Source C is an extract from the book “13 days” written by Robert Kennedy in 1968. Source C is showing Robert Kennedy’s account of what happened from the 16th October and onwards to do with the missiles. The source is useful to a historian studying the Cuban Missile Crisis because it tells us two of the options that the President had and how when the estimate of 80000000 American lives being in danger was discovered, the American troops were put on maximum alert. Source C is not useful because it doesn’t tell us who were discussing the action that should be taken, the date that the action was taking place and what happened after this.
Source D is an extract from a broadcast made by President Kennedy on US radio and television on 22nd October 1962. Source D is showing what the President said to explain the missile situation and what action America was taking. The source is useful to a historian studying The Cuban Missile Crisis because it explains the action Kennedy was taking to prevent war, and it also shows that he is interested in establishing world peace. Although it seems that Kennedy was trying to shift the blame of the whole situation onto Khrushchev (the Soviet leader). I also know that Kennedy wasn’t exactly honest when he made the broadcast, as he didn’t want American citizens to know about the missiles in Turkey, so what’s said in the speech isn’t the full truth; this is one reason for it not to be useful. Another is that it would be more helpful if there was more of the speech.
Source E is from the memoirs of Gromyko who was the Soviet Foreign Minister at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis, it was published in 1989. The source is showing a conversation between Gromyko and President Kennedy. Source E is useful to a historian studying The Cuban Missile Crisis because it shows an important conversation between the two leaders and a Soviet interpretation is useful so we can see both sides of the argument. It shows evidence that backs up the point of view that American was trying to bully Cuba in a way because Cuba was communist. It is not useful because it was written by a soviet, so the quote seems one sided and makes America seem to blame and the bad guys. Another reason it may not be useful is it is from the “Memoirs” of Gromyko, so it may not be completely accurate.
Source F is an extract from the Memoirs of Khrushchev, published in 1975. The source is showing Khrushchev’s interpretation of what happened in the missile crisis. Source F is useful to a historian studying The Cuban Missile Crisis because it shows Khrushchev’s account of what happened, and a historian would be able to see the benefits of backing down for Khrushchev; he came out of the situation as a hero and a peace maker to the soviet circles. The fact that he had been made to back down was quickly forgotten and people were told that he ‘made the first move to compromise’ instead.
Source G is an extract from a British History book, “The Age of Containment” by D.Rees in 1967. The source is showing D.Rees opinion of the ending of the missile crisis. Source G is useful to a historian studying The Cuban Missile Crisis because it shows us how the crisis was resolved although the source is also not useful because it is seems bias as the British were Americas allies and certainly on the Americans side; they blamed the USSR for pretty much everything.
Source H is an extract from “13 days” by Robert Kennedy. The source is showing Robert Kennedy’s interpretation of The Presidents feeling towards the events that had happened. Source H is useful to a historian studying The Cuban Missile Crisis because it is said that President Kennedy did not take much credit for what had happened, didn’t seek praise and was quite modest, but the source may also not be useful as Robert Kennedy is his brother and he may be making the President out to be better than he actually was. Also, it seems Robert Kennedy was willing to lie for his brother as the second letter sent to Khrushchev was not mentioned and the missiles in Turkey were deliberately not mentioned.
The Cuban Missile Crisis Coursework
Part B
Source F is an extract from the Memoirs of Khrushchev, published in 1975. The source is showing Khrushchev’s interpretation of what happened in the missile crisis. The interpretation given in source F is that Khrushchev seen missiles as the only option to stop American interference with Cuba; it says “We had no desire to start war”. The interpretation suggests that the blame was all down to America and the USSR were doing the responsible thing. It also suggests that the USSR were victorious. It also says “Finally Kennedy gave in and agreed to such a promise”; although in actual fact it was Khrushchev that agreed to Kennedy’s demands. This interpretation is one sided and we only get one point of view.
Source G is an extract from a British History book, “The Age of Containment” by D.Rees in 1967. The source is showing D.Rees opinion of the ending of the missile crisis. The interpretation given in source G is that after an exchange of notes with Kennedy, Khrushchev backed down. The interpretation suggests that the blame was entirely Khrushchev’s, and it was the USSR that had faltered. This view is mostly truth, as it was Khrushchev that backed down, and was seen as the USSR that was to blame. But the view is exaggerating a lot when it says ‘the greatest crisis in the Cold War, the climax of seventeen years of rivalry, was over’ this is because most historians agree that the Cuban Missile Crisis helped to thaw out Cold War relations, but not completely end them.
Source H is an extract from “13 days” by Robert Kennedy. The source is showing Robert Kennedy’s interpretation of The Presidents feeling towards the events that had happened and the outcome of the crisis. The interpretation given in source H is that President Kennedy made no attempt to take victory for what had happened. The interpretation tells us “the President made no statement attempting to take credit for himself or his administration for what had occurred”. We know that this is party true, but I’m sure he did take some kind of victory away from this.
The interpretations are different because Source F is written by Khrushchev, and so straight away you know it’s going to be on the USSR side. This interpretation blames the USA and says it was Kennedy who gave in; it claims victory for Khrushchev. Source G Is not from either side of the crisis, it is from a British text book. This straight away shows that it will not be on either side but might lean towards the USA as they are very close allies. The text supports the view as it blames Khrushchev and says the USSR faltered. Source H is written by Robert Kennedy; President Kennedy’s brother so you can tell straight away it is going to be on the USA side. The interpretation just explains how the President didn’t take victory away from these events. Source G and Source H are claiming that it was the USA who was victorious and Source F is saying how it was the USSR who won overall.
The most accurate interpretation of the outcome of the Cuban Missile Crisis in my point of view is Source G. This is because it is not written by either side of the crisis; not USA or USSR. Instead it is written by A British historian. The reason I don’t think that Source F is the most accurate is because Khrushchev is just trying to claim a personal victory, when most of the information he is saying is false. There is also no mention of the second letter sent to Kennedy as he ignored this letter and did not meet Khrushchev’s demands. The reason I don’t think that Source H is the most accurate is because I am sure that President Kennedy did take some credit for the outcome and the source is written by his brother, so it is obviously going to be one sided. Although I think that Source G is the most accurate, all of the sources are needed for a historian to find out all the opinions and facts to do with the Cuban Missile Crisis and tell us what both countries wanted people to believe.
