Havana 1962: To the Brink of Nuclear War: Hashtag Histories, #3

By Philip Gibson

What if there had been social media during the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis?

This is the story of the Cuban Missile Crisis told as if through posts on private social media feeds. The book follows the thoughts and actions of the main participants in the drama based on what those participants actually reported, or could have believably reported in private social media accounts, given who they were, what they knew and where they were at the time.

The year is 1962. The Kennedy brothers are in the White House. Nikita Khrushchev is in the Kremlin and Fidel Castro is in the Presidential Palace in Havana, Cuba. For a time, now widely referred to as "the most dangerous moment in human history", these men hold the future of modern civilization in their hands as the world teeters on the brink of nuclear apocalypse.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Philip Gibson
• Release date: Mar 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393139232

Book preview

#Havana62

To the Brink of Nuclear War

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What if there had been social media during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

This is not a story told in the usual book format. It is the story of the Cuban Missile Crisis told as if through posts on private social media feeds. The book follows the thoughts and actions of the main participants in the drama based on what those participants actually reported, or could have believably reported in private social media accounts, given who they were, what they knew and where they were at the time.

The year is 1962. John F. Kennedy is in the White House. Nikita Khrushchev is in the Kremlin and Fidel Castro is in the Presidential Palace in Havana, Cuba. For a time, now widely referred to as the most dangerous moment in human history, these three men hold the future of modern civilization in their hands as the world teeters on the brink of nuclear apocalypse.

Copyright: Philip Gibson, 2014

January 1-2, 1962

John McCone (1902–1991)

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John McCone was the 6th. Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and served in that capacity from 1961 to 1965. He was one of the key figures in the Executive Committee of the National Security Council (ExComm) during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

John McCone @CIADirectorMcCone

The New Year's Day parade in Havana, Cuba is providing us with the first reliable intelligence on the extent of Soviet Bloc arms deliveries to Cuba.

Soviet tanks.gif

Soviet-made tanks on parade in Plaza Jose Marti in Havana (January 1, 1962).

John McCone @CIADirectorMcCone

Aircraft assets in the possession of the Cuban Revolutionary Air Force are estimated to include around sixty Soviet-built jet fighters, primarily MiG-15 and MiG-17 aircraft.

George McManus @McManusCIA

There are also a limited number of somewhat more advanced MiG-19 planes, plus small numbers of helicopters and light transport aircraft which have been provided recently.

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Edward Lansdale (1908–1987)

Edward Lansdale.jpg

Edward Lansdale was a Major General in the United States Air Force who served in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and the CIA. From 1957 to 1963, Lansdale worked for the Department of Defense in Washington. During the early 1960s he was chiefly involved in clandestine efforts to topple the government of Cuba, including operations to sabotage Cuban industry, disrupt daily life in the capital and assassinate Fidel Castro. In 1963, he was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal.

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Edward Lansdale @AssSecSpecialOperations

Today, I outlined for the President the 32 planning tasks under Operation Mongoose.

Operation Mongoose

Operation Mongoose (or ‘the Cuban Project’) was overseen by the SGA (Special Group Augmented) and the CIA.  This was a covert operation of sabotage and subversion activities against Cuba. It was developed during the early months of President John F. Kennedy's administration with the aim of overthrowing Castro’s government. On November 30, 1961, aggressive covert operations against Fidel Castro's revolutionary government in Cuba had been authorized by the President. The operation was led by Lansdale and went into effect shortly after the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba.

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Edward Lansdale @AssSecSpecialOperations

The full range of planning tasks range from intelligence gathering to sabotage actions with the intent of encouraging an effective opposition political movement within Cuba.

Robert Kennedy @RFKAttorneyGeneral

We hope to eventually generate a revolt leading to the downfall of the Castro government. However, I envisage that we will need to provide military support in the later stages of such a revolt.

Edward Lansdale @AssSecSpecialOperations

We will mount a grenade attack on the Chinese embassy in Havana, mine the approaches to major Cuban harbors, set an oil tanker afire outside Havana and attack oil refineries in Havana and Santiago.

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Robert F. Kennedy (1925–1968)

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In 1962, Robert Kennedy, the younger brother of President John F. Kennedy, was the U.S. Attorney General and oversaw the CIA’s activities and efforts to overthrow the Castro government under Operation Mongoose. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, he played a pivotal role as one of the President’s closest advisors and as a clandestine intermediary between the White House and senior Soviet officials in Washington.

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Robert Kennedy @RFKAttorneyGeneral

Landsdale’s covert sabotage plans for Cuba are beginning to take shape and some are ambitious indeed. However, he does seem to be a man capable of bringing such things off.

