1962
In October 1962, the discovery of Soviet missile sites in Cuba initiated a tense thirteen-day crisis, leading President Kennedy to implement a naval blockade against the advice of some military leaders. The standoff escalated with approaching Soviet ships and the downing of a U-2 plane, while Premier Khrushchev sent conflicting letters regarding missile removal. To resolve the crisis, the Kennedy administration publicly accepted the first offer to remove missiles in exchange for a non-invasion pledge, while secretly agreeing to remove US missiles from Turkey. This diplomatic resolution, delivered by Robert Kennedy, successfully averted nuclear war, leaving Kenny O'Donnell and President Kennedy to reflect on the immense pressure and the catastrophe narrowly avoided.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Kenny O’Donnell navigates the tense political and personal turmoil of the Cuban Missile Crisis, balancing duty in the Oval Office with family life at home.
Open full beat sheetKenny O'Donnell is listed as Chief of Staff. Tough, Boston-Irish, former ward-pol, loyal to the Kennedys. In the parsed data, Kenny O'Donnell is connected to 42 scenes, 13 dialogue lines, 13 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
42 scenes / 13 dialogue linesRobert F. Kennedy is listed as Attorney General. President's younger brother, key advisor. In the parsed data, Robert F. Kennedy is connected to 25 scenes, 16 dialogue lines, 16 text mentions, first appearing around scene 15.
25 scenes / 16 dialogue linesJohn F. Kennedy is listed as President of the United States. Leader of the US, facing the Cuban Missile Crisis. In the parsed data, John F. Kennedy is connected to 24 scenes, 11 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
24 scenes / 11 dialogue linesMaxwell Taylor is listed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Silver-haired war hero, politically savvy. In the parsed data, Maxwell Taylor is connected to 12 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 17.
12 scenes / 2 dialogue linesJohn McCone is listed as Director of CIA. Sharp, tough, conservative. In the parsed data, John McCone is connected to 11 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 18.
11 scenes / 3 dialogue linesMcGeorge Bundy is listed as National Security Advisor. Academic, thin-haired, bespectacled. In the parsed data, McGeorge Bundy is connected to 11 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 41.
11 scenes / 2 dialogue linesDean Rusk is listed as Secretary of State. Distinguished, soft Georgian accent, distant reserve. In the parsed data, Dean Rusk is connected to 8 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 18.
8 scenes / 1 dialogue linesRobert McNamara is listed as Secretary of Defense. Gifted managerial genius, cold, hard personality. In the parsed data, Robert McNamara is connected to 8 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 20.
8 scenes / 1 dialogue linesHelen O'Donnell is listed as Kenny's wife. Mother of Kenny's children. In the parsed data, Helen O'Donnell is connected to 5 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
5 scenes / 3 dialogue linesDean Acheson is listed as Former Secretary of State. Revered oracle, architect of containment strategy. In the parsed data, Dean Acheson is connected to 4 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 7.
4 scenes / 1 dialogue linesCurtis LeMay is listed as Air Force Chief of Staff. Beetle-browed, arrogant, archetypal Cold War general. In the parsed data, Curtis LeMay is connected to 4 scenes, first appearing around scene 13.
4 scenes / 0 dialogue linesAnatoly Dobrynin is listed as Soviet Ambassador. Soviet diplomat. In the parsed data, Anatoly Dobrynin is connected to 3 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 43.
3 scenes / 4 dialogue linesArthur Lundahl is listed as Head of Photographic Interpretation. Crewcut chief, expert on U-2 imagery. In the parsed data, Arthur Lundahl is connected to 2 scenes, first appearing around scene 6.
2 scenes / 0 dialogue linesBill Ecker is listed as Navy Pilot. Commander of VFP-62, the 'Fightin' Photo'. In the parsed data, Bill Ecker is connected to 2 scenes, first appearing around scene 32.
