 > 1:41:22He confirmed it just a little while ago in a letter.

1:41:22 > 1:41:24(Thank God.)

1:41:24 > 1:41:29Jack kicked us out of his house for the night.

1:41:29 > 1:41:30Darn it(!)

1:41:30 > 1:41:34For a second there, I thought you'd been fired.

1:41:34 > 1:41:36No such luck.

1:41:42 > 1:41:44You know, I'm drivin' home...

1:41:45 > 1:41:48There was something I wanted to tell you.

1:41:48 > 1:41:50PHONE RINGS

1:41:51 > 1:41:53HE SIGHS

1:41:55 > 1:41:58Finish that thought?

1:42:01 > 1:42:03- Yes.- 'Kenny, it's Bob.

1:42:03 > 1:42:09- 'We're getting another letter from Khrushchev. I have a bad feeling.' - I'll be right there.

1:42:14 > 1:42:16You're beautiful.

1:42:16 > 1:42:19BABY CRIES

1:42:23 > 1:42:27Fulman was a ploy after all and they were just stalling for time.

1:42:32 > 1:42:34It gets worse.

1:42:35 > 1:42:39Gentlemen, my specialists are in agreement.

1:42:39 > 1:42:43This morning's letter is not Khrushchev. Last night's letter was.

1:42:43 > 1:42:49The evidence supports only one conclusion. There's been a coup and Khrushchev was replaced.

1:42:49 > 1:42:54- Dean?- At the very least, it does suggest he's been co-opted by hardline elements.

1:42:54 > 1:43:00It amounts to the same thing. A puppet Khrushchev and a hardline Soviet government pulling strings.

1:43:00 > 1:43:03No deal and the missiles are almost operational.

1:43:03 > 1:43:09What if the Soviets have no intention of honouring this deal? Then they make another condition.

1:43:09 > 1:43:14Meanwhile, the quarantine isn't working and they're completing work on the missile sites.

1:43:14 > 1:43:19- Sir, I think we have to order pre-invasion orders for our forces. - Mr President.- >

1:43:19 > 1:43:22This morning's photography is in.

1:43:22 > 1:43:27It appears the Soviets have commenced a crash programme to ready their missiles.

1:43:27 > 1:43:30The first missiles became operational last night.

1:43:30 > 1:43:33We expect they'll all be operational in 36 hours.

1:43:33 > 1:43:38- We have to go in.- That may not be as easy as we thought either. We have gotten confirmation

1:43:38 > 1:43:45- that they have deployed battlefield nuclear weapons to Cuba.- "Frogs". Short-range tactical nukes.

1:43:45 > 1:43:51We don't know if they've delegated release authority to their local commanders for use on our troops,

1:43:51 > 1:43:56but the good news is, as of this moment we know where the Frogs are. We can target them too.

1:43:56 > 1:44:00But the longer we wait, the harder it's going to get.

1:44:15 > 1:44:18We have no choice.

1:44:21 > 1:44:24General, issue orders to our forces

1:44:24 > 1:44:28to be prepared to execute the air strikes Monday morning

1:44:28 > 1:44:32and a follow-on invasion according to the schedule thereafter.

1:44:32 > 1:44:37- I'll need the official release orders on my desk on Sunday night. - Understood, sir.

1:44:37 > 1:44:43We need to step up our overflights, finalise our pilots' target folders in order to carry out the strikes.

1:44:43 > 1:44:46- Permission granted.- Yes, sir.

1:44:56 > 1:45:01Well, gentlemen, if anybody's got any great ideas, now's the time.

1:45:09 > 1:45:13- Major Anderson, there's a phone call for you.- Thank you. All right.

1:45:13 > 1:45:16Give me just a second here, guys.

1:45:19 > 1:45:21This is Major Anderson.

1:45:21 > 1:45:22Hello?

1:45:23 > 1:45:26- 'Hello? Anyone there?' - Major.- 'Yes, sir.'

1:45:26 > 1:45:29I'm Kenneth O'Donnell, Special Assistant to the President.

