Transcript

Event Date(s): 05/28/2001 | Description: 17:00:00 MSNBC Reports: Thirteen Days: On the Edge of the Abyss a special report on the background and history of the Cuban Missile Crisis in October of 1962. The show is hosted by Forrest Sawyer who is at the John F Kennedy Library in Boston, Massachusetts. This is a rebroadcast of MNBC-SP-20010115-0001. 17:02:00 In interview actor Kevin Costner discusses the Cuban Missile Crisis. Costner portrays Presidential Aid Kenneth O'Donnell in the New Line Cinema movie"Thirteen Days". In interview actor Bruce Greenwood, who portrays President John F Kennedy in the film"Thirteen Days", comments on the crisis. In interview Florida resident Judy Huskey comments. High altitude shot looking down to earth as enormous atomic explosion and rising mushroom cloud are seen. Video of United States Air Force U-2 plane rolling on runway. Ground level shot of U-2plane approaching camera then taking off. Video of Cuban leader Fidel Castro at podium (B&W archival footage, 1950's). Video of Cuban soldiers marching in city street. Video of Cuban soldiers sitting atop tank waving and flying Cuban flag. Close up of Cuban soldier crouched on ground aiming rifle. Video of advancing Cuban soldiers. Video of Cuban soldiers in sandbag bunker with anti-aircraft gun spinning and pointed skyward. Video of injured civilian boy being helped by soldiers. Video of soldiers walking behind barbed war fence near military compound. Video of soldiers barricading barbed wire fence. Video of Castro getting out of car and walking up to and greeting Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khrushchev. Clip from the New Line Cinema film"Thirteen Days". In interview former U-2 pilot Major Richard Heyser discusses Soviet missiles on Cuba. Graphic insert of calendar"October 1962" with video of U-2 plane landing. Video of military official walking up steps into Photographic Laboratory building. Video of military officials in photographic lab with large developed film seen rolling on upright scroll. Overhead shot of military official bent over lab table using magnifying glass to view developed spy film. In interview Photo Interpreter Dino Brugioni says it was a very tense moment. Video from Moscow Red Square military parade, ground level shot of military truck with large missile in tow. High shot of military parade in Red Square Moscow. Video of Khrushchev and a Soviet high ranking military official saluting from balcony atop Red Square. Still of United States President John F Kennedy seated in Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC. In interview former Special Assistant for National Security McGeorge Bundy comments on Khrushchev. MS of Khrushchev at podium addressing Soviet government assembly in Moscow, party officials seen applauding and giving standing ovation when Khrushchev is done speaking. In interview (in Russian with English translation) Soviet Operations Commander General Anatoly Gribkov comments troop preparations and deployments. Overhead shot of Soviet troops marching forward. Video of small fleet of Soviet ships at sea. Graphic insert of calendar"October 1962" with still picture of White House. Video of US Secretary General Robert F Kennedy seen leaving the White House with other presidential advisors. Video of Executive Committee members (EXCOMM) getting off plane. In interview historian Professor Philip Zelikow comments on the first day of the crisis. Still of President Kennedy with advisors. Still of Kenneth O'Donnell. In interview Kevin Costner comments on O'Donnell. Behind the scenes footage of Costner with other actors Bruce Greenwood and Steven Culp. Clip from the film with Costner, Greenwood, and Culp. Video of President Kennedy photo oping with military officials and presidential aids in the Oval Office (are seen). Slow-motion video of United States Air Force General Curtiss LeMay. Video of Kennedy seated with Joint Chiefs of Staff and other aids in Oval Office. In interview former assistant to the Joint Chiefs General William Smith comments. Color still of President Kennedy with his brother Robert at outside the White House. Clip from the film"Thirteen Days". Video of US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara seated at desk looking at paperwork. Video of tank-like vehicle carrying small missile and crossing small stream. Video of naval officers on ship near gun station. In flight video of US Air Force fighter jet. Video of row of military trucks parked as US soldiers run to them and