Thirteen Days is a movie examining the different American foreign policy actors and

their actions in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis, which is considered to be the one moment

in history that the United States was most at risk for nuclear war. The film mainly focuses on

President Kennedy’s national security council (nicknamed EXCOMM) and their various

reactions/decisions made in response to intelligence information informing them of Soviet Union

missiles being stored in the neighboring island-country of Cuba. Upon understanding the full

extent of the threat, EXCOMM throws numerous, somewhat conflicting solutions towards

Kennedy. His military chiefs of staff recommend the fullest extent of militaristic intervention

possible preceded by numerous airstrikes to eliminate the missiles and soften up the Cuban

forces for an invasion. His cabinet secretaries and other domestic policy makers (including

Kennedy’s own brother, Robert Kennedy) encourage a more diplomatic approach. There are a

few other solutions tossed around before President Kennedy settles on a blockade of Cuba (coyly

titled a “quarantine” to avoid violating international law) to avoid a potential Soviet retaliation

either in the form of the ICBMs settling on Cuba or through a Western invasion of Berlin.

Kennedy stands strong in his decision even after facing criticism from his military advisors and

senators that anything less than military invasion is damaging the United States reputation in

both the eyes of global allies and foes. Eventually, the Soviet Union sends two messages to the

Kennedy administration. One through back-end channels that the administration believes to be

from the Soviet leader Khrushchev, and another more formal one from what they believe to be

the Soviet Union political parties. The administration takes a gamble and only responds to the

first message, leading to a secret deal between Khrushchev and Kennedy’s brother that in

exchange for the removal of Cuban missiles that the United States would slowly withdraw their

missiles from Turkey and promise to not invade Cuba. Kennedy takes the deal and the nuclear
crisis is averted. Personally, I believe this was the best case scenario for the administration. Any

of the solutions considered relied on heavy assumptions on the Soviet Union’s behavior and

Kennedy took the least-risky gamble, even when confronted with differing opinions. The white

house chose the best course of action and was able to avoid needless deaths and even a potential

nuclear war.