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In reply to the discussion: Generals mocking JFK behind his back during Cuban Missile Crisis caught on tape... [View all]Octafish
(55,745 posts)13. JFK, FDR and 'Seven Days in May'
By Lisa Pease
February 24, 2009
EXCERPT...
The film "Seven Days in May" began as a novel by Fletcher Knebel, inspired to a great degree by Knebel's conversations with Gen. Curtis LeMay, President Kennedy's contentious Air Force Chief of Staff who was furious at Kennedy for not sending in full military support during the Bay of Pigs incident.
Additionally, LeMay infamously argued during the Cuban Missile Crisis for a preemptive nuclear first-strike against the Soviet Union, a move Kennedy abhorred.
One of Kennedy's friends, Paul Fay, Jr., wrote in his book The Pleasure of His Company how one summer weekend in 1962, one of Kennedy's friends bought Knebel's book to his attention, and Kennedy read the book that night.
The next day, Kennedy discussed the plot with friends, who wanted to know if Kennedy felt such a scenario was possible. Bear in mind this was after the Bay of Pigs but before the Cuban Missile Crisis.
"It's possible," Kennedy acknowledged. "It could happen in this country, but the conditions would have to be just right. If, for example, the country had a young President, and he had a Bay of Pigs, there would be a certain uneasiness.
Maybe the military would do a little criticizing behind his back, but this would be written off as the usual military dissatisfaction with civilian control. Then if there were another Bay of Pigs, the reaction of the country would be, 'Is he too young and inexperienced?'
The military would almost feel that it was their patriotic obligation to stand ready to preserve the integrity of the nation, and only God knows just what segment of democracy they would be defending if they overthrew the elected establishment."
After a moment, Kennedy continued. "Then, if there were a third Bay of Pigs, it could happen."
CONTINUED...
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2009/022409a.html
PS totally agree re James Douglass, a hero of Truth.
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Generals mocking JFK behind his back during Cuban Missile Crisis caught on tape... [View all]
Octafish
Sep 2012
OP
You are most welcome, Trailrider1951! Here's the guy who should be writing the book on Gen. LeMay...
Octafish
Sep 2012
#18
"JFK and the Unspeakable" by James Douglass should be required reading in classrooms
drokhole
Sep 2012
#3
Not exactly. LeMay ordered unauthorizedoverflights of Soviet airspace during Cuban Missile Crisis...
Octafish
Sep 2012
#21
My Mother told me a long time ago when I was a kid about a guy that lived in our neighborhood
ArnoldLayne
Sep 2012
#11
Thank you for sharing that, ArnoldLayne! We're just starting to learn the story...
Octafish
Oct 2012
#41
Thank you for the heads-up, MinM! Interesting Times, indeed: ''A U-2 has been lost off Alaska.''
Octafish
Sep 2012
#22
The generals were obviously trying to provoke the Soviets into a massive retaliation!
LongTomH
Sep 2012
#25
I wonder what this country would be like had we actually listened to Eisenhower's warning about the MIC taking over.
Initech
Sep 2012
#16
Shoup was pushing for full on nuclear war on Cuba and Le May was playing the angles either way. nt
patrice
Sep 2012
#26