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- James Meredith had
talked about taking on
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this whole barrier
of white supremacy,
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but it's a whole nother thing
different,
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going through
this entire process
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to integrate
the University of Mississippi.
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- So a full-scale riot
breaks out.
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- Kennedy was very hesitant
to take bold action.
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- We've discovered missiles
in Cuba.
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- The Joint Chiefs of Staff
are unified
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that we should bomb
and we should invade.
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- Kennedy was not convinced
that a blockade would lead
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to the Soviets
withdrawing their missiles,
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but he recognized
that he had no better options.
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- Good evening,
my fellow citizens.
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Unmistakable evidence
has established the fact
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that a series
of offensive missile sites
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is now in preparation on
that imprisoned island.
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- To lead us
to a fruitful America,
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from the state
of Massachusetts,
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John F. Kennedy!
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- John F. Kennedy lived a life
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that would help define
an entire generation.
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[soft sweeping music]
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- Together we shall
save our planet,
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or together we shall perish
in its flames.
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- What was it about that guy?
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- Looks, style, empathy.
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He was incredibly charming.
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- Intellectual
and progressive.
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- He was the future.
He was next.
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narrator: President for just
over 1,000 days,
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Kennedy navigated
events and crises
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that changed the world.
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- Kennedy is feeling
the pressure
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from civil rights activists.
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- This was a country
on nuclear war footing.
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- This could be
the last mistake
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that anybody makes,
politically.
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- He changed us in the process
of his own growth.
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- We choose to go to the moon
in this decade
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and do the other things,
not because they are easy,
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but because they are hard.
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narrator: 60 years after
his assassination,
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we are still fascinated
by the triumphs and flaws
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of the youngest president
ever elected.
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- I ask you to join us
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in all the tomorrows
yet to come,
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in building America,
moving America,
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taking this country of ours up
and sending it into the '60s.
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♪ ♪
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- Having now confirmed
and completed our evaluation
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of the evidence
and our decision
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on a course of action,
this government feels obliged
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to report this new crisis
to you in fullest detail.
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The purpose of these bases
can be none other than
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to provide
a nuclear strike capability
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against the Western hemisphere.
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narrator:
On October 22nd, 1962,
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President Kennedy addressed
the waiting nation
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about the Soviet arms buildup
in Cuba.
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People listened
around the country
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and across the globe.
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All eyes were now on Cuba,
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and nuclear war was
on the world's doorstep.
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- I thought he was nervous.
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I wouldn't say scared,
but I could tell.
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I just, uh--his tone of voice.
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And I was sitting five feet
from him.
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- Several of them include
medium-range ballistic missiles
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capable of carrying
a nuclear warhead
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for a distance of more
than 1,000 nautical miles.
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Each of these missiles,
in short, is capable
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of striking Washington, D.C.,
the Panama Canal,
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Cape Canaveral, Mexico City,
or any other city
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in the southeastern part
of the United States.
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- That's the only time I felt
as though I could--
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it could be over.
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But everybody in the country
was feeling that.
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That kind of absence
of air in the room
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was all over the world.
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And I remember our parents
being given the option to,
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when the sirens went off,
to have us run home
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and be with them for the end
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or to take cover at the school.
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- Kennedy really threatens
nuclear war in that speech.
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He says that we will regard
any attack from Cuba
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as an attack
by the Soviet Union
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on the United States,
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and we will respond
quickly and forcefully.
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So it's--he now has upped
the ante.
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The temperature's
really gone up.
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narrator:
With Kennedy's go-ahead,
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United States Naval vessels
made their way
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to form a wall-like blockade
around the island of Cuba,
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intending to force out
the Soviet troops and missiles
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and stop additional weapons
from arriving.
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- Kennedy and his advisors
were trying to be careful
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in the language
that they were choosing.
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In particular, they called
the blockade a "quarantine,"
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because "blockade"--
this is a declaration of war
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in the international law.
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But everyone got the message,
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"Okay, probably
the war is coming."
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[suspenseful music]
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♪ ♪
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narrator: It wasn't long
before Kennedy received
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a new threat from Khrushchev.
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[propellers whirring]
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narrator: With the massive
blockade now in effect,
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Khrushchev made it clear:
if Soviet ships were sunk,
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or the Americans
attempted an invasion,
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it would be war.
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- Khrushchev ordered
all his ships
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with military equipment
that were not yet close
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to Cuba, turn back.
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narrator: On the Cuban shores
closest to Florida,
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waves of missile sites
and nuclear-armed submarines
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were at the ready.
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- We will not prematurely or
unnecessarily risk the course
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of worldwide nuclear war,
in which
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even the fruits of victory
would be ashes in our mouth.
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But neither will we shrink
from that risk
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at any time it must be faced.
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- When I think about Kennedy
and the Missile Crisis,
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I think about
a president who, frankly,
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is really good at stalling,
who's really good at delaying,
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trying to hope
that a solution will arise
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that will not lead to being
boxed into a nuclear box.
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- I have directed
the armed forces to prepare
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for any eventualities.
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It shall be the policy
of this nation
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to regard any nuclear missile
launched from Cuba
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against any nation
in the Western hemisphere
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as an attack
by the Soviet Union
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on the United States,
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requiring
a full retaliatory response
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upon the Soviet Union.
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narrator: Local Soviet
commanders in Cuba had been
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given approval to fire
nuclear weapons if necessary.
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- Nikita Khrushchev
had not only deployed
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nuclear weapons into Cuba,
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he had actually deployed
operational control
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of those weapons down
to the battlefield commanders.
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What does that mean
in English?
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That means the first moment
that marines hit the beach,
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mushroom clouds
start going off.
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Total annihilation.
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Every time I study
the Cuban Missile Crisis,
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I get more afraid.
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narrator:
Tensions had come to a head.
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- I don't want to be critical,
but the problem is,
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when you say further
action's gonna be taken,
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then they all say,
"What action?"
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And it moves
this escalation up
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a couple of days
when we're not ready for it.
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- Yeah. I-I'm sorry--
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- So therefore, you have
to be goddamn careful.
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We gotta get this
under control.
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[airplane engine roaring]
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narrator: On October 27th,
at the height of the Crisis,
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American U-2 pilot
Major Rudolf Anderson was
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shot down and killed over Cuba
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while on
a surveillance mission.
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The order was given by
a Soviet lieutenant general,
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without the authorization
of his commanding general.
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Anderson's death signaled
a turning point--
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a turn for the worse.
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- And once an American pilot
has been shot down,
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American blood has been spilt,
you know,
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that changes the nature
of the calculations
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for American politicians.
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- Against his orders,
Khrushchev's commanders
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ordered to shoot down
a U-2 plane over Cuba.
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That is another layer
of complexity and danger
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associated with the Crisis
like that.
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There is also people
on the ground
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who very often make
their own decisions.
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And they become, at the end,
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deciders of whether there would
be a conflict or not,
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whether there would be
a nuclear war or not.
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narrator:
That same day, a group
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of U.S. Navy destroyers
were positioned above
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the Soviet submarine B-59.
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To force the submarine
to the surface
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for identification,
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the navy began dropping
small explosives
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called
signaling depth charges.
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The captain
of the Soviet submarine,
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Valentin Savitsky, mistook
the depth charges for bombs.