2 scenes / 0 dialogue linesAndrei Gromyko is listed as Soviet Foreign Minister. Saturnine, cold, enigmatic. In the parsed data, Andrei Gromyko is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 14.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesAdlai Stevenson is listed as Representative to the U.N.. Intellectual, well-spoken, often at odds with the military. In the parsed data, Adlai Stevenson is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 7.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesA U-2 spy plane captures aerial photographs of missile sites in Cuba.
Kenny O'Donnell wakes up to his children playing in his bedroom.
Kenny O'Donnell, Helen O'DonnellKenny interacts with his family in the hallway before leaving.
Kenny O'Donnell, Helen O'DonnellKenny quizzes his children on government officials while eating breakfast.
Kenny O'Donnell, Helen O'DonnellKenny meets with President Kennedy to discuss the morning news.
Kenny O'Donnell, John F. KennedyThe President reveals the U-2 photos of Soviet missiles in Cuba to Kenny.
Kenny O'Donnell, John F. Kennedy, McGeorge Bundy, Arthur LundahlThe EXCOM committee meets to discuss the missile crisis.
Kenny O'Donnell, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, McGeorge Bundy, Robert McNamara, Dean RuskThe President and his advisors discuss options for dealing with the Soviet missiles in Cuba, including air strikes and invasion.
John F. Kennedy, Kenny O'Donnell, Robert F. Kennedy, Dean Acheson, Maxwell Taylor, McGeorge BundyAcheson and military leaders discuss their frustration with the Kennedys' perceived weakness.
Dean Acheson, Maxwell Taylor, McGeorge BundyThe President, Kenny, and Bobby discuss the moral weight of their decisions and the danger of a sneak attack.
John F. Kennedy, Kenny O'Donnell, Robert F. KennedyThe President makes a public appearance while Kenny deals with the press.
John F. Kennedy, Kenny O'DonnellBobby pushes for alternatives to a sneak attack, leading McNamara to suggest a blockade.
Robert F. Kennedy, Robert McNamara, John McCone, Dean Acheson, Maxwell TaylorGeneral LeMay pushes for immediate air strikes against the Soviet missiles.
John F. Kennedy, Curtis LeMay, Maxwell Taylor, Kenny O'Donnell, Robert F. Kennedy, Robert McNamaraThe President confronts Gromyko about the missiles in Cuba.
John F. Kennedy, Andrei Gromyko, Anatoly Dobrynin, Dean RuskKenny, Sorensen, and Bundy are shaving when Bobby enters with news of the Soviet response.
Kenny O'Donnell, Robert F. Kennedy, McGeorge BundyKenny and his team analyze the Soviet response before the President enters.
Kenny O'Donnell, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, McGeorge BundyEXCOM discusses the blockade and rules of engagement with Admiral Anderson.
Kenny O'Donnell, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Robert McNamara, Maxwell Taylor, Curtis LeMayThe quarantine goes into effect and the team monitors the Soviet ships.
Kenny O'Donnell, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Dean Rusk, Maxwell Taylor, John McConeMcCone reports that six Soviet ships are continuing toward the quarantine line, leading to a tense debate about whether to let them pass.
John McCone, John F. Kennedy, Kenny O'Donnell, Robert F. Kennedy, Maxwell TaylorMcNamara agrees with the decision to let the ships pass.
Robert McNamaraThe President orders the Captain to maintain contact but do nothing else.
John F. Kennedy, Kenny O'DonnellKenny, Bobby, and the President discuss the next steps regarding the missiles and the quarantine line.
Kenny O'Donnell, Robert F. Kennedy, John F. KennedyKenny and FBI agents analyze career chronologies of Khrushchev and Fomin, concluding they are war buddies. Kenny calls the President to report the breakthrough.
Kenny O'Donnell, John F. KennedyScali meets Fomin to discuss terms for removing missiles from Cuba in exchange for a no-invasion pledge.
Scali debriefs the President and his team on the Fomin meeting; Rusk announces a letter from Khrushchev.