1:45:29 > 1:45:35Major, a few days ago the President ordered me to help him keep control of what's going on out there.

1:45:35 > 1:45:40I've been browbeating pilots and Navy guys left and right to make sure

1:45:40 > 1:45:44you don't get us here in Washington into trouble.

1:45:44 > 1:45:47'Do you know what?'

1:45:47 > 1:45:54We're pretty damn good ourselves at getting into trouble, so... instead of riding your ass,

1:45:54 > 1:46:00- I'm just gonna tell you what's going on here and let you figure out how best to help us out up here.- OK, sir.

1:46:00 > 1:46:05'Last night, it looked like we were gonna cut a deal to get us all out of this mess.'

1:46:05 > 1:46:08Today the Soviets are reneging.

1:46:08 > 1:46:14We're gonna try and salvage the situation but...a lot of things are going wrong today.

1:46:14 > 1:46:16It's making everyone nervous.

1:46:16 > 1:46:20'If more things go wrong, people will become more nervous.'

1:46:20 > 1:46:23It will be very hard to avoid going to war.

1:46:23 > 1:46:27I'm...not sure what you're trying to tell me, sir.

1:46:27 > 1:46:30'Just my, erm, standard line'

1:46:30 > 1:46:35I've been repeating to guys like you all week. Don't get shot down.

1:46:35 > 1:46:40'Beyond that, whatever else you can do to help us, I'd appreciate it.'

1:46:40 > 1:46:42Sir...

1:46:45 > 1:46:49When you're at 72,000 feet, there's a million things that can go wrong.

1:46:49 > 1:46:54'Is your oxygen mix right? Are your cameras gonna freeze up?

1:46:54 > 1:46:58'Are you leaving a com trail? Those things are beyond your control.

1:46:58 > 1:47:01'But...

1:47:01 > 1:47:06'you know, when you realise that, there's a kind of peace.'

1:47:06 > 1:47:12If you're a good man and your ground crew are good men, that is all you can ask for. It may get you through.

1:47:12 > 1:47:16Are a religious man?

1:47:16 > 1:47:18Yes, sir. I am.

1:47:18 > 1:47:21Good.

1:48:15 > 1:48:17ALARM WAILS

1:49:34 > 1:49:36DOOR OPENS

1:49:39 > 1:49:41The plane is missing.

1:49:41 > 1:49:44We are presuming the pilot is dead.

1:49:57 > 1:50:02It's hard to believe with the Soviet centralised command structure that this could have been accidental.

1:50:02 > 1:50:08The question is, does this attack represent a definitive, intentional escalation by the Soviets?

1:50:08 > 1:50:14Mr President, taken with the events of the past few hours, I believe this confirms our worst fears.

1:50:14 > 1:50:18We're now dealing with a hardline Soviet government,

1:50:18 > 1:50:24- perhaps with Khrushchev as a puppet head, perhaps not. We don't know. - You OK?- Yeah. I'm fine.

1:50:26 > 1:50:28Mr President.

1:50:28 > 1:50:34- What now?- A U-2 on routine mission got lost and penetrated Soviet air space over Siberia.- Oh, Goddammit!

1:50:34 > 1:50:40They scrambled MiGs thinking it was a bomber. He got out OK. Somebody forgot to cancel the mission.

1:50:40 > 1:50:45There's always some son of a bitch who doesn't get the word. This is just what we need.

1:50:45 > 1:50:49The Soviets thinking we're bombing them.

1:50:49 > 1:50:53- Anybody else?- Mr President.

1:50:53 > 1:50:55Our pilots are in danger.

1:50:55 > 1:50:59We must order punitive air strikes against the SAM site

1:50:59 > 1:51:03that shot down Major Anderson per our rules of engagement.

1:51:13 > 1:51:16HE SIGHS

1:51:16 > 1:51:18No.

1:51:18 > 1:51:25- I want confirmation it wasn't some sort of accident first. - Mr President...- A good idea, sir.

1:51:25 > 1:51:27I can wait a day-and-a-half.