get aboard. In interview former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara comments on a proposed quarantine of Cuba. Still photo of President Kennedy (back to camera) with advisors standing outside White House. Still of Kennedy standing over his desk. Graphic animation of rolling audio take up reels with still of President Kennedy and supered excerpts from audio tapes, JFK SOT". Video of President Kennedy debarking plane, walking down steps, daytime. Kennedy greeting men on tarmac. Video of Kennedy smiling and waving for cameras. Video of Kennedy standing in back seat of slowly moving car shaking hands and glad-handing with supporters, many people seen on sidewalk lined up to meet Kennedy. MS head-on shot of Kennedy at podium campaigning in Connecticut, Kennedy SOT. Video of people applauding Kennedy. Overhead shot of US Air Force missile slowly being rolled out of hangar. Highshot of troops running to Army transport trucks and climbing on board. Side shot of USAF B-52 bombing rolling on tarmac. 17:11:00 Graphic insert of calendar"January 1962" with White House exterior. Video of President Kennedy seated at round table meeting with staff and advisors in White House. Video of U-2 plane taking off. Stills of high altitude photographs of Cuba taken by U-2 plane, camera zooms in on missile sites. In interview Brugioni comments on seeing the aerial photographs of Cuba and discovering the missile sites. Still of Kennedy seen seated behind rain-covered car window. Video of NBC correspondent Frank Blair announcing a meeting between Kennedy and Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko. 17:11:49 Graphic calendar insert with header"January 1962", with video of Gromyko getting out of car and greeting others at White House. Video of Kennedy seated talking with Gromyko. Video of Gromyko seated, panning left to show President Kennedy. Close up of Gromyko. In interview McNamara comments on the deceit the Russians and Gromyko were carrying out. Video of Gromyko getting out of car at night with SOT of reporting asking to speak to him and Gromyko SOT. 17:12:25 Graphic calendar insert with header"January 1962", with video of Krushchev speaking at podium. Video of profile shot of Kennedy talking on telephone. Head on shot of US battle ships at sea in convoy. Video of Navy jet taking off aircraft carrier. MS of White House, rear. Video of President Kennedy signing autographs and shaking hands while campaigning. Video ms of Kennedy at podium campaigning, SOT"the president executes the laws, but the House and Senate write the laws". 17:12:59 Graphic calendar insert with header"January 1962", with video of Kennedy in car. Video POV of car driver as presidential motorcade drives on tarmac in rain. Video of Kennedy in rain coat on tarmac. Video of Kennedy climbing steps and boarding plane. Video from White House of reporter SOT asking Kennedy Press Secretary Pierre Salinger if the reason Kennedy returned to Washington, DC was due not to his health but because of National Security reasons, with Salinger SOT saying it was due to health reasons. Video of President Kennedy in raincoat climbing steps and boarding plane. Video of presidential plane taxiing. Still photo of Kennedy (back to camera) on tarmac with advisors, including Kenneth O'Donnell. In interview Kevin O'Donnell comments on his father's talks with President Kennedy about whether or not to use nuclear arms. 17:13:55 Graphic calendar insert with header"January 1962", with video of a WRC TV NBC News camera outside White House. Video at dusk of US army small truck and jeep convoy on civilian road, headlights are on. Clip from the film"Thirteen Days". Video of Kennedy and others getting out of car and walking into building. Video of hand reaching for newspaper (New York World-Telegram), with headline"Kennedy Will Talk Tonight on TV". Video of presser outside White House with Salinger SOT announcing Kennedy will be addressing nation"on a subject of the highest national urgency". 