Robert Kennedy @RFKAttorneyGeneral

A solution to the Cuban problem today carries top priority in U.S. Government. No time, money, effort or manpower is to be spared.

Edward Lansdale @AssSecSpecialOperations

I envisage our covert operations against Cuba proceeding in six scheduled phases: Phase I. Action, March 1962. Start moving in. Phase II. Build-up, April– July 1962.

Edward Lansdale @AssSecSpecialOperations

Phase III. Readiness, 1 August 1962. Check for final policy decision. Phase IV. Resistance, August– September 1962. Move into guerrilla operations.

Edward Lansdale @AssSecSpecialOperations

Phase V . Revolt, first two weeks of October 1962. Open revolt and overthrow of the Communist regime. Phase VI. Final, during month of October 1962. Establishment of new government in Cuba.

John McCone @CIADirectorMcCone

The President told his brother in the Oval Office today that, the final chapter on Cuba has not yet been written - it's got to be done and will be done!

February, 1962

John F. Kennedy (1917–1963)

JFK.jpg

John Fitzgerald Kennedy (often referred to as JFK, and ‘Jack’ to family and close friends) became the youngest ever President of the United States following his election in 1960. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, it was Kennedy who had to decide whether to bomb the Cuban/Soviet missile sites, mount a full-scale invasion of the island, or institute a blockade in order to persuade Premier Khrushchev to remove the Soviet missiles from Cuba.

John F. Kennedy @JFKennedy

Lansdale’s schedule for Operation Mongoose, presented to me today, envisages an open revolt and overthrow of the Communist regime by October this year.

Edward Lansdale @AssSecSpecialOperations

The basic plan includes political, psychological, military, sabotage, and intelligence operations as well as attacks on the cadre of the regime, including key leaders.

Edward Lansdale @AssSecSpecialOperations

However, the vital decision regarding possible U.S. military actions in support of the plans is up to the President and has not yet been made.

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Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971)

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Nikita Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during much of the Cold War. As Premier from 1958 to 1964, he was responsible for the decisions and actions of the Soviet Union during the crucial days in 1962 when the world came close to a catastrophic nuclear war.

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Nikita Khrushchev @NKhrushev

Even after their failed invasion of Cuba, the Americans continue their attempts to destroy the revolution. We are providing Comrade Castro with substantial military assistance to thwart any further direct attacks.

Nikita Khrushchev @NKhrushev

However, we are well aware that the Kennedy administration is undertaking covert measures to achieve their aims in Cuba. These covert operations are far harder to defend against.

John F. Kennedy @JFKennedy

All actions undertaken within Operation Mongoose must be inconspicuous and consistent with the U.S. overt policy of isolating Castro and neutralizing Cuban influence in the hemisphere.

Robert Kennedy @RFKAttorneyGeneral

I am about to chair a meeting of the SGA to review Taylor’s latest guidelines for our discrete measures to get rid of Castro.

Maxwell Taylor @MTaylor

The new guidelines I had drafted for Operation Mongoose have now been approved by the SGA. The President will be briefed again on Friday.

Robert Kennedy @RFKAttorneyGeneral

The operation will make maximum use of indigenous Cuban resources, but decisive military intervention and support by U.S. forces seems inevitable at some point.

John F. Kennedy @JFKennedy

I am about to sign a decree authorizing a ban on all Cuban products from entering the United States – effectively a trade embargo.

Pierre Salinger @PSalingerWHPressSecretary

The President called me in today and asked me to go out and buy 1,000 Petit Upmanns Cuban cigars. Luckily, I know a lot of stores in Washington that carry this particular Cuban brand.

John F. Kennedy @JFKennedy

The embargo on all Cuban products is a result of 'the subversive offensive of Sino-Soviet communism with which the government of Cuba is publicly aligned.

John F. Kennedy @JFKennedy

Fortunately, Salinger has managed to secure me 1,200 of the finest Cuban cigars, so I will now go ahead and sign the decree banning all Cuban products in the U.S.

April, 1962

Robert McNamara (1916-2009)

Mcnamara.jpg

Robert McNamara was the U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968 and one of the central figures during the Cuban Missile Crisis. As a senior member of the committee (ExComm) set up by President Kennedy to respond to the clandestine installation of Soviet nuclear-tipped missiles on the island of Cuba, he became a strong proponent of the blockade option over a missile strike and helped persuade the Joint Chiefs of Staff to agree with the blockade option.

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Robert McNamara @RMacNamara

Our Jupiter missiles in Turkey are now operational. All positions are reported ready and manned.

Nikita Khrushchev @NKhrushev

I am vacationing in the Crimea. However, there are still many things to attend to on a daily basis, not least of which is ensuring that Socialism in