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- So they could have been
forgiven for thinking
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that the--
the real conflict had begun.
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narrator: What the Navy
did not know at the time
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was that the B-59
had nuclear weapons on board.
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Thinking that the war
had started,
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Savitsky gave the order
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to launch one
of the nuclear torpedoes.
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narrator: Black Saturday,
October 27th, 1962.
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While Kennedy was deciding how
to respond
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to Major Rudolf Anderson's
death,
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Russian submarine B-59
prepared
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to fire a nuclear torpedo,
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believing the war had started
above them.
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However, in order
to fire the weapons,
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the decision had
to be unanimous
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between all officers.
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00:11:21,251 --> 00:11:27,043
- They all three had to say,
"Yes, let's fire back."
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narrator: All on board were in
favor of the nuclear attack,
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except for the
second-in-command officer
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00:11:32,751 --> 00:11:37,835
named Vasili Arkhipov...
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00:11:37,918 --> 00:11:41,168
who convinced the B-59 crew
to halt the launch
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of the nuclear missile.
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The submarine rose
to the surface
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00:11:48,918 --> 00:11:51,668
and would soon head back
to the Soviet Union
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00:11:51,793 --> 00:11:55,126
without incident,
thanks to Arkhipov.
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- He talks the captain out
of that decision,
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00:12:02,376 --> 00:12:07,710
which surely would have led
to a nuclear war.
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00:12:07,835 --> 00:12:10,793
- The real risk of war,
I think,
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00:12:10,918 --> 00:12:13,251
during the Missile Crisis,
came from the fact
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00:12:13,418 --> 00:12:14,876
that neither side
really understood
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00:12:14,918 --> 00:12:16,751
what the other side
was doing,
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00:12:16,876 --> 00:12:20,335
and there was a lot of room
for misinterpretation
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00:12:20,460 --> 00:12:23,126
and miscommunication
between the two sides.
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On the 27th of October,
which was widely regarded
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00:12:30,376 --> 00:12:32,001
as the most dangerous day
of the Crisis--
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00:12:32,085 --> 00:12:34,543
it was later called
Black Saturday--
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the two sides were very close
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to the early stages
of a nuclear war.
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- One of my best friends
is Clint Hill.
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He was Mrs. Kennedy's agent.
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And he went to Mrs. Kennedy,
and he said, "Mrs. Kennedy,
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I've gotta take you down
to see the bomb shelter."
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And she said, "No,
I won't use it, Mr. Hill."
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[sniffles]
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00:13:01,251 --> 00:13:04,043
[gentle music]
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♪ ♪
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And he said, uh, "At some point
you're gonna have to go inside,
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and you're gonna have
to take the children there."
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00:13:19,751 --> 00:13:24,210
And she said, "Mr. Hill,
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00:13:24,376 --> 00:13:27,168
"if it comes to that,
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00:13:27,293 --> 00:13:30,960
"I will take little John-John
and Caroline,
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00:13:31,085 --> 00:13:35,710
"and we'll go out
to the South Lawn,
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00:13:35,876 --> 00:13:38,501
"and we will face the music.
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00:13:38,626 --> 00:13:45,335
We'll face the danger along
with the American people."
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00:13:49,418 --> 00:13:52,876
- On that day, when
an American U-2 is shot down,
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00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:56,168
it looks like this crisis
is spiraling out of control.
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00:13:56,251 --> 00:14:02,085
Kennedy decides this is
the time for diplomacy.
247
00:14:02,210 --> 00:14:05,876
- Truly, only the president
can make a major decision.
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00:14:06,001 --> 00:14:10,751
And no matter how many
advisors he has in the room
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00:14:10,876 --> 00:14:14,501
or out of the room, only he
can make that final decision.
250
00:14:14,585 --> 00:14:18,918
And in that sense,
it's a very lonely process,
251
00:14:19,043 --> 00:14:23,626
no matter how crowded
the environment may be.
252
00:14:23,751 --> 00:14:26,793
narrator: Behind closed doors,
negotiations were conducted
253
00:14:26,876 --> 00:14:30,043
between the White House
and the Kremlin.
254
00:14:30,126 --> 00:14:33,460
Khrushchev presented
his final terms for withdrawal
255
00:14:33,585 --> 00:14:35,418
to the Kennedy administration.
256
00:14:35,501 --> 00:14:38,376
He declared that in order
for the Soviets
257
00:14:38,501 --> 00:14:41,585
to remove their weapons,
the United States must pledge
258
00:14:41,710 --> 00:14:44,460
to never invade Cuba again.
259
00:14:44,585 --> 00:14:48,251
Khrushchev also demanded
the American Jupiter missiles
260
00:14:48,335 --> 00:14:52,876
aimed at the Soviet Union
be removed from Turkey.
261
00:14:53,043 --> 00:14:55,293
- Kennedy decides,
if I have to,
262
00:14:55,418 --> 00:14:59,710
I'm gonna trade away
the security of Turkey.
263
00:14:59,835 --> 00:15:01,960
I'm gonna trade
that away briefly
264
00:15:02,043 --> 00:15:04,585
and give the Soviets
what they want to end this.
265
00:15:04,710 --> 00:15:06,626
We can't have this continue,
266
00:15:06,751 --> 00:15:09,876
because we're not any longer
in control of the situation.
267
00:15:10,043 --> 00:15:12,043
And there, Kennedy leads.
268
00:15:12,210 --> 00:15:14,376
In fact,
most of Kennedy's advisors
269
00:15:14,501 --> 00:15:17,710
are against the trade,
trading Turkish missiles
270
00:15:17,793 --> 00:15:19,543
for the Soviet missiles
in Cuba.
271
00:15:19,626 --> 00:15:22,418
And you can hear on tape
John Kennedy saying to them,
272
00:15:22,585 --> 00:15:24,918
"How can I explain
to the American people
273
00:15:25,043 --> 00:15:26,543
"that I didn't take
this offer?
274
00:15:26,710 --> 00:15:28,960
"If they ever learn
that it was on the table,
275
00:15:29,085 --> 00:15:32,376
"that I could have avoided
what happens next,
276
00:15:32,501 --> 00:15:34,751
"how could I ever explain
to them, or history,
277
00:15:34,918 --> 00:15:37,710
that I couldn't take
this deal?"
278
00:15:37,835 --> 00:15:41,293
That's where Kennedy
is the leader.
279
00:15:41,460 --> 00:15:43,960
narrator: The United States
agreed to both terms,
280
00:15:44,043 --> 00:15:46,418
but insisted that it
be allowed to remove
281
00:15:46,585 --> 00:15:51,710
the Jupiter missiles covertly
over the next few months.
282
00:15:51,835 --> 00:15:54,293
As Kennedy had
stated days before,
283
00:15:54,418 --> 00:15:59,043
he was determined
that peace would prevail.
284
00:15:59,168 --> 00:16:01,543
- Our goal is not
the victory of might,
285
00:16:01,668 --> 00:16:03,710
but the vindication of right,
286
00:16:03,793 --> 00:16:06,293
not peace
at the expense of freedom,
287
00:16:06,418 --> 00:16:11,043
but both peace and freedom
here in this hemisphere.
288
00:16:11,168 --> 00:16:14,710
And we hope around the world,
God willing,
289
00:16:14,835 --> 00:16:17,168
that goal will be achieved.
290
00:16:17,251 --> 00:16:20,793
Thank you and good night.
291
00:16:20,876 --> 00:16:22,876
narrator: With nuclear weapons
aimed at Washington, D.C.
292
00:16:23,043 --> 00:16:24,876
and ready to fire,
293
00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:30,043
the night of October 27th
was fraught with tension.
294
00:16:30,168 --> 00:16:31,960
While eating dinner
in the White House
295
00:16:32,085 --> 00:16:35,293
with his friend David Powers,
Kennedy commented,
296
00:16:35,418 --> 00:16:39,460
"Anybody would think
that it was your last meal."
297
00:16:39,543 --> 00:16:42,793
- Probably one of the most
tense evenings of the--
298
00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:48,418
of the Cuban Missile Crisis,
because it's a big unknown.
299
00:16:48,543 --> 00:16:50,585
narrator: Having responded
to Khrushchev's terms,
300
00:16:50,751 --> 00:16:54,460
the United States could only
wait for a final decision
301
00:16:54,585 --> 00:16:56,001
from Moscow.
302
00:17:00,543 --> 00:17:00,710
[gentle piano music]
303
00:17:01,460 --> 00:17:03,876
narrator:
On October 27th, 1962,
304
00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:05,376
Kennedy had agreed
305
00:17:05,460 --> 00:17:07,876
to Khrushchev's terms
for withdrawal.
306
00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:11,418
The fate of the country was
uncertain as Kennedy awaited
307
00:17:11,543 --> 00:17:17,376
the final response
from Moscow.
308
00:17:17,501 --> 00:17:20,626
After 13 days
of tense negotiations,
309
00:17:20,751 --> 00:17:24,793
Khrushchev finally conceded
on October 28th.
310
00:17:24,918 --> 00:17:26,918
It was 6:00 p.m.
in Moscow
311
00:17:27,085 --> 00:17:30,585
and 9:00 a.m.
in Washington, D.C.
312
00:17:53,876 --> 00:17:57,418
narrator: The Cuban Missile
Crisis was over.
313
00:17:57,543 --> 00:18:00,126
In standing firm against
engaging the Soviets
314
00:18:00,293 --> 00:18:03,376
militarily and choosing
to deliberate,
315
00:18:03,501 --> 00:18:05,376
Kennedy helped
bring the world back
316
00:18:05,460 --> 00:18:08,460
from the brink
of nuclear war.
317
00:18:08,585 --> 00:18:10,001
- No matter how many
advisors you have,
318
00:18:10,126 --> 00:18:11,501
frequently they are divided,
319
00:18:11,585 --> 00:18:13,668
and the president
must finally choose.
320
00:18:13,835 --> 00:18:17,335
No easy matters will ever come
to you as president.
321
00:18:17,460 --> 00:18:18,918
Those that come to you
as president are always
322
00:18:19,085 --> 00:18:20,168
the difficult matters,
the matters which carry
323
00:18:20,293 --> 00:18:24,626
with them large implications.
324
00:18:24,751 --> 00:18:27,043
- John Kennedy had an ability
during
325
00:18:27,126 --> 00:18:29,210
the Cuban Missile Crisis
326
00:18:29,376 --> 00:18:34,085
to not just get swept up
in the passion of the moment,
327
00:18:34,210 --> 00:18:37,918
but to step back
and to see the risks
328
00:18:38,085 --> 00:18:41,501
and the opportunities.
329
00:18:41,585 --> 00:18:48,501
♪ ♪
330
00:18:48,585 --> 00:18:51,710
- So in the spring of 1963,
the Cuban Missile Crisis
331
00:18:51,793 --> 00:18:54,085
having happened about
eight months earlier,
332
00:18:54,251 --> 00:18:57,710
John F. Kennedy is thinking
about the great scourge
333
00:18:57,835 --> 00:18:59,835
that faces mankind
in the proliferation
334
00:18:59,960 --> 00:19:01,626
of nuclear weapons.
335
00:19:01,793 --> 00:19:05,543
And he thinks, "What can I do
to find a way through?
336
00:19:05,626 --> 00:19:09,376
How can I change the channel?"
337
00:19:09,460 --> 00:19:11,918
narrator: Kennedy decided
to address the Cold War
338
00:19:12,043 --> 00:19:14,585
in a way he had
never done before.
339
00:19:14,710 --> 00:19:17,376
- There is no treaty
of any sort
340
00:19:17,460 --> 00:19:19,918
between the United States
and the Soviet Union.
341
00:19:20,043 --> 00:19:24,210
And so the idea emerges
of a nuclear test ban treaty.
342
00:19:24,376 --> 00:19:27,376
That spring,
Kennedy wants to give
343
00:19:27,543 --> 00:19:33,210
that idea public expression
in a formal, eloquent way.
344
00:19:33,335 --> 00:19:36,751
The speech as an instrument
of public policy
345
00:19:36,918 --> 00:19:42,001
is very important to JFK,
and he has in Ted Sorensen
346
00:19:42,126 --> 00:19:45,210
about the finest speechwriter
a president could have.
347
00:19:45,251 --> 00:19:48,043
They have worked
together since 1953.
348
00:19:48,126 --> 00:19:49,876
They've been together
ten years.
349
00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:55,585
They want to make an overture
to Khrushchev.
350
00:19:55,710 --> 00:19:58,251
narrator:
On June 10th, 1963,
351
00:19:58,418 --> 00:20:00,376
Kennedy would pour
his experience
352
00:20:00,460 --> 00:20:03,376
navigating the chaos
of the Bay of Pigs,
353
00:20:03,460 --> 00:20:05,751
neutralizing
the Cuban Missile Crisis
354
00:20:05,918 --> 00:20:07,710
and the friction in Berlin,
355
00:20:07,793 --> 00:20:12,418
into a commencement address
for American University.
356
00:20:12,543 --> 00:20:14,251
- What's important to know
about the peace speech is,
357
00:20:14,376 --> 00:20:18,210
it doesn't get any kind
of exposure
358
00:20:18,335 --> 00:20:20,460
in the arteries of government.
359
00:20:20,585 --> 00:20:24,585
Kennedy does not want what
he's going to say to get out,
360
00:20:24,751 --> 00:20:28,335
because he is going
to speak to the Russians
361
00:20:28,460 --> 00:20:31,543
with a generosity
and a sense of conciliation
362
00:20:31,668 --> 00:20:33,876
that no president
has shown the Russians
363
00:20:33,918 --> 00:20:38,251
since Franklin Roosevelt was
an ally of Joseph Stalin.
364
00:20:38,376 --> 00:20:41,626
narrator:
Suddenly, it was showtime.
365
00:20:46,710 --> 00:20:50,335
- I have therefore chosen
this time and place
366
00:20:50,460 --> 00:20:53,626
to discuss a topic on which
ignorance too often abounds,
367
00:20:53,751 --> 00:20:57,501
and the truth
too rarely perceived.
368
00:20:57,626 --> 00:21:02,085
And that is the most important
topic on Earth, peace.