1:51:27 > 1:51:32It'll be safer for my boys to get the SAMs on Monday when we get the rest of the bastards.

1:53:17 > 1:53:19WHISTLE BLOWS

1:53:19 > 1:53:21End of quarter!

1:53:27 > 1:53:29- Hey, Dad.- Hey, sport.

1:53:29 > 1:53:32- Are you winning?- Yeah.

1:53:32 > 1:53:35Is everything gonna be OK, Dad?

1:53:35 > 1:53:38Everything's gonna be fine, Kenny.

1:53:38 > 1:53:42I guess you won't be coming home tonight?

1:53:45 > 1:53:48I, er...

1:53:50 > 1:53:52I... WHISTLE BLOWS

1:53:52 > 1:53:54Let's go! Second quarter!

1:53:58 > 1:54:00It's OK. Go on back to your game.

1:54:00 > 1:54:03I'll see you around, Dad.

1:54:34 > 1:54:36Damn it.

1:54:36 > 1:54:41- Jesus, Mary and Joseph.- Take off for a while and you'll miss something.

1:54:41 > 1:54:44I told you how stupid this idea was. Now you're doing it?!

1:54:44 > 1:54:49- The Jupiters are obsolete. They were supposed... - I know! That's not the point!

1:54:49 > 1:54:56The point is, you trade our missiles in Turkey for theirs in Cuba, they'll force us into trade after trade

1:54:56 > 1:55:02until a couple of months from now, they demand something we won't trade like Berlin and we do go to war.

1:55:02 > 1:55:07Long before that happens, this administration will be politically dead.

1:55:07 > 1:55:12I don't care if this administration is in the freaking toilet! We don't do a deal, there won't be one!

1:55:12 > 1:55:15It's wrong! Everyone thinks that!

1:55:15 > 1:55:18Everyone on this so-called ExComm's telling you that.

1:55:18 > 1:55:21Well, whose side are you on now, Ken?

1:55:21 > 1:55:23Oh... Goddammit.

1:55:26 > 1:55:29What if there hasn't been a coup at all?

1:55:29 > 1:55:31What if it's you two?

1:55:31 > 1:55:36- What does that mean?- What if it was you who invited that second letter

1:55:36 > 1:55:39by raising the possibility of a trade?

1:55:45 > 1:55:50We have only 30 hours left. Whatever response we send, it will take several hours

1:55:50 > 1:55:55for the wire to be received by our embassy and delivered to the Kremlin.

1:55:55 > 1:55:59So we're looking at tomorrow morning before Khrushchev can respond.

1:55:59 > 1:56:06Which one of you geniuses can tell me how we explain it to the world if we don't make this trade?

1:56:06 > 1:56:08So, what do we say to the Soviets

1:56:08 > 1:56:10about this offer?

1:56:10 > 1:56:14It depends. I mean...do we really believe there's been a coup?

1:56:14 > 1:56:17What if Fulman wasn't a ploy?

1:56:17 > 1:56:20What if his message was real?

1:56:20 > 1:56:23What if it is all a series of accidents?

1:56:23 > 1:56:25Accidents like them shooting down our U-2?

1:56:25 > 1:56:28Yes, accidents like that.

1:56:28 > 1:56:32Accidents make this second letter seem more aggressive

1:56:32 > 1:56:35and the whole situation appear worse than it really is.

1:56:35 > 1:56:38- The Guns Of August.- That's right.

1:56:38 > 1:56:40So, we just reject the second letter?

1:56:40 > 1:56:42No.

1:56:42 > 1:56:45No, no. We don't reject it.

1:56:45 > 1:56:50We accept the first letter and pretend the second letter doesn't exist.

1:56:51 > 1:56:55- It won't work because it's wishful thinking!- He made an offer...

1:56:55 > 1:57:01It's blinded us all these months while the Soviet sneaked those missiles in under our noses.

1:57:01 > 1:57:06- Ignore the second letter, agree to the conditions of the first. - Would the Soviets let it go?

1:57:06 > 1:57:09Max is right. Why will they accept?

