The Tug Of War

Synopsis

In October 1962, the nation’s young president, John F. Kennedy, learns the Soviet Union is building military bases in Cuba—only 90 miles from the U.S. coast.

Despite Soviet assurances that the build-up is solely for Cuba’s defensive capability, Kennedy learns that the Soviets have been lying.

Their Cuban installations comprise a nuclear missile force capable of wiping out most of the continental United States.

Themes

• American literature