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Thirteen Days of Terror: an Interview with Syndicate Reporter Charles Bartlett and His Account of the Cuban Missile Crisis

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Thirteen Days of Terror: an Interview with Syndicate Reporter Charles Bartlett and His Account of the Cuban Missile Crisis Thirteen Days of Terror: An Interview with Syndicate Reporter Charles Bartlett and His Account of the Cuban Missile Crisis Gavin Hunter Percy Advanced Placement United States History Instructor: Mi'. Alex Haight February 10,2003 OH PER 2003 Percy, ) Gavin ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL lNTER\n[E\\'EE RELEASE FORM: Tapes and Transcripts K W^<. (Cue , do hereby give to the Saint Andrew's Episcopal name of interviewee School all right, title or interest in the tape-recorded interviews conducted by on |>t; V, Z- S /..jf-jA I understand that these name of interviewer-' date(s) interviews will be protected by copyright and deposited in Saint Andrew's Library and Archives for the use of future students, educators and scholars. I also understand that the tapes and transcripts may be used in public presentations including, but not limited to, audio or video documentaries, slide-tape presentations, exhibits, articles or the world wide web at the projects web site www.doingoralhistory.org. This gift does not preclude any use that I myself want to make of the informalion in these transcripts or recordings. The interviewee acknowledges that he/she will receive no remuneration or compensation for either his/her participalion in the interview or for the rights assigned hereunder. CHECK ONE: Tapes and transcripts may be used without restriction y Tapes and transcripts are subject to the attached restrictions (Typed) IMTERVIEWEE: INTERVIEWER: Signature of Interviewee Signature Typed Name Typed Name J Address Address (J \)c ^.^ .-^i^or t-"^ "^*^<:^ 1 Date Date 8804 Postoak Road • Potomac, Maryland 20854 • (301) 983-5200 • Fax: (301) 983-4710 • http://ww\v.saes.org Table of Contents Release Form 2 Statement of Purpose 3 Biography 4 Historical Contextualization 5 Interview Transcription 14 Historical Analysis 33 Appendix 38 Bibliography 44 Percy-3 Statement of Purpose The purpose of this project is to gain a better understanding and comprehension of the Cuban missile crisis though a primary resource. Charles Bartlett is a well known syndicated journalist and was a participant in several of the events that brought the Unhed States to the brink of nuclear war in October 1962. The interview whh Mr. Bartlett gives one unique insights into events extensively covered by renowned historians, but where differences of opinion and emphasis do exist. Mr. Bartlett's inside view of the key participants involved, plus broad understanding of the policy process, gives a fresh perspective and is a fascinating read. Percy-4 Biography Charles Bartlett was bom on August 14, 1921 in Lake Forest, Chicago. He attended the St. Mark's School in Lake Forest before attending Yale. Mr. Bartlett graduated from Yale in 1943 whh a Bachelors degree. Afrer college he served his country by joining the Navy, and was enlisted as a Naval Intelligence officer for three years. Mr. Bartlett left the Navy in 1946, and became a correspondent for The Chattanooga Times, a newspaper owned by The New York Times. After serving as a correspondent for a year and a half, Mr. Bartlett expressed interest in taking a job in Washington D.C. From 1948 to 1962 he was a correspondent for The Chattanooga Times in Washington D.C; gaining several contacts and earning a reputation as a prestigious reporter. For the next two decades, Charles Bartlett became a syndicate reporter for The Chicago Daily News and The Chicago Sun. During that time, Mr. Bartlett received the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 1956. In 1965, Mr. Bartlett co-authored "Facing the Brink" with Edward Weintal. In 1981, he became the Director of the Committee to Limh Congressional and Presidential Terms. In 1983, he became the Director of the Jefferson Foundation which related to Constitutional change and term limitation. Mr. Bartlett is also a board member of the Visitors of the Georgetown School of Foreign Service and the William E. Simon School of Business. Today, he continues liis profession by writing the Washington Focus Newsletter. Charles Bartlett is married whh four cliildren and resides in his home in Washington. Percy-5 Thirteen Days of Terror The sixties proved to be one of the most fascinating decades of this century; emerging from the fifties with revolutionary technology, music, and styles that defined a generation of America. The Cuban missile crisis was a pivotal point in America's history, where the entire country stood still for thirteen days, wahing for a resolution to what seemed an endless nightmare. In 1961, John F. Kennedy, a democrat from Massachusetts, was voted into office as America's first Roman Catholic President. During President Kennedy's inaugural address, he asked the public, "Ask not what your country can do for you^—ask what you can do for your country." This statement