One Hell of a Gamble: Khrushchev, Castro, and Kennedy, 1958-1964

As a young SAC B-52 Combat Crew member, we were among the first to learn what was going on, but only 22 hours before JFK gave his speech. It was indeed 11:59 on the Doomsday Clock. By the time JFK gave his excellant speech, all of our B-52s were loaded and the first four of eight daily Airborne Alert Bombers from our Wing were launching their 24 hour + Missions.John Kennedy had just slammed the lid on the Russians. Khrushchev was blustering and threatening. John Kennedy was serious, we were serious, the US Navy was serious, and hundreds of thousands of US Military Personnel were serious. JFK had just slammed the nuclear lid on the Russians.Of course, I know how that turned out. But this book gave me insight into everything that went on with all three sides of this conflict. Excellent recital of all of the public and secret details of what really happened.I highly recommend it.

A lot of details but I waded through it. Makes you wonder if the Cubans had a hand in killing Kennedy. The book does not dwell on that topic but the chronology sure seemed suspicious. Did Oswald act alone?

I bought this book on the recommendation of Douglas P. Horne. Mr. Horne said this book was an authoritative source for information pertaining to Robert and Jaqueline Kennedy's opinion regarding reasons for the murder of President John F Kennedy. The index referred me to chapter 16. These opinions were communicated to the Soviet government in December 1964. I found them compelling.

Naftali and Fursenko have done a excelent piece of research in this interesting book about the Cuban Missile Crisis. In particular, they highlight the close to insane policies of the Russian Government as they sought to bolster the Cuban regime from US attack. This book gives the whole picture including the bay of pigs and other US misadventures that drove Castro into the Soviet orbit. The most fascinating section for me was the part on Castro and way he was compelled to adopt Soviet style communism. The US simply did not leave him any choice. A balanced look at high powered diplomacy that had gone mad.

If you are interested in finding out what the Cuban Missile Crisis was actually about and how it was conducted and resolved, this is a fantastic book. Not only do we get the context of what went on during the Eisenhower administration when Castro came to power, but we get the context of what was going on in the Soviet Union as well.I did not know that Raul Castro was the committed communist who advocated closer ties with the USSR. That Fidel was anti-US was always clear, but it was most interesting to read about how the connection between Cuba and the USSR developed and its limitations because of Fidel's undisciplined and independent nature.The back-channel diplomacy was also very interesting to read about and why we didn't learn about the Jupiter missile removal from Turkey until much later was another story I wanted to understand. For me, the most useful things I learned were the lurching and stumbling nature of the way the USSR and the US played off of and against each other. Not only were both sides trying to balance the other side, each side was also trying to be provocative as well.The book also notes that the Soviets saw the Kennedy assassination as the work of a far right wing conspiracy led by H.L. Hunt, although they had no real evidence but the word of journalist Paul Ward. They refused to believe that the President's security services could have allowed a lone madman to shoot the President (as was actually the case).The book ends with a brief discussion of coup that removed Khrushchev and put Brezhnev in power.The book is written very well and has a rich supply of notes and documentation backing up the story the authors report. I think it is a fascination and important book from the most dangerous period in the Cold War.

A brilliant study, will open your eyes to reality. You are gonna be surprised with how little you knew about the Cuban Missile Crisis

I liked the book and used it to gain information on the missile crisis

Not a lightweight read in any sense but meticulously well researched and changes perceptions of key players at the time. Increasingly relevant with the resurgence of Russia as a military power.

First class narrative, and a historical gem ,and I gained more knowledge about the subject matter.

As advertised. Happy with it. Arrived in a timely fashion.