1:57:09 > 1:57:16It can work if they believe we're gonna hit 'em hard. We've got time for one more round of diplomacy.

1:57:16 > 1:57:20- The first air strikes start in 28 hours. - We have to make them agree to it.

1:57:20 > 1:57:26- How do we do that?- We give them something. We'll remove the missiles from Turkey. Hang on!

1:57:26 > 1:57:32- But we do that six months from now so it appears there's no linkage. - We also tell them if they go public,

1:57:32 > 1:57:37- we'll deny it.- The deal's off. - We do it under the table so we can disavow any knowledge.

1:57:37 > 1:57:42- The press will be all over it.- Six months from now we're not gonna care.

1:57:42 > 1:57:48- We'll deal with it then.- At the least, it'll expose if Khrushchev has been overthrown. We'll know.

1:57:48 > 1:57:52If this is a move to appease the hardliners in his government,

1:57:52 > 1:57:55it may be the bone he needs to regain control of his own house.

1:57:55 > 1:58:01Whoever carries the message has to hit the nail on the head. Come across as too soft, they'll push us,

1:58:01 > 1:58:06too hard, they'll be cornered and even more dangerous.

1:58:06 > 1:58:09All of you understand that there is an enormous risk in offering it?

1:58:09 > 1:58:16- If they turn us down and we've already told them we're coming in on Monday...- They'll strike first.- Yes.

1:58:18 > 1:58:24- Bobby. You know Dobrynin best.- Yeah.

1:58:24 > 1:58:26Then you're it.

1:58:26 > 1:58:30Ted, I want you to start working on the draft.

1:58:30 > 1:58:34Bobby, you gotta go in and make them understand

1:58:34 > 1:58:38that we have to have an answer tomorrow because Monday we go to war.

1:58:55 > 1:58:57What do you want? A goodbye kiss(?)

1:59:00 > 1:59:05Hey, Joe, listen. I'll take care of him. Go on inside, grab some coffee. We'll be back soon.

1:59:05 > 1:59:08- Are you sure? - Sure. What's the matter with you?

1:59:08 > 1:59:12Forget how to open a car door?

1:59:12 > 1:59:14Jesus.

1:59:14 > 1:59:17You rich people!

1:59:25 > 1:59:29I promised the, er, girls I'd take them riding tomorrow.

1:59:30 > 1:59:33Make sure you keep that date.

1:59:35 > 1:59:38We gave up so much to get here.

1:59:39 > 1:59:43Sometimes I think, "What the hell did we do it for?"

1:59:43 > 1:59:47I don't know about you but... I'm in it for the money(!)

1:59:53 > 1:59:56We knew we could do a better job than everyone else.

1:59:56 > 1:59:58Remember?

1:59:58 > 2:00:01You know, I...

2:00:03 > 2:00:06I... I hate being called "the brilliant one",

2:00:06 > 2:00:11"the ruthless one", "the guy everybody's afraid of".

2:00:11 > 2:00:13I hate it.

2:00:13 > 2:00:16- HE SIGHS - I'm not so smart, you know?

2:00:16 > 2:00:19I'm not so ruthless.

2:00:19 > 2:00:22Well, you're right... about the smart part(!)

2:00:31 > 2:00:34I don't know if I can do this.

2:00:34 > 2:00:38There's nobody else I'd rather have going in there than you.

2:00:38 > 2:00:42There's nobody else I trust Helen and the kids' lives to.

2:00:45 > 2:00:47Take a left.

2:01:05 > 2:01:08Do you smell that?

2:01:08 > 2:01:10They're burning their documents.

2:01:10 > 2:01:13They think we're going to war.

2:01:14 > 2:01:16God help us, Ken.

2:01:58 > 2:02:02Sir, Ambassador Dobrynin is here. He's waiting in your office.

2:02:02 > 2:02:04Here.

2:02:09 > 2:02:11HE EXHALES

2:02:11 > 2:02:14I'll whistle up some luck for you.

2:02:22 > 2:02:25Mr Ambassador...