17:15:00 Graphic calendar insert with header"January 1962", with video of protestors with placards and signs exhorting Kennedy to invade Cuba. Rear shot of troops in full gear running up ramp and boarding rear section of large cargo plane. Video of ground grew (back to camera) directing taxiing B-52. Video of ground crews carrying small ordnance and placing it under wing of US fighter jet. Head on shot (slightly left of center) of B-52 taking off. Video of US soldiers with gear walking off Air Force transport planes at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Video of US Marines walking at Guantanamo Naval Base. High shot of people (dependents) waiting in large groups to board ships for forced evacuation. Video of civilians walking with luggage up gangplank. video at dusk of silhouetted government buildings in Moscow. Video of Krushchev seated with other Soviet government officials in Soviet assembly. In interview assistant to Krushchev Oleg Troyanovsky comments on the initial Soviet reaction to US threats. Close up shot of Krushchev seated with another government official in Soviet assembly. Video of President Kennedy taking seat in front of microphone on desk moments before national address. Panning shot of civilians standing together watching television. Video from 1962-10-22 President Kennedy's television address to the nation regarding the crisis, Kennedy SOT"Good evening my fellow citizens. This government as promised has maintained the closest surveillance of the Soviet military build up on the island of Cuba. Within the past week unmistakable evidence has established the fact that a series of offensive missile sites is now in preparation on that imprisoned island. The purpose of these bases can be none other than to provide a nuclear strike capability against the Western Hemisphere. It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union." Video of people looking at televisions during Kennedy's address. Ground level shot near missile silo hatch as missile is seen slowly moving up out of silo. 17:22:00 Graphic calendar insert with header"January 1962", with video of protestors gathered. Video of picket sign"Negotiate Over Cuba". video of protest turned violent in London, England, with London police officers seen wrestling and fighting with anti-US demonstrators. Video from Cairo, Egypt of Anti-US protestors chanting in street. video of protestors burning flags. In interview Judy and Marvin Huskey, Florida residents, discuss what it was like to live through the crisis. Video of Fidel Castro at podium in front of large Cuban flag making television address, denouncing the US, translator SOT. Video of civilian pedestrians on US city sidewalk 1962-10 looking at scrolling news headline marquee (Time Square, New York). Vox Pop from 1962-10 regarding the blockade of Cuba. In flight video profile shot of two US Navy F-8 fighter jets in formation. Close up of pilot in cockpit of jet. Close up of tail section of fighter jet, exhaust flame seen. Head on close up shot of pilot in cockpit. In flight shot of F-8 in low level flight approaching coastal region. Clip from the film"Thirteen Days". In interview former Navy Reconnaissance Pilot William Ecker comments on his reconnaissance mission over Cuba and of his being fired upon. Video of jet fighter landing. Video of grounds crew opening nose cone of jet fighter to access camera. Video of soldier removing film from camera. Still of reconnaissance aerial shots of Cuban missile sights. In interview Brugioni comments on what was revealed by these photos. In interview Zelikow comments on the photos. Video of President Kennedy walking in long office hallway, Salinger is walking behind him. Rolling shot at sea of US battle ship convoy. Video of exterior of Organization of American States (OAS) building, Washington, DC. Interior of OAS building and video of OAS emergency assembly meeting. Video of various OAS delegates, SOT"those in favor" of a Cuban blockade. Video of delegates raising hands in favor of blockade. Video of President Kennedy at desk signing document. Close up of Kennedy's hand signing document. Rolling high shot of US Navy ship at sea. Aerial of convoy of US navy ships steaming forward at sea. Video of Defense Secretary McNamara speaking at press conference, SOT" Video of press and media crews behind news cameras. Close up of camera man looking through lens optic. Video from Soviet television of Premier Krushchev speaking. Video of hands seen placing canned goods and other food in shopping cart. Video of woman in grocery store aisle pulling canned goods off shelf. High shot of long lines of customers at grocery store. Close up of fallout shelter sign. Panning shot of civilians standing together outside, looking somber. In interview Judy Huskey comments on preparing for war as a civilian. Various clips of nuclear explosions, large orange glowing mushroom clouds. 17:27:50 Sawyer reports on camera. 