was a cornerstone for what the Kennedy administration stood for and what they wanted to accomplish. In general, President Kennedy wanted to get the country moving again. Economically, his programs launched America on its longest sustained expansion since WWII. Kennedy was also hailed as a civil rights activist; fighting in congress for a new civil rights legislation, allowing African-American's more rights. Furthermore, President Kennedy wanted America's wealth to be spread to developing counties around the world and for human rights to be the primary focus of this ultimate goal. To accomplish this revolutionary task he founded programs such as the Peace Corps and Alliance for Progress. Although America's economy was thriving and Kennedy's presidency was looking prosperous, the rising rivalry between the worids only other super power grew stronger. Russia, or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) as it was known during Kennedy's era, was the other world super power besides the United States. Nikha Khrushchev, communist leader, was the first secretary of the of the Soviet Communist Percv-6 party from 1953 to 1964. War had played a major role through out Klirushchev's life. He served as a czarist in WWI form 1914 to 1918. Later that year he joined the communist party, as well as the Red Army, were he served as a soldier during the Russian civil war, During WWII, Klirushchev served as a political advisor to the political department of the Red Army, Nikita Klu-ushchev's reputation and military experience would serve to be a platform for his pohtical future. In 1953 Khiushchev became first secretary of the Central Committee and leader of the communist party. In 1956, he gained great recognhion for denouncing Stalin and his methods, despite the fact that he himself was involved with many of Stalin's crimes. As the decade of the sixties emerged, Kliiaishchey's foreign policy troubled the United States due to the fact that he favored nuclear weapons over conventional armies. This foreign policy, in combination with President Kennedy's concern whh the spread of comniunism in the world, served as a catalyst to growing tension between the two countries. Pursuing his fight against communism, President Kennedy took particular interest in the small island of Cuba. Fidel Castro, a member of the Communist party, had risen to power by force, proving to be quite influential as a leader. Castro had joined a rebel movement in 1952 when Fulgencio Batista y Zaldivar took control of the Cuban government. After being jailed and exiled, Castro finally overthrew Batista using guerrilla warfare, driving him out of the country. This caught the attention of President Kennedy and the American public. As diplomatic relations between Cuba and the Unhed States deteriorated, new options were discussed about how to handle the rising tension. One such option Percy-7 discussed was the Bay of Pigs invasion. In this option, Cuban exiles would attempt to gain local support in Cuba and overthrow Castro and his regime. The Kennedy administration agreed that this was a possible and realistic opfion, so, on April 17, 1961, roughly 1300 Cuban exiles whh American military training, and weapons landed on Bahia de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs) and begun an invasion. The exiles intended to cross the island to Havana while gaining local support. However, they were quickly stopped by Castro's army. By April 19, 90 exiles were killed and the rest were taken as prisoners. President Kennedy took frjll responsibility for the attack on Cuba. The day after the event, Kennedy was quoted saying, "Lyndon, you've got to remember that were all in this and that, when I accepted the responsibihty for this operation, I took the entire responsibilhy on myself, and I think we should have no sort of passing of the buck or backbiting, however justified." (Schlesinger 270) Although showing good character and judgment, the Bay of Pigs failure was still an embarrassment to the entire Kennedy administration; however, embarrassment was about to become the least of the United States' problems. Nikita Khrushchev saw the American failure of the Bay of Pigs invasion as an opportunity. In May of 1962, Khaishchev hypothesized the idea of installing intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Cuba whh the direct intent of advancing on the Americans already strong lead of developing and deploying strategic missiles. Negotiations were struck up between Khrushchev and Castro discussing the issue. The installation of nuclear missiles in Cuba was considered a mutually beneficial deal. The Soviet Union would have an equally threatening poshion on America and Castro would have the protection of the Soviet Union against further attempts on his life and his Percy-8 regime. "The presents of these missiles was designed to make the imperialists understand that, if they tried to invade Cuba, 'the war which they threatened to start stood at their own boarders, so that they would realize more realistically the dangers of thermonuclear war.'" (Schlesinger 728) Michael R.
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