369
00:21:02,210 --> 00:21:04,418
- He has been a cold warrior,
370
00:21:04,543 --> 00:21:09,793
and important to note,
between 1961 and 1963,
371
00:21:09,918 --> 00:21:13,335
has presided over
the largest military buildup
372
00:21:13,501 --> 00:21:16,251
in American peacetime history.
373
00:21:16,376 --> 00:21:18,501
So when Kennedy is
coming around
374
00:21:18,585 --> 00:21:22,460
to speaking about peace,
what does it mean?
375
00:21:22,585 --> 00:21:26,043
- I am talking about
genuine peace,
376
00:21:26,210 --> 00:21:30,418
the kind of peace that makes
life on Earth worth living,
377
00:21:30,543 --> 00:21:33,293
and the kind that enables men
and nations to grow,
378
00:21:33,418 --> 00:21:35,835
and to hope,
and build a better life
379
00:21:35,918 --> 00:21:37,668
for their children,
380
00:21:37,751 --> 00:21:40,460
not merely peace
for Americans,
381
00:21:40,585 --> 00:21:43,376
but peace for all men
and women,
382
00:21:43,543 --> 00:21:48,085
not merely peace in our time,
but peace in all time.
383
00:21:48,210 --> 00:21:50,251
[applause]
384
00:21:50,418 --> 00:21:51,876
narrator:
He was a different leader
385
00:21:52,001 --> 00:21:54,876
than the man newly elected
in January 1961,
386
00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:57,835
who asked the country
to bear any burden
387
00:21:57,918 --> 00:22:01,418
against Soviet
and Communist might.
388
00:22:01,585 --> 00:22:05,710
The speech he delivered now
was grounded in stark reality,
389
00:22:05,835 --> 00:22:08,793
examining America's
moral responsibility
390
00:22:08,918 --> 00:22:12,710
to support a strategy
of peace.
391
00:22:12,835 --> 00:22:16,376
- First, examine our attitude
towards peace itself.
392
00:22:16,460 --> 00:22:18,543
Too many of us think
it is impossible.
393
00:22:18,710 --> 00:22:21,710
Too many think it is unreal.
394
00:22:21,918 --> 00:22:25,501
But that is a dangerous,
defeatist belief.
395
00:22:25,585 --> 00:22:30,543
It leads to the conclusion
that mankind is doomed,
396
00:22:30,626 --> 00:22:34,543
that we are gripped
by forces we cannot control.
397
00:22:34,710 --> 00:22:36,543
We need not accept that view.
398
00:22:36,668 --> 00:22:39,376
Our problems are man-made.
399
00:22:39,585 --> 00:22:43,501
Therefore,
they can be solved by man.
400
00:22:43,626 --> 00:22:46,043
narrator: Kennedy announced
the United States would stop
401
00:22:46,210 --> 00:22:48,501
atmospheric nuclear testing
402
00:22:48,626 --> 00:22:52,876
if a treaty could be agreed
upon with the Soviets.
403
00:22:53,001 --> 00:22:55,418
In the Soviet Union,
a full translation
404
00:22:55,543 --> 00:22:57,543
of Kennedy's speech
was broadcast
405
00:22:57,668 --> 00:22:59,668
and printed in the press.
406
00:22:59,751 --> 00:23:04,001
Khrushchev himself
was deeply impressed.
407
00:23:04,085 --> 00:23:08,793
Soon after, American diplomat
Averell Harriman traveled
408
00:23:08,918 --> 00:23:12,210
to Moscow to negotiate
a test ban treaty.
409
00:23:12,335 --> 00:23:17,210
Kennedy said this was not his
ideal solution of disarmament,
410
00:23:17,335 --> 00:23:20,043
but it was a step
toward achieving it.
411
00:23:20,126 --> 00:23:21,876
- And within six weeks,
412
00:23:21,918 --> 00:23:23,793
he's in the situation room
in the White House
413
00:23:23,876 --> 00:23:26,710
and getting drafts
of the agreement.
414
00:23:26,793 --> 00:23:28,835
- Our most basic common link
415
00:23:28,918 --> 00:23:33,251
is that we all inhabit
this small planet.
416
00:23:33,376 --> 00:23:36,168
We all breathe the same air.
417
00:23:36,293 --> 00:23:38,501
We all cherish
our children's future.
418
00:23:38,585 --> 00:23:41,043
Confident and unafraid,
419
00:23:41,168 --> 00:23:43,710
we must labor on,
420
00:23:43,918 --> 00:23:46,585
not towards a strategy
of annihilation,
421
00:23:46,751 --> 00:23:48,960
but towards a strategy
of peace.
422
00:23:49,085 --> 00:23:51,085
[cheers and applause]
423
00:23:56,501 --> 00:23:59,001
narrator:
In the summer of 1963,
424
00:23:59,085 --> 00:24:01,543
while Kennedy was focused
on working towards
425
00:24:01,668 --> 00:24:04,501
international arms control
and diplomacy,
426
00:24:04,626 --> 00:24:09,126
a fire was smoldering
in the American South.
427
00:24:09,251 --> 00:24:15,668
Soon it would once again
burst into raging flames.
428
00:24:15,751 --> 00:24:20,585
In May 1963, the city
of Birmingham, Alabama,
429
00:24:20,710 --> 00:24:22,710
called the most segregated
city in the country
430
00:24:22,793 --> 00:24:25,710
by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
431
00:24:25,793 --> 00:24:29,335
became the new epicenter
of the civil rights movement.
432
00:24:29,460 --> 00:24:31,376
Hundreds of Black students,
433
00:24:31,501 --> 00:24:34,168
some as young
as seven years old,
434
00:24:34,251 --> 00:24:36,126
were recruited
to join a series
435
00:24:36,210 --> 00:24:41,376
of nonviolent demonstrations
promoting racial equality.
436
00:24:41,501 --> 00:24:43,001
- Being a teenager
at the time,
437
00:24:43,085 --> 00:24:44,460
I was just learning.
438
00:24:44,585 --> 00:24:46,876
I wanted to be a part
of the change, yeah,
439
00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:48,543
because we can't keep
on living like this.
440
00:24:48,668 --> 00:24:50,210
It's got to be better.
441
00:24:50,293 --> 00:24:53,126
- ♪ Who's that writing? ♪
442
00:24:53,251 --> 00:24:55,751
narrator: In a courageous
effort, activists emerged
443
00:24:55,876 --> 00:24:58,418
from the 16th Street
Baptist Church
444
00:24:58,585 --> 00:25:00,876
and took to the streets
for two days,
445
00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:04,710
marching shoulder to shoulder
through downtown Birmingham
446
00:25:04,835 --> 00:25:08,793
and singing songs like
"We Shall Overcome."
447
00:25:08,918 --> 00:25:11,585
As the children marched
peacefully
448
00:25:11,751 --> 00:25:13,835
through the streets,
the Birmingham Commissioner
449
00:25:13,918 --> 00:25:19,001
of Public Safety, Bull Connor,
decided to respond.
450
00:25:19,126 --> 00:25:20,918
- Connor snapped.
451
00:25:21,043 --> 00:25:23,543
Just turned out the full force
of the police
452
00:25:23,668 --> 00:25:25,710
with fire hoses and dogs,
453
00:25:25,835 --> 00:25:29,668
attacking
these young protesters.
454
00:25:29,751 --> 00:25:34,001
- ♪ Oh, who's that writing? ♪
455
00:25:34,085 --> 00:25:38,126
- Somebody started singing,
"We are not afraid."
456
00:25:38,251 --> 00:25:42,501
That gave me the--
the encouragement that I needed
457
00:25:42,626 --> 00:25:45,835
to remain in the line
and to be arrested.
458
00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:48,543
- [vocalizing]
459
00:25:51,460 --> 00:25:53,043
narrator:
When Kennedy saw the photos
460
00:25:53,168 --> 00:25:56,626
coming out of Birmingham,
he was disgusted.
461
00:25:56,751 --> 00:25:58,376
Robert Kennedy sent
462
00:25:58,501 --> 00:26:00,793
Assistant Attorney General
Burke Marshall
463
00:26:00,918 --> 00:26:03,210
to facilitate negotiations
between
464
00:26:03,335 --> 00:26:04,876
civil rights protesters
465
00:26:05,043 --> 00:26:07,876
and Birmingham city
business leaders
466
00:26:08,001 --> 00:26:11,543
to desegregate businesses
and end the demonstrations.
467
00:26:11,668 --> 00:26:14,668
- John Kennedy,
he had the type of heart
468
00:26:14,793 --> 00:26:17,710
that when he saw all of this
happening to children,
469
00:26:17,835 --> 00:26:22,085
he said, "No more," and I--
for that, I respect him.
470
00:26:22,251 --> 00:26:24,960
[soft music]
471
00:26:25,126 --> 00:26:28,126
narrator: On May 10th,
an agreement was reached.
472
00:26:28,251 --> 00:26:30,793
The demonstrations were
a success and led
473
00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:33,710
to new efforts
in Birmingham to integrate
474
00:26:33,793 --> 00:26:35,876
and improve job opportunities
475
00:26:36,043 --> 00:26:39,043
for African-American
residents.
476
00:26:39,126 --> 00:26:43,085
But Kennedy's involvement
wasn't enough.
477
00:26:43,251 --> 00:26:46,793
The violence in Birmingham
brought worldwide attention
478
00:26:46,918 --> 00:26:49,876
and scrutiny to the Kennedy
administration's response
479
00:26:50,001 --> 00:26:52,751
to the civil rights movement.
480
00:26:52,876 --> 00:26:54,751
- Those images are
spread internationally.
481
00:26:54,876 --> 00:26:56,335
So Kennedy is
feeling the pressure
482
00:26:56,418 --> 00:26:58,085
from internally, from
the civil rights activists,
483
00:26:58,251 --> 00:27:02,710
and then externally from
his allies around the world.
484
00:27:02,793 --> 00:27:04,710
narrator: As protests
and violence continued
485
00:27:04,751 --> 00:27:07,793
in the South,
pressure mounted on Kennedy
486
00:27:07,918 --> 00:27:10,543
to take decisive
legislative action
487
00:27:10,585 --> 00:27:15,710
in support
of the civil rights movement.
488
00:27:15,793 --> 00:27:20,876
Now it was June 11th, 1963,
just one day after
489
00:27:21,043 --> 00:27:25,251
Kennedy's peace speech
at American University.
490
00:27:25,376 --> 00:27:28,126
The University of Alabama
in Tuscaloosa was one
491
00:27:28,251 --> 00:27:30,876
of only a handful
of universities yet
492
00:27:31,001 --> 00:27:33,793
to be desegregated.
493
00:27:33,876 --> 00:27:36,960
The civil rights group
the NAACP,
494
00:27:37,085 --> 00:27:39,543
the National Association
for the Advancement
495
00:27:39,710 --> 00:27:42,418
of Colored People,
tried to arrange
496
00:27:42,543 --> 00:27:45,960
for two Black students,
Vivian Malone and James Hood,
497
00:27:46,126 --> 00:27:48,251
to integrate the university.
498
00:27:48,376 --> 00:27:52,710
Filmmaker Robert Drew was
given the rare opportunity
499
00:27:52,793 --> 00:27:55,418
from the Kennedy
administration to capture
500
00:27:55,543 --> 00:27:59,710
the behind-the-scenes events
of the attempted integration.
501
00:27:59,793 --> 00:28:02,876
- Why do you want to go
to the University of Alabama
502
00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:05,293
specifically, and not
some other university?
503
00:28:05,418 --> 00:28:08,876
- The school that I was
previously attending
504
00:28:09,043 --> 00:28:12,876
became unaccredited
in December of 1961,
505
00:28:13,001 --> 00:28:15,168
and the University of Alabama
is accredited.
506
00:28:15,293 --> 00:28:16,876
narrator: The governor
of Alabama,
507
00:28:17,001 --> 00:28:19,918
staunch segregationist
George Wallace,
508
00:28:20,085 --> 00:28:23,876
wanted to show his opposition
on a public stage.
509
00:28:24,001 --> 00:28:28,376
- And I say segregation now,
segregation tomorrow,
510
00:28:28,460 --> 00:28:30,418
and segregation forever.
511
00:28:30,585 --> 00:28:33,335
[raucous cheering]
512
00:28:35,460 --> 00:28:37,001
- So Wallace says,
"The federal government"--
513
00:28:37,126 --> 00:28:38,835
he made them the bad guys--
514
00:28:39,001 --> 00:28:40,418
"Come down here and tell us
how to live our lives,
515
00:28:40,543 --> 00:28:42,043
"tell us what to do.
516
00:28:42,210 --> 00:28:45,126
I will stand
in the schoolhouse door."
517
00:28:45,251 --> 00:28:50,751
- The Kennedys see him
as a pugnacious, theatrical,
518
00:28:50,918 --> 00:28:54,460
jumped-up Southern politician
519
00:28:54,626 --> 00:28:59,876
who is going to force his day
520
00:28:59,960 --> 00:29:03,501
onto the national stage
with his stunt.
521
00:29:03,585 --> 00:29:06,043
Well, eight months before,
the University of Mississippi
522
00:29:06,210 --> 00:29:07,668
has gone through
the same thing,
523
00:29:07,751 --> 00:29:12,168
and Kennedy had
to order in 25,000 troops
524
00:29:12,251 --> 00:29:16,960
to put down a riot
that went on 26 hours,
525
00:29:17,085 --> 00:29:20,293
killed two people,
injured hundreds.
526
00:29:20,418 --> 00:29:22,960
The Kennedys had lost control
of that situation
527
00:29:23,085 --> 00:29:27,126
and Kennedy said, "That's never
gonna happen again."
528
00:29:27,251 --> 00:29:29,960
narrator: This time, they
would be adequately prepared.
529
00:29:30,085 --> 00:29:32,460
Anything that could have
been used as a weapon
530
00:29:32,585 --> 00:29:35,876
was removed from campus.
531
00:29:36,043 --> 00:29:39,210
- Every rock
on campus was removed.
532
00:29:39,335 --> 00:29:42,043
Every Coke bottle
533
00:29:42,126 --> 00:29:44,418
in the Coke machine
was removed.
534
00:29:44,585 --> 00:29:49,043
There were sharpshooters
on all the buildings.
535
00:29:49,168 --> 00:29:51,210
narrator: When Malone and Hood
arrived at the university
536
00:29:51,335 --> 00:29:55,710
for their first day,
on June 11th, 1963,
537
00:29:55,876 --> 00:29:57,418
they were escorted
to the school
538
00:29:57,585 --> 00:30:00,626
by Deputy Attorney General
Nicholas Katzenbach,
539
00:30:00,751 --> 00:30:02,251
who reported directly
540
00:30:02,418 --> 00:30:04,293
to the Attorney General
Robert Kennedy
541
00:30:04,376 --> 00:30:06,543
throughout the day.
542
00:30:06,668 --> 00:30:09,293
- He's had this opportunity
and should let 'em go through.
543
00:30:09,418 --> 00:30:12,126
Or otherwise, we're gonna have
to take other steps,
544
00:30:12,251 --> 00:30:13,626
because these students
are going to attend
545
00:30:13,751 --> 00:30:17,501
the University of Alabama.
546
00:30:17,585 --> 00:30:19,460
narrator: George Wallace
blocked the entrance
547
00:30:19,585 --> 00:30:24,001
to the school, flanked
by Alabama state troopers.
548
00:30:24,126 --> 00:30:27,710
- He says,
"I will bar the admission
549
00:30:27,876 --> 00:30:29,210
"of James Hood
and Vivian Malone,
550
00:30:29,335 --> 00:30:31,210
if I have
to do it physically,"
551
00:30:31,335 --> 00:30:34,710
from this citadel
of white supremacy,
552
00:30:34,835 --> 00:30:36,876
the University of Alabama.
553
00:30:37,043 --> 00:30:39,626
- Governor George Wallace
of Alabama has stood
554
00:30:39,751 --> 00:30:41,251
in the schoolhouse door.
555
00:30:45,460 --> 00:30:45,626
[tense piano music]
556
00:30:46,793 --> 00:30:49,626
narrator: On June 11th, 1963,
Governor George Wallace
557
00:30:49,751 --> 00:30:52,043
stood firmly
in the schoolhouse door,
558
00:30:52,126 --> 00:30:54,043
blocking Malone and Hood
559
00:30:54,126 --> 00:30:57,043
from entering
the University of Alabama.
560
00:30:57,210 --> 00:30:59,960
On orders from
Attorney General Bobby Kennedy
561
00:31:00,043 --> 00:31:01,543
to resolve the situation,
562
00:31:01,668 --> 00:31:04,710
Deputy Attorney General
Nicholas Katzenbach
563
00:31:04,793 --> 00:31:08,876
approached the governor
and demanded he step aside.
564
00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:12,710
- And I've come here
to ask you now
565
00:31:12,793 --> 00:31:15,043
for an unequivocal assurance
566
00:31:15,251 --> 00:31:17,043
that you will permit
these students, who, after all,
567
00:31:17,251 --> 00:31:19,293
merely want an education
at the great university--
568
00:31:19,418 --> 00:31:20,876
- Now you make your statement,
but we don't need
569
00:31:21,085 --> 00:31:22,460
for you to make a speech.
570
00:31:22,585 --> 00:31:24,043
narrator:
Interrupting,
571
00:31:24,126 --> 00:31:26,043
Wallace pulled out
a written statement,
572
00:31:26,126 --> 00:31:28,293
which he delivered
to the crowd.
573
00:31:28,418 --> 00:31:30,710
- The unwelcomed,
unwanted, unwarranted,
574
00:31:30,835 --> 00:31:33,585
and force-induced intrusion
upon the campus
575
00:31:33,710 --> 00:31:35,210
of the University of Alabama
576
00:31:35,293 --> 00:31:36,960
today of the might
of the central government
577
00:31:37,085 --> 00:31:39,085
offers frightful example
578
00:31:39,251 --> 00:31:40,876
of the oppression
of the rights, privileges,
579
00:31:41,001 --> 00:31:42,876
and sovereignty of this state
580
00:31:43,001 --> 00:31:44,210
by officers
of the federal government.
581
00:31:44,335 --> 00:31:45,835
narrator:
Back at the White House,
582
00:31:45,960 --> 00:31:47,376
Kennedy listened attentively
583
00:31:47,543 --> 00:31:50,668
while Bobby briefed him
on the situation.
584
00:31:50,751 --> 00:31:55,710
- They were ready to carry
Wallace away if they had to.
585
00:31:55,835 --> 00:31:57,876
- Then, uh,
if he still doesn't move,
586
00:31:58,001 --> 00:32:00,210
then we'll try to get by him.
587
00:32:00,376 --> 00:32:01,376
- Pushing?
588
00:32:01,501 --> 00:32:04,668
- Pushing a little bit.
589
00:32:04,751 --> 00:32:07,876
Uh, or just having somebody...
- Trying to walk around him.
590
00:32:08,001 --> 00:32:10,043
- And try to walk through
the three doors.
591
00:32:10,168 --> 00:32:11,918
We're gonna try
to have somebody inside
592
00:32:12,085 --> 00:32:13,835
who will open up the other--
one of the other doors,
593
00:32:13,960 --> 00:32:16,168
so they can't cover
all three doors,
594
00:32:16,251 --> 00:32:18,043
and just have the girls
and the boys just try
595
00:32:18,126 --> 00:32:20,085
to go through another door.
596
00:32:20,210 --> 00:32:22,043
Anyway, that's gonna be up
to Nick Katzenbach,
597
00:32:22,126 --> 00:32:26,001
as to how far we can go
with that.
598
00:32:26,126 --> 00:32:27,543
- Governor, I am not
interested in a show.
599
00:32:27,668 --> 00:32:30,460
I don't know what the purpose
of this show is.
600
00:32:30,585 --> 00:32:33,085
I am interested in the orders
of this court being enforced.
601
00:32:33,210 --> 00:32:35,710
That is my only responsibility
here.
602
00:32:35,793 --> 00:32:37,543
narrator:
When Wallace announced
603
00:32:37,668 --> 00:32:39,460
he wasn't going to step aside,
604
00:32:39,585 --> 00:32:43,876
the president federalized
the Alabama National Guard,
605
00:32:44,001 --> 00:32:47,376
calling upon them
to enforce federal law.
606
00:32:47,501 --> 00:32:51,293
Kennedy was now
their commander, over Wallace.
607
00:32:51,418 --> 00:32:54,710
- They were so worried
about the thing exploding
608
00:32:54,793 --> 00:32:56,335
at the University of Alabama,
609
00:32:56,460 --> 00:32:59,918
as it had at the University
of Mississippi.
610
00:33:00,085 --> 00:33:02,418
narrator: In Tuscaloosa,
100 guardsmen arrived
611
00:33:02,585 --> 00:33:04,793
and thousands more stood
at the ready
612
00:33:04,918 --> 00:33:07,043
if violence broke out.
613
00:33:07,085 --> 00:33:08,876
Marching up to the door,
one of the guardsmen,
614
00:33:09,001 --> 00:33:12,126
General Henry V. Graham,
demanded
615
00:33:12,251 --> 00:33:16,418
that Governor Wallace
step aside.
616
00:33:16,543 --> 00:33:18,501
Bobby and his team
at the Justice Department
617
00:33:18,585 --> 00:33:21,251
in Washington listened
in anticipation
618
00:33:21,376 --> 00:33:24,626
over a telephone line
from the scene.
619
00:33:24,751 --> 00:33:28,210
- It was, in effect,
a single defiant man
620
00:33:28,376 --> 00:33:34,376
holding with strength
to the weak mores of the past.
621
00:33:34,501 --> 00:33:39,918
- Change is about to occur,
and we can feel the ground.
622
00:33:40,043 --> 00:33:42,126
Uh, it's trembling.
623
00:33:46,335 --> 00:33:48,043
narrator:
After a tense buildup,
624
00:33:48,168 --> 00:33:51,376
the governor
finally stepped aside,
625
00:33:51,543 --> 00:33:57,085
allowing the students
to register at the university.
626
00:33:57,251 --> 00:33:59,543
- The stand
at the schoolhouse door
627
00:33:59,710 --> 00:34:04,085
was an important event because
it finally got Kennedy to say,
628
00:34:04,251 --> 00:34:06,668
"I'm not gonna be afraid of
the issue of race in America.
629
00:34:06,793 --> 00:34:10,876
I'm gonna speak out on it.
I'm gonna speak out on it."
630
00:34:11,085 --> 00:34:13,085
narrator: The question
on Kennedy's mind was
631
00:34:13,210 --> 00:34:15,126
whether or not he would
deliver an address
632
00:34:15,251 --> 00:34:18,501
on civil rights that evening,
using Birmingham
633
00:34:18,585 --> 00:34:22,210
and the University of Alabama
integration as a backdrop.
634
00:34:22,335 --> 00:34:24,085
- There have been
demonstrations and riots
635
00:34:24,210 --> 00:34:26,876
in a number of American cities
since Birmingham,
636
00:34:27,043 --> 00:34:29,460
and Kennedy understands that.
637
00:34:29,585 --> 00:34:32,126
- Across the United States,
pressures are rising
638
00:34:32,251 --> 00:34:34,210
for the president to speak out
for racial equality
639
00:34:34,376 --> 00:34:36,293
as a moral issue.
640
00:34:36,460 --> 00:34:39,168
But a strong speech could cost
the president Southern support
641
00:34:39,335 --> 00:34:40,918
for new civil rights
legislation
642
00:34:41,043 --> 00:34:42,043
he would like to have.
643
00:34:42,168 --> 00:34:44,376
- Okay, let's get started now.
644
00:34:44,501 --> 00:34:46,460
- The president must decide
whether or not
645
00:34:46,585 --> 00:34:50,210
to speak out anyway
in a nationwide TV address.
646
00:34:58,918 --> 00:35:00,585
- I think it's a reason
to do it.
647
00:35:00,751 --> 00:35:02,585
I think you could talk
about the legislation
648
00:35:02,751 --> 00:35:07,293
and talk about employment
and talk about education.
649
00:35:07,418 --> 00:35:09,876
narrator: Kennedy, like
the presidents before him,
650
00:35:09,918 --> 00:35:14,710
had never addressed
civil rights as a moral issue.
651
00:35:14,835 --> 00:35:17,168
Most of Kennedy's
inner circle was opposed
652
00:35:17,293 --> 00:35:19,710
to a televised address
about civil rights
653
00:35:19,835 --> 00:35:22,126
on the evening of June 11th.
654
00:35:22,293 --> 00:35:23,876
They felt the time
wasn't right
655
00:35:24,043 --> 00:35:26,585
and would push too far,
too quickly,
656
00:35:26,751 --> 00:35:31,126
alienating the South
from the administration.
657
00:35:31,251 --> 00:35:33,335
The only person
on Kennedy's side
658
00:35:33,418 --> 00:35:35,585
was his brother Bobby.
659
00:35:35,751 --> 00:35:39,501
Together they decided
that enough was enough.
660
00:35:39,585 --> 00:35:42,585
Kennedy chose to speak
to the nation that evening,
661
00:35:42,710 --> 00:35:46,751
against the recommendation
of his trusted advisors.
662
00:35:46,918 --> 00:35:50,001
- That's the big decision
that John Kennedy makes,
663
00:35:50,085 --> 00:35:54,293
um, that is really the basis
for his reputation as someone
664
00:35:54,460 --> 00:35:57,460
who, in the end,
supported civil rights
665
00:35:57,585 --> 00:36:00,335
in a legitimate
and a real way.
666
00:36:00,418 --> 00:36:03,710
- And it's then that JFK turns
to Ted Sorensen,
667
00:36:03,793 --> 00:36:06,376
who never had a speech
he couldn't write for JFK,
668
00:36:06,460 --> 00:36:09,876
and says, "It's time tonight
to give that speech."
669
00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:12,210
And Sorensen says,
"What speech?"
670
00:36:12,335 --> 00:36:13,668
JFK says, "And by the way,
671
00:36:13,793 --> 00:36:17,210
I've booked the networks
for 8:00 p.m."
672
00:36:17,293 --> 00:36:20,043
narrator: There was little
time to draft a speech.
673
00:36:20,126 --> 00:36:23,376
At air time,
it was incomplete.
674
00:36:23,543 --> 00:36:26,043
Kennedy went forward
nonetheless,
675
00:36:26,168 --> 00:36:30,168
improvising the final portion.
676
00:36:30,293 --> 00:36:33,126
At last, with Kennedy
positioned at his desk
677
00:36:33,251 --> 00:36:37,751
in the Oval Office,
the cameras turned on.
678
00:36:37,918 --> 00:36:39,168
- Ladies and gentlemen,
679
00:36:39,293 --> 00:36:40,418
the president
of the United States.
680
00:36:44,501 --> 00:36:45,501
- Good evening,
my fellow citizens.
681
00:36:45,626 --> 00:36:47,168
This nation was founded by men
682
00:36:47,293 --> 00:36:49,710
of many nations
and backgrounds.
683
00:36:49,793 --> 00:36:53,543
It was founded on the principle
that all men are created equal,
684
00:36:53,585 --> 00:36:56,710
and that the rights
of every man are diminished
685
00:36:56,835 --> 00:37:01,210
when the rights
of one man are threatened.
686
00:37:01,335 --> 00:37:04,210
We are confronted primarily
with a moral issue.
687
00:37:04,335 --> 00:37:06,293
It is as old as the scriptures
688
00:37:06,418 --> 00:37:09,793
and is as clear
as the American Constitution.
689
00:37:09,918 --> 00:37:13,501
The heart of the question
is whether all Americans are
690
00:37:13,668 --> 00:37:18,626
to be afforded equal rights
and equal opportunities,
691
00:37:18,751 --> 00:37:20,501
whether we are going
to treat our fellow Americans
692
00:37:20,626 --> 00:37:22,710
as we want to be treated.
693
00:37:22,835 --> 00:37:26,376
- At the 11-minute mark,
if you watch it,
694
00:37:26,460 --> 00:37:29,168
you see that Kennedy is
beginning to ad-lib.
695
00:37:29,335 --> 00:37:31,626
He's speaking extemporaneously.
696
00:37:31,751 --> 00:37:34,043
- We have a right to expect
that the Negro community
697
00:37:34,210 --> 00:37:37,043
will be responsible,
will uphold the law,
698
00:37:37,126 --> 00:37:40,543
but they have a right to expect
that the law will be fair,
699
00:37:40,626 --> 00:37:42,460
that the Constitution
will be colorblind,
700
00:37:42,585 --> 00:37:44,960
as Justice Harlan said
at the turn of the century.
701
00:37:45,085 --> 00:37:46,585
This is what
we're talking about,
702
00:37:46,751 --> 00:37:49,251
and this is a matter
which concerns this country
703
00:37:49,376 --> 00:37:51,668
and what it stands for,
and in meeting it,
704
00:37:51,793 --> 00:37:54,210
I ask the support of all
of our citizens.
705
00:37:54,335 --> 00:37:57,418
Thank you very much.
706
00:37:57,543 --> 00:37:59,210
narrator:
Kennedy's speech marked
707
00:37:59,376 --> 00:38:02,501
a historic turning point
in American history.
708
00:38:02,585 --> 00:38:06,251
However, racial hatred
continued to haunt America.
709
00:38:06,418 --> 00:38:07,876
Hours later,
710
00:38:08,043 --> 00:38:11,793
prominent NAACP
Mississippi field secretary
711
00:38:11,918 --> 00:38:16,960
Medgar Evers was assassinated
outside of his home.
712
00:38:17,126 --> 00:38:19,001
His murder shocked the nation
713
00:38:19,168 --> 00:38:21,001
and illustrated
the urgent need
714
00:38:21,126 --> 00:38:25,126
for civil rights legislation.
715
00:38:25,251 --> 00:38:28,710
Within a week, Kennedy sent
his sweeping civil rights bill
716
00:38:28,918 --> 00:38:30,918
to Congress.
717
00:38:31,043 --> 00:38:34,126
The bill would unilaterally
ban racial discrimination
718
00:38:34,251 --> 00:38:36,876
in public places,
including restaurants,
719
00:38:37,001 --> 00:38:39,543
hotels, and stores.
720
00:38:39,668 --> 00:38:41,418
Another provision
would increase
721
00:38:41,585 --> 00:38:44,751
the attorney general's speed
and ability to assist
722
00:38:44,835 --> 00:38:48,126
with the integration
of public schools.
723
00:38:48,293 --> 00:38:50,043
- It's robust.
724
00:38:50,126 --> 00:38:53,251
It directly forces the state to
not adhere to states' rights,
725
00:38:53,418 --> 00:38:55,126
that the federal government
will intervene
726
00:38:55,293 --> 00:38:59,085
if you do not actually enforce
federal law,
727
00:38:59,210 --> 00:39:03,460
things that folks have been
asking him to do for years.
728
00:39:03,585 --> 00:39:05,710
narrator: Kennedy's
administration began a series
729
00:39:05,835 --> 00:39:08,918
of private White House
meetings and conferences
730
00:39:09,043 --> 00:39:12,293
with more than 1,000 people
from around the country,
731
00:39:12,418 --> 00:39:16,668
representing education,
women's organizations,
732
00:39:16,793 --> 00:39:19,835
the South,
and religious institutions.
733
00:39:19,918 --> 00:39:23,085
The goal was to discuss
the proposed civil rights bill
734
00:39:23,210 --> 00:39:26,793
and Kennedy's expectations
for how these groups
735
00:39:26,876 --> 00:39:29,251
could responsibly adhere
to the bill
736
00:39:29,376 --> 00:39:33,251
and reliably carry out
its values.
737
00:39:33,418 --> 00:39:34,710
- He really had no choice.
738
00:39:34,835 --> 00:39:37,376
Morally and politically,
he had no choice
739
00:39:37,460 --> 00:39:40,626
but to introduce
a civil rights bill.
740
00:39:56,085 --> 00:39:58,543
narrator: With talks underway
about the Civil Rights Act,
741
00:39:58,710 --> 00:40:00,460
Kennedy embarked
on the eighth trip
742
00:40:00,585 --> 00:40:05,710
of his presidency
in late June 1963.
743
00:40:05,835 --> 00:40:09,501
His travel schedule included
a visit to West Berlin,
744
00:40:09,626 --> 00:40:11,710
a meeting in England
with his good friend,
745
00:40:11,751 --> 00:40:14,501
British Prime Minister
Harold Macmillan,
746
00:40:14,585 --> 00:40:16,210
and a long-awaited visit
747
00:40:16,293 --> 00:40:18,376
to his ancestral home
of Ireland.
748
00:40:18,501 --> 00:40:21,376
[dramatic music]
749
00:40:21,501 --> 00:40:23,210
♪ ♪
750
00:40:23,335 --> 00:40:27,335
This would be Kennedy's
final international trip.
751
00:40:27,418 --> 00:40:33,210
♪ ♪
752
00:40:33,376 --> 00:40:35,543
When Kennedy arrived
in Germany,
753
00:40:35,710 --> 00:40:38,043
he made his long-awaited visit
to the Berlin Wall
754
00:40:38,168 --> 00:40:42,793
on June 26th, 1963.
755
00:40:42,918 --> 00:40:47,668
- He sees the Berlin Wall
for the first time.
756
00:40:47,751 --> 00:40:53,210
You could almost feel Kennedy
finally understanding,
757
00:40:53,335 --> 00:40:56,043
on a whole different,
deep level,
758
00:40:56,168 --> 00:40:58,210
what the Cold War meant
759
00:40:58,335 --> 00:41:00,876
by seeing the Berlin Wall.
760
00:41:01,043 --> 00:41:03,168
[cheers and applause]
761
00:41:03,293 --> 00:41:09,001
♪ ♪
762
00:41:09,126 --> 00:41:13,960
And so he said, "For people
who don't understand what is
763
00:41:14,085 --> 00:41:20,960
this Cold War conflict,
come here, come look at this."
764
00:41:21,085 --> 00:41:22,918
narrator: Nearly half
a million Berliners
765
00:41:23,043 --> 00:41:27,376
stood outside
to hear Kennedy speak.
766
00:41:27,543 --> 00:41:30,918
♪ ♪
767
00:41:31,085 --> 00:41:34,210
It was a larger crowd
than he had ever seen.
768
00:41:34,376 --> 00:41:37,210
- Thank you.
769
00:41:37,335 --> 00:41:41,001
There are many people
in the world
770
00:41:41,168 --> 00:41:46,085
who really don't understand,
or say they don't,
771
00:41:46,251 --> 00:41:50,418
what is the great issue
between the free world
772
00:41:50,543 --> 00:41:53,585
and the Communist world.
773
00:41:53,710 --> 00:41:56,543
Let them come to Berlin.
774
00:41:56,751 --> 00:41:59,751
[cheers and applause]
775
00:42:06,168 --> 00:42:09,168
- As a free man,
I take pride in the words
776
00:42:09,251 --> 00:42:13,043
"Ich bin ein Berliner."
777
00:42:13,168 --> 00:42:16,668
- There were no doubts left
about his leadership.
778
00:42:22,460 --> 00:42:24,001
[sweeping orchestral music]
779
00:42:24,168 --> 00:42:27,376
- The last 60 years
has been America wishing
780
00:42:27,501 --> 00:42:29,251
they could rewrite sad history.
781
00:42:29,418 --> 00:42:32,501
[siren wails]
782
00:42:32,585 --> 00:42:35,501
- Parkland Hospital has
been advised to stand by
783
00:42:35,626 --> 00:42:38,210
for a gunshot wound.
62160
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