17:28:20 Graphic calendar insert with header"January 1962", with still photo of Cuban missile site aerial. Video of rolling aerial shots of Russian tanker ships at sea. Head on wide shot of US convoy at sea. Head on MS of US convoy at sea. Side high shot of US navy ships at sea. Clip of NBC anchor Frank McGee reporting on the stand off between US and Soviet ships. MS exterior of White House. Panning shot of presidential aids and staff seated at table in White House, Robert Kennedy seen. In interview Zelikow comments on the internal tension in the White House. MS of large communications tower on navy ship, with antenna dishes spinning. In interview former Secretary of Defense McNamara comments on the division between the military and the president. Video of US soldiers walking off of amphibious landing vehicle, non-combative environment. Aerial of Russian civilian tanker at sea. video of President Kennedy standing with military advisors in Oval Office for photo op. Profile ms shot of Kennedy signing document at desk. Close-up of Kennedy's hand signing document. video of naval ships at sea. Aerial of navy convoy. In interview William Smith comments on the military force the US intended to use. In flight of US Navy plane in low level flight over ocean near US navy ships seen below. Video profile of pilot in cockpit looking out window to ships at sea below. Video of bow of submarine at surface level as waves crash across deck. MS of submarine at surface of water. In interview Zelikow states that the Russian subs were carrying nuclear armed torpedoes. Clip of NBC's Frank McGee reporting in studio about the crisis. Clip from the film"Thirteen Days". Aerial of Soviet tankers at sea. In interview Marvin Huskey comments. Aerial of US naval convoy. Still aerial photo of Cuban missile sites. Video rear shot of US troops boarding rear section of transport plane. Video of Air Force grounds crew loading missile onto wing of fighter jet. Video ms of missile above ground at rest, with smoke seen near nose. Video of two B-52's in low level flight. Video of B-52 bomber taking off. In interview William Smith comments on how close we were to war. In interview Zelikow comments on Defense Condition 2 (DEFCON). Close-up of nose cone section of US missile, above ground. Video of person reading newspaper (Journal American) with headline seen"Highest National Urgency; JFK Talks to Nation Tonight". Highshot of school yard with many school children seen hitting ground in a popular Civil Defense"Duck and Cover" technique. Video of people pushing shopping carts filled with groceries. Rolling MS of tractor trailer with sign on side of truck"City In Action Through Civil Defense". Video of two men, one on ladder, hanging fallout shelter sign on building. Video of door with fallout shelter sign next to it. MS of hands seen piling groceries into shopping cart. Clip from Civil Defense cartoon with"Bert the Turtle" teaching people to duck and cover. Clip from Civil Defense movie with family picnicking and reacting to a nearby nuclear blast, ducking and covering under the protection of a blanket. Video of grammar school children ducking and covering inside school. Color still of Judy Huskey. In interview Huskey comments on how she prepared for imminent war. Video ms of Fidel Castro with other Cuban military. High altitude overhead shot of US bomber. Insert map graphic of Florida Cuba region. Video of US missile being slowly taxied on tarmac. In interview former B-52 navigator Ben Alley comments on the US missiles placed in Florida. WS of missile erect in above ground launcher. In interview William Smith comments on the Minute Man missiles. Video of pilot running on tarmac to fighter jet. MS of pilot in cockpit closing glass cockpit window over his head. Video of two fighter jets taxiing. Video ms of fighter jet with pilot shutting cockpit window over his head. Video of US fighter jets taking off. In interview Alley comments on the seriousness of the situation. Close up of Klaxon , alarm horn sounding on outdoor pole. MS of wall mounted Klaxon inside building. Low angle slow motion video of soldier's legs running. Slow motion video of ground crew running to fighter jets. In interview Alley tearfully reminisces, SOT"There was nothing left to have fear about". Overhead shot of bomber crew climbing ladder up into belly of plane. Panning shot of military illuminated message board, with readouts"predicted impact sites" and"minutes to go" seen. Graphic calendar insert with header"January 1962", with still close-up of a pensive President Kennedy. Still photo of Krushchev standing alone