2:02:42 > 2:02:44HE WHISTLES

2:02:49 > 2:02:52HE CONTINUES WHISTLING

2:02:58 > 2:03:00- Ahem.- >

2:03:14 > 2:03:17Who are you?

2:03:27 > 2:03:30A friend.

2:03:35 > 2:03:37HE WHISTLES

2:03:50 > 2:03:56My brother, my friends, my country and I cannot and will not permit the missiles to become operational,

2:03:56 > 2:04:00- I promise you that.- Then, I fear our two nations will go to war.

2:04:00 > 2:04:03And I fear where war will lead us.

2:04:03 > 2:04:10If the missiles do not become operational, if you remove the missiles, then there will be no war.

2:04:10 > 2:04:16At this moment the President is accepting the terms of Secretary Khrushchev's letter of Friday night.

2:04:16 > 2:04:21If the Soviet Union halts construction, removes the missiles and submits to UN inspection,

2:04:21 > 2:04:26the United States will pledge to never invade Cuba or aid others in that enterprise.

2:04:26 > 2:04:33If your Jupiter rockets in Turkey were removed also, such an accommodation would be reached.

2:04:33 > 2:04:36- HE SIGHS - That's not possible.

2:04:38 > 2:04:42The United States cannot agree to such terms under threat.

2:04:42 > 2:04:46Any belief to the contrary was in error.

2:04:46 > 2:04:48You want war?

2:04:59 > 2:05:03However, while there can be no quid pro quo on this issue,

2:05:03 > 2:05:07the United States can offer a private assurance.

2:05:07 > 2:05:14Our Jupiter missiles in Turkey are obsolete. They have been scheduled for withdrawal for some time.

2:05:14 > 2:05:17This withdrawal should take place within, say, six months.

2:05:17 > 2:05:23Any public exposure of this assurance would negate the deal

2:05:23 > 2:05:25and produce the most stringent denials from our government.

2:05:25 > 2:05:31This private assurance represents the word of the highest authority?

2:05:31 > 2:05:33Yes.

2:05:33 > 2:05:39And it can be relayed past Comrade Kruschev ears to the top circles of my government?

2:05:39 > 2:05:44Our pledge can be relayed to any government official Secretary Kruschev sees fit to satisfy

2:05:44 > 2:05:51with the caveat that it is not to be made public in any way, shape or form.

2:05:54 > 2:05:56And we must have an answer tomorrow

2:05:56 > 2:06:00at the latest. I cannot stress this point enough.

2:06:00 > 2:06:02Tomorrow?

2:06:02 > 2:06:05Tomorrow.

2:06:06 > 2:06:12Then, you must excuse me and permit me to relay the substance of our discussion to my superiors.

2:06:12 > 2:06:14Of course.

2:06:15 > 2:06:20We have heard stories that some of your military men wish for war.

2:06:20 > 2:06:22You're a good man.

2:06:22 > 2:06:25Your brother is a good man.

2:06:25 > 2:06:28I assure you there are other good men.

2:06:28 > 2:06:31Let us hope the will of good men is enough to counter

2:06:31 > 2:06:35the terrible strength of this thing that was put in motion.

2:07:15 > 2:07:17What's going to happen?

2:07:19 > 2:07:22If the sun comes up tomorrow...

2:07:23 > 2:07:26..it is only because of men of good will.

2:07:26 > 2:07:29And that's...

2:07:29 > 2:07:33That's all there is between us and the devil.

2:08:01 > 2:08:04RADIO STATIC

2:08:06 > 2:08:09'This is Radio Moscow.

2:08:09 > 2:08:14'Premier Khrushchev has sent a message to President Kennedy today.

2:08:14 > 2:08:19'The Prime Minister re-emphasises the need for urgent measures to prevent a fatal turn of events

2:08:19 > 2:08:22'and to preserve world peace.

2:08:22 > 2:08:26'In addition to instructions earlier transmitted

2:08:26 > 2:08:29'to stop construction work on installations in Cuba,

2:08:29 > 2:08:34'the Soviet government has ordered the dismantling of weapons in Cuba

2:08:34 > 2:08:38'as well as their crating and return to the Soviet Union.'