John F. Kennedy, Kenny O'Donnell, Robert F. Kennedy, John McCone, Maxwell Taylor, McGeorge BundyKenny, Bobby, Rusk, and Sorensen watch the teletype receive Khrushchev's letter.
Kenny O'Donnell, Robert F. Kennedy, Dean RuskEXCOM reviews Khrushchev's letter, concluding it is genuine and written by Khrushchev himself.
Kenny O'Donnell, John F. Kennedy, John McConeKenny returns home.
Kenny O'DonnellKenny and Helen discuss the day's events and the potential for peace.
Kenny O'Donnell, Helen O'DonnellKenny arrives to find chaos; Bobby informs him a second letter from Khrushchev has arrived and the deal is off.
Kenny O'Donnell, Robert F. KennedyEXCOM debates the second letter and the possibility of a coup in the Soviet Union.
Kenny O'Donnell, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, John McCone, Robert McNamara, Dean RuskKenny calls Major Anderson to warn him about the situation.
Kenny O'Donnell, Bill EckerMajor Anderson is shot down over Cuba.
Bill EckerEXCOM reacts to the news of Anderson's death.
Kenny O'Donnell, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, McGeorge Bundy, John McCone, Maxwell TaylorKenny visits his son Kevin playing football.
Kenny O'DonnellKenny and Bobby discuss the strategy for a deal.
Kenny O'Donnell, Robert F. KennedyThe President and his team decide to accept the first letter and ignore the second.
Kenny O'Donnell, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Dean RuskEXCOM finalizes the plan to send Bobby to talk to Dobrynin.
Kenny O'Donnell, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, John McCone, Robert McNamara, Dean RuskKenny and Bobby drive to the Soviet Embassy.
Kenny O'Donnell, Robert F. KennedyKenny and Bobby observe the Soviet Embassy burning documents, anticipating war.
Kenny O'Donnell, Robert F. KennedyKenny and Bobby arrive at the Justice Department to meet Dobrynin.
Kenny O'Donnell, Robert F. Kennedy, Anatoly DobryninKenny waits in the room and encounters a mysterious woman with a Soviet pin.
Kenny O'DonnellBobby negotiates with Dobrynin regarding the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Robert F. Kennedy, Anatoly DobryninKenny reflects on the Breton's Fisherman's Prayer.
Kenny O'DonnellKenny, Bobby, and the President discuss the weight of their decisions.
Kenny O'Donnell, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. KennedyKenny returns home and discusses the crisis with Helen.
Kenny O'Donnell, Helen O'DonnellKenny receives the call that the crisis is over.
Kenny O'Donnell, Robert F. KennedyThe President warns EXCOM against gloating.
John F. Kennedy, Kenny O'DonnellKenny confronts Bundy and McNamara about their political opportunism.
Kenny O'Donnell, McGeorge Bundy, Robert McNamara, John McConeKenny and the President share a final moment.
Kenny O'Donnell, John F. KennedyMr. President, I agree. Let them go. Four of the six continuing ships are still a day away from the line. They've stopped all the ones we suspect have weapons aboard. It would look bad shooting up a freighter full of baby food.
You are a good man. Your brother is a good man. I assure you there are other good men. Let us hope the will of good men is enough to counter the terrible strength of this thing which has been put in motion.
Then it appears we have three options. Number one. A surgical air strike against the missiles themselves. Two, a larger air strike against their air defenses along with the missiles.
Sir, we have the tally from NSA. We have twenty ships stopping and or turning around. Six, however, appear to be continuing for the line. Including the Gagarin and Kimovsk.
Our Jupiter missiles in Turkey are obsolete, and have been scheduled for withdrawal for some time. This withdrawal should be completed within, say, six months.
Sir, we have the tally from NSA. We have twenty ships stopping and or turning around. Six, however, appear to be continuing for the line.
I don't want any gloating. This is not a victory over the Soviets. It's a victory with the Soviets. I want everyone to remember that.
My brother, my friends, my countrymen and I cannot and will not permit those missiles to become operational. I promise you that.
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