outside with arms behind back. Video of Krushchev walking up steps with another man. In interview Nikita Krushchev's son, Sergei Krushchev comments on the orders his father gave following the US blockade of Cuba. 17:38:50 Graphic calendar insert with header"January 1962", with video of Krushchev and Castro hugging and waving. Video of Kennedy making national television address. WS from across river of the United Nations building in New York City, New York. Video from 1962-10-25 of US Ambassador to the United Nations Adlai Stevenson exhorting Soviet Ambassador to the UN Valerian Aleksandrovich Zorin, Stevenson SOT"Alright sir, let me ask you one simple question. Do you Ambassador Zorin deny that the USSR has placed and is placing medium and intermediate range missiles and sites in Cuba. Yes or No! Don't wait for the translation, Yes or No!" High shot of security council session at the UN. Video of both Stevenson and Zorin seated at chairs with translation head sets on, Zorin seen smiling sarcastically. Zorin SOT (Russian) with English translation"I am not in an American courtroom sir and therefore I do not wish to answer a question that is put to me in the fashion which [a] prosecutor. In due course sir you will have your reply." Stevenson SOT"I am prepared to wait for my answer until Hell freezes over if that's your decision. And I am also prepared to present the evidence in this room." Stills of low altitude aerial photos of Cuban missile sites. In interview William Ecker discusses the photos he took while flying over Cuba. MS of missile draped with tarp, as tarp is seen pulled off of nose cone and missile launching. Rolling in flight high shot of Soviet civilian tanker ships at sea. Video of press statement by Salinger in Washington, DC, with Salinger SOT. Video of Krushchev seated at table alone reading documents. Still photo of President Kennedy. In interview former Special Counsel to JFK Ted Sorenson comments on a letter Kennedy sent to the Kremlin regarding the blockade. Still photo of a silhouetted Kennedy standing at window in Oval Office. Still photo of profile shot of Kennedy with hand on chin. 17:41:13 Graphic calendar insert with header"January 1962", with video of civilian Soviet tanker ship at sea. Video highshot of bow of US destroyer, the USS Joseph P Kennedy, Jr, DD-850, at sea. Various highshots of Soviet civilian tanker ships at sea. Tracking high shot of US destroyer, the USS Barry, DD-933. Aerial of battle ships escorting a civilian tanker. In flight high shot of Soviet civilian tanker ship (the Marucla, Liberty Ship). Video of press statement made by US official (unidentified) SOT"Marucla cleared to Havana". In interview former ensign aboard the USS Joseph P Kennedy, Jr Paul Sanger comments on what was aboard the Marucla. Still aerial photos of Cuban missile sites. In interview Brugioni comments on the reconnaissance photos of Cuba. Still aerial photos of Cuban missile sites showing missiles and structures covered by tarps. Video of press statement by Salinger SOT stating there is no evidence that the Soviets intend to dismantle the Cuban missile sites. Close up of teletype machine typing on paper. Video of city skyline of Havana, Cuba. Close up of Soviet military officer saluting, panning left to show other Soviet soldiers at attention. Still photo of Kennedy holding handkerchief to forehead (face unseen). Still photo of Kennedy walking outside White House with other aids, including Bundy. Video of Krushchev seated with other Soviet officials. In interview Zelikow comments. Color toned black and white video of Robert Kennedy walking with other presidential aids, President Kennedy seated in White House with aids. 17:43:38 Graphic calendar insert with header"January 1962", with video of large Cuban flag draped in front of building. Still of aerial photos of Cuban missile sites. In interview Brugioni comments. Still of President Kennedy (back to camera and head bowed down) outside White House, aids looking on. In interview Zelikow comments on the pressure President Kennedy was under. Still of President Kennedy in Oval Office. Still of Krushchev shouting with fist in air. Over head in flight video of US U-2 spy plane flying over land. In interview former U-2 pilot Colonel Chuck Maultsby comments on his flying into Soviet airspace. Video of pilot running on tarmac to fighter jet (Soviet MIG). Video of pilots closing cockpit windows over their heads. Video of Soviet MIG (with red star seen on tail wing) taking off. In flight video of four Soviet MIG fighter jets flying in formation. Video of U-2 plane flying above. In interview Maultsby comments on the MIGs that approached him. Video of silhouetted fighter jets flying above clouds. Video close up of U-2 in flight. Video of three US fighter jets flying in formation. Clip from the film"Thirteen Days". In interview Former Deputy Secretary of Defense Gilpatric comments on Kennedy's reaction to finding out that a US plane had been shot down over Cuba. Still of Kennedy seated on top of table, aids standing by. Panning shot of newspaper clipping with photo seen of killed U-2 pilot Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr. Still of color painting of Anderson. In interview former U-2 pilot Charles Kern comments on Anderson. Video of Premier Krushchev speaking at podium. Various shots of party members seated in assembly listening to Krushchev. Still of Krushchev. Video ms from across the river Moskva of the Grand Kremlin Palace, in Moscow, (Soviet Union). Video ms of Krushchev speaking with top military officials. In interview Troyanovsky comments on Krushchev's reaction to the shot down U-2. Video of Fidel Castro with Cuban soldiers atop balcony. Video ms of Castro in fatigues with rifle strapped over shoulder. 17:49:35 Video highshot of Washington, DC at night with the illuminated Capitol Building seen. MS of Capitol at night In interview McNamara comments on the imminent feeling of world war. Video profile shot of President Kennedy seated with hand over mouth. Still of Kennedy seated at table with advisors in White House. Still of aerials of Cuban missile sites. In interview Brugioni comments on the approaching nuclear war. In interview Sorenson states there were many who felt an immediate missile response was necessary. In interview Bundy states that it was the closest we came to nuclear war. Medium side shot of White House front entrance. MS of US top military personnel standing together outside White House. In interview former JFK assistant Dave Powers comments on the fear of war. Clip from the film"Thirteen Days" with actor Kevin Costner seen. Still photo of a young Judy Huskey. In interview Huskey comments on evacuation plans. Still close-up of Kennedy. Video of Robert Kennedy smiling and walking. Video of a seated Robert Kennedy speaking. Color still of Robert Kennedy. In interview Zelikow comments on Krushchev's balking. Video close-up of Krushchev speaking. Video ws of Kremlin and Kremlin walls along river, in Moscow. Video ms of man listening to small radio. In interview former"Radio Moscow" announcer Joe Adamov comments on reading the Krushchev statement on air. Adamov reads excerpt from Krushchev's letter to President Kennedy. Video of people standing together outside, listening to radio address. Video of man in drivers seat with door open and other people standing about car listening to radio. Close up of interior of car dashboard. Various video of civilians standing together listening to radio address. In interview Zelikow comments on the letter. In interview Dave Powers comments on how he felt great relief and that Kennedy told him"today we have an extra reason to pray". Still profile shot of Kennedy. Video of military officer hugging women. In interview Powers says it was like being born all over again. In interview the Huskey's comment. Tracking overhead shot of Soviet freighter ship at sea, with tarp-covered missiles on deck of ship seen. Video of Castro walking into room with Krushchev. In recent color interview Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro comments on Krushchev's abandonment of Cuba. Castro SOT (Spanish) with English translation," Terribly mad, Terribly irritated. We considered this as something unjustifiable." Still of Castro in military cap and fatigues speaking at microphone. Video of Cuban audience clapping. MS of Castro speaking at podium. In interview McNamara comments that if mistakes are made nations are going to be destroyed. Video of peace demonstrations with protestors and signs,"Brotherhood Not Bombs United Nations". In interview Zelikow comments on nuclear arsenals. Video of President Kennedy making address at podium, with SOT"Progress is now being made towards the restoration of peace in the Caribbean. And it is our firm hope and purpose that this progress shall go forward. We will continue to keep the American people informed on this vital matter. Thanks. 17:56:35 Sawyer reports on camera and closes program. 17:59:34 MSNBC Weather. Graphic plug of www.msnbc.com.