2:08:41 > 2:08:43HE SIGHS

2:08:48 > 2:08:51Is everybody ready for church?

2:08:54 > 2:08:56BABY BABBLES

2:08:58 > 2:09:01It's a beautiful morning.

2:09:03 > 2:09:06Pass the butter up to Dad.

2:09:10 > 2:09:13Hey, Dad, do you want your paper?

2:09:17 > 2:09:20Dad, what's wrong?

2:09:23 > 2:09:26The sun came up.

2:09:26 > 2:09:31Every day the sun comes up says something about us.

2:09:39 > 2:09:42What does it say, Dad?

2:09:42 > 2:09:45What's wrong with Daddy?

2:09:51 > 2:09:54PHONE RINGS

2:09:58 > 2:10:00PHONE CONTINUES RINGING

2:10:17 > 2:10:19- CHATTERING - Congratulations.

2:10:19 > 2:10:22This is the foreign policy trophy we were hoping for.

2:10:26 > 2:10:29- APPLAUSE - Mr President, great job.

2:10:29 > 2:10:31Hold it. Hold it.

2:10:31 > 2:10:35Well, Mr President, I think I can speak for everyone here

2:10:35 > 2:10:38when I say, bring on those mid-terms,

2:10:38 > 2:10:41there's no stoppin' us now.

2:10:41 > 2:10:44- LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE - Four more years.- All right.

2:10:44 > 2:10:47No, it's been a long two weeks

2:10:47 > 2:10:49and, er, well, whatever.

2:10:49 > 2:10:53I'd like to thank you all. I think you all did a great job.

2:10:53 > 2:10:56I don't think we should be gloating too much.

2:10:57 > 2:11:01It was, er, just as much a victory for them as it was for us.

2:11:01 > 2:11:03Hear. Hear.

2:11:03 > 2:11:06- Enjoy your morning. - Thank you, Mr President.

2:11:06 > 2:11:08APPLAUSE

2:11:08 > 2:11:11Get some rest, Mr President.

2:11:11 > 2:11:15- We've got a lot of new clout right now.- Uh-huh.- We can run the table

2:11:15 > 2:11:19- on Kruschev, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.- You're right.

2:11:21 > 2:11:23HE SIGHS

2:11:28 > 2:11:31Dear Mr and Mrs Anderson...

2:11:32 > 2:11:36..I was deeply shocked when advised your son was lost

2:11:36 > 2:11:38in an operational mission

2:11:38 > 2:11:41on Saturday, October 27th, 1962.

2:11:41 > 2:11:46Your son rendered a distinguished and dedicated service to his country

2:11:46 > 2:11:49throughout his career.

2:11:50 > 2:11:53He was admired and respected

2:11:53 > 2:11:55for his courage,

2:11:55 > 2:11:59for his professional skills by all with whom he served.

2:11:59 > 2:12:02His tragic loss will be deeply felt.

2:12:02 > 2:12:05And a grateful nation will be forever in his debt.

2:12:22 > 2:12:24MUTED VOICES

2:12:24 > 2:12:26Ken, we're out here.

2:12:31 > 2:12:33INAUDIBLE

2:12:45 > 2:12:49- ARCHIVE RECORDING OF JFK: - 'What kind of a peace do we seek?

2:12:49 > 2:12:55'I am talking about genuine peace. The kind of peace that makes life on Earth worth living.

2:12:55 > 2:12:58'Not merely peace in our time, peace in all time.

2:12:58 > 2:13:01'Our problems are man-made,

2:13:01 > 2:13:04'therefore they can be solved by man.

2:13:04 > 2:13:08'For in the final analysis, our most basic common language

2:13:08 > 2:13:12'is that we all inhabit this small planet,

2:13:12 > 2:13:14'we all breathe the same air,

2:13:14 > 2:13:17'we all cherish our children's future

2:13:17 > 2:13:19'and we are all mortal.'

2:13:37 > 2:13:40Subtitles by IMS