Sheldon M. Stern: A Brief Summary

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Author Sheldon M. Stern was a former historian from 1977-1999, and worked at the John F. Kennedy Library. He was able to be among the first to hear the John F. Kennedy recordings that took place in the White House about the Cuban Missel Crisis of 1962, and then wrote this book about the recordings. Stern is able to give a very clear account of the actual happenings during the time that the Soviet Union planted Nuclear missles in Cuba. He used a Narrative format to help the reader feel as though they were in the meeting taking place in the recording.
John F. Kennedy was against the Nuclear Missles being planted in Cuba, and demanded that they be removed. There was fear of the risk of nuclear war at this time, and Cuba having these weapons was seen as being a risk. At times Sterns descriptions made it a little unclear as to whether it was John F. Kennedy speaking in the meetings or if it was …show more content…
President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert Kennedy were the only one’s with in the meeting that were aware they were being recorded, so it would be hard to back up the disputes of the dialog being altered or dishonest. When the meetings were taking place it would not have been easily manipulated due to their being around 15 people taking part in the conversation, all with their own opinions.
It was a well written overview about the Cuban Missle crisis as Sterns did a good job of describing the relations between the Soviet Union and the United States, and also the relations with Cuba during the Cold war.
There was a letter the John F. Kennedy wrote that was well quoted. It was also very helpful in understanding the group with in the meeting as he shared the professional bio of the key members involved and the National Security Council and executive committee members. Stern recounts events, discussions, meetings and direct

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