No need to read. For social studies. So my teacher could find it.

[Danger 0]

Conflict, painstaking decision

making, and high-pressure decision

making situations are key ingredients in

Thirteen Days by Robert F. Kennedy.

This book is a written account of what

may very well be one of the most critical

hours in the history of all mankind

coming from one of the people who

influenced its resolve. It was one that not

only tested the determination, cool

headedness, and resolve of those

involved with the defussion of the

situation but also one that brought forth

in men of power the human spirit and

common goal of peace in unity that lay

inside them just as it does men and

women regardless of their status in

society.

This book revolves around the

1962 conflict between the United States

and the Soviet Union and the Cuban

government. It started when American

U2 recon planes took photographs that

were apparently nuclear weapons

become stationed on the island of

Cuba by the Soviets. These missiles

were, themselves, direct violations of

prior assurances made by the Soviet

Union to the United States that they

would not place offensive weapons with

nuclear capabilities on the Island. The

events following the discovery of these

bases would lead to a climactic standoff

between the world's two super powers

and inch relations between the two

closer and closer to the catastrophic

anhilalation of mankind.

What is interesting about this

story, aside from the fact that it is a

reflection of actual events that took place

in recent history, is that it is told from

the perspective of, as well as written by,

one of the individuals that were directly

responsible for the neutralizing of the

possibley tragic situation.

Robert F. Kennedy, the author of

Thirteen Days, was the brother of John

F. Kennedy, the president during the

duration of the Crisis. The manner in

which he depicts the events leading up

to, during, and after the conflict between

the US and the USSR during this period

of termoil is effective on many levels.

One of which being his use of language

and dialogue. He displays, with

unwavering accuracy, the mannerisms

and speaking styles of the president and

other members of the Ex Comm that

lead the diplomatic volley between the

US and the leader of the Soviet Union,

Nikita Krushechev. He also employs his

unique insight into the thought processes

and state of mind of the president to

further convey and elaborate on how or

why certain decisions were made.

Along with the unique point of

view that he uses to tell this story, R.

Kennedy also had the advantage of

adding the intricacy of Character

developement to the pot. He experienced

first hand the ups and downs of the main

characters' [President Kennedy ; Nikita

Krushechav] emotions as well as the

changes in their views of one another. A

prime example of the fluxuations in the

actions of these characters were

impecably detailed in the book around

the last few days of the ordeal. He tells

of how the letters he recieved from the

Soviet leader became more and more

personal and, clearly, mentally stressed.

The theme of this book seems to

overshadow the actual story itself. It

shows how human nature and condition,

in times of strain or possible mortality,

can allow a person to put into

perspective the things that are truely

important. This can be seen in the

section of the book where one of the

committee members' fear of the

destruction of the human race allowed

him to put aside his career for a moment

to fulfill the promise he made to his

daughter that he would take her to a

horse show. This, if anything, is the

main theme of the book. That no matter

what a persons title is, they are still

person with emotions and mental limits

that can be strained or broken just like

anyone elses.

All in all, the book was a great

read simply because of its historical

content. Just knowing that the events

that take place between its covers

actually happened and may very well

have dictated whether or not the book

itself could have ever been written is

absolutly inthrawling. Its deep look into

the inner workings of two world super

powers and their leaders is as riviting

and completly mesmorizing as any

fiction or non-fiction novel you will ever

open.

Despite its many positive

characteristics, Thirteen Days has one

minor flaw. It has certain ideas or

phrases that it repeats throughout the

book. It gives the impression that it is

not using repetition as a means to convey

the point or idea but that it just, for

whatever reason, repeats it for the sake

of repeating it. This can begin to wear on

you and have you a little annoyed if that

sort of thing gets on your nerves.

Aside from that, this book is a

great piece of work. With it's compelling

story progression and at a price of only

$13.95 at most carriers, it is hard to beat

when it comes to getting alot of 'almost'

bang [just a little nuclear holocaust

humor] for your buck. So, go out and

pick it up today before the next nuclear

disaster comes rolling around...you won't

regret it.