MovieChat Forums > Thirteen Days (2001) Discussion > Couldn't he just phone Khrushchev?

Couldn't he just phone Khrushchev?

posted 15 years ago by Pearl_Jade
19 replies | jump to latest

This might be a stupid question, but couldn't Kennedy just pick up the red phone (or whatever hotline he has to world leaders), connect to the Kremlin, and ask Khrushchev what the heck he thought he was doing by installing missiles in Cuba?

Why all the guessing games and going through 3rd parties, wondering whether there had been a coup in the U.S.S.R., when a direct conversation with Khrushchev could settle so many questions?

I thought world leaders DO speak to each other directly by phone in times of crisis. Or does that only apply to allies?

[–] agspiess 15 years ago

There was no Red Phone at the time. The Red Phone was created because of the Cuban Missile Crissis.

[–] RParmly-3 15 years ago

"There was no Red Phone at the time. The Red Phone was created because of the Cuban Missile Crissis."

Zactly.

Question; does anyone know if the Red Phone still exists between the U.S. and Russia today? And are there any equivalents with other nuclear powers (most obviously, China)?

Keep flying, son. And watch that potty mouth!

[–] njdocisin 15 years ago

The red phone does still exist today. It went through some upgrades in the 80's to allow for facsimile transmission.

[–] yupyup86 15 years ago

ahh you guys beat me too it. Laaame

[–] mulhollandpsycho 14 years ago

Read the book THIRTEEN DAYS by Robert Kennedy. JFK & Khrushchev sent written correspondence to each other. It was somewhat cordial - until Khruschchev's letters took a sharper tone, and it was theorized that the military had taken over letter-writing.

[–] mloessel 14 years ago

As many have posted the 'Hot Line' came about following an agreement, in 1963, between the Soviets and the U.S.A.. It's first use was in 1967 during the six day Egypt/Israel War. So it's not a stupid question but the technology was not available.

[–] Jeff-01 14 years ago

Remember also that frank conversations are not always ideal.

Ambassadors might not have the same autonomy they did a hundred years ago, but they still serve very important functions. Also remember that the Soviet ambassador lied about the missiles, doubtless on Khrushchev's orders. While the issue of the coup was one of uncertainty, the situation at large was not. It was an issue of negotiation, and a single, frank conversation isn't always best for that.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Jeff-01 14 years ago

by - Communism_is_our_Future on Thu Jul 29 2010 12:36:48

The Soviet ambassador, Anatoly Dobrynin, did not lie about the missiles. He didn't know they were there.

Perhaps. Regardless, as I said, "doubtless on Khrushchev's orders." A phone call with Khrushchev probably wouldn't have cleared up much.

[–] pawtrax67 14 years ago

Now they just join each other's facebook page. LOL.

[–] stormrider57 14 years ago

It was only at that point in time that they had the red phones (direct lines) installed.

[–] CmdrCody 14 years ago

An earlier post asked if the "Red Phone" still exists between Washington and Moscow. Perhaps, but probably not used since relations have been normalized.

I think many readers would be surprised about the cooperation between the American and Russian military forces during the present day. US and Russian naval ships routinely visit each other's naval bases for port calls. The former American naval base in Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam, taken over by the Soviet navy after we pulled out...recently had a US Aegis-class cruiser dock there for a symbolic visit. The Captain of the American warship was a former Vietnamese refugee who went to Annapolis and rose through the ranks to be CO of this powerful warship.

Perhaps the most surprising instance of Russian/American cooperation speaks to the very heart of this movie. When the Cold War ended, the Baltic Republics of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia became independent countries again. It was in Latvia, where the Russian military had an important (and massive) early warning radar installation, part of their air defence network. The Latvians insisted that the radar be dismantled ASAP, leaving a gap in the Russian radar net.

American military and political advisers advised the first President Bush of this serious destabilizing event which had caused a blind spot in the Kremlin's knowledge of Western military actions in northern Europe. A set of correcting and unprecedented steps were taken by Washington. A small staff of Russian airforce men, led by a General, was invited to set up shop in Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado...in the top secret war room at NORAD. Incredible. They were given a console where the "big board" world maps were displayed and a secure phone link to air defence staff in Moscow. The objective was to insure that the peace was preserved...that what the US and NATO knew of the world military situation was also known to the Russian government. This was to insure high confidence and mitigate miscalculation on both sides.

Since then, NORAD has moved out of Cheyenne Mountain to the suburbs of Denver and the Russian radar net has been upgraded to where they have no more "blind spots." But as far as I know, the Russian military desk at NORAD still exists and I believe, Americans sit with their counterparts in Moscow.

It's a good arrangement, in my view... even if we disagree with Putin on a bunch of other things.

CmdrCody

[–] efs2 14 years ago

Neat post, CmdrCody. Thanks for sharing.

Oh, my God! They're turkeys!

[–] Mooditude 14 years ago

Yeah nice post also CmdrCody, its amazing how fats things changed after the Cold War

[–] psdhart 14 years ago

very interesting post cmdrcody

[–] Slick-63 14 years ago

He did call the Premiere but tried to reverse the charges and this led to more tension.

[–] kameeleoned_out 10 years ago

To be forever known in history as the green phone incident.

[–] mulhollandpsycho 14 years ago

Read the book "Thirteen Days" by Robert Kennedy. He explains it all. It's not always "Dr. Strangelove" in these scenarios.

[–] raf-33 14 years ago

In regards to the question about other nuclear opponents having red phones, a Hotline was set up between New Delhi and Islamibad shortly after Pakistan joined India as a nuclear power.

With your feet in the air and your head on the ground, try this sig with spinach!