Thirteen Days (2000 PG-13)
Rating
PG-13
Length
2h 25min
Movie Story Line
An inside look at how the Kennedy Administration responded to the discovery of offensive Soviet weapons in Cuba.
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Teaching Idea #1

President Kennedy and Chairman Khrushchev exchanged 10 letters during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Read these letters and determine what the importance of this communication means was in avoiding nuclear war. The following year the two countries set up a quicker means of communication. What was it and how did it work? Compare and contrast the communication protocols from the 1960s with those of today. Visit nsa.gov to see digital copies of currently declassified intelligence regarding the Cuban Missile Crisis. How did this intelligence stream provide President Kennedy with important context about Soviet actions during the crisis?

Teaching Idea #2

What is meant by the phrase “the fog of war”? What elements contributed to this ‘fog’ during the Cuban Missile Crisis? How was President Kennedy de-escalatory? Who else in his administration advocated for de-escalation. Who advocated for escalation in dealing with the Soviets?

Teaching Idea #3

What was the role of the Organization of American States in responding to the Cuban Missile Crisis? Identify and map the member states of OAS during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Why did member states come to the decision they did? How was their decision received by the Soviet Union?