Kennedy and Khrushchev: 9. Black Saturday
Summary
Hosts Nina Khrushcheva and Max Kennedy recount "Black Saturday," the tensest day of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. The episode details near-catastrophic events, including a U-2 straying into Soviet airspace, another being shot down over Cuba, and a Soviet submarine nearly launching a nuclear torpedo. Amidst these dangers, Kennedy and Khrushchev navigate conflicting signals and internal pressure to forge a secret missile swap that averts nuclear war.
Topics discussed
Intro and Whole Foods advertisement
Captain Maltzby's U-2 flight to the North Pole
Tension in Cuba: Missile preparations and anti-aircraft fire
Civilian stress and Major Anderson's U-2 mission
Khrushchev's conflicting letters and the Turkey missile trade
White House confusion and the missile swap debate
EXCOM exhaustion and civil defense preparations
Shooting down of Major Anderson's U-2 spy plane
Whole Foods advertisement
Military pressure for invasion and tactical nukes
Maltzby's U-2 strays into Soviet airspace
Soviet submarine B-59 under depth charge attack
Maltzby's escape and Kennedy's decision not to retaliate
Personal connection between Kennedy and Khrushchev
Arhipov prevents nuclear torpedo launch on B-59
Final EXCOM deliberations and secret negotiation plan
Credits and BBC Podcasts promotion
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