Episode
Ep 91: Soviet Union (Part 2)
- Podcast
- Solving JFK
- Published
- Mar 25, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1705
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the United States and the Soviet Union ever came to nuclear war—a thirteen-day period where decisions made in real time carried unimaginable consequences. In this episode, we break down how the crisis developed, why Khrushchev chose to place nuclear missiles in Cuba, and how American intelligence and leadership responded as the situation escalated. Inside the Kennedy administration, there was no consensus. Military leaders urged immediate force, while Kennedy weighed options that might avoid triggering a nuclear exchange. As the pressure intensified, miscommunications, near-misses, and rogue actions on both sides pushed the world closer to disaster than most people realized at the time. This episode examines the internal tensions within the U.S. government, the role of backchannel diplomacy, and the narrow margin by which catastrophe was avoided. It’s a look at leadership under extreme stress—and what this moment reveals about power, perception, and the risks that defined the Cold War. Patreon - Patreon.com/solvingJFK Twitter - https://twitter.com/solvingjfk Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/solvingjfk Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/solvingjfkpodcast Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@solvingjfk Transcripts and Sources - https://www.solvingjfkpodcast.com Our Sponsors: * Check out Mood and use my code JFK for a great deal: https